Lord of the Rings tours from Queenstown compared

The Lord of the Rings tours from Queenstown split into two areas: Glenorchy and Paradise, and the Wakatipu Basin around Arrowtown and the Kawarau Gorge. Each operator lists its own locations.

• Glenorchy and Paradise

  Pure Glenorchy lists Isengard, Amon Hen, Lothlórien Forest, the Misty Mountains and Ithilien. Nomad Safaris lists Isengard, Lothlórien, Fangorn Forest, Ithilien Camp and the Battle of Amon Hen, and says its Glenorchy trip also takes in locations from The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

• Wakatipu Basin

  Nomad Safaris' Queenstown tour lists the Misty Mountains (The Remarkables from Queenstown Hill), the Pillars of the Kings in the Kawarau Gorge, Gladden Fields near Arrowtown and the Ford of Bruinen up the Arrow River (the Department of Conservation lists Skippers Canyon for the Ford of Bruinen scene), and looks across to Deer Park Heights, used for the Refugees of Rohan and the Battle of the Wargs.

• Both, in one day

  Pure Glenorchy's full day lists Ithilien, Isengard, Lothlórien Forest and Amon Hen with the Ford of Bruinen, the Gladden Fields and the Pillars of the Kings. Nomad Safaris' full day runs its Glenorchy tour in the morning and returns to Queenstown for lunch before Arrowtown, Gibbston and the Skippers Canyon Road.

• From the air

  Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters says it was involved in filming The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Its flight lands on a glacier beside the Misty Mountains, and the company says you receive a booklet of the filming spots.

• Group size

  Nomad Safaris takes at most 6 guests in a 4WD on its standard tours, or 4 if you choose the guaranteed window seat option, and offers the whole vehicle for up to 6 guests privately. Pure Glenorchy uses Toyota 4WD Hiaces that fit up to 11 guests and can run several vehicles for larger groups. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters carries at most 6 passengers in a Squirrel or H130 helicopter and 9 in an H145.

• Walking

  Pure Glenorchy says its longest walk is about 15 minutes over uneven ground and that you do not have to take it. Nomad Safaris' Glenorchy tour has an easy 15 minute return walk on a formed trail, and it says you can stay in or near the vehicle at any stop.

• Costumes and props

  Pure Glenorchy offers swords, capes, cloaks, elf ears and crowns for photos in Lothlórien Forest. Nomad Safaris' Glenorchy and full day tours include replica cloaks and props; its Queenstown tour lists gold panning instead.

• Pick up

  Pure Glenorchy leaves from the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets, and picks up from some Queenstown accommodation if you get in touch. Nomad Safaris leaves from 37 Shotover Street and picks up free from selected central Queenstown accommodation. It does not pick up from the Hilton or Frankton for its Glenorchy tour.

• Food

  Pure Glenorchy includes a light morning or afternoon tea, and lunch is at your own expense on its full day. Nomad Safaris includes tea, and its full day adds a cafe lunch voucher.

Yes, but the age limits differ by operator.

• Pure Glenorchy

  Children aged 5 and above can join its shared half day, and younger children can come on a private tour. Its full day lists a child rate for ages 10 to 14 only, so check before booking a younger child.

• Nomad Safaris

  Its 4WD tours in Queenstown welcome all ages, with no minimum age, and child and booster seats on request at booking.

• Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

  It says there is no minimum age to fly, and provides lap belts for infants.

Each operator has its own rules, read on 10 November 2026.

• Pure Glenorchy

  Its tour runs in all weather when it is safe to do so, and a road closure on the day means a full refund. If you cancel more than 48 hours before departure you get a full refund; inside 48 hours there is no refund. It needs at least 2 adults to run a tour, so a single traveller is on standby and is refunded in full if the tour does not run and cannot be rescheduled.

• Nomad Safaris

  It departs in all weather unless its operations manager judges it too dangerous, and itineraries can change with weather, river levels or road conditions. It needs at least 2 paying adult-rate passengers to confirm a trip, or 4 on New Zealand statutory holidays. Cancelling more than 24 hours before departure has no fee; inside 24 hours the fee is 100%. If Nomad Safaris cancels, you can reschedule or take a full refund.

• Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

  Cancelling more than 24 hours before departure brings a full refund; inside 24 hours the fee is 100%. If weather cancels your flight and you cannot reschedule, you get a full refund, and it suggests booking at the start of your stay. Minimum numbers apply, so bookings can be combined or moved to another time.

• Booked through a link here

  A tour booked through a link on this page has the terms shown on its own booking page, which can differ from the operator's own, so read them before you pay.

Not for every location. The Department of Conservation names Twelve Mile Delta, in the Queenstown area, as the location for Ithilien camp, and lists a Twelve Mile Delta to Bob's Cove Track and a campsite there. Nomad Safaris points out that there are no sets left to see, because the producers had to remove them, so a guide's job is to match the landscape to the scene. A tour is worth paying for, in our view, when you want Paradise and the Dart River Valley without driving the gravel yourself, and when you want the film stills, stories and props.

Filming locations in Queenstown, film by film

• Film scenes in half a day

  Nomad Safaris' Glenorchy 4WD tour, which it recommends over its Queenstown tour for seeing scenes, or Pure Glenorchy's half day if you want capes, swords and elf ears for photos.

• Off-road and gold panning

  Nomad Safaris' Queenstown 4WD tour.

• Both areas in one day

  Pure Glenorchy's full day with its partner, or Nomad Safaris' 9.5 hour 4WD day, with a cafe lunch voucher included.

• Small children

  Nomad Safaris has no minimum age on its 4WD tours. Pure Glenorchy takes children from 5 on its shared half day, and its full day lists a child rate for ages 10 to 14 only.

• A short schedule

  Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters' 70 minute flight, if you can keep a spare day for the weather.