Otherworldly journeys in New Zealand

There’s no shortage of magic or adventure in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies.

Follow in the footsteps of the characters themselves with just one of these wondrous journeys to be discovered across New Zealand.

Heaphy Track – West Coast

If you’re up for an adventure, embark on arguably the most epic of them all: New Zealand’s longest Great Walk, the Heaphy Track. Over four to six days, you’ll traverse almost 80km of mountainous terrain, expansive native tussock downs and dense bush, and be rewarded with views and memories to last a lifetime.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves – Waikato: Step into New Zealand’s spectacular cave system and prepare to be blown away by the cave formations, stream passages and magical sight of glowworms lighting up the walls above you. Embark on a self-guided tour, or join a boat tour – or if you’re really looking for something memorable, give blackwater rafting a shot, where you will be able to crawl, swim and make your way through the caves on a rubber tube.

Milford Track – Fiordland

Famous for good reason, the iconic Milford Track will see you journey through ancient rainforests and glacial carved valleys to arrive in Milford Sound, earning it the unofficial moniker of the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World.’ This stellar location is so stunning that it has been featured in popular films across the decades, including The Lord of the Rings. Both travellers and locals consider this walk a bucket list item thanks to its awe-inspiring views and varied landscapes, including New Zealand’s tallest waterfall, swimming holes and mossy grottos.

Waitaki Whitestone Aspiring Global Geopark – Waitaki

Take a walk through a land of geological and cultural marvels steeped in ancient history. The vast Waitaki Whitestone Aspiring Global Geopark runs from the ocean to the Southern Alps and boasts an array of geomorphological features to discover – from the iconic Moeraki Boulders to the otherworldly gravel and silt pinnacles of the Clay Cliffs.

Takaka Hill Walkway – Nelson Tasman

The dramatic landscapes of The Takaka Hill Walkway, also known as ‘Marble Mountain’, is what sets this loop track apart from the rest. Featuring vast rugged terrain and marble outcrops, it was featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies as the Chetwood Forest. Explore your way through sub-alpine scrub, tussock ranges and dense beech forest before being rewarded with a lookout offering picturesque views over Golden Bay and the Kahurangi National Park.