Lake Hayes

Lake Hayes: Our most recommended tours and activities

Queenstown: Lord of the Rings Locations Half-Day Tour

Queenstown: Lord of the Rings Locations Half-Day Tour

Your journey through Middle Earth starts from the station information centre on Camp Street at 8:00AM or 1:30PM.  From there you will travel to the top of Skippers Canyon and to Arrowtown, once rich gold mining locations, and you will learn about the history of the area.  We will check out The Ford of Bruinen, where the Black Riders challenge Arwen and are swept down the river, and then onto the Gladden Fields where Isildur was ambushed by Orcs and where the One Ring was lost.  From Arrowtown you will travel towards the Kawarau river where you will see The Argonath (The Pillars of the King).  Then its time for some fun handling and photographing weapons, such as Gimli's axe, Anduril and Sting.  After spending time reenacting scenes with the weapons there will be one last lookout stop where we will point out more locations of Rohan and Gondor before heading back to Queenstown.

From Queenstown: Lord of the Ring Full-Day Tour

From Queenstown: Lord of the Ring Full-Day Tour

Join our Lord of the Rings “Nerds”, aka Tour guides, who have superior knowledge on all things “Rings”. Combine our Half Day in Middle Earth with a second Half Day Adventure into another part of Middle Earth with our partner company. We have a 1.5 hour lunch break back in Queenstown and change buses for the afternoon tour. Morning Tour - Visiting: - Skippers Canyon, weather permitting. - Arrowtown - The Gibbston Valley LOTR locations such as: - The Ford of Bruinen - The Gladden Fields - Pillars of the Kings And more! Afternoon Tour - Visiting: - Glenorchy - Paradise LOTR locations such as: - Ithilien - Isengard and Beorn's House - Lothlorien and Amon Hen Take thotos with a selection of authentic licensed replica props (swords, axes, daggers, and helmets) and have access to copies of the original scripts and production call sheets. The van returns at around 6:00 PM.

Queenstown: See the Best Sights of Queenstown Half-Day Tour

Queenstown: See the Best Sights of Queenstown Half-Day Tour

Starting from Central Queenstown, you will be collected by your Altitude Tours guide in a premium Mercedes vehicle and set off on a fantastic morning exploring the local sights. Throughout the tour, your guide will provide informative and entertaining commentary along with great Kiwi humor. Our first stop is an observation point right above Queenstown where you will get the best panoramic views of the city. Then drive through the gorgeous countryside below Coronet Peak to Arrowtown, a quaint, little gold mining village nestled below the mountains alongside a river full of gold. On your way pass over the renowned Shotover River catching a glimpse of the legendary Shotover Jetboat. Once in Arrowtown, you will have time to explore Arrowtown, not to mention sampling the outstanding local bakery pies. Continuing on to Gibbston, you will visit the iconic AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungy, providing entertaining spectating for all. The Gibbston Valley region is also home to many Lord of The Rings film locations and cool-climate wines. Head to the next stop, a local cellar door where you can sample delicious, award-winning wines and enjoy shared cheeseboards (non-alcoholic options are available). You will then head back to Queenstown where you will finish off your day with a relaxing 30-minute scenic boat cruise on Lake Wakatipu.

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What people are saying about Lake Hayes

Overall rating

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
4.3 out of 5 stars
(4 reviews)
5 out of 5 stars

Our experience on The Lord of the Rings tour was absolutely fantastic! Shane was an outstanding guide. His deep knowledge of the movies, behind-the-scenes facts, and the filming locations made the tour incredibly immersive. He kept everyone engaged, involving us in fun activities and discussions that made the journey even more exciting. The locations were breathtaking, and Shane’s passion for the stories really brought Middle-earth to life. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just curious about the landscapes, this tour is a must! Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars

Highlight of my time in Queenstown. The full day is actually run by 2 different companies but that turned out pretty well as I got to spend time with Annie in the morning and then Dan in the afternoon. Both fantastic guides who clearly enjoy what they do. No better way to spend the day.

5 out of 5 stars

We cannot recommend this activity enough! It was such a blast with a very dynamic, passionate, knowledgable guide! Fascinating behind the scenes info and sights and time to wander and take awesome pictures with licensed props. One does not simply pass this opportunity!

5 out of 5 stars

I liked the variety of it - Arrowtown, wine and a boat ride!

5 out of 5 stars

High quality, beautiful places, the passion of guide