Kensington Marks 25 Years of The Lord of the Rings with New Zealand’s Big Screen Landscapes itinerary

Kensington is launching New Zealand’s Big Screen Landscapes —  a 12-day journey that carries travelers across the country’s striking terrain, from the hills of the North Island to the glacial peaks along the South – to mark the 25th anniversary of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The new itinerary covers Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown and pairs New Zealand’s natural beauty with the filmmaking heritage that has drawn audiences to its landscapes for a generation.

For travellers who have loved the films, there has rarely been a better moment to walk through the places that shaped them on a trip where they can:

• Tour the Hobbiton Movie Set, the largest outdoor film set in the world and the only TLOTR film set still standing in New Zealand. Accompanied by an expert guide, they will wander the twelve-acre set while discovering fascinating stories of how this location was transformed and the movie magic was brought to life.
• Trace Wellington’s Middle-earth locations with a specialist guide, from the gardens of Isengard to the banks of the River Anduin, then go behind the scenes at the Weta Workshop.

• Journey to Mount Sunday, the remote high-country peak that became Edoras, capital of Rohan.
• Ride the TranzAlpine through the Canterbury Plains and dramatic river gorges to Arthur’s Pass, with time among the limestone formations of Castle Hill.
• Take to the air above Queenstown with the pilot who served as principal aerial pilot on the original trilogy, landing high on a glacier beside the summits that stood in for the Misty Mountains.

And as part of the launch, the first 40 travellers to book New Zealand’s Big Screen Landscapes will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets for Hobbiton Movie Set’s The Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary Celebration, on Friday, Dec. 4, 2026.

Guests will enjoy a guided tour culminating in a bustling festival event at The Green Dragon Inn. With traditional Hobbit fare, entertainment and festivities, this will be a night to remember.

Helen Giontsis, President of Kensington, observes that: “New Zealand has a way of making people feel as though they have stepped into another world, and that is exactly what this journey delivers.”

And Giontsis adds: “The landscapes that captivated audiences on screen are even more extraordinary in person, and our guides bring both the scenery and the stories behind it to life. For anyone who has ever wanted to experience these places firsthand, there has never been a better time to go.”

Go to www.kensingtontours.com for more.