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PRIVATE Full Day Lord of the Rings and Weta plus keepsake

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Wellington, New Zealand
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from $227.01 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
My preciiioouuusssss!!
Mount Victoria - Incredible views & the location for the first day of filming
Luxury branded vehicles
Embassy Theatre hosted the World Premiere of Return of the King
Reimagined pics from the trilogy
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.
6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

One tour to rule them all......

You'll get to check out the filming locations of the magical Lord of the Rings trilogy & you also get to wander around the beautiful city. All hosted by expert guides!

Including but not limited to the Outer Shire, Helm’s Deep, Minas Tirith, Isengard & Rivendell. We'll recreate some iconic scenes & enjoy some stunning scenery whilst we go!

Your tour includes the 90-minute Weta Cave experience where you'll be taken behind the scenes of Weta Workshop.

What's Included

  • Bottled water
  • Admission to the 90 minute Weta Cave Experience is included in your cost
  • Licensed guide/ driver
  • Lunch Guests meet their own costs for lunch
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

** CRUISE SHIP GUESTS PLEASE READ** From season 26/27 we are no longer collecting directly at the port. You will need to make your way to the port exit & then take the short 3 - 5 min walk to the collection point.Please search "Cruise Ship Independent Tour Car Park, 94 Waterloo Quay" when booking.**HOTEL GUESTS** Hotel pick ups, please be patient with collection & make yourself visible to the driver.**ISITE PICK UP GUESTS** iSite pick ups are at 217 Wakefield Street

OR
Meeting point
End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Wellington

COLLECTOur journey starts by safely collecting all of our guests & getting onboard our vehicle.If you are coming in by cruise ship, we will collect you directly from the port. You do not need to get on a shuttle bus or head to the city as we are accredited to collect you as you walk off the ship.If you are being collected from your hotel then please wait in reception or just outside where you can been seen by your friendly guide. Sit tight, sometimes traffic (or people) can delay our arrival.If you are being collected from the iSite then pop out to the tour bus stop just outside/beside the iSite. Keep an eye out for Ka Rawe signage on the vehicle & we'll see you soon!
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Embassy Theatre

What a beautiful cinema & plenty of history to go with this one too.The Embassy Theatre is located at the Eastern end of Courtenay Place in the shadow of Mount Victoria.It was thrust into the international cinematic limelight when it hosted the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on December 1, 2003. Nearly 120,000 people lined the red carpet along Courtenay Place to watch the procession of actors and filmmakers as they made their way into the theatre for the screening.The theatre also hosted the Australasian premieres of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.The theatre held a red carpet screening of Peter Jackson's King Kong in 2005 and the 2012 world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Mount Victoria Lookout

Check out the best vantage point in our beautiful city. Breathtaking 360 degree views of the central business district, the harbour & the ocean to the south. Stunnnnning!Legend has it that Wellington harbour, originally a land-locked lake, was home to two large and very active taniwha (sea monsters). One taniwha forged a passage to the open sea creating the entrance to the harbour. The second, named Whataitai, tried a different route, became stranded and died. It is believed that Tangi-te keo (Mt Victoria) was named after the soul of Whataitai.Probably the best photo opportunity on the tour, our guide/host would be delighted to be your personal photographer for the day.What a beautiful city!
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Mount Victoria

HOBBITS HIDEAWAYNot only is Mount Victoria the best vantage point in Wellington with those 360 degree views but where the first day of filming took place for the Lord of the Rings trilogy back in 1998.Some of the most iconic scenes from the trilogy were filmed here & your guide will use imagery from the trilogy to bring those scenes to life.Hideaway from the Black Riders & move swiftly to Buckleberry ferry & who knows, maybe we might just recreate those scenes........Don't forget, your guide LOVES taking photos for you.Your guide will share loads of insider knowledge weaned from training given by Lord of the Rings experts & hours of watching behind the scenes documentaries!Get off the rooooad!
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Wellington

WETA CAVEDon't be fooled into thinking we're here to see some New Zealand native insects up close......Whilst the Weta is a native new zealand cricket like insect, its also the name of a World famous Film & Special Effects company right here in little old Wellington!Arguably Weta is most famous for the incredible work of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, however their impact on the greater industry is much broader than that.Included in your cost of the tour, you'll also participate in the 90 minute behind the scenes Weta Cave experience. Our guide will check you in for that.This is also your chance to purchase some memorabilia, check out some of the items on show in the mini museum & you'll even have a photo opportunity with the Cave Trolls! At Ka Rawe, our guides make great photographers too.Once we leave the Weta Cave, we check out the Wellington sign on our travels, this is the one our friends from Hollywood copied!!
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2 hours Admission Ticket Free

Oriental Bay

We make our way back into the city around the bay & your guide will keep you informed as we go.We make it around to Oriental Bay known for being both a popular beach and an opulent centre of affluence in the city. Its a little bit pricey around here!.You'll get to see some amazing architecture & perhaps this will be the only "man made" beach you'll ever see in your lives!!? Check out Carter Fountain too.Originally named Duppa Bay after its original sole resident George Duppa, it was renamed to Oriental Bay after one of the first to bring settlers here to Wellington.Spectacular!Beautiful
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Wellington

LUNCH - We'll find a suitable location for lunch. Costs are met by the guests
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45 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Upper Hutt

HUTT VALLEY & QUARRYWe take a short journey out to the Hutt Valley region, where more movie magic was made.Whilst it looks a little different these days, the Dry Creek Quarry housed some of the most impressive sets from the movie. Believe it or not, this is where the epic Battle of Helms Deep was shot.Our guide helps bring these scenes to life with historic pictures & images from the movie. They'll also share some of the lesser known facts about the movie that relate to this particular site. For example, did you know that some of the crowd noise generated for the Battle of Helms Deep was derived from an International Cricket match that took place around the time of filming?? Genius huh!!?A reminder, don't forget to bring your imagination!
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Poet's Park

The locals know this location as Poets Corner, however at Ka Rawe, we know it & show it as part of the Riven Anduin!Similar to the Dry Creek Quarry, whilst much has changed here in the last 25 years, what hasn't changed is that Poets corner served as part of the River Anduin where the Fellowship travelled in boats after leaving Lothlorien.Our guide will share other interesting facts regarding this location as we do throughout our journey, we bring these facts to life with supporting imagery.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Upper Hutt

ISENGARDWe continue our journey a little deeper in to the Hutt Valley & as we slip off the main thoroughfare, we encounter what the locals know as Harcourt Park but we prefer to recognize as Isengard!A great opportunity to recreate one of the shots from the movie where the background still looks largely similar to how it did those 25 years ago.We showcase some of Peter's ingenuity as we reimagine how he shot some of the scenes & how they morphed into the final images you see on screen.As always, our guide is happy to act as photographer for you & has images to share to fuel your imagination! And we share a little insiders knowledge as we go.
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20 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Kaitoke Regional Park

Well if you ever wanted to experience the beautiful scenery & mature that New Zealand is renowned for, then look no further than Kaitoke Regional Park. We prefer to think of it as Rivendell!Once again we marvel at Peters ingenuity as we share how composite scenes are created & talk a little about the use of miniatures & bigatures!There can be no mistake that Kaitoke Park was used in the filming of Lord of the Rings, as there are many items & land marks to showcase this fact.Fantastic photo opportunities (again) as we escape the van to soak up the serenity & imagine just what it looked like some 27 years ago.Your guide will once again share some little known facts with you, show you some imagery from the film & act as you personal photographer.Magic!
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Wellington

DROP OFFTo conclude our journey, we head back to the city & we rejoice in the success & fun that our day brought to alll!
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45 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Show 11 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Please note that the order of the itinerary items may vary
  • Note that we visit filming locations not movies sets. Please bring your imagination!

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the PRIVATE Full Day Lord of the Rings and Weta plus keepsake?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (NZDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-5494494P19

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.00
1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
1
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 19 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the PRIVATE Full Day Lord of the Rings and Weta plus keepsake?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (NZDT).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Bottled water.
  • Admission to the 90 minute Weta Cave Experience is included in your cost.
  • Licensed guide/ driver.
The following is NOT included:
  • Lunch. Guests meet their own costs for lunch.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 1. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the PRIVATE Full Day Lord of the Rings and Weta plus keepsake is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • There is some track walking required up & down a mild incline
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for PRIVATE Full Day Lord of the Rings and Weta plus keepsake will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Bottled water
  • Admission to the 90 minute Weta Cave Experience is included in your cost
  • Licensed guide/ driver
  • LunchGuests meet their own costs for lunch

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • There is some track walking required up & down a mild incline
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Please note that the order of the itinerary items may vary
  • Note that we visit filming locations not movies sets. Please bring your imagination!
  • Lunch venue & duration of break time varies depending on traffic & other timings
  • Please stay flexible regarding travel times & itinerary times

Report Product Issue

Activity name