After being picked up from your Wellington hotel, relax and enjoy the scenery as you are driven through the city center and into the Lower and Upper Hutt valleys. Your knowledgeable tour guide will share interesting facts about Wellington’s history as you travel..
You’ll also see where the Great River Anduin, and visit Kaitoke Park, the location for Rivendell. See where Frodo’s recovery from the sword attack by the Ringwraiths was staged, and take a walk across the swing bridge to see the pristine river flowing below.
As your tour continues through the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges, your guide will point out local landmarks. Pass through the rural farming towns of Featherston and Martinborough before reaching the tiny settlement of Lake Ferry, where you’ll stop for lunch (included) at a country-style waterfront inn.
After lunch, your tour continues to Cape Palliser Bay, where you’ll have an up-close encounter with one of New Zealand’s largest fur seal colonies. If you’re feeling energetic, follow the 250 steps leading up to the Cape Palliser lighthouse for some stupendous coastal views.
On your return journey to Wellington, stop at a Martinborough winery for a tasting of New Zealand’s renowned wines. The region produces a range of wine varieties but is especially prized for its pinot noir.