Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 16 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour worth booking?
Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour is a 3.5-hour experience in Wellington, New Zealand, from $112 per person. It scores 66 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 16 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 66 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (16)
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- From
- $112 per person
We squeeze loads of Lord of the Rings magic in to this one! Recreate some of the most iconic scenes from the trilogy as we visit the location for the first day of filming. The 90 minute Weta cave experience is included i
What you get
About this experience
We squeeze loads of Lord of the Rings magic in to this one! Recreate some of the most iconic scenes from the trilogy as we visit the location for the first day of filming. The 90 minute Weta cave experience is included in this tour & we check out some of the World Class movie facilities here in Wellingwood! This tour is great fun for anyone, not just LOTR fans.
What's included
Included
- English Tour Guide
- Includes Weta Experience Tickets
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Wellington
COLLECT Our journey starts by safely collecting all of our guests & getting onboard our vehicle. If you are coming in by cruise ship, we will collect you directly from the port. You do not need to get on a shuttle bus or head to the city as we are accredited to collect you as you walk off the ship. If you are being collected from your hotel then please wait in reception or just outside where you can been seen by your friendly guide. Sit tight, sometimes traffic (or people) can delay our arrival. If you are being collected from the iSite then pop out to the tour bus stop just outside/beside the iSite. Keep an eye out for Ka Rawe signage on the vehicle & we'll see you soon!
15 minutes here
Embassy Theatre
What a beautiful cinema & plenty of history to go with this one too. The Embassy Theatre is located at the Eastern end of Courtenay Place in the shadow of Mount Victoria. It was thrust into the international cinematic limelight when it hosted the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on December 1, 2003. Nearly 120,000 people lined the red carpet along Courtenay Place to watch the procession of actors and filmmakers as they made their way into the theatre for the screening. The theatre also hosted the Australasian premieres of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. The theatre held a red carpet screening of Peter Jackson's King Kong in 2005 and the 2012 world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
10 minutes here
Mount Victoria
What about this for a view! Check out the best vantage point in our beautiful city. Breathtaking 360 degree views of the central business district, the harbour & the ocean to the south. Stunnnnning! Legend has it that Wellington harbour, originally a land-locked lake, was home to two large and very active taniwha (sea monsters). One taniwha forged a passage to the open sea creating the entrance to the harbour. The second, named Whataitai, tried a different route, became stranded and died. It is believed that Tangi-te keo (Mt Victoria) was named after the soul of Whataitai. Probably the best photo opportunity on the tour, our guide/host would be delighted to be your personal photographer for the day. What a beautiful city!
15 minutes here
Mount Victoria Lookout
HOBBITS HIDEAWAY Not only is Mount Victoria the best vantage point in Wellington with those 360 degree views but where the first day of filming took place for the Lord of the Rings trilogy back in 1998. Some of the most iconic scenes from the trilogy were filmed here & your guide will use imagery from the trilogy to bring those scenes to life. Hideaway from the Black Riders & move swiftly to Buckleberry ferry & who knows, maybe we might just recreate those scenes........Don't forget, your guide LOVES taking photos for you. Your guide will share loads of insiders knowledge weaned from training given by Lord of the Rings experts & hours if watching behind the scenes documentaries! Get off the rooooad!
30 minutes here
Wellington
WETA CAVE Don't be fooled into thinking we're here to see some New Zealand native insects up close...... Whilst the Weta is a native new zealand cricket like insect, its also the name of a World famous Film & Special Effects company right here in little old Wellington! Arguably Weta is most famous for the incredible work of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, however their impact on the greater industry is much broader than that. Included in your cost of the tour, you'll also participate in the 90 minute behind the scenes Weta Cave experience. Our guide will check you in for that. This is also your chance to purchase some memorabilia, check out some of the items on show in the mini museum & you'll even have a photo opportunity with the Cave Trolls! At Ka Rawe, our guides make great photographers too. Once we leave the Weta Cave, we check out the Wellington sign on our travels, this is the one our friends from Hollywood copied!!
110 minutes here
Oriental Bay
We make our way back into the city around the bay & your guide will keep you informed as we go. We make it around to Oriental Bay known for being both a popular beach and an opulent centre of affluence in the city. Its a little bit pricey around here!. You'll get to see some amazing architecture & perhaps this will be the only "man made" beach you'll ever see in your lives!!? Check out Carter Fountain too. Originally named Duppa Bay after its original sole resident George Duppa, it was renamed to Oriental Bay after one of the first to bring settlers here to Wellington. Spectacular!
10 minutes here
Wellington
DROP OFF Wow! Hopefully you'll agree that we've packed loads of Wellington goodness into your time spent with us today. However as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We offer a few different locations for you to get dropped off & don't forget that Wellington is a very small, compact city that is easy to get around & you're never too far from where you want to be. Our recommendation is that we drop you to Te Papa. Not only is Te Papa New Zealand's national museum but it is also centrally located for wherever your final destination may be. What a day out!
10 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Wellington
For collection from the iSite, head to the bus stop just outside the iSite & keep an eye out for our branded vans!
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations.
Ends at
For collection from the iSite, head to the bus stop just outside the iSite & keep an eye out for our branded vans!
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 11 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ka Rawe Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We recommend sturdy footwear with good grip
- Not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters as we do head off road
- A little bit of off road terrain. Manageable for all fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 16 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
6 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
16 verified traveler reviews for Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
An absolute must if you are a LOTR fan!
This tour is 10/10 if you are a LOTR fan - a definite must! Nathan is the best guide, and is so knowledgeable about the City in general and also about the LOTR and it's filming locations. You get to visit some of the most fun places and recreate your own scenes/pictures. Some tours rush you from place to place, but we felt we had loads of time at each spot, Nathan is super chill. The WETA workshop, which is included, is brilliant too. I can't rate this tour highly enough!
Response from the operator: Well you guys get 10/10 for being super guests! Thanks for supporting our family owned business, we appreciate it. He's bloody good that Nathan fella! 🤣😁 We love sharing all the Wellington goodness of which there is plenty. Looking forward to having you back again & I hope your trip home went well. 5 star guests 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Tripadvisor
A fun and educational half day tour, not only for Lord of the Rings fans!
Our driver Sam met us at the port and we enjoyed the scenic ride to the Weta Workshop where we had a little time to browse before our 90 minute tour. Hazel was our enthusiastic and informative guide and we enjoyed the engaging and informative Weta tour. We headed to Mount Victoria where we went for short walks to various Lord of the Rings filming locations. We admired the lovely harbour views too. Our driver kindly dropped us off in Wellington centre where we explored a little before walking along the waterfront back to the port. A lovely day.
Response from the operator: Thanks for taking the time to review Ken & it sure sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for visiting & take care 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Tripadvisor
Great experience
Very informative and fun, great experience overall. Guide very knowledgeable with a lot of insides and flexibility. Highly recommend.
Response from the operator: Thanks Artur. You were travelling with Sam who enjoys his LOTR tours 🧙♂️ We appreciate you & see you next time! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Viator
Loads of information and in a short time - memorable. Very personable experience.
This tour touched all the highlights that we wanted to see in the limited time we had available. Nathan was punctual, energetic, friendly, and always attentive to our needs and interests. It was a small group and Nathan seemed like he knew us well in just a few minutes. I would highly suggest this tour and Ka Rawe Tours if you have a limited time in Wellington and a fan of LOTR.
Response from the operator: Kia ora! Awesome review, thanks so much. We do like to look after our guests & keep it personal. One of the ways we achieve this is by having smaller groups so thanks for noticing. Carry on being 5 star guests & travel safely 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Tripadvisor
Easy booking, value+ for LOTR Weta & Mt Victoria tour
Easy booking a couple of days before arriving. Could nominate different pick up and drop off locations which made it easy for us as we were coming off a cruise ship. Mini bus was waiting for us just past the cruise line shore tour buses, with a sign displaying our names so took the pain out of trying to organise travelling to these sites on our own. Our guide was great, he explained the locations we drive through to get to the Weta workshop and also on our return. The Weta workshop tour has restrictions for photography due to licensing etc but our workshop guide explained why and when we could film, this was good and avoided any ambiguity. The quality of workmanship is evident and a great success story. The Weta part of the tour is about an hour and a half of standing and walking so if there are mobility issues there are ramps and wooden log seating in the different rooms. We really liked seeing the costumes, how they’re made, and hubby enjoyed trying on the various helmets. After Weta, our tour guide picked us up and took us to Mt Victoria to show us where particular scenes were shot for the Lord of the Rings, this was beautiful natural scenery despite the earlier heavy rains. The smell of pine and background bush while hearing the stories of filming is a great experience. We had the opportunity for photos in the different settings and were very happy we wore runners with good grip as the trail was a bit slippery due to the earlier rains. Guide offered range of drop off options including in town and recommended other interesting activities and sights tailored to the different needs of tour participants. Our tour group had 10 in total, x2 couples and x1 young family with 4 children, and our guide was great in navigating the different needs in the group, thanks Nathan. Highly recommend this tour, excellent value for money and a must-do add to your Wellington list of activities.
Response from the operator: Woweeee! Thanks for your detailed review Michele & your 5 stars😁 Love that you've been able to notice all of the ingredients we put into making a great experience for you. Being organized & on time, sharing city sights, showcasing Wellington success stories, our natural beauty & looking after our guests 😍 This doesn't happen by chance, it happens with hosts who care, ongoing support & giving our hosts a platform to share our city. And of course, LOTR is something we're super proud of so what a treat for us to guide you through it. Thanks so much for visiting us & if you can deliver these ingredients yourself, you're welcome back as a tour guide anytime! Ka Rawe! (Which means thats awesome) 5 star guests 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $112 to $190
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 6
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Ka Rawe Tours, who run 9 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.8.
See everything Ka Rawe Tours runsWhy this scores 66
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Wellington.
How much does Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour cost?
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Prices start at $112 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Wellington usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour take?
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Plan for about 3.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Wellington is not rushed.
Is Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 66 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 16 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Wellington, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour?
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Around 6 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Wellington can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Wellington and add a light layer if any part of the 3.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all incl. Weta Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Wellington within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Wellington?
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On Outty we rank every Wellington experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island, Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour, Martinborough Wine and Wild Coast Tour from Wellington. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Wellington?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Wellington?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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