Review: Wellington Lord of the Rings Filming Locations Tour

So, you are thinking of visiting Wellington and you happen to be a Lord of the Rings fan? Actually, a tour of the filming locations is absolutely something you should look at. It can really give you such a different perspective of the films and such an appreciation for the beautiful landscape that Wellington, New Zealand offers. So, this is my completely transparent review, with a little advice mixed, so, that you can work out if this trip is absolutely right for you.

What you can expect from the tour?

So, typically these trips actually will vary a little, yet, most tours offer a complete, day-long exploration, which is great to totally envelop you in the scenery, where major scenes came alive. Basically, expect visits to places like the very beautiful Kaitoke Regional Park (Rivendell), or maybe Mount Victoria (a great viewpoint with brilliant panoramas which doubled up for Hobbiton Woods) and various other spots a bit out of the central hub, that, really, helped establish Middle-earth. Usually, your tour also includes seeing places you would never find yourself, it’s almost like a real peek behind the curtain which adds to the experience, that, is the magic.

Experiencing Kaitoke Regional Park, or, Rivendell brought to life!

Visiting Kaitoke Regional Park, this being used as Rivendell, really, is like stepping right into a postcard. Apparently, it looks lovely in photos and very serene on-screen, but seeing the area actually gives you a bit more. In some respects, you can easily wander these woods, with their quite lush vegetation and flowing streams, you know, to quickly find such a sense of the peacefulness of the elves. So, you may remember a lot was created digitally, there are areas though, as a matter of fact, like the spot where Frodo recuperates after getting stabbed, that, really do have the exact sense of peace you saw depicted. Yet, tours always highlight these spots, to help everyone match film scenes with real places, like your own personal then-and-now slide show.

Mount Victoria: The wide open view that actually starred as Hobbiton Woods

You know, Mount Victoria offers so much in terms of landscape vistas. Just a little stroll to the very top gives you an outstanding perspective of Wellington. So, from a movie buff viewpoint, Mount Victoria also gave those brilliant woodland backdrops for Hobbiton. It’s definitely wilder, with steeper sides and quite different fauna than most imagine after viewing the shire. By the way, what is nice here is very that it’s such a easily accessible location; the peak, and its panoramic splendor, is pretty near central Wellington which offers maybe a smaller commitment to go there. As I was saying, just think of it: you can be on top of a very notable movie spot very quickly!

Behind the Scenes: Seeing more and really feeling like you understand more.

One thing, apparently, tour companies could absolutely emphasize is how well they go at creating context. As a matter of fact, they offer a deep view behind film-making, like special stories about casting decisions to set builds, very many trips are so interesting from the first footstep. Anyway, your trip really covers everything a fan can be interested in: landscape beauty, film set fun, little location stories to add detail, and a deeper peek into Middle-earth.

Should you even think about taking this kind of tour?

Right, if you call yourself a bit of a die-hard LOTR geek, actually, this type of visit is definitely really one for your must-do trips. Actually, the mix of the scenic landscape with some on-site knowledge brings to life bits from the films that I thought were actually only crafted using computers. First, the location visits link you very, very much with Middle-earth. Very cool factoid tidbits of behind-the-scenes tales usually fill spaces where travelling can make someone weary. Also, this is probably the better option than looking yourself, especially, if you do not plan ahead and would like guidance and detail along with transport. All in all, a well-rounded visit which mixes open-air explorations and super geeky details with ease, so, what is not to completely recommend?