| Itinerary |
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DAY 1
USA/Tahiti/Bora Bora (assumes overnight flight from LAX or JFK.) |
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Overnight flights from USA arrive very early in Tahiti. You are met by our reps at Papeete Airport, who will answer your questions, provide additional contact information, counsel with you about your Tahiti stay and make sure that you make your connecting flight. Take a 50-minute flight to Bora Bora, where your hotel has arranged your transfer to their property. The island of Bora Bora is widely considered to be the most beautiful of the Tahitian islands and one of the most beautiful things to see on earth. It is "the" preferred vacation spot for numerous movie stars, European royalty, sheiks, maharajas, and international jet-setters.” You can explore Bora Bora this afternoon at your leisure. Enjoy the pristine white beaches, aquamarine water, fabulous coral reef, tropical flowers and fauna. You can explore the lagoon by boat excursion or rented boat, go fishing (coastal or deep sea) horseback riding, rent a Moped or car, play tennis, scuba dive or snorkel, bike, hike ... the list seems endless! Of course you may choose to simply relax at your hotel. This package includes standard rooms at the class of hotel selected, however, if room is available, for added cost you may request an upgrade to lagoon room, garden room, beach bungalow or overwater bungalows always called simply (OWB). These are typically not available at 3-star properties, but can be found at some 4-star hotels and certainly at all 5-star resorts. These are especially popular with honeymooners and lovers of all ages. At night, you can watch "Tahitian TV" as you remove the cover in the middle of your bungaloaw and see the incredible marine life swim underneath through the large looking glass insert in the floor of your room! (Meals Aloft)
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DAY 2
Bora Bora Excursion |
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In addition to the options listed for Day 1, you can choose a mountain safari in a 4X4 LandRover or Jeep, which provides the most majestic views of the area, or you can take a Circle Island (boat) Tour, during which you will walk on living coral reef, search for manta rays, dive for giant mussels, and snorkel amid exotic fish and coral in the natural aquarium . The lagoon at Bora Bora is stunning, and this is the most popular activity. But with either tour, your English-speaking guide will help you to become more informed about the people, history, and attractions of Bora Bora. In the late afternoon, ask the concierge to direct you to the best location for listening to the Tahitians playing guitars and ukeleles while singing traditional Polynesion songs as you watch the magnificent sunset. Tonight, a dinner show with traditional Tahitian dance, music and song. (BD)
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| DAY 3
Bora Bora/Tahiti |
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You check-out by 11 AM and are transferred by the hotel to the Bora Bora airport to catch your flight to Papeete, where you are greeted by your transfer to the hotel. The island of Tahiti is yours to explore for the day, but get to bed early, because you must be at the Papeete airport early for most flights to New Zealand (typically 7:00am on Air NZ or 7:45 on Air Tahiti Nui). Tahiti is very beautiful, but not as magnificent as Bora Bora or Moorea. As Moorea is but a 10 minute flight or 40 minute ferry ride from Papeete, you should consider dropping your luggage at the hotel and spending the afternoon exploring the beauty of Moorea. (extra cost).(B)
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DAY 4 & 5
PAPATEE / AUCKLAND |
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| Don’t forget that you have crossed the International Date Line and have lost a day. Your roughly 5.5 hour flight to Auckland departs Papeete in the early morning, you arrive in Auckland mid-afternoon “tomorrow”, where you will be greeted at the airport by our reps, who will answer your questions, counsel about your trip and transfer you to your hotel or to your connecting flight if you have chosen to alter this plan. Afternoon sightseeing tour of City, features the views from Mt Eden, one of several extinct volcanoes in the region. Then wander through the boutique and specialty shops of Parnell Village, visit the Auckland Domain and Auckland War Memorial Museum and drive along the Waterfront to Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. Here you will view marine life from a diver’s perspective through the perspex tunnel and take a trip to the ‘South Pole’ to see the live penguin display and a replica of Scott’s Hut as it is today on the frozen continent. (Meal & snack aloft) |
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DAY 6
AUCKLAND / WAITOMO / MATAMATA |
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Today drive south over the Bombay Hills through the farmlands of the Waikato Valley to Waitomo for a fascinating guided tour of the Caves and Glowworm Grotto with its silent boat ride on the underground stream. In the afternoon drive across to the farming community of Matamata. It is here on a private farm that the village of Hobbiton was created for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. Enjoy a guided tour of the Hobbiton movie set. Set on a picturesque private farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges, the set has now been returned to its natural state, though hobbit holes and some structures from the set are still present. Your guide will escort you around the magical site. Following your tour, drive to a local farm where you will be accommodated for the evening. Meet your farm hosts and tour their property. Dinner with the family on the farm. Overnight Matamata farmstay (BD)
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DAY 7
MATAMATA / TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK |
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After breakfast with your hosts travel south
via Tokoroa and around the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest
lake, into the Tongariro National Park. Suggest you stay at the Powderhorn
Chateau, situated at the base of the mountain road leading to the Turoa
Skifield on Mt Ruapehu. This hotel was home for Peter Jackson and the Lord
of the Rings cast for six weeks in 2000, and they returned to stay in May
2002 to shoot the new scene for the Ithilien Camp, featured in The Two Towers
and located near this hotel. The Lord of the Rings team also stayed at The
Grand Chateau, at the foot of Mt Ruapehu. This beautiful iconic hotel was
used for accommodation for the team, and the conference room was used as
their headquarters with the cinema used to view the film ‘rushes’.
Overnight Tongariro National Park (2 nights) (B)
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DAY 8
TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK |
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The day is free to explore the area – it is here on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu that the Mt Doom sequence was filmed, though the area has now been replanted to return it to its natural state. Whakapapa Skifield was used to depict Mordor, Gorgorach Plains and Emyn Muil, and is easily accessible. Not all of the Lord of the Rings film locations in this region are accessible by road. Guided walks, rafting or kayaking adventures and scenic flights to view the locations can be arranged. There are also walks of differing lengths available in the park, one of the most popular being the Tongariro Crossing (17kms =7-8 hours walking) with its diverse scenery over volcanic terrain. (B)
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DAY 9
TONGARIRO / WELLINGTON |
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Today make your way down the coast to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. The day is free to enjoy the Harbour City and its environs. It is here that Peter Jackson, director of Lord of the Rings, has made his home and where the base for filming was situated. The woods on Mt Victoria were used for the Outer Shire, and the suburb of Seatoun became Bree. You may also wish to drive up to the Kaitoke Regional Park or the settlements of the Hutt Valley, which were used as the settings for Rivendell and the River Anduin, Outer Shire, Ferry Lane, Trollshaw Forest, Weathertop Hillside and Bree streets. You may even wish to eat at the ‘Chocolate Fish’, said to be one of the favourite haunts of the Lord of the Rings stars and crew. Overnight in Wellington. (B)
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DAY 10
WELLINGTON / NELSON
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This morning return your rental vehicle to the depot at the Wellington Ferry Terminal. Depart Wellington on the InterIsland Ferry for the three and a half hour cruise across the Cook Strait to Picton, at the top of the South Island. The last part of the cruise through the Queen Charlotte Sound is particularly scenic. Arrive at Picton, situated at the head of the Picton Harbour on the South side of Queen Charlotte Sound. Collect your South Island rental car and head towards Havelock, a holiday resort at the head of Pelorus Sound. Continue south through Rai Valley and Whangamoa Valley to Nelson. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy this popular town, famous for its cuisine, arts and crafts and the spectacular scenery of the nearby Abel Tasman National Park. Overnight Nelson (2 nights) (B)
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DAY 11
NELSON |
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Optional heli-flight: This morning we suggest a helicopters ride for a look at the rough country south of Rivendell and the Dimrill Dale exit from the Mines of Moria. Our chosen helicopter company provided transport for the cast and crew to sites in the Nelson area, and also undertook aerial filming.
Lifting off, you will travel across to the Takaka Hill and the first location,
the area used to portray the Chetwood Forest as the Ranger Strider led the
hobbits into the rough country east of Bree in an attempt to escape the
Black Riders. Circle the world famous Harwoods Hole before continuing to
Mt Olympus. Crossing deep valleys you will soon arrive at the strange pinnacle
rock formations that were used to portray the jagged country south of Rivendell.
Here, as the nine rested and cooked a meal they were spied from above by
the Crebain crows of Saruman. Hurriedly extinguishing their fire, they hid
behind the pinnacles in an attempt to escape discovery.
After circling this locality, continue across a dramatic mountain landscape
to the Dimrill Dale at Mt Owen. Distraught at the loss of Gandalf, the remaining
members of the Fellowship escape the mines and throw themselves to the ground
in their grief. Filming was undertaken here for ten days and the results
are one of the most moving moments in the films. Time and conditions permitting,
your helicopter tour will include a landing at Mt Owen.
If you do not add the heli flight, then today is at leisure to explore independently. You may wish to enjoy the picturesque bays and beaches in the Abel Tasman National Park or visit some of the many art, craft, pottery and glass blowing studios in the area. (B)
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DAY 12
NELSON / CHRISTCHURCH |
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Today travel down State Highway 6 (looking out for Mt
Owen) through the centre of the upper South Island to Maruia Springs, then
cross the Lewis Pass – time permitting you may wish to enjoy a soak
in the hot mineral waters at Hanmer Springs before arriving in Christchurch.
Christchurch, "the most English city outside England", grew out
of a planned Anglican settlement in the 1850's. The beautiful urban parks
and formal gardens shaded by oaks and willows, fine Gothic cathedral and
Victorian architecture typify this corner of New Zealand. Majestic views
of the sweeping Canterbury Plains and snowcapped Southern Alps can be seen
from the Port Hills.
The remainder of the day is at leisure in Christchurch. Suggest you take a self-drive sightseeing tour of the "Garden City", to view Hagley Park and Mona Vale, where there is the opportunity of punting on the tree-lined Avon River, the Botanical Gardens and the many landscaped parks and suburbs. Christchurch is also renowned for its architecture and the city boasts many fine stone buildings of Gothic design including the wonderful stone buildings of the Christchurch Arts Centre, the original site of Canterbury University which now houses a number of arts and crafts stores, and the impressive Christ Church Cathedral. Wander around Cathedral Square and enjoy the buskers and entertainers. Take a drive up the Port Hills to enjoy lovely views, or drive out through the Lyttleton Tunnel to Lyttleton. Overnight in Christchurch. (B)
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DAY 13
CHRISTCHURCH / MOUNT COOK |
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This morning travel south across the sheep and cropping
Canterbury Plains to Fairlie and inland through Burkes Pass. Enroute, you
may wish to stop for morning tea and a guided tour of Mt Potts Station,
whose location was used to create Edoras and Meduseld, King Theoden’s
hall. Continue past glacially formed Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki and towards
Mt Cook to Twizel. A tour of Ben Ohau Station, location for the filming
of Pelennor Fields and the Foothills of the White Mountains, can also be
arranged. There are 17 peaks above 10,000 ft in Mt Cook National Park, and
the alpine scenery is spectacular. This afternoon is at leisure.
Recommended activities include a 4 wheel drive glacier explorer tour to the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest glacier, including a 30 minute walk to the terminal lake and a boat ride to explore the glacier’s melting ice face. Scenic flights with landings on the glacier are also available. Watch for the cheeky Keas, large green parrots common in these mountains. Overnight at Mount Cook. (B)
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DAY 14
MOUNT COOK / QUEENSTOWN |
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Travel down the shores of glacial Lake Pukaki
and the Ben Ohau Range to Twizel. It is near here that a high country sheep
station became the setting for Pelennor Fields and White Mountain Foothills.
Drive across the barren terrain of the Lindis Pass, then through Central
Otago to the delightful lakeside resort of Queenstown. Overnight Queenstown
(3 nights) (B)
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DAY 15
QUEENSTOWN
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This morning take one of the most beautiful drives on
earth to the settlement of Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu to join
a jetboat safari up the Dart River to explore Middle Earth. En route stop
briefly at Closeburn – it was in these hills that Frodo clambered
up onto the ‘Seat of Seeing’ and was confronted by The Eye of
Sauron. Join Dart River Safaris for a full day trip deep into Mt Aspiring
National Park into areas not accessible by the public. The scenery is spectacular
with high mountains all around, and lush native rainforest. The isolation
is splendid. You will see Paradise Ducks and other native birds, and trout
may be seen in the rivers.
From Glenorchy, travel by jetboat up the braided channels of the Dart River
into the Mt Aspiring National Park – travel through Paradise and high
country farmland, which is the scene for Isengard, where the wizard Saruman
lived within the tower of Orthanc. The forests at Paradise were the location
for the golden wood of Lothlorien where you will have the opportunity for
a short walk in the ancient forest. This was also where the final dramatic
scene was played out in the Fellowship of the Ring – Boromir succumbs
to the orc attack and Merry and Pippin are captured by the Uruk-hai. At
the turnaround point in the Mt Aspiring National Park tuck your cameras
away and hold on tight for an exciting return journey through the dramatic
vistas of Nan Curunir – the valley of Saruman. Return to Queenstown.
Remainder of the day at leisure – you may wish to ride the aerial
gondola to Bob’s peak for panoramic views across the lake to the mountains,
or cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw vintage steamer (extra
cost). (B)
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DAY 16
SAFARI OF THE RINGS |
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Join a Nomad Safari on a special adventure tailored to
include some of the locations used for significant scenes in the Lord of
the Rings films: the embodiment of the Middle Earth of Tolkien’s imagination.
The 'Safari of the Rings' tour is a scenic 4 wheel drive adventure 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. Here it is possible to experience
the magical atmosphere captured in the film. There are two half day tours:
1) Wakatipu tour: Visits the locations of the Misty Mountains, Pillars of
the Kings, Ford of Bruinen, Road to Mordor.
2) Glenorchy tour: Visits the locations of the Seat of Seeing, Amon Hen,
Lothlorien, Isengard.
Note: full day tour is also available, extra cost.
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DAY 17
QUEENSTOWN |
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This morning, you may add another optional helicopter flight to Middle Earth, designed by Heliworks and Alfie Speight, the principal filming pilot for the Lord of the Rings films. This flight will take you towards the steep ridges of the Misty Mountains. Climbing ever higher, the first stop is the Dimrill Dale, lying between two great arms of the mountains. This valley marks the western door of the great Gates of Khazad-dum (Moria) and the source of the River Silverlode. Then continue across Lake Wakatipu and fly over Amon Hen, scene of the Breaking of the Fellowship. Excellent views can be obtained of the forest where Lurtz fought his final battle against Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli. Heading now towards the River Bruinen you will see the Ford, scene of the desperate encounter between Arwen and the Black Riders. Heading back to Queenstown, see glimpses of the River Anduin (location of the Gates of Argonath) before landing back at Queenstown Airport. This 40-minute flight includes one landing.
After the helicopter flight, take the main route to Arrowtown passing Arthur’s Point and one of the oldest hotels in New Zealand. View the Ford of Bruinen at the Arrow River, then cross the Kawarau River Bridge and travel up this road for views of the River Anduin and the Pillars of the Kings.
Return to Queenstown via Lake Hayes. Enroute visit Deer Park Heights, an
800 metre conical hill with a number of walks revealing many locations,
all with panoramic views. The hillside was used for locations in all three
films and because of its proximity to Queenstown, it was also utilised for
many ‘pick-up’ shots. This evening is at leisure in Queenstown. (B)
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DAY 18
QUEENSTOWN / TE ANAU |
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| Depart Queenstown early today and travel along the shores
of Lake Wakatipu and through Kingston and Mossburn. Turn off the main Te
Anau highway for the 45-minute drive on an unpaved road to the Mavora Lakes,
site of the Fangorn Forest and Nen Hithoel. Enroute stop to view the locations
for the filming of the heap of burning Orc bodies and the edge of the Fangorn
Forest scenes. Also today visit the North and South Lakes which were the
location for boating scenes and the final scenes from the Fellowship of
the Ring, along with the Orc/Hobbit chase shots and the actual log the Hobbits
hid under during the chase scenes. Optional: Weather permitting, scenic
flights (extra cost) can be made over the North West Lake and the sector
of Snowdon Forest used for some shots of the Hobbit’s march shown
early in The Fellowship of the Ring. Overnight Te Anau |
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DAY 19
MILFORD MARINER OVERNIGHT |
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Depart the hotel by coach for the spectacular drive from
Te Anau to Milford. There is time for photo stops and short walks along
the way. Board the Milford Mariner, a purpose built vessel designed along
the line of a traditional New Zealand coastal trading scow to reflect Fiordland’s
heritage. Cruise the length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The vessel
explores points of interest, with plenty of time available to view waterfalls,
rainforest, mountains and wildlife with the experienced nature guide on
board. After reaching the open sea, subject to weather conditions the sails
are hoisted for a period. The vessel returns to and anchors overnight in
sheltered Harrison Cove. Dinner on board the Mariner. Accommodation: Milford
Mariner, twin ensuite cabin. (BD)
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DAY 20
MILFORD SOUND / TE ANAU / DEPART QUEENSTOWN
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| Breakfast on the boat. The boat berths. Return
to Te Anau by coach, arriving back in town at 12.30 pm. Pick up your rental
car and drive to the airport in Queenstown to begin your return home.(B) |
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