Full Day Queenstown Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
May 2026
2. Select participants
Highlighted reviews
Was a Fantastic experience. We enjoyed the trip out to greens island, spending time at the beach and doing our glass bottom boat tour and all the staff were outstanding!
Everything was as described. A full day of exciting activities
What you can expect
For a 4WD safari adventure or a journey to find filming locations from Lord of the Rings trilogy, you can’t do better than to take a full day tour with Nomad Safaris in Queenstown.
In a four wheel drive vehicle, travel deep into the New Zealand wilderness and ascend into high country, which Tolkien surely had in mind when he created Middle-Earth. The full day “Safari of the Scenes” tour provides you with the opportunity to see with your own eyes the incredible scenery from Lord of the Rings and many more popular movies.
The tour focuses on the location of several LOTR filming sites that were used in the making of the movies. These aren't the film sets themselves, but are instead real places of astonishing natural beauty where filming took place. The incredible scenery of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps perfectly captures the spirit of the films.
During the morning section of your tour, you will view the real life Isengard and Ithillien camp, as well as beech forests close to the ones that served as a backdrop for Lothlorien. Pass the locations used in the filming of the Seat of Seeing and the battle of Amon Hem. You will also get to enjoy some four wheel drive adventures in the 12 Mile Delta, alongside views of Lake Wakatipu.
After stopping for lunch in Queenstown, the second part of your tour will take you out towards Arrowtown, Skippers Canyon and the Kawarau Gorge. Catch sight of the Misty Mountains and the Pillars of Argonath where Isildur fell, as well as the Ford of Bruinen. Peer down at Deer Park Heights, where the battle of the Wargs was fought and where the Rohan refugees marched. You will also 4WD river crossings (weather permitting), panning for gold and excellent views of the Queenstown and Arrowtown surrounds.
This tour is for the ultimate Lord of the Rings fan and includes a delicious lunch at a local Queenstown cafe and refreshments throughout. Short walks are on well managed surfaces and there is the opportunity to pan for elven gold beside the river in Arrowtown.
Location
What you need to know
- Return transfers from central Queenstown
- Full day Lord of the Rings tour
- 4WD vehicle
- River crossing & gold panning
- Dress up LOTR props (to take photos)
- Informative commentary
- Lord of the Rings filming locations
- Gold panning in the Arrow River
- Morning & afternoon tea, coffee & biscuits
- Light lunch at a Queenstown cafe
- Allow 9.5 hours (1 hour lunch included)
- 8:00am
- Pick up from your hotel or central Queenstown
- Operates daily all year
- Is there a self drive option on the full day 4WD Lord of the Rings tour from Queenstown? Sorry, there isn't a self-drive option for this particular 4x4 Lord of the Rings Tour from Queenstown. If you would like to organise a Queenstown Self Drive 4WD Adventure, please contact us to arrange this. Alternatively, you could opt for a quad biking tour instead.
- Do we make stops to enjoy the scenery during the full day Safari of the Scenes tour from Queenstown? Yes, on the Lord of the Rings Safari of the Scenes tour in Queenstown there are plenty of stops along the way where you can get out of the vehicle and walk around, take photos etc.
- I am travelling with a toddler, can I still book the Safari of the Scenes full day tour from Queenstown? Children under 5 years travel free of charge on the Nomad Safari of the Scenes tour from Queenstown. When booking, please mention in the 'additional information' field that you have a toddler with you.
- What is the difference between the Nomad Safari of the Scenes and the Nomad Safari Skippers Canyon 4WD tours in Queenstown? The main difference between the Nomad Safari of the Scenes four wheel drive tour and the Skippers Canyon four wheel drive tour is the theme of the tours. If you choose the Nomad Safari of the Scenes, you will visit Lord of the Rings filming locations around Queenstown, Skippers Canyon, Arrowtown and out towards the small town of Glenorchy. The Nomad Skippers Canyon tour takes you deep into the historic Skippers Canyon, where you can try your hand at gold panning and learn about the historical significance of this area to early pioneers. Both tours are run by the same guiding company so you can be assured of a similar high quality experience.
- I am travelling alone, is it possible to book one seat on the full day 4WD Lord of the Rings tour from Queenstown? Yes, you are very welcome to just book yourself on the the Nomad Safari of the Scenes four wheel drive tour in Queenstown. The four wheel drive vehicles hold up to 6 passengers so there will be other travellers on this tour with you. When you book online via our website just select one person on your preferred date. You can book via the Book Now button at the top and bottom of the page.
- We are travelling as a family, is it possible to fit us all in the one vehicle for the full day Lord of the Rings experience from Queenstown?The 4WD vehicles used on the full day Lord of the Rings tour from Queenstown take up to 6 passengers. If you have more than 6 people in your group, there is also an 8 seater van available that you could go in together. You would just need to note that you are wanting to go in the 8 seater in the "additional information" field when you make your booking.
- What toilet facilities are available during the full day Safari of the Scenes tour from Queenstown? There are several public toilets available for use during your 4WD tour with Nomad Safaris in Queenstown.
- Children under 5 years are free
- Private charters are available. Please contact us for more information
- Wear sturdy shoes and bring a warm top, we stop for morning or afternoon tea, coffee & biscuits
- Don't forget your camera!
- Change your booking up to 24 hours before the start time of your experience
- Changes are not permitted within 24 hours of your experience
- Late arrivals or no shows may result in you forfeiting your experience
Recent reviews
We never got to go on this tour because we booked it through Everything New Zealand but then they never actually booked it for us through Nomad Safari.
Was a Fantastic experience. We enjoyed the trip out to greens island, spending time at the beach and doing our glass bottom boat tour and all the staff were outstanding!
Everything was as described. A full day of exciting activities
Need help?
- Email us at plan@everythingnewzealand.com
- Product ID: 26257
- This experience is supplied by Nomad Quad Bike Safaris