About 4.5 hrs. 2023 GAMESPOT, A FANDOM COMPANY. About 2 hrs. An easy drive south of Auckland will take you to the verdant Waikato, home to Hobbiton and The Shire. Experience it. NZ has excellent ski and snowboarding options for a range of abilities on many skifields. Let me know in the comments below! Find Hobbit-themed tourisms epicenter in this artsy little capital and film hub, which recently hosted The Hobbit world premiere (at the stylishly refurbished 1920s Embassy Theatre). Hopefully if we pace ourselves a little better and do it over a few extra days our feet won't end up looking like those poor Americans hahaha. In the Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. from Auckland. And youd probably wear shoes. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Nonetheless, you would be truly doing hobbit-like mountain walks, along the side of Mount Titiraupenga. In the end though, what is more motivating than imagining oneself as Frodo or Sam, needing to walk that pesky One Ring into the volcano to its destruction? Get our free guide which is full of actionable tips and information about how to make the most of your time in New Zealand. It's worth watching just to see their Hobbit feet. The Fellowship Virtual Challenge takes you on Frodo and Sam's journey from The Prancing Pony to The Doors of Durin. You decide how you want to accumulate distance. Information about Travel insurance for people visiting, working or settling in New Zealand. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View on Map. An alternative would be to take a scenic flight. While traveling and temporarily living in New Zealand, I was lucky enough to visit almost every Lord of the Rings filming location. In Rivendell, Frodo accepts the task of carrying the One Ring to Mordor, and a company called THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING is selected to help him on his quest. See our top picks of Lord of the Rings hiking tours in New Zealand, and get ready for your unexpected journey to begin! Recommended non-LOTR Stop: Palmerston North. 3. Frodo took six months to travel across Middle-Earth, but you could do it in five. Opens in new tab Opens in new tab Opens in new tab. from Ithilien Lookout In my opinion, the drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand. They're going to simply walk into Mordor. At the end of the journey, stop for a few nights at the Chateau Tongariro - a bit large, for hobbits, but it is the most comfortable hotel in these parts, and has a great view of Mount Ngauruhoe from its lobby, if the day is clear. Aragorn stands in front of the lake as shown above, looking out towards Lothlorien. Gay marriage has helped pave the way for rainbow tourism in New Zealand. from Port WaikatoHobbiton was originally built in 1999 for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and mostly demolished after filming. Ad Choices. A wide range of popular and useful New Zealand travel books. Hope you return afterwards and let us know how it all goes! Whatever you chose, the wildlife, rainforest and spectacular falls will leave you in awe of your Lord of the Rings hiking tour in New Zealand. Tag along on her travels through Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, and Latin Americaand on the high seas in betweenas she reports back to Fodors.com on captivating cruises, hot hotels, and timely travel trends. The answer is, of course, that he can't. It's the developers using the game structure as an illusion to mimic Frodo's journey through Middle-earth and the timeline because while he can be in . While Mt. New Zealand: 0800-347-785, Physical Address: First Light Travel, from Hobbits HideawayAlthough much of the filming was actually done at a studio a couple minutes down the street, Weta Workshop created the majority of the props, scenery, costumes, and special effects for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. Ultimately, via the app, the novels version of the journey is a total of 3,109.17 kilometers. In the South Island, youre free to imagine yourself floating down the glistening Pelorus River, just like the escaping Dwarves did in The Desolation of Smaug. Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions. The entire Mount Creighton area is gorgeous and you can get great views of Lake Wakatipu. Spend a night in Ohakune under the shadow of rugged Mt Ruapehu and enjoy this small town that acted as a location base forThe Hobbitfilm crew. It is also famous forthe Tongariro Crossing - an iconic kiwi day hike. It would be greatly appreciated! The state sponsors titles that cast it in a favorable light and punishes indies for depicting a more complex vision of Iranian identity. I've never been to NZ (though I will have in 2 months!! NZ is home to stunning golf courses set in incredible locations of natural landscapes. New features include a pub, more Hobbit homes, an electric fence to keep out the sheep and a gift shop offering high-end collectibles (magic cloaks, 900 New Zealand dollars, about $760 U.S.). which is where "bilbo's house'' as you call it is located in. We'll either be camping or staying at an Inn or something similar if it looks like it might be suitable for hobbits. e.g. Anyone can take part in exercises of varying lengths, with the ultimate goal of making it all the way to Mordor to destroy the ring. Some are deciding to build their own companies. Two diehard Tolkien fans. Search Google Maps for walking directions and even that site will tell you: "One does not simply walk into Mordor." Two of my favorite things are traveling and Lord of the Rings. The South Island portion of this road trip could be a stand-alone trip or continued from the North Island portion by ferry. The app recreates the fellowship's journey from the Shire to Mount Doom by counting your steps and comparing it to the actual (okay, fictional) distance in the books and movies. Heres how to download the latest desktop operating system on your Mac. (Not sponsored, I just love this tour.). Explore this magical world of tall trees, clear rivers and melodious birdlife on a short walk or famous multi-day hike. I'd like to know if there are any alternate routes we could take that may include some bush trails, farmland that we might allowed to cross, or even some less busy roads. Read on to see my top 7 Lord of the Rings Read more, Hiking the Edoras Filming Location on Mount Sunday, NZ, New Hampshire Fall Foliage Scenic Road Trip, 11 Amazing Sights in Athens (that arent the Acropolis! As long as we keep heading in the right direction and it doesn't increase the distance by too much more then we'd be happy to get off the main road for awhile at certain points throughout the walk. Tolkien's fantasy novels, to Mordor, home of the evil Sauron, brings back the warning: "Use caution. There are plenty of hiking options to help you get the most out of your time in Pelorus. And in the spirit of fellowship, users can log workouts together to see how they stack up and to remain motivated to complete the challenge. New Zealand is a nation of otherworldly scenery, but one of its most magical sights is the Shire at Hobbiton. (739) $36.51 FREE shipping. The other journey Id love to know the distance of is the Noldor crossing from Valinor to Middle-earth. Now, I don't know if I am doing right by sending you this way, it can be tough walking, and you will have heavier loads on your backs than Frodo and company, as you can't take ponies with you to carry much of the baggage! The choice of that mountain as Mount Doom was interesting, I thought, as the mountain's name comes from name of the slave of the priest Ngatoro who died on its summit, either from cold, or as a sacrifice to the Gods, depending on the legend. The South Island trip begins in the North in Picton, where the interisland ferry docks, and ends in Queenstown, a major city with an international airport. We have handcrafted a series of inspiring of New Zealand Lord of the Rings Tours that can all be fully customised to your exact requirements. 2 hours from Auckland 45 minutes from Hamilton 1 hour from Rotorua Matamata is a must see if you're a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan. My friends and I propose something slightly more complex, just for fun: a 552 mile (888 km) hike from the Shire, to Rivendell (A New Zealand national park), to Moria, to Mordor. Australia: 1800-324-917 Its the equivalent of walking from Denver to New York City, or from London to Moscow (provided you take the Chunnel, of course). 15 mins. Gorgeous New Zealand scenery. Buy Kiwiana and other New Zealand products quickly and easily. Stop for a pint ofThe Hobbit Southfarthing beerat the Green Dragon Inn or grab a light lunch at the Shires Rest Caf. Either way, the Gods of Fire were summonsed to this land from the ancestral homeland of Hawaiki (compare, Hawai'i) - and they still live under Mounts Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu, to this day. The Shire and Hobbiton Movie Set. Learn about New Zealand from experienced travelers - all the do's and don'ts of each destination! In this short video, we meet two guys who spent a week in New Zealand making the 120 mile trek from Hobbiton to the film location of Mount Doom to prove that you can actually walk into Mordor. Read more about Hobbits Hideaway, About 10 mins. Lofi of the Rings - One playlist to rule them all . Is there a place like the Shire? By ), Summitting Mount Doom (Mt. Also, camping is heavily preferred over staying at a formal accommodation. Stopping off at Tom Bombadil's house factors into the app's. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Read more about visiting Edoras. Indulge in the Wellington(opens in new window) citys buzzing food and wine scene, and enjoy a cable-car ride to the Kelburn lookout for expansive harbour views. I think you will have to follow the highway as far as Lake Karapiro - I just cannot think of a better route. Mount Victoria is a hill located near the central business district in Wellington, New Zealand. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies were both filmed throughout New Zealand, making use of the country's naturally fantastical landscapes. About 2.5 hrs. 458 MILES from Hobbiton to Rivendell ! Do you want to be the first who gets the news directly to your mailbox? About 6km (4 miles) from Ohakune, the Ohakune Beech Paddock was a filming location for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It would be interesting to know how long the journey would be on foot all the way, and also how far it would be going the fellowships original route through Rohan. The filming location is on private farmland but can be seen from Waikaretu Road just South of Port Waikato. You can get a great view of the Hutt River and the surrounding scenery and skip some pebbles in Poets Park. You can get a great view of both Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook from the Lake Pukaki lookout, but I highly recommend doing the Hooker Valley hike to get some really amazing views of Mount Cook and its glaciers. I'm having a scrabble around, to see what I can find. [youtube]http://youtu.be/hiWJZEZX4Ak[/youtube], 2023 Cond Nast. Visit various filming locationsthe forest realm of Lothlorien and Isengard near Glenorchy, the valley where the giant oliphants made way for battle, and moreand anticipate impromptu scene reenactments with supplied costumes and props. I'm planning a hike early next year which will begin in the Hobbiton set in Matamata (New Zealand, obviously) and end on Mt. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Thats no walk in the park. About 2.5 hrs. duration: 2 hours BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL Evening Banquet Tour. Hey JP, that's an epic adventure you are planning. So if these halflings could do it, what is your excuse not to? Your options include a 5-day guided hike that allows you to truly immerse yourself in the wonder of natural New Zealand. from The RemarkablesOn the Bobs Cove Track in Mount Creighton is the lookout where Frodo and Sam see the men of Harad and the Oliphaunts in The Two Towers. For those just wanting a taste of the ancient wilderness that became Fangorn Forest, there are also one-day hike options available. An easy drive south of Auckland will take you to the verdant Waikato, home to Hobbiton and The Shire. It should keep us off the main road most of the time and we'll get to have a more interesting walk. The tour includes comparison photos, reenactments of the Rohirrims charge, and other reenactments you can participate in, with costumes and props included. Frodo also stopped for a good while in both Rivendell and Lothlorien. The New Zealand Cycle Trail covers the country from head to toe. 1074. Getting there:The Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve is located between Blenheim and Nelson in New Zealands South Island. out of the way (including there and back to Kaitoke)These awe-inspiring pinnacles served as the Valley of Harrowdale where the Paths of the Dead are located in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Welcome to the post-hunger age. As the original article points out, other pop culture apps exist to motivate one to get off the couch. Not Sleeping and Freaking Out About the World? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. With it karst marble outcrops Takaka Hill was the perfect setting for Chetwood Forest in The Fellowship of the Ring an area traversed by Hobbits and Aragorn (Strider) as they escaped from the fictional village of Bree. Ever wonder just how far Frodo and Sam walked in The Lord of the Rings trilogy? All miles/kilometers count. You can experience the raw and untouched beauty of this Lord of the Rings location with an easily accessible hike through the beautiful Hakatere Conservation Park. These two guys spent a week in New Zealand making the 120 mile trek from Hobbiton to the film location of Mount Doom to prove that you can actually walk into Mordor. The largest range of escorted & small group tours, Explore NZ on a custom self-drive package holiday. I'm planning a holiday with a group of friends to walk from The Shire (Hobbiton in Matamata) to Mt Doom in Mordor (Mt Ngauruhoe). Not sure yet if we have an escape from a slasher exercise app, but we should. (LogOut/ The Lord of the Rings Filming Locations in Ohakune. We lost this page. Hiking from the Shire to Mordor takes approximately 7 days. Set of 3 LOTR Prints / The Shire / Gates of Argonath / Mordor / Middle Earth / Posters inspired by LOTR / Lord Of The Rings Gift / Unframed. Head off down SH32 from Whakamaru, and then to the south-west on Arataki road, right to the end. Here you can get a view of the falls from Gollums perspective as well as from Frodo and Faramirs view from above. The gentlemen in this series completed this hike, and additionally hid a replica of the one ring there.