For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with New Zealand. Well, it actually started right after I had finished a grade school book report about Australia and found out 97% of things there could kill me (no hard feelings, mates!). After that, all my attention turned to the small country just to it’s right, where rumor had it, they didn’t even have snakes.
Years later, my love for the country grew even more as its beauty dominated Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film adaptions on the big screen. It was as if all those amazing facts I’d read and studied suddenly came to life. I was determined to someday make it over there, and in 2012, I was able to fulfill my dream.
Sam’s House – Image Copyright Arwen Kester
With all the grand expectations I had built up over the years, you’d think I would have been let down somewhere along the way. But New Zealand went above and beyond anything I ever imagined, and I owe much of that to the guide who made that possible.
A good tour guide is the absolute key to fully enjoying one’s vacation, in my mind. And when it comes to LOTR and Hobbit filming locations, Mike the Guide, is spot on. An avid Tolkien fan, Mike can also out quote me where the LOTR films are concerned, which is a hard thing to do! Having been in Queenstown, NZ while filming took place, he knows all the locations that were used during filming, including those not openly publicized.
Mike Stearne – BEST TOUR GUIDE EVER!
Because Mike brings his handy iPad with him on tours, you’re able to watch the scene that took place at the filming location you’re visiting. Imagine climbing Mount Sunday (the filming location for Edoras), reaching the top, and being able to look out at the breathtaking 360° view as the Rohan soundtrack theme played in the background. Yes, that actually happened. And yes, I shed real live tears.
But more than his wealth of knowledge around the films and Tolkien’s books, Mike gave my tour group a deeper understanding for the culture around us. I left New Zealand feeling more aware of it’s people, their customs, and a new found love for those tasty meat pies you find at lunch stops. The tour I experienced wasn’t your run-of-the-mill, “Here’s another filming location, ok on to the next one!” tour. It was a fully immersive experience of the real New Zealand.
Mike the Guide has just announced a new Private 7 Day New Zealand Middle-earth Film Location Tour of the North Island on his official website. It offers Tolkien fans an exclusive touring experience to visit not only LOTR filming locations, but Hobbit locations as well. The tour includes 7 nights accommodation with daily breakfasts, as well as tour admissions to the Weta Cave, Stansborough Textile Factory, Hairy Feet Waitomo, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and of course, the Hobbiton Movie Set – complete with an evening dinner in The Green Dragon!
Mordor – Image Copyright Arwen Kester
While this particular tour covers only the North Island of New Zealand, Mike will soon be adding two additional tours, one covering the South Island and the other to cover a nationwide itinerary. As with all his tours, each can be tailored to meet the specific requests/needs of the individuals attending. For more information, to view the full North Island itinerary, or to learn more about Mike the Guide, visit miketheguide.com.
If you are a Tolkien fan like me and have been dreaming of visiting New Zealand, I highly recommend booking with Mike. As my own tour group agreed, he’s the “BEST TOUR GUIDE EVER!”
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