Wellington Original LOTR Experience 8-Hour Tour Including Weta Workshop and Lunch
by Wellington Rings Tours
Choose from 3 available options
How do you want to book?
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$383.90Overview
This full-day bus tour in Wellington lasts about eight hours and visits key Lord of the Rings filming locations around the city. The tour begins with a 90-minute visit to Weta Workshop, where props, costumes, and special effects from the LOTR and Hobbit movies were created. A Weta employee leads a behind-the-scenes tour explaining the creative work and offers chances to take photos with characters and weapons, plus an opportunity to buy souvenirs. Next, the group visits Mount Victoria Lookout for 15 minutes to see panoramic views of Wellington harbour and city. The guide points out landmarks and assists with photos. The tour then drives past the Embassy Theatre, where two Middle-earth film premieres took place, with stories about Wellington’s role in the movies. A one-hour walk follows on Mount Victoria’s forested slopes, known as the Outer Shire. Guides explain the filmmaking process and describe scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, including Hobbit hiding spots and the Buckleberry Ferry. Guests can reenact scenes from the film here. Lunch is served at Aston Norwood Gardens, described as a meal fit for a Hobbit, providing a break before afternoon filming location visits. The tour continues with a 15-minute stop at Poet’s Park, showing a section of the Great River Anduin. The next stop is Harcourt Park (30 minutes), which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard in the movies. Visitors see where Gandalf and Saruman’s scenes were filmed and learn about the orcs’ tree felling. The final stop is Kaitoke Regional Park, a temperate rainforest that served as Rivendell. This hour-long visit includes viewing locations for Elrond’s house, Frodo’s bedroom, the Rivendell gate tower (the only LOTR replica outside Hobbiton in New Zealand), and the Fords of Isen scene. Guests can cross a swing bridge, see an 800-year-old native Rimu tree, and learn about New Zealand flora and fauna. The tour includes lunch, hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off, and expert guides who worked on the films. A native forest walk is also part of the experience. Gratuities are not included. The tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those using walkers. Dietary needs should be communicated when booking.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Weta Workshop Experiences
Visit the Weta Workshop where the physical effects, props, weapons, costumes, miniatures, and prosthetics for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were made. A Weta employee leads a 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour explaining the creative process. Guests can take photos with characters and weapons and purchase souvenirs if desired.
90 min
Mount Victoria Lookout
Spend 15 minutes at the Mount Victoria Lookout, enjoying panoramic views of Wellington harbour and city. The guide points out landmarks and assists guests with taking photos. The visit avoids the need to climb the hill on foot.
15 min
Embassy Theatre
Drive past the Embassy Theatre, which hosted the world premieres of The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey. The guide shares stories and photos about how Wellington was transformed into Middle-earth for the films.
Mount Victoria
Walk for about an hour on the forested slopes of Mount Victoria’s Outer Shire. Guides explain filmmaking details and describe scenes where Frodo and the Hobbits begin their quest. Visitors see Hobbit hiding spots like the "shortcut to mushrooms" and "get off the road," reenact famous scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, and hear related stories.
60 min
Aston Norwood Gardens
Take a one-hour lunch break at Aston Norwood Gardens, with a meal described as fit for a Hobbit to recharge energy for the afternoon stops.
60 min
Poet's Park
Stop for 15 minutes at Poet's Park to see a section of the Great River Anduin, representing part of the Fellowship's journey to Parth Galen.
15 min
Harcourt Park
Spend about 30 minutes at Harcourt Park, known as the Gardens of Isengard in the films. This location shows where Gandalf rode to Saruman and where the wizards walked while discussing their plans. It also depicts the scenes where orcs began cutting down trees after Saruman’s betrayal.
30 min
Kaitoke Regional Park
Visit Kaitoke Regional Park for one hour. This temperate rainforest was used as the Rivendell set. Visitors see locations for Elrond's house, Frodo's bedroom, and the Rivendell gate tower replica. Guests can take photos reenacting scenes, cross a swing bridge, view an 800-year-old native Rimu tree, and learn about local flora and fauna. The park also features a scene from the Fords of Isen where Eomund was found by Eomer.
60 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
More things to do in Wellington
- Half-Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington with Wine Tastings
- Wellington Guided Electric Bike Tour with Morning or Afternoon Departure
- InterIslander Ferry One-Way Trip from Wellington to Picton
- Wellington Full-Day Lord of the Rings Tour with Weta Workshop and Mount Victoria
Wellington Original LOTR Experience 8-Hour Tour Including Weta Workshop and Lunch
by Wellington Rings Tours
Choose from 3 available options
How do you want to book?
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$383.90Overview
This full-day bus tour in Wellington lasts about eight hours and visits key Lord of the Rings filming locations around the city. The tour begins with a 90-minute visit to Weta Workshop, where props, costumes, and special effects from the LOTR and Hobbit movies were created. A Weta employee leads a behind-the-scenes tour explaining the creative work and offers chances to take photos with characters and weapons, plus an opportunity to buy souvenirs. Next, the group visits Mount Victoria Lookout for 15 minutes to see panoramic views of Wellington harbour and city. The guide points out landmarks and assists with photos. The tour then drives past the Embassy Theatre, where two Middle-earth film premieres took place, with stories about Wellington’s role in the movies. A one-hour walk follows on Mount Victoria’s forested slopes, known as the Outer Shire. Guides explain the filmmaking process and describe scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, including Hobbit hiding spots and the Buckleberry Ferry. Guests can reenact scenes from the film here. Lunch is served at Aston Norwood Gardens, described as a meal fit for a Hobbit, providing a break before afternoon filming location visits. The tour continues with a 15-minute stop at Poet’s Park, showing a section of the Great River Anduin. The next stop is Harcourt Park (30 minutes), which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard in the movies. Visitors see where Gandalf and Saruman’s scenes were filmed and learn about the orcs’ tree felling. The final stop is Kaitoke Regional Park, a temperate rainforest that served as Rivendell. This hour-long visit includes viewing locations for Elrond’s house, Frodo’s bedroom, the Rivendell gate tower (the only LOTR replica outside Hobbiton in New Zealand), and the Fords of Isen scene. Guests can cross a swing bridge, see an 800-year-old native Rimu tree, and learn about New Zealand flora and fauna. The tour includes lunch, hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off, and expert guides who worked on the films. A native forest walk is also part of the experience. Gratuities are not included. The tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those using walkers. Dietary needs should be communicated when booking.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Weta Workshop Experiences
Visit the Weta Workshop where the physical effects, props, weapons, costumes, miniatures, and prosthetics for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were made. A Weta employee leads a 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour explaining the creative process. Guests can take photos with characters and weapons and purchase souvenirs if desired.
90 min
Mount Victoria Lookout
Spend 15 minutes at the Mount Victoria Lookout, enjoying panoramic views of Wellington harbour and city. The guide points out landmarks and assists guests with taking photos. The visit avoids the need to climb the hill on foot.
15 min
Embassy Theatre
Drive past the Embassy Theatre, which hosted the world premieres of The Return of the King and An Unexpected Journey. The guide shares stories and photos about how Wellington was transformed into Middle-earth for the films.
Mount Victoria
Walk for about an hour on the forested slopes of Mount Victoria’s Outer Shire. Guides explain filmmaking details and describe scenes where Frodo and the Hobbits begin their quest. Visitors see Hobbit hiding spots like the "shortcut to mushrooms" and "get off the road," reenact famous scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring, and hear related stories.
60 min
Aston Norwood Gardens
Take a one-hour lunch break at Aston Norwood Gardens, with a meal described as fit for a Hobbit to recharge energy for the afternoon stops.
60 min
Poet's Park
Stop for 15 minutes at Poet's Park to see a section of the Great River Anduin, representing part of the Fellowship's journey to Parth Galen.
15 min
Harcourt Park
Spend about 30 minutes at Harcourt Park, known as the Gardens of Isengard in the films. This location shows where Gandalf rode to Saruman and where the wizards walked while discussing their plans. It also depicts the scenes where orcs began cutting down trees after Saruman’s betrayal.
30 min
Kaitoke Regional Park
Visit Kaitoke Regional Park for one hour. This temperate rainforest was used as the Rivendell set. Visitors see locations for Elrond's house, Frodo's bedroom, and the Rivendell gate tower replica. Guests can take photos reenacting scenes, cross a swing bridge, view an 800-year-old native Rimu tree, and learn about local flora and fauna. The park also features a scene from the Fords of Isen where Eomund was found by Eomer.
60 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
More things to do in Wellington
- Half-Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington with Wine Tastings
- Wellington Guided Electric Bike Tour with Morning or Afternoon Departure
- InterIslander Ferry One-Way Trip from Wellington to Picton
- Wellington Full-Day Lord of the Rings Tour with Weta Workshop and Mount Victoria