Touring Lord Of The Rings Locations By Train

It wouldn’t be a Lord Of The Rings Tour without stopping off in The Shire™, would it? Step right into Tolkien’s world at Hobbiton™ located in the rolling, green hills of Matamata. You can fully immerse yourself as you explore The Shire as seen in the films. Hop off the train in Hamilton and catch a shuttle or bus to Hobbiton. You can book a full tour for approximately $89 per adult, it lasts around two hours and will give you the guided experience, exploring all the Shire has to offer as well as the movie set itself.

Extra hobbit fun: Afterwards, why not finish the day at The Green Dragon™? A great place to replenish after an adventure. 

Moving on to a world a little more ‘dark’ than The Shire, explore the iconic Mt Doom in New Zealand’s stunning Tongariro National Park. Doubling as Mordor in the films, the national park, located on what’s known as the Desert Road, is home to three active volcanoes, with Mt Ngāuruhoe being digitally altered to become Mt Doom. One of the most scenic parts of The Northern Explorer train route, you’ll be able to take in the beauty of this protected National Park and hop off at the National Park stop to explore. 

Up for a challenge? If you have time to look around a bit longer and have a reasonable level of fitness, the Tongariro Crossing, also known as the Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, it’s well worth the effort. 

Arguably one of the most beautiful and ethereal settings in the Lord Of The Rings, Rivendell is something to behold. While you won’t be able to walk around Elrond’s halls (a mixture of sets, miniatures and digital FX), the pristine native forest where it is set, you can definitely explore for free. Located just north of Wellington, you can experience Kaitoke Regional Park with a range of trails suitable for varying levels of fitness. All you have to do is hop off your Great Journeys train at Wellington Train Station and catch a ride about 45 minutes north. 

Want to get immersed? Why not camp overnight? Spend a day exploring the area and even swim in a range of beautiful river pools.

Nestled two hours east of the capital is the paths of the dead, known by locals as The Putangirua Pinnacles. Not only is this filming location like walking into Middle-Earth, it’s also almost like walking into another world entirely. Millions of years of erosion have contributed to this unique landscape, which would you believe, at one point in time was an island. After exploring all the fantastic food and scenery that Wellington has to offer, take a short scenic drive east to reach this famous destination. 

Pack your walking shoes: The walk to explore this iconic spot, is suitable for all fitness levels and takes about 3 hrs to complete.

Possibly, one of the most iconic scenes in the trilogy is when the fellowship emerges from the Mine of Moria. The hillside in which this takes place is located on Mt Owen, inside the picturesque Kahurangi National Park. You can take a bus from Picton to Nelson, and then we’d recommend hiring a car to head towards Kahurangi National Park, south-west of Nelson. 

Top Tip: Make sure you pack your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities in this unspoiled landscape. 

It’s no secret that the magic of film can mean one location is actually made up of multiple real-life places. When it comes to Rivendell, scenes that serve as the southern territories of this elven realm were filmed in the strange rock formations located on Mt Olympus (also conveniently located in Kahurangi National Park). 

Explore Middle-Earth from above: If you’re looking for a once in a lifetime experience and not too concerned with cost, you can visit both Mt Owen and Mt Olympus by Helicopter.

Remember that stunning shot of Gondor calling for aid and the beacons being lit across the mountains? Well, head to Franz Josef Glacier and see the exact locations these breathtaking shots were filmed. Hop off the TranzAlpine at Christchurch Train Station and catch the bus straight to Franz Josef or if you’re on one of our scenic train tours, transport is provided to the area. Otherwise, renting a car is a great way to explore at your own pace. Views of Ered Nimrais are possible from the Franz Josef Glacier Valley access track. 

Additional exploration: Located not far from Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain, it’s worth exploring this whole area after visiting Ered Nimrais.

South west of Christchurch where the TranzAlpine train journey starts and ends, nestled in the high country, is Mt Sunday, but you might know it as Edoras – home to the people of Rohan. Though nothing remains for the huge filming set which took nine months to build, the raised, rocky outcrop is instantly recognisable. One of the more remote locations, you can hire a car and head from Christchurch train station, south on State Highway 1. Upon arriving in Ashburton, another couple hours drive will take you up the valley west towards Mt Sunday with epic views of the Rangitata River.

Top Tip: You can park the car at Hakatere Potts Road and walk on the guided track to take a closer look. Remember to bring your camera.

Spanning over six films and a television series, the list of locations that make up Middle-Earth as we know it is extensive. As well as the above, you can also experience places like the Misty Mountains in Glenorchy, The River Anduin (Waiau River) in Fiordland and even Isengard located just north of Glenorchy. Because the locations vary across New Zealand, what better way to experience them than from a scenic train tour, experiencing the landscape without the hassle of rushing to the airport.