Red Carpet Tours (Lord of the Rings Tours) — Local services in North Island

I’ve wanted to do this tour for over 10 years. It's been on the top of every bucket list I’ve ever written and always seemed like a distant dream that no matter how much I wanted it to, never seemed to get any closer. Until now…

I was part of the May 2023 Fellowship; the last tour of Autumn, and the last time a handful of locations are visited until Spring. Our weather started off quite cloudy and humid in Auckland and some of the clouds followed us on our journey south. Most of our weather was bright and cool, but if I were to go again, I would aim for mid-late Spring or early Autumn in New Zealand, as the thought of climbing Mt. Sunday (Edoras) in Summer is disgusting.

There were around 35 of us on the tour, and a Facebook page is created a few weeks before the adventure begins. I don’t have Facebook, so missed out on a few early conversations, but I joined on our first evening as Julie and Josh use it to post timings for the following day, what you’ll be doing and if you’ll need to buy lunch – so it’s really helpful. It also helps you get to know names and faces in the early days, and you can share all your photos here rather than exchange contact details if that’s what you prefer.

We were on a coach driving amongst mountains and trees for a lot of the journey and I took so many pictures out the window of the scenery. If you’re afraid of heights, don’t look over the edge as we spent a lot of time in a big coach on small, country roads with exceptionally steep drops. However, our drivers Terry and Ray were excellent and I’m still alive, so.

My personal highlights were: The inter-island ferry: we were out of the hotel at 4:40am and got to watch the sun rise as we weaved our way to the South Island. If you get motion sickness, go outside on deck if you can stand the wind/cold. Queenstown in general was my absolute favourite place on the whole trip – the lakes and mountains were something else. Go and get Mrs Ferg’s Ice Cream. Meeting Daniel Reeve and watching him work. He made sure to get to everyone who wanted a personalised quote or sketch and was exceptionally humble and patient. I would recommend sitting at the back of the room or in an aisle if you want to get some of his artwork and calligraphy as they are very limited, and you might want first pick. Ian Hayman of Tasman Downs – his family own ‘Laketown’ and our group got the exceptional privilege of being locked on a coach with Ian for 30-40 minutes whilst he talked us through his Dad’s WWII campaign and how he came to be. If the weather hadn’t been so bad, we wouldn’t have got half that story and I would be poorer for it. A living legend.

I don’t really want to stop writing this review, as it’s taken me a few weeks to put into words what it’s meant to me. I was a solo traveller, never having travelled by myself to another country let alone halfway across the world (I’m from the UK) and I was bricking it in the few days leading up to flying as I didn’t know what to expect, who would be on the tour or if I’d feel safe. On the evening before and morning of departure, I was on the verge of tears as I didn’t want it to end. That’s all down to Red Carpet Tours, the formidable duo of Julie and Josh and the incredible group of people I met who have completely RUINED any other tour I will ever do because I know it can’t and won’t live up to this.

I came for the mountains, lakes and forests, and I left with friendships and lifelong memories.

Only ever a Facebook message...

I've been wanting to see New Zealand since I got to watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a kid when they were coming out in theaters. I've since read the books and extensive lore, waiting for an opportunity to go visit what I consider "Middle Earth". I was finally able to go, and in November of 2022 my husband and I booked a tour for April 2024. Word soon spread and four more of our friends decided to come with us.

I chose Red Carpet Tours as my first choice to take us on an incredible adventure of both North and South New Zealand. They are the official Lord of the Rings tour, and I will tell you to go with them 100% every time! I've known they were the tour to go with since I first started doing research on tour companies in New Zealand. The tour guides, Julie and Josh are the most knowledgeable people on all things Lord of the Rings and Hobbit related, not to mention on all things New Zealand. They had so many wonderful stories to tell and facts to share! They were both warm, friendly, and wonderful people. I just love that Red Carpet Tours is so family centered and is family run and owned!

And the things you will see! I still find myself wondering how this beautiful country can be real. Mountains, Gandalf! Everywhere you look! Rolling green hills and gorgeous coast lines. Red Carpet Tours will take you to exclusive filming sights because they have permission from the people who own the lands. You can walk out on these locations and even reenact the scenes with your fellow travelers. Everything looks like it did in the movies and it's an incredible experience to actually be there. A few of the landowners would come and speak with us about their experiences when the filming was done on their land. The first hand accounts from them are so interesting!

Not only do you see Lord of the Rings filming sights, but there are ample opportunities to see New Zealand as a country as well. You make stops in pretty much every major town and are able to explore what they have to offer and eat lots of good food! Julie and Josh will give you wonderful recommendations for eating, and even tell you where cast members from the movies liked to eat. They make sure to tell you all about the fascinating Maori people and include an optional Maori culture event that you can attend to learn more about them. In fact, every optional activity was amazing and well recommended. On the last day of the tour I opted to visit the Milford Sound and it was more beautiful than I could have imagined!

I don't want to ramble on, so I'll just say, if you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will not want to miss out on Red Carpet Tours! You won't be able to do all of the amazing things they have planned for you on your own, and will at most see filming sights from far away on a road. With Red Carpet Tours you will be right there! Right where Viggo broke his toe and where King Theoden charges the lines of Mordor on the Pelannor Fields! It's a must do for any fan, and Red Carpet Tours treats you like family! Your fellow travelers on your tour will become your friends and you will make memories for a lifetime! Even if you are not a fan and are just going with family or friends, Julie and Josh will lovingly include you in everything and make sure you have an awesome time! Five out of five star rating!

I loved my experience and I certainly hope to go back one day to see the friends I made again and to walk in the footsteps of the Fellowship in beautiful...

One Tour to Rule Them All – Red Carpet Tours is Middle-earth Made Real

“The world is not in your books and maps... it’s out there.”

And Red Carpet Tours takes you there—into the heart of Middle-earth, in the footsteps of hobbits, wizards, dwarves, and the legends of Tolkien’s world.

This was not just a holiday. It was a quest, and our Fellowship—36 true Lord of the Rings fans from around the globe—was led by none other than Julie, our gracious Gandalf. Wise, hilarious, full of stories, and endlessly kind, she guided us through the North Island with such warmth and knowledge it felt like we were being led by someone straight from the Council of Elrond. She knows everything about the films, the books, the cast, and the behind-the-scenes magic and she became family.

In the South Island, Josh took up the mantle—our Thorin Oakenshield. Fierce, passionate, and utterly immersed in Tolkien lore, he made every re-enactment, every film location, every quote and every mile feel like we were living inside the movies. He nerded out with us, cheered us on at the Pillars of the Kings (aka Kawarau Bungy Bridge), and united us like a true King Under the Mountain.

From Auckland to Queenstown, we ventured through the most legendary locations in Middle-earth:

🏙️ Weta Unleashed – where imagination knows no bounds 🍽️ Our first-night feast at Sudima—strangers at first, then a Fellowship 🌋 Rotorua – bubbling geothermal wonder and Māori culture 🏡 Hobbiton – with lunch at the Green Dragon, in costume, second breakfast dreams come true 🧝 Trollshaw Forest (Hairy Feet) – the moment we stepped into Arda. Costumes, re-enactments, and goosebumps 🦇 Waitomo Caves – glowworms lighting our path like the Phial of Galadriel 🏔️ Scenic drives past Ruapehu, to Wellington—our Minas Tirith of the South ⚔️ Weta Cave & Workshop – swords, armour, art, and treasures 🗺️ Daniel Reeve – THE cartographer of Middle-earth! We met him in person, saw his maps, and bought precious originals—bring cash! A highlight of the tour! 🛡️ Chris Menges, Weta’s swordsmith—let us hold actual weapons from the films. We were in awe. 🌲 Mavora Lakes – the most epic day: re-enacting scenes across locations, surrounded by the untouched beauty of New Zealand 🪂 Optional adventures – bungy jumping, spa soaks, Nomad Safaris, helicopter rides over Middle-earth 🥂 Our farewell feast—tears, laughter, and hugs all around. “You bow to no one.”

Every person in our group was amazing. Fans, friends, cosplayers, trivia masters—a true Fellowship of 36, formed not by chance, but by a shared love for Tolkien's world. We laughed, we cried, we quoted.

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

This tour is for fans. Built by fans. Run with heart, humour, and breathtaking beauty.

Red Carpet Tours is the real deal. They don’t just show you locations—they awaken your imagination and make you feel like you're in the story.

To Julie, Josh, and the entire Red Carpet family: thank you I will miss you!

You brought Middle-earth to life. And for all of us—“there was never much hope… just a fool’s hope.” But now, we believe.

I’d take this journey again in a heartbeat. “There and back again.” And...