Glenorchy & Paradise Scenic Tour: A Half-Day Journey to Middle Earth's Magical Sites
4.9
272 Ratings
Queenstown
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:
1 day
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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
A journey to Queenstown isn’t fulfilled until you take the trip to the mesmerizing Glenorchy, just 50 minutes away. Situated on the north coast of Lake Wakatipu, it houses some of the magnificent landscapes of New Zealand and a hint of Middle‑earth enchantment. Whether you’re an enthusiast of the Lord of the Rings or an admirer of breathtaking views - Glenorchy is the place to be.
The excursion includes several picturesque spots and imparts knowledge, tales, and history of the area including the heritage of the Maori. During the tour, spend some time on the Glenorchy jetty and a scenic drive through the charming township before heading to the stunning Paradise, crossing Diamond Lake and witnessing Lord of The Rings filming sites.
A scrumptious morning or afternoon tea in Kiwi style is inclusive, along with an opportunity to pose as a Lord of the Rings character!
Travel comfortably in plush Mercedes vans equipped with unique onboard videos and free water and wifi.
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
(272 Ratings)
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318isabelleb
May 23, 2024
Highly recommended - I am really glad I took this tour and with altitude tours! It was a short trip but I learned a lot about Queenstown from our guide Jono. I am lucky I got him as our guide. You don't need to be a LOTR fan to enjoy this tour. I really liked the places we visited. We saw snowy mountains from afar at this time of the year. I like Glenorchy and would actually love to stay there a little longer to enjoy the small scenic town.
I enjoyed this tour more than the 12-hour Milford sound tour :) I recommend to take this tour as you start your vacation in Queenstown.
I highly recommend the small group tours from altitude. I joined two tours with them and I always liked how the guides speak. It is a balance of fun and being educational. They enunciate clearly which I really appreciate.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paragp863
May 17, 2024
first time in New Zealand - firstly it rained so that was a little sad but, our guide Jono was really fun and optimistic he gave us the best sandwiches I had ever had, he was an amazing guide and it was really fun listening to him. He was really funny.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jungsoony2024
May 16, 2024
Glenorchy & Paradise - The view was amazing. Especially Beth who guided us was excellent. She had lots of knowledge about every place and explained the details of the story. The lunch she made was also good. I was so happy with her friendly manner. I want to see her again if I go there next time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suzy_r
Apr 19, 2024
It's one of the most... - It's one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It's incredible, awesome, unimaginable. New Zealand people are super friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Nitramny
Apr 18, 2024
Great views and great guided tour! - Nice tour with great views! Ana was a great guide, thanks again! If you want to have a comfortable short view into LOTR locations, this one is great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mitchk660
Apr 17, 2024
Fantastic Experience. Thanks, Alana! - If you're going to put stock in any of these reviews, put some in the review from a guy who took three tours with Altitude. Altitude does a truly remarkable job running a seamless operation while still making it super fun and informative. I can't believe I almost left Queenstown without witnessing the beauty of Glenorchy, nestled just around the corner from Queenstown. The combination of the quaint town in the midst of autumn with the views of the distant glacial peaks was truly spectacular. My tour guide, Alana, had a truly impressive breadth of knowledge about the area, especially considering the fact that she's relatively new to town. She brought incredible energy to the tour and kept us engaged with the experience the whole way. You can tell she deeply cares about New Zealand. I would consider myself lucky to do another tour with Altitude before they become too popular.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ourtardis
Apr 5, 2024
Great small group tour, awesome tour guide - Shelly, our driver and tour guide, really made this tour enjoyable with her informative commentary and humour. Very much enjoyed the small size of the group and lovely afternoon tea in the forest. We didn't want a full on Lord of the Rings tour but Shelly touched on some areas of filming which were interesting to learn about. We toured the whole time except for toilet breaks. Didn't want to spend a long time in Glenorchy like another tour so this fit the bill. Great communication beforehand as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lilmorty
Mar 30, 2024
Great guide and stunning scenery! - Stunning drive with a fun & knowledgeable tour guide (Alia). I loved that this tour was a small group. It made stops for photos easy and the overall tour well paced.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephen_p
May 14, 2024
Not much of interst - The guide worked hard to make this an interesting tour but there is not much to see unless you are a Lord of The Rings/Peter Jackson fan.
Review provided by Viator
Mark_o
May 14, 2024
Waste of time - The 2 stars are for our guide Shanay, and for the tea service provided. The rest of this tour is a big nothing burger!!! Your money is well spent on any of the many other options Queenstown has to offer.
Review provided by Viator
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