New Zealand, the land of the Kiwi fruit and the Kiwi bird, is known worldwide for their rolling green hills, clear waters, majestic mountain tops, and thriving flora and fauna. With so much breathtaking beauty present in this country, it is no wonder that New Zealand film director Peter Jackson chose his own homeland to film the book-based movie trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Those blockbuster hit movies have added yet another feather to New Zealand’s already full cap, not to mention adding even more must-see places to the already long list of tourist destinations in New Zealand. 

Wanting to see the various filming locations of The Lord of the Rings is more than reason enough to go on a holiday in New Zealand. In fact, ever since the movies came out, New Zealand locals have began to cater to this niche of visitors and have started offering tour packages specifically to the movies’ filming locations. These tour packages have since become some of the most popular and in-demand tours in New Zealand. Fans of the movie aren’t the only ones who would enjoy such a tour though – the usual travelers and tourists would surely take pleasure in the scenic views, lush forests, and other spectacular nature sceneries. People who come to New Zealand to see and experience “Middle Earth” will surely get more than what they came for.

What most people don’t seem to know is the fact that all of the three Lord of the Rings movies where filmed at the same time. The city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, served as the headquarters for the crew for over the three years that they needed to finish filming. All the sets and locations were spread out all over New Zealand’s North Island and South Island as different scenes and backgrounds were required. To visit all of these locations, or at least the most popular ones, will definitely take anyone on an extensive journey around New Zealand. 

Some tour packages begin in Matamata where Hobbiton and The Shire are. A 15-minute drive from Tongoriro National Park will take you to the Heart of Mordor, where the popular battle scene between good versus evil was filmed. Rivendell, home of the elves, may be reached from Wellington and its exact location is in Kaitoke National Park, a few miles from Upper Hutt City. The woods of Lothlorien are the gardens of Fernside Lodge in Featherston. The evil Saruman set up his kingdom of Isengard in Harcourt Park, Upper Hutt. North Island is also home to the locations of Mordor, Mt. Doom (where the One Ring was made), and the fortress city of Minas Tirith. 

Takaka Hill and Mount Owen in the South Island became the Chetwood Forest where the Hobbits first took refuge. Mount Olympus in Kahurangi National Park served as Eregion Hills. The Fjordland area, specifically Te Anau, was home to numerous scenes including the one where a hooded figure stabs Frodo. 

Lord of the Rings tour packages could range anywhere from a short half-day tour to a full half-month excursion. Full tours begin in New Zealand’s North Island and work their way down to the South Island.