Lord of the Rings Tour in Wellington

The ornately detailed world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth was portrayed in spectacular fashion in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Now you can see many of the amazing filming locations yourself – presented in all their beauty by Capital Personalised Tours in Wellington.

With some of the best Lord of the Rings Tours in New Zealand, Wellington is home to the famous Weta Cave workshop, as well as the memorable filming locations for Helms Deep, Rivendell and many more.

Staffed by fun and knowledgeable guides (who themselves are fans of Middle Earth) and with roomy, comfortable vans and intimate group sizes, you are assured of a great time on this Wellington Lord of the Rings Tour. The two tour options are structured in a way to guarantee the best experience to suit your schedule, whether you choose a half day or full day tour.

Half Day Tour This half day tour takes you to the best locations in Wellington City. Explore key sites in the film-making process with your specialist Lord of the Rings guide.

After your pick up in the city, you will visit the Mt Victoria lookout for stunning views across Wellington City and Harbour, before a short descent into a unique pine forest where Peter Jackson began the filming of his epic trilogy. Discover the filming locations for scenes such as the iconic 'Get off the Road' scene, where the Hobbits hid from the Black Riders in the 'Hobbit's Hideaway'.

Following this, you’ll take a short trip to Miramar, the home of the Wellington film industry, to visit Weta – the company who designed and fabricated almost everything Middle Earth. Explore the studios and post production facilities that helped bring these films to screen before they settled at the Weta Cave. Here you have a chance to pose for photos with various characters and marvel at the craftsmanship of the sculptures, armour and weapons on display, as well as pick up those essential souvenirs and gifts.

During your visit, you watch a behind the scenes documentary that details the history of the Weta company, from it’s origins through to present day, and enjoy the Weta Experience tour. Guided by an actual Weta technician, this tour delves into the creativity and ingenuity needed to create the physical effects for some of the biggest and best movies ever, not just Middle-earth. It will leave you amazed at the vast influence Weta has had on the film industry and in no doubt why we call the area “Wellywood.”

You then finish the tour with a scenic drive around the harbour back to the city.

Full Day Tour This is the ultimate tour for Lord of the Rings fans and includes more locations and stories than the half-day tour. First, you will explore the Hutt Valley, including Hutt River (Anduin), Harcourt Park (Isengard) and the sights of Helms Deep. Your Lord of the Rings Tour guide will then stop at Rivendell and the Legolas Tree, with plenty of time to pose and take photos. 

You will then visit the Weta Cave in Miramar, which is packed with amazing statues, models and memorabilia from Lord of the Rings and other movies - all created by the brilliant artists there. You will also learn about current and future Peter Jackson/Weta creations and get all the gossip about who is currently in town from Hollywood!

After exploring the museum and shop at Weta, you will take part in the fascinating Weta Experience tour. Delve even further behind the scenes of the Lord of the Rings movies, with the chance to discover film props and weaponry and learn how the artefacts were created by Weta technicians. 

Enjoy lunch at a local seaside cafe before continuing your tour with a visit to the Mt Victoria lookout point. Here, you will see spectacular views over Wellington City and the Harbour, before heading to the final destination on the tour - Hobbit's Hideaway and 'Outer Shire'.