Glenorchy & Paradise Scenic Tour: A Half-Day Journey to Middle Earth's Magical Sites

337 Ratings

Queenstown

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Join this half-day tour to explore the picturesque village of Glenorchy and the famous Paradise Valley. Discover the magical sites that inspired Middle Earth and enjoy local stories and film history.

Duration: 5 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Glenorchy-Queenstown Road - Begin your day meeting your friendly guide in the Queenstown Town Centre. Starting with a spectacular scenic drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy along the lake edge, with scenic photo spots and entertaining stories from your local guide about Lake Whakatipu and its legends.

What's Included

Costumes onboard for a unique photo opportunity
On-board WiFi
Morning/Afternoon Tea
Professional guide & live commentary onboard
Maori storytelling and history
On board Kiwi music (download our Spotify playlist!)
Famous movie locations
Complimentary central Queenstown transfers

What's Not Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Additional Information

Sitting on the northern shores of Lake Whakatipu is the small picturesque village of Glenorchy, the famous Paradise Valley, and world-famous Middle Earth magic.
Join this sightseeing tour for a magical half-day journey to Glenorchy and Paradise. This small settlement is full of character and charm and is home to some of the most famous and scenic sights…

Location

Marmolada Cafe

Camp Street

The pick up will be from the bus stop by the bench seats outside Marmolada Cafe on Camp Street.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(337 Ratings)

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Ritsnagpal

May 1, 2025

Fab - It was fabulous ! Our Guide Alana was amazing. Highly recommend it for anyone visiting Queenstown , also the breakfast was delicious :)

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Miya_d

Apr 30, 2025

Beautiful place, nice tour - The scenery is beautiful all the way from Queenstown to Glenorchy. I can get why the place is “paradise”. Our driver and guide Tom is very good.

Review provided by Viator

Culture08570246925

Apr 28, 2025

Amazing half day tour - "We visited Glenorchy on a sunny day in late April, accompanied by our driver and guide Kevin, who was both humorous and highly professional. He shared fascinating insights about the films shot in Glenorchy and their behind-the-scenes stories. Though the glorious sunshine made our half-day trip feel too short – we left craving more! If given the chance, we’d return in a heartbeat. A quick note: The road from Glenorchy to Paradise has some rough patches, but Kevin navigated them with ease

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Lano12012

Apr 26, 2025

Excellent - The driver was great very personable, so only regret not remembering her name, a young blond lady, very pleasant great guide good information

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Fe_l

Apr 26, 2025

Glenorchy Whakatipu and Paradise scenic drives - Awesome! Altitude Premium Tours and guide Alana was great! She look after us really well, she’s a gem! All the best for the tour operator and Viator it was an awesome and memorable experience. Hope to do business with you again in the near future!

Review provided by Viator

Adventure55072174015

Apr 22, 2025

Great experience and Fantastic tour guide - I had a fantastic time on this tour thanks to our guide, who was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the area but also brought a great sense of energy and fun to the experience. She made the tour engaging and informative, sharing interesting local stories and history in a way that really brought Queenstown to life. What made the experience even better was her thoughtfulness—she went out of her way to provide us with great local food and restaurant recommendations that I wouldn’t have discovered on my own. Her tips added so much value to the rest of my trip. Highly recommend joining a tour with her if you want a mix of insight, humor, and genuinely helpful local advice!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Sherri_c

Apr 15, 2025

Stunning scenery and good company - I had a great time with Allegra and Shanay and the rest of the small group. The scenery was stunning, the commentary interesting and enlightening, and the tea was a nice surprise! No time in Glenorchy if that is what you are wanting, but there really isn't much there except for a bathroom, gas station, and cafe! All in all, it was a nice drive with some cool stops.

Review provided by Viator

D3714gadeanf

Apr 14, 2025

Lakeside snowcapped mountains - Beautifully picturesque scenery, excellent tour guide. Stopped at lakeside lookout, glenorchy shed, beech forest, paradise.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Brisbanepam_c

Apr 13, 2025

Glenorchy and paradise- truly paradise! - We were easily booked at a time that was perfect for us- great availability. We were picked up on time in an easy to find place by Allegra and Chennai. The ladies were really friendly. They gave us the chance to introduce ourselves which gave the group a chance to connect. Both ladies were knowledgeable about the areas we visited and I enjoyed the little bits of environmental sustainability information that they shared. The local traditional tales were respectfully told and were so great to hear. The scenery was stunning and we had time to look around with some great vantage points being visited. Most of all, I loved the humour and the ‘chats’ that both Allegra and Chennai had. They were entertaining!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Angelicatus123

May 4, 2025

Peaceful scenic journey - The trip to Glenorchy was serene. It may not have been particularly extraordinary, but it offered a peaceful scenic journey, complimented by Kevin’s insightful commentary. Plus, the morning tea was a nice touch.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Check Availability

From $106

up to 14 guests

1 - Adult