Since the Lord of the Rings films became a global phenomenon in the early 2000s, New Zealand has become a bucket list destination for fantasy film fans from around the world.
Director Peter Jackson and his crew chose New Zealand to film their epic film trilogy, turning the country’s vast open landscapes and scenic vistas into an important character in the film. For many people around the world, New Zealand is Middle Earth, the world of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and wizards. At Wild Rides Fiordland, we are proud to offer numerous Lord of the Rings hiking, cycling and biking tours in and around the Te Anau/Fiordland area.
From Te Anau/Fiordland to Middle Earth: Planning Your LOTR Scenic Biking Tour or Hiking Tour
While filming on the three Lord of the Rings films—2001’s The Fellowship of the Ring, 2002’s The Two Towers and 2003’s Return of the King—took place throughout New Zealand, many filming locations are within a short distance of the Te Anau/Fiordland area. For instance, the Waiau River—which stretches from Lake Te Anau to Lake Manapouri—was recast as the River Anduin in the films. The Fellowship of the Ring traverses this river before the climax of the first film in the series. Other iconic film sequences were filmed in the area as well. Those familiar with the films will recognise the scenery of Middle Earth spots such as the Fangorn Forest, Rivendell and Amon Hen.
At Wild Rides Fiordland, we recognise and appreciate the level of respect, adoration and love that the Lord of the Rings films have received globally. We also love how these movies have portrayed New Zealand—rightfully—as one of the most beautiful places in the world. In tribute to the films and how they lovingly transformed this country into one of the most lavishly and fully-realised fantasy worlds ever committed to film, we proudly offer Lord of the Rings mountain biking and hiking tours. If you are looking for a Lord of the Rings scenic cycling tour that will show you some of the more wilderness-leaning locations from the film, Wild Rides Fiordland is the right place to start.
There are so many film locations close to the Te Anau/Fiordland area that it is impossible to see and experience them all in the space of a single day. As such, our Lord of the Rings tours are offered on a flexible basis. If you decide to do an LOTR scenic biking tour, you can plot your own route and enjoy up to three days of unguided cycling. Wild Rides Fiordland will provide you with a map of local LOTR film locations, consult with you about the sites you most wish to see and assist you with planning a route to hit each of those locations in turn. We will also rent you high-quality, well-maintained bikes for the journey. If you are planning a two or three-day trip, we recommend you bring camping equipment.
Book lotr Mountain Bike Tour Today
Are you interested in hiking Fangorn Forest, or taking a LOTR mountain bike tour to see the spot where Frodo and Arwen fled from the Black Riders in The Fellowship of the Ring? At Wild Rides Fiordland, we look forward to helping you plot out the perfect Lord of the Rings mountain biking or hiking tour. Contact us today to get started.
