| FourCity New Zealand Vacation Including The Hobbit Filming Locations New Zealands breathtaking mountains, meadows, and beech forests made it the perfect location to film The Hobbit trilogy. From the gently rolling countryside of the Shire to the desolate and craggy fortress of Isengard, the countrys terrain made a mythical world come alive. On this 14day, 11night vacation in New Zealand, youll visit some of the most famous filming locations from those movies as well as four cities: Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, and Queenstown. The deal also includes roundtrip airfare from 21 departure cities and hotel accommodations in each city center. Click here for a full itinerary. Days 15: Auckland Beautiful beaches, volcanic hills, and harbors filled with brightly colored sailboats surround Auckland, a bustling city in northern New Zealand. Since several harbors and bays border the downtown area, boating is a popular pastimeAuckland is often called the city of sails for having more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world. The city is also home to the worlds largest Polynesian population. Learn more about Polynesian history and culture at the Auckland Museum, home to an extensive collection of Maori and Pacific Islander artifacts. While in Auckland, youll take a halfday city tour, which includes a visit to Parnell, a historic neighborhood lined with boutiques and antique shops, and a scenic drive along Waitemata Harbor. The tour concludes at Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, which has panoramic views of downtown Auckland and Waitemata Harbor. Youll also have two full days to explore Auckland on your own. Days 67: Rotorua Geothermal activity abounds in the city of Rotorua, including geysers, boiling mud pools, and cartoon animals with steam coming out of their ears. Te Puia, a geothermal valley a few minutes outside of the city, encompasses many of these wonders. The valleys Pohutu Geyser erupts 10 to 25 times a day. Te Puia is also the site of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, where you can see cultural performances and artwork and visit a kiwi conservation facility that takes in injured birds. On your first evening in Rotorua, visit a recreated Maori village to watch traditional music and dance performances, then dine on typical Maori foods. The following day is taken up by a halfday tour of the Waikato region, or the Shire, where several scenes from The Hobbit were filmed. Days 89: Wellington Located on the southern tip of the North Island, Wellington is both New Zealands capital and its cultural center. Its home to the national Museum of New Zealand, where you can see a 1,000pound colossal squid on display and learn more about the countrys settlers. In Wellington, youll take a halfday Rover tour that visits seven filming locations, including the settings for Minas Tirith, Helm\'s Deep, and Rivendell, where youll enjoy a cup of tea underneath the Elven trees. The specialist tour guides give you plenty of time to explore each site and ask questions about the filming process. Days 1014: Queenstown Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown plays host to a number of outdoor activities all year long, including skiing and snowboarding, whitewater rafting, and hang gliding. Located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu on the South Island, the city contains dozens of wineries that offer tours and tastings of the regions famous pinot noir. On your second afternoon in Queenstown, head about 30 miles outside of the city for a halfday tour of Glenorchy. The tour whisks you through the filming locations of Isengard, Ithilien Camp, and the battle of Amon Hen. The next two days are yours to explore Queenstown on your own before heading back home. |
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