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15-DAY A JOURNEY THROUGH MIDDLE EARTH TOUR Meals included: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner DAY 1: Auckland Make your own way to the hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure. Hotel: Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland City. DAY 2: Auckland – Rotorua (B, D) Depart Auckland and travel through the King Country, then take a guided tour through the Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata. Continue on to Rotorua and take a visit to Te Puia to see some of the stunning natural features of the area, including geysers, steaming lakes and streams, bubbling mud pools, multicolored silica terraces and hot mineral pools known for their curative properties. In the evening enjoy a Maori concert and hangi feast. Hotel: Ibis Rotorua. DAY 3: Rotorua - Tongariro National Park (B) Travel through an important forestry area to reach the picturesque, fastflowing Huka Falls. Drive along Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, into the heart of the Tongariro National Park where parts of both Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. Go for some short walks in the grand volcanic mountain landscape that is marked by three partially active volcanoes, rising to an altitude up to 2800 meters. Scenes of Mordor from the Lord of the Rings trilogy were also shot here, and part of the Mangawhero River was a location for Ithilien. Hotel: Hobbit Motor Lodge in Ohakune. DAY 4: Wellington (B) Head towards Wellington through green pastures and farm districts, and take a walk into Kaitoke Regional Park, which was used for scenes at the Elven outpost of Rivendell. Wellington has been the capital city since 1865 and is also the country's political centre. Visit the Embassy Theatre where the World Premiere of Return of the King was celebrated. Hotel: West Plaza Hotel (two nights). DAY 5: Miramar (B) Visit the Weta Cave in Miramar, which screens the first-ever behind-thescenes look at Weta and interviews with the Weta co-founders, giving an 30 15-Day A Journey Through Middle Earth Tour exclusive insight into the ingenuity that goes into crafting the art of Weta, and the creative talent that shows through in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit movies, as well as Weta's other projects. Afterwards, take a city sightseeing tour and drive to Mount Victoria to enjoy a beautiful view over the city. Parts of Mount Victoria served as the outskirts of the Shire in The Fellowship of the Ring. The rest of the day is at leisure. DAY 6: Wellington – Nelson (B) Board the ferry to travel across Cook Strait. Enter the South Island through the beautiful carved fiords of the Marlborough Sounds, and arrive in the small harbor town of Picton. Here there is the choice to take a scenic drive around the coast and a walk at the Pelorus River, which is a featured location in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. Alternatively, drive to Blenheim and through the Wairau valley to do some wine tasting. In the late afternoon reach Nelson. Hotel: Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco Apartments (two nights). DAY 7: Nelson (B) Enjoy a day at leisure. Recommend options are 1) take a trip to Abel Tasman National Park and board a cruise boat or a sailing trip, which will take you along golden bays and beaches. Maybe choose a suitable walk through dense rainforest and swim in the clear, calm water. 2) Take a spectacular helicopter flight to see some of the film locations from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in the Golden Bay area: South of Rivendell and the Dimrill Dale. These tours are at additional cost. Perhaps visit the Kiwi jeweler Jens Hansen where there is the opportunity to buy a replica of "The One Ring" as a souvenir for this journey (optional). DAY 8: Nelson – Hokitika (B) Take the road via Murchison to the West Coast and drive along the scenic coastal highway. Visit the dramatic Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki, do a tasting of original West Coast beer at the Monteith's brewery in Greymouth and continue on to the jade capital of Hokitika. Hotel: Beachfront Hotel.

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