A Lord of the Rings Pilgrimage to New Zealand: There and Back Again

LAND ONLY PRICE: Starting from approximately $5000 USD per person (double occupancy)*

Land-Only Rates:

• NZD $8,576.70 per person twin/double  |  NZD $10,585.75 per person single

These rates are inclusive of the Flights & Fables planning and coordination fee. Final USD pricing will be confirmed at time of booking based on the exchange rate in effect.

Single Room Supplement:

Single occupancy supplement is included in the single rates above. Subject to availability. request basis only.

Payment Schedule:

• Land Deposit: NZD $250 per person (non-refundable)
• Final payment: 45 days prior to departure (approximately October 9, 2027)
• Passport copies and full rooming list required at 60 days prior
• Travel insurance strongly recommended, see Travel Protection section

Note: Exchange rate fluctuations may affect the final USD price. Prices are only guaranteed once full payment has been received and documents issued.

Airfare is NOT included in the land-only package price.

New Zealand is a long-haul destination from the US, typically 17–22 hours depending on routing. Getting here right matters, and I'm here to help you navigate it.

Option 1: Book Through Flights & Fables (Recommended)

Let me coordinate your international flights as part of your overall travel package. I can source routing options from your home city, ensure your arrival aligns with the group transfer, and handle the complexity of long-haul Pacific routing so you don't have to. Contact me directly to discuss airfare options once you've confirmed your spot.

Option 2: Book Your Own Flights Independently

If you prefer to arrange your own flights, please coordinate with Rocky to ensure your arrival and departure align with the group:

• Arrive: Auckland International Airport (AKL) on or before November 23, 2027
• Depart: Queenstown Airport (ZQN) on December 5, 2027
• Additional transfer charges apply for travelers arriving or departing on different flights, please advise in advance

Important travel document note: All travelers require a New Zealand ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) prior to departure. This applies to US passport holders and must be obtained via the NZ Immigration website or mobile app. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) is collected at the same time. Costs apply.

This is a fully private group experience, not a shared coach tour. Every element has been arranged exclusively for the Flights & Fables group.

Accommodations (12 nights, twin share):

• Sudima Hotel Auckland City — Auckland (Night 1)
• Hidden Lake Hotel & Apartments — Cambridge (Night 2)
• Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua — Rotorua (Night 3)
• The Park Hotel Ruapehu — Mt Ruapehu/Tongariro (Night 4)
• James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor — Wellington (Nights 5–6)
• Quest Cathedral Junction Serviced Apartments — Christchurch (Nights 7–8)
• Distinction MacKenzie Country Hotel — Twizel (Night 9)
• Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront — Queenstown (Nights 10–12)

Transportation:

• Private air-conditioned coach (19-seat for group of 15 / 30-seat for group of 20) with English-speaking driver/captain throughout
• Interislander Ferry — Wellington to Picton (one way, scenic Cook Strait crossing through Marlborough Sounds)
• Coastal Pacific Train — Picton to Christchurch (one way, one of NZ's most scenic rail journeys along the Pacific coastline)
• Private coach transfer — Christchurch Railway Station to accommodation
• Private transfer — Queenstown accommodation to Queenstown Airport (Day 13)

Included Tours & Experiences (all pre-booked for the group):

• Weta Workshop Unleashed — Auckland (Day 1, 4pm, 90 min)
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves — Waitomo (Day 2, 11:30am)
• Hobbiton Movie Set Behind-the-Scenes Tour — The Shire's Rest, Matamata (Day 3, 10:50am, 4.5 hrs) including banquet lunch at The Millhouse and Green Dragon Inn drink
• Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour — Wellington (Day 6, 8:30am–4:30pm): Outer Shire, Embassy Cinema, Weta Workshop, River Anduin, Rivendell rainforest, Isengard Gardens, Helm's Deep/Minas Tirith quarry, lunch included
• Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour ex Christchurch — Mount Sunday via Canterbury Plains & Rakaia Gorge (Day 8, 9am–5pm, 4WD, picnic lunch with champagne included)
• Skippers Canyon Original 4WD Adventure — Queenstown (Day 10, 1:30pm, 4 hrs)
• Milford Sound Cruise with Private Coach — Queenstown departure 7am, cruise 1hr 40min (Day 11)
• Full Day Lord of the Rings Safari of the Scenes & Lunch — Glenorchy/Paradise Valley (Day 12, 8am–5:30pm): Isengard, Lothlórien, Ford of Bruinen, Argonath, Minas Tirith, Ithilien Camp, Dunharrow and more; lunch voucher included
• Farewell Dinner: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Vintage Steamship — cruise aboard the 100-year-old TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu, gourmet BBQ dinner at Walter Peak homestead, farm show (Day 12, 5pm–9pm)

Meals Included:

• 12 Breakfasts (daily from Day 2, included in hotel rates)
• 5 Lunches: Day 3 (Hobbiton banquet), Day 6 (Wellington LOTR tour cafe), Day 8 (Edoras tour champagne picnic), Day 11 (Milford Sound), Day 12 (LOTR Safari voucher)
• 1 Dinner: Day 12 (Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ farewell dinner)

Additional Inclusions:

• All local taxes on accommodation and tours at current rates
• Electronic travel documents

All major LOTR experiences are included in the land package. The following optional upgrades are available for those who want to go even deeper

Note: Weta Workshop Unleashed (Day 1) is included in the base package.

Additional independent options in Queenstown on your own time include bungee jumping, jet boating, wine tours, and more. Rocky will provide a full recommendations list before departure.

This tour includes 18 meals across the 13-day journey:

• 12 Breakfasts — daily from Day 2, included in hotel rates
• 5 Lunches: Hobbiton banquet (Day 3), Wellington LOTR tour (Day 6), Edoras champagne picnic (Day 8), Milford Sound cruise (Day 11), LOTR Safari voucher (Day 12)
• 1 Dinner: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ farewell aboard TSS Earnslaw (Day 12)

Dinners on all other evenings are on your own, giving you the freedom to explore New Zealand's remarkable restaurant scene. From Māori dining experiences in Rotorua to Wellington's celebrated cafe culture and Queenstown's world-class restaurants, you will eat very well. Rocky will provide restaurant recommendations throughout the journey.

Note on Day 3 Hobbiton: The banquet lunch at The Millhouse is a full themed experience, second helpings encouraged. It's a meal and then some. Come hungry.

All accommodations are based on twin share (double occupancy). The land rate reflects the per-person cost when sharing a room with one other traveler.

Single Occupancy:

Single room supplement is available — see pricing section for rates. Subject to availability and on a request basis only.

Hotel Details:

• Sudima Hotel Auckland City (4.5-star) — heart of Auckland CBD, walking distance to Weta Workshop Unleashed
• Hidden Lake Hotel & Apartments — Cambridge, luxury new property with woodland setting and floor-to-ceiling windows
• Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua (4-star) — lakefront location adjacent to Polynesian Spa
• The Park Hotel Ruapehu (3-star) — the only hotel in the region with views of the three volcanoes; outdoor hot tubs
• James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor — Wellington city centre, 2-night base for LOTR Wellington day
• Quest Cathedral Junction Serviced Apartments — Christchurch CBD, 2-night base for Edoras tour and Mt Cook day
• Distinction MacKenzie Country Hotel — Twizel, surrounded by glacial valleys with mountain views and private balconies
• Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront — lakefront setting, 3-night base for Milford Sound, LOTR Safari, and farewell dinner

Standard check-in: 2pm / Check-out: 10am. Early check-in and late check-out are not included and are subject to availability. Please inquire if needed.

Luggage allowance: Due to private coach storage regulations, each traveler is permitted 1 x standard suitcase (max 23kg) in the hold and 1 x small soft-sided personal item onboard. Please do not overpack, this is a moving journey with transfers every 1-2 nights.

The following are not included in the land-only package price:

• All international airfares, departure taxes, and fuel surcharges
• Additional transfers for travelers arriving or departing on different flights from the group
• Airport porterage
• Gratuities for guides, drivers, and restaurant staff (tipping is appreciated in New Zealand)
• Dinners on all nights except the farewell dinner on Day 12
• Beverages unless specifically listed in inclusions
• Personal items and incidentals
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels
• New Zealand ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) — required for US passport holders. Apply at immigration.govt.nz/nzeta
• New Zealand IVL (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) — collected with the ETA application
• New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) — must be completed online or via the NZTD app before arrival
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended — see Travel Protection section)
• Any items not specifically listed as inclusions

Travel insurance is NOT included in the trip price but is STRONGLY recommended for a 13-day journey of this distance and value.

ANZCRO cancellation penalties apply from time of booking and can reach 100% of the land package value within 14 days of departure. Travel insurance is the only protection against losing your full investment due to illness, family emergency, or unforeseen events.

Recommended coverage should include: trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical coverage, emergency evacuation, and baggage protection. Given the length and cost of this trip, Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage is worth considering.

Insurance must be purchased shortly after your individual deposit payment to ensure maximum coverage eligibility. Your travel insurance provider of choice can advise on timing requirements.

Rocky's note: I've traveled to 64 countries. The one consistent piece of advice I give every single client: on a trip this significant and this far from home, travel insurance is not optional. Please protect your investment.