LORD
OF THE RING TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND
15 DAYS
The best scenery of New Zealand combined with a visit
to the best LOTR film locations.
Day
1 – AUCKLAND
Arrival transfer by shuttle van to your hotel. Today enjoy a half day city
tour of the City of Sails, including Westhaven Marina, the Auckland Bridge,
Queen Street, Mt Eden lookout, the Domain and Museum of Auckland, Parnell
Village and Tamaki Drive, plus the visit to the Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic
Centre and Underwater World to have the chance to walk through a water
tunnel surrounded by sharks and rays, and other typical fishes of the Pacific
region. Also see the yellow crest penguins and Antarctic Base hut.
An to have a bird view of the city, we include a ticket to the Sky
Tower, New Zealand’s tallest building. Accommodation.
Day
2 – AUCKLAND
Day
at leisure to enjoy the city attractions. In the evening, we include a romantic
sail in the harbour aboard the Pride of Auckland Yacht. Enjoy a seafood
dinner onboard and enjoy the nocturnal view of the city from the sea.
Day
3 – AUCKLAND-ROTORUA
Early departure on a bus tour at 8:15 am to the city of Rotorua, in the Bay of
Plenty region. We cross the fertile Waikato region, the main dairy farm region
of New Zealand. In Waitomo, we stop to visit Waitomo Caves, for a 45’
guided tour of the caves and the fantastic experience in the dark and silent
cave stream, to see the glow-worms hanging from the ceiling, like a starry
night. Also stalactites and
stalagmites can be seen at the Cathedral Cave. Continuation to Rotorua,
geothermal region and city of Maori culture. The bus will drop you at your
hotel. Tonight enjoy a dinner-show
at the Tamaki Village, where you will be welcomed in the traditional
Maori way: challenge. Typical
Maori village in the forest, where you will be able to interact with the local
people and enjoy the traditional dances, including the haka, and a typical hangi
buffet dinner (cooked in earth oven). Accommodation.
Day
4 – ROTORUA
Full
day guided tour visiting the Waimangu Valley, the Buried Village,
the Redwood Forest, The Whakarewarewa Thermal Village.
On 10 June 1886 the tremendous eruption of Mt Tarawera devastated the
surrounding area, killing 120 people and totally destroying the famed Pink
and White Terrace and burying a thriving village, Te Wairoa. Today you
can explore the story of this eruption with a guided walk amidst the spectacular
volcanic landscape of Waimangu and a lake cruise that takes you close to
steaming cliffs, gushing hot springs and the site of the destroyed pink and
white terraces. Walk across Te ariki Isthmus, a sacred place where many perished
during the 1886 eruption to beautiful Lake Tarawera, where your skipper will
tell you the legends surrounding the eruption. At Te Wairoa, you can stroll
through the excavated site and see early colonial life frozen in time. The
Museum of Te Wairoa will provide you with an insight into the most significant
event in the history of Rotorua. On the return journey back to Rotorua, enjoy
views of the Blue and Green Lakes and stroll in the Redwood Forest. Prior to
being returned to your accommodation, you have the choice of a soak at the
Polynesium Spa or a walk through Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, with impressive
geysers. Accommodation.
Day
5 – ROTORUA-WELLINGTON
At 10 am depart by regular Kiwi Traveller bus to Wellington, via Taupo,
arriving at 18 hrs to the capital of New Zealand, drop off at the hotel.
Accommodation.
Day
6 – WELLINGTON
Full
day tour of Wellington:
Travel around the earthquake-scarred south coast to see the ruins of the Wahine
ferry disaster and the distant ranges of the South Island, overlooked
by the coasters' houses perched on the steep, rocky hills. Enjoy the views
of the harbour and Matiu Sommes Island, a deceptively pretty place
where prisoners of war were quarantined during World War II. Enjoy panoramic
views of Wellington city and harbour from the top of Mt Victoria. Take
a trip on the cable car, a charming and picturesque transport that is one of the
few surviving in the world. In Thorndon, New Zealand's oldest suburb, visit the
magnificent Parliament Buildings and gorgeous
Old St Paul’s Cathedral. See the famous Beehive, our seat
of government. It really is shaped like one! Your day include a visit to the
national museum, Te Papa, where you can explore the interactive displays
and extraordinary mix of Maori and European history. Te Papa is right on
Wellington's waterfront, an area that is packed
with sculpture, poetry, performers, and people. Enjoy a
delicious open-air picnic lunch on one of the city's beautiful beaches or
if it isn't picnic weather at one of Wellington's famous local cafes!
Accommodation.
Day
7 – WELLINGTON
Today enjoy a full day tour
to MIDDLE EARTH, the sites where the Lord of the Ring was filmed:
the Gardens of Isengard, the felling of the Orc Tree, Anduin River, Helms Deep
and Minas Tirith, the Fords of Isen, Dunharrow and Rivendell. Go to the Mount
Victoria lookout and Hobbiton Woods where you can race to the Ferry and get off
the Road. At stunning and exclusive Lothlorien you will see where Smeagol fought
Deagol beside the Gladden fields. Your gourmet lunch is included so is the trip
to Miramar and Seatoun; NZs Hollywood and Production Central. See where the cast
and crew lived, where the Village of Bree was and follow the path of the World
Premier. Unique entertainment!
Day 8 – WELLINGTON-CHRISTCHURCH (flight
not included)
Transfer to the airport by shuttle van and departure by domestic flight to
Christchurch, South Island.
Upon
arrival, transfer by shuttle van to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure to walk
along Worcester Br and visit the Art Gallery, the Museum of Canterbury and the
Botanical Gardens or wander inside the Arts Centre, where craftsmen studios are
open to the public. Enjoy a half
day city tour in the afternoon, visiting Monavale Gardens, and
crossing the University of Canterbury, to see the hillside suburbs of Reddcliff
and the seaside suburb of Sumner, as well a panoramic view of the city
from the hills. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.
Day
9 - CHRISTCHURCH
Excursion to Akaroa, a charming little French settlement village,
from 1840, in the Banks Peninsula,
80 kms from the city. Travel via
Sign of Takahe, Sign of Kiwi, Governers bay, Gebbies Pass, Lake Forsyth and
Little River.
Stop
at the Hill Top to experience panoramic views of Akaroa Harbour. Visit the
cheese factory at Barry's Bay and sample some fine New Zealand cheese. Lunch
will be taken at Bully Hayes, a popular restaurant on the water front in the
heart of Akaroa with a wide choice of New Zealand food available. Following
lunch you have a two hour cruise on the Canterbury Cat exploring the
delights of Akaroa Harbour and sighting dolphins, penguins and seals. On
the return journey to Christchurch a stop will be made at Birdling Flat on the
Kaitorete Spit. This stony beach at the entrance to Lake Forsyth provides
a commanding view of the southern facing cliffs of Banks Peninsula. An
interesting selection of pebbles and semi-precious stones can be found on the
beach. Accommodation
Day
10 – CHRISTCHURCH
Departs
at 9 am in full day tour LORD OF THE RINGS: A journey to the remote and
beautiful Mt Potts high country station, home of Mt Sunday; see how this
peaceful mountain was transformed into Edoras, the capital city of the Rohan
people in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Be Amazed and emotionally charged
by the spectacular scenery and atmosphere this location has to offer. You don't
have to be a Lord of the Rings fan to enjoy this amazing day out! Immerse
yourself in the natural, unspoilt beauty of the high country's sparkling clear
lakes, glistening blue rivers and fresh, crisp mountain air. Take
a short guided walk to stand on the summit of Edoras and enjoy as Eowyn did, the
breathtaking 360º views. See the Misty Mountains and the area that formed the
backdrop of Helms Deep. Enjoy a delicious champagne picnic lunch on Edoras
itself. Includes free postcard and poster, and use of Portable DVD player to
relive your favourites scenes of the film, movie replicas, Flag of Rohan and map
of Middle Earth. Return 17 hrs.
Accommodation
Day
11 – CHRISTCHURCH-QUEENSTOWN
Departs on a bus tour to the Southern Lakes, with beautiful scenery along the
way: Lake Tekapo, the silhouette of the highest mountain, Mt Cook and the
glacier lakes of Pukaki and closer to Queenstown, the Kawarau River. Lunch
included at the Heritage Hotel in Mt Cook Village. Arrive to Queenstown, the
adventure capital of the world in the evening. Accommodation.
Day
12 – QUEENSTOWN
Today
is a spectacular day dedicated to the Lord of the Ring: When JRR Tolkien
created Middle-Earth little did he know the magical landscapes of his
imagination actually existed, 12,000 miles away from his homeland. It took Peter
Jackson 10 years and millions of dollars to bring The Lord of the Rings to life
on the big screen. Many of the areas that a Nomad Safaris tour visits provide
the spectacular backdrops to much of the action in Peter Jackson¹s 'The
Fellowship of the Ring'; The Ford at Bruinen, the Misty Mountains, Isengard and
Lothlorien, better know locally as Skippers Canyon, Macetown and Paradise, to
name a few.
Join
a Nomad Safari on a special adventure tailored to include some of the locations
used for significant scenes in the film. Prepare to be amazed. Nomad Safaris
operate 4WD tours into the heart of New Zealand high country, the embodiment of
the Middle-Earth of Tolkien¹s imagination. The 'Safari of the Rings' tour is a
scenic charter that gives a spectacular look at the diversity of the scenery in
the area. It is based around several of the specific sites where filming took
place. These are real places; there are no film sets; they are areas of
outstanding natural beauty that need no enhancement.
Some places we visit are: Arrowtown, Skipper Canyon (Road of Mordor),
the Remarkables Mountains lookout (Warg War, Gadalf horseback to Mines
Tirith, Mountains of the Shadow, Dimrill Dale) and Paradise (Glenorchy) (Dunharrow,
Bennetts Bluf, the location of Wizards Vale, Orthanc, Isengard, Lothlorien, Amon
Hen, Dan’s Paddock, Rabbit Stew, Ambush scene). There is one hour brake in
Queenstown for free lunch. Accommodation.
Tonight enjoy a superb buffet dinner at the Skyline Restaurant,
including the gondola ride and magnificent views of the city and lake.
Day
13 – QUEENSTOWN
Enjoy
a spectacular day in Fiordland: full day guided bus tour to Lake Manapouri,
then 45’ catamaran cruise across the lake to West Arm and a narrow
wandy road up the mountain in one of the wettest areas of the planet, deep in
the isolated mountain and forest, to arrive to Deep Cove. Up to 7 mts of rain
fall every year, in this beech forest. Here, depart on a 3 hrs cruise of
Doubtful Sound, with the company of cheerful dolphins jumping beside the
cruise and sea lions resting on the rocks. A truly unique experience in the
wilderness and remote Fiordland National Park, to be able to listen the
Sounds of Silence when the engines are turned off: singing streams and narrow
falls from the forest, and singing birds is all what you can hear.
Picnic lunch included. Return to Queenstown by bus, after visiting the
Underground Power Station.
Day 14 –
QUEENSTOWN
Day at leisure to enjoy the city attractions or try adventure sports.
Accommodation.
Day
15 - QUEENSTOWN
Transfer out for your international flight.
Price
per person sharing a double room, including taxes, in New Zealand dollars:
The
price include:
Ø
Transfer in / out in each city by shuttle van
Ø
Auckland: 2 nights accommodation, half
day city tour inc. Sky Tower and Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World,
dinner-cruise Pride of Auckland Yacht, Museo Maritime
Ø
Tour Auckland-Rotorua including guided visit to the Waitomo Caves
Ø
Rotorua: 2 nights accommodation, full
day tour of Waimangu Valley, Te Wairoa Village and Museum, The Whakarewarewa
Thermal Village, and Redwood Forest inc. lunch.
Buffet Hangi-concert at Tamaki Maori Village inc. transfers.
Ø
Transfer Rotorua-Wellington by shuttle bus.
Ø
Wellington: 3 nights accommodation.
Full day tour Lord of the Ring with lunch.
City tour inc. Museum Te Papa, cable car and Mt Victoria and picnic
lunch.
Ø
Christchurch: 3 nights accommodation.
Half day city tour. Full day Lord of the Ring Tour inc. picnic lunch.
Full day tour to Akaroa French village inc. dolphin cruise and lunch.
Ø
Transfer Christchurch-Mt Cook-Queenstown aboard luxury bus with driver
guide.
Ø
Queenstown: 4 nights
accommodation. Full day tour Lord
of the Ring. Full day guided tour
and cruise Doubtful Sound inc. picnic lunch.
NEW ZEALAND LINK TRAVEL LTD 
