9-day Tolkien Itinerary for New Zealand

Discover New Zealand’s spectacular North Island scenery that has become a portal to Middle Earth for film lovers and Tolkien fans.

New Zealand/Aotearoa is calling all halflings, elves and sorcerers on a quest through the ethereal and fantastical landscapes of the North Island, taking in The Shire to Mordor.

This nine-day itinerary of Middle Earth highlights, from film sets locations to scene-stealing volcanic vistas, will delight The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings fans with its astounding beauty and enveloping magic. So set out on a Tolkien-esque crusade of your own – cloaks and staffs optional.

Day one: Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau

Your journey begins in the harbour city of Auckland. You may choose to spend a full day and night here, revelling in all this vibrant hub has to offer, from alehouses and bars to excellent dining options and nearby beaches. Perhaps spend a day on Waiheke Island, roaming more than 30 wineries and cellar doors, or get ready for the quest to come with an exploratory mini trek through the lava fields and forest of Rangitoto Island.

Must-see:

Piha Beach
Head to the dramatic cliff-studded beach of Piha, just 45-minutes west of the city, to whet your appetite for the coming adventure and dig your toes in the black volcanic sand.

Overlooking cliff-studded beach of Piha — Head to the dramatic cliff-studded beach of Piha.

Ponsonby pottering
Before you slip out of the city in pursuit of other realms, experience the hedonistic offerings of the fashionable dining precinct of Ponsonby.

Stay:

Bed down at the sleek Hotel Fitzroy in Ponsonby, well-positioned for you to take full advantage of the area’s excellent bars and restaurants.

Day two: Auckland to The Coromandel

A three-and-a-half-hour ramble from Auckland will deliver you to the popular destination of The Coromandel. Lush with rainforests, white-sand beaches and cosy coves, there’s plenty of ways to discover the beauty of this tourist-attracting region, from boat tours and hikes to cycling and taking a spin on the Driving Creek Railway.

Must-see:

Hike The Pinnacles
If you can spare the extra day, hike the majestic, jade-coloured The Pinnacles, which form the spine of The Coromandel Peninsula. It’s an overnight undertaking, worth the dawn dash to the summit to catch the sunrise.

Hot Water Beach
Bring your shovel to make a DIY thermal spa in the sand at this otherworldly beach. Get your timing right at either side of the low tide and you can enjoy the sensation of naturally heated mineral water lapping gently around you.

Dig your own thermal spa in the sand. — Bring your shovel to make a DIY thermal spa in the sand at Hot Water Beach.

Stay:

The Middle Earth-accented Artist’s Hostel provides on-theme accommodation in nearby Hahei Beach.

Day three: Whitianga and Cathedral Cove

From pretty Hahei Beach you can meander to Cathedral Cove. Take the hour-long walk to the idyllic cavernous arch, which acts as a frame for the sunlit turquoise waters beyond (and demands real estate on your Instagram feed with its covetable elven-like beauty). Spend the afternoon pottering around The Coromandel town of Whitianga and feasting on fresh seafood.

Must-see:

Take a kayak tour
It’s one thing to walk to Cathedral Cove, but to truly experience its jaw-dropping beauty, join a kayak tour and glide up beside it.

Kayak Cathedral Cove. — Join a kayak tour and glide alongside Cathedral Cove.

The Lost Spring
Just the thing for road-weary travellers, the geothermal pools at The Lost Spring will restore and invigorate appetites for adventure.

Woman swims in geothermal pools at The Lost Spring. — Swim in the geothermal pools at The Lost Spring.

Stay:

Middle Earthers on quests tend not to stay in hotels, so tonight, experience the glamping accommodation at Coromandel Luxury Escapes.

The bath and view at Coromandel Luxury Escapes. — The beautifully tented Coromandel Luxury Escapes.

Day four: Rotorua via Hobbiton

So far, this itinerary has laid out spectacular scenery fit to serve as a backdrop for a Tolkien saga, but today, things get really exciting for card-carrying fans of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR). You’re off to Hobbiton! The film set nestled in the lush, rolling hills of Matamata is squeal-worthy in its adorable rendition of The Shire. Featuring in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series, the set recreates 44 hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn and the Party Tree. From here, carry on a further one hour to Rotorua.

Hobbiton Set in New Zealand — The set recreates 44 hobbit holes, Green Dragon Inn and the Party Tree.

Must-see:

Tour Bag End
You can take a two-hour set tour or deep-dive into the fantasy with an Evening Banquet Tour (after all, you’ve journeyed all the way to Middle Earth, you may as well feast like a hobbit while you’re here!).

Hobbiton Evening Banquet Tour. — Deep-dive into the fantasy with an Evening Banquet Tour.

Wairere Falls
If you’ve had your Bilbo Baggins-full of LOTR for the day, reset your appetite for fantasy with a walk to the base of Wairere Falls, the North Island’s highest waterfall.

Stay:

If you’re not staying to feast on the Banquet Tour, head to Rotorua. Otherwise, hit the hay at a nearby farmstay.

Day four: Rotorua

Rotorua is set within the incendiary-sounding Pacific Ring of Fire. And while it may seem like a fairly volatile destination, its geothermal assets merely serve for some incredibly dramatic scenery, soothing hot springs, and awe-inducing geysers. Sulphur-scented Rotorua is also a fantastic hub of Māori culture and lore, so be sure to soak in the local customs and beliefs on your way to finding a suitable volcanic crater to toss that ring into.

Hot springs of Rotorua — Rotorua is packed with soothing hot springs.

Must-see:

Experience Māori culture
Learn about traditional Māori life and contemporary culture at a number of villages, such as Ohinemutu, Whakarewarewa, Tamaki Village and Mitai Village, and experience a cultural performance at Te Puia.

Experience Māori culture in the villages — Learn about traditional Maori life and contemporary culture.

Get above the crater
Marvel at Rotorua’s gob-smacking volcanic vistas on a helicopter ride over the craters.

Stay:

Should you feel inclined to indulge in a little luxury, an hour’s drive to Taupo will put you at the incomparable Huka Lodge (a ‘Real Earth’ approximation of Rivendell, perhaps?).

External view of Huka Lodge. — Stay at the incomparable Huka Lodge.

Day five: Rotorua to Waitomo

Verdant with native forests punctuated with limestone cliffs, Waitomo’s picturesque scenery features significantly in the LOTR and The Hobbit films, while the area’s famous glowworm caves have been attracting visitors long before Tolkien penned his fantasy novels.

Must-see:

Hairy Feet Waitomo
Warrick and Suzie Denzie first opened up their family farmland to Peter Jackson, and now open their Mangaotaki Valley property to film buff tourists keen to follow in the hairy footsteps of everyone’s favourite hobbits.

Waitomo Caves
Explore a labyrinthine underworld lit by glowworms beneath Waitomo on a boat tour through a network of mystical caves. Fun fact: some of the soundscape from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was recorded here.

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Day six: Ruapehu National Parks

Today you journey to the Ruapehu region. With its desolate, haunting beauty, the location stands in for Mordor in some scenes from the LOTR trilogy. Here, you’ll find two national parks: the UNESCO World Heritage Tongariro National Park, presided over by the majestic Mount Ruapehu, and the Whanganui National Park, offering everything from mountain biking and hiking to skiing and canoeing.

The UNESCO World Heritage Tongariro National Park.

Must-see:

Bike it
Experience Ruapehu on two wheels, taking in ancient forests cloaked in emerald moss, enormous viaducts and the drama of Mt Ruapehu.

Paddle it
Meander the Whanganui River by canoe or kayak, beginning from the town of Taumarunui.

Stay:

Backdropped by attention-seeking mountain views, stay at Whakapapa Village at Chateau Tongariro Hotel.

Day seven: Tongariro Alpine Crossing

You’ll need to set a complete day aside for this hike. Have faith; it’s more than worth the extra day’s annual leave to absorb the staggering landscapes of the Ruapehu region. The crossing isn’t for the uninitiated walker and can be challenging, but the three volcanoes, old lava flows, steam vents and iridescent emerald lakes provide a true reward for perseverance.

Must-see:

Mt Doom-spotting
Keen Middle Earthers will recognise the shape of Mt Doom in the real-life Mt Ngauruhoe. The final step in Frodo Baggins’ quest to do away with the one ring, it’s a fitting finale to our itinerary.

Stay:

Return to Chateau Tongariro Hotel to debrief on your not-so-perilous quest into Mordor.

Day eight: Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Head to the southernmost northern city of Wellington for a well-earned knees-up and a celebration of your return from Middle Earth.

Must-see:

Weta Workshop
If you’re still riding the Peter Jackson high all the way to the finish line, there’s one final essential stop to make: head to Weta Workshop for a behind-the-scenes look at amazing creatures and costumes made for the many blockbuster films made in New Zealand.

Stay:

You’ve journeyed from Hobbiton through Mordor and survived! Time to reinsert yourself into real life once more with a stay and the chic Naumi Studio.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Discover New Zealand’s spectacular North Island scenery that has become a portal to Middle Earth for film lovers and Tolkien fans.

Day one: Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau

Must-see:

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Day two: Auckland to The Coromandel

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Day three: Whitianga and Cathedral Cove

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Day four: Rotorua via Hobbiton

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Day four: Rotorua

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Day five: Rotorua to Waitomo

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Day six: Ruapehu National Parks

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Day seven: Tongariro Alpine Crossing

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Day eight: Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara

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New Zealand’s longest suspension bridge opens at Aoraki/Mount Cook

Ski, soak, repeat: Queenstown’s new bathhouse trail is here

Canoe New Zealand’s longest navigable river and spend a night in a marae

New Zealand’s first Michelin-starred restaurants are about to be revealed – these are the front-runners

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

1. Easy access to good food

2. Better sleep options

3. More ways to move

4. Better connections

5. Location is everything