Reviews and travel ratings on Red Carpet Tours in New Zealand (93% from 31 reviews)

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  1. Auckland City
  1. Jamiego's avatar

    Jamie

    United Kingdom

    Auckland city Library is a good place to chill out, read newspapers from around the world, flick through magazines and use the internet. No parking outside as it is in the middle of the city behind Queen Street.

    19 November 2010.

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Reviews for Red Carpet Tours

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Schnieselchen's avatar

Schnieselchen

Germany

Ranking: 10/10

Whether you're a die-hard LOTR geek or just a Significant Other tagging along, you will absolutely love this tour: You g…

Whether you're a die-hard LOTR geek or just a Significant Other tagging along, you will absolutely love this tour: You get to see some of the best places from the films (and it is beyond words to describe how great it is to be standing where your favourite characters were!), you will enjoy the glorious scenery of NZ, you will take more photos than you ever thought possible, you have a great choice of extra activities (from helicopter rides to bungee jumping), you will be staying at great hotels, you will be looked after lovingly by Raewyn and Vic, you will make great friends and you will not want this tour ever to end.

Can't recommend this highly enough!

Reviewed 19 November 2011

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JayJay5's avatar

JayJay5

Australia

Ranking: 10/10

I had the extreme pleasure of spending time with Vic , Raewyn and Julie of Red Carpet Tours as part of my New Zealand ex…

I had the extreme pleasure of spending time with Vic , Raewyn and Julie of Red Carpet Tours as part of my New Zealand experience. Their rich knowledge and deep love for this magical country is mixed with a sense of loving kindness towards their tour-ees. They are Hobbitologists and Lord of the Rings experts, but Red Carpet Tours offers more than facts and photo ops. If you want to fully experience the spiritual magic of this beautiful country, do it with the best- Red Carpet Tours. Carol Adams, USA

Reviewed 4 months ago and experienced in August 2011

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Alaïs Longthought's avatar

Alaïs Longthought

United States

Ranking: 10/10

Nothing but superlatives for Vic, Raewyn, & all of the other RCT staff. My at-the-time-eight-year-old daughter & I took …

Nothing but superlatives for Vic, Raewyn, & all of the other RCT staff. My at-the-time-eight-year-old daughter & I took the full two-week tour of "Middle-earth" & it was an unforgettable experience. Raewyn patiently answered my many ahead-of-time questions as to whether I should bring my daughter. Vic's quiet sense of humor kept me chuckling all through the North Island. And Derek, our South Island guide, was a fountain of information on any subject. We saw so many places that we never would have found on our own, both LOTR-related & "just plain NZ"—although there's nothing "plain" about NZ! The people we met along the way were also wonderful...in fact, Daniel Reeve "calligraphied" my wedding invitation. The entire experience was unforgettable & my daughter & I left our hearts in NZ. Now my daughter wants to spend half a year of high school in NZ. I'm thinking that that would be a good time for another Red Carpet Tour! Thank you to Vic, Raewyn, & all involved for a stellar time in our lives. : )

Reviewed 9 months ago and experienced in February 2006

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Nazgul3's avatar

Nazgul3

United Kingdom

Ranking: 10/10

Q: When is a tour not a tour?
A: When it is run by Vic and Raewyn James.
This is the highest compliment I could pay Re…

Q: When is a tour not a tour?
A: When it is run by Vic and Raewyn James.
This is the highest compliment I could pay Red Carpet Tours. It was like an adventure with a group of lifelong mates and is highly recommended whether you are LOTR fans or not. Both 'belleferret' and 'biinfc' have captured the experience with their postings. For those on the April 2011 adventure...Thanks for the memories!!

Reviewed 25 April 2011

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belleferret's avatar

belleferret

United States

Ranking: 10/10

I recently took the 12-day Lord of the Rings tour, something I had been planning for almost 2 years. A friend of mine to…

I recently took the 12-day Lord of the Rings tour, something I had been planning for almost 2 years. A friend of mine told me the anticipation of such a trip is the best part--he was wrong.

The experience exceeded my expectations in every way. The tour was carefully planned but casual, relaxed and flexible; the scenery was beyond breathtakingly beautiful; the company was fun and friendly; our hosts, Raewyn and Vic James were warm, knowledgeable and enthusiastic; the adventures and activities were thrilling both for the soul and the body.

Before the tour was half over, I knew I wanted to do it again. I can't wait! :-D

Reviewed 20 April 2011

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biinfc's avatar

biinfc

United States

Ranking: 10/10

I just returned from the Red Carpet Tours 12 day 'Lord of the Rings' tour, and it was the best vacation I've had in my l…

I just returned from the Red Carpet Tours 12 day 'Lord of the Rings' tour, and it was the best vacation I've had in my life. I heartily recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the movies, or even to those who want to see some of the most glorious scenery in the world. You don't have to be a LOTR fan to enjoy this tour! Vic and Raewyn James are welcoming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and it's clear the high level of care, thought, and detailed planning that goes into running each tour. They take care of everything so that you can simply enjoy the experience to the fullest. It feels more like traveling with good friends or family than a tour group.

Reviewed 20 April 2011

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goofy284's avatar

goofy284

Canada

Ranking: 10/10

I enjoyed a tour with Red Carpet Tours in November 2004. This tour was a life changing event for me and Vic and Reawyn …

I enjoyed a tour with Red Carpet Tours in November 2004. This tour was a life changing event for me and Vic and Reawyn where amazing. I meet Friends I will have all my life and experienced New Zealand in a comfortable and relaxed group. Everything was top notch from the accommodations to the restaurants to the sites we visited. I do not think I would have had the experiences I had if not for Red Carpet Tours incites into the Lord of the Rings community in New Zealand.
The only bad part about these tours is that sadly they have to end. I hope to return to a Red Carpet tour in 2012. They take you there and you can not wait to go back again!

Reviewed 11 months ago and experienced in November 2004

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cogit8tor's avatar

cogit8tor

United States

Ranking: 10/10

Our Lord of the Rings tour with Red Carpet is one of the high points of our lives. My wife and I traveled with my mother…

Our Lord of the Rings tour with Red Carpet is one of the high points of our lives. My wife and I traveled with my mother, celebrating her 79th birthday on the trip, plus our 17 year old daughter and all of us had a marvelous time. Vic and Raewyn go out of their way to tailor the experience for the specific interests of the individuals on each tour and that made the tour even more special. We highly recommend Red Carpet and hope to return and see more of New Zealand with them in the years to come.

Reviewed 12 months ago and experienced in October 2009

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Rivendell lh's avatar

Rivendell lh

United States

Ranking: 10/10

I went on the Red Carpet LOTR Tour four months ago and cannot wait to go back to New Zealand for another tour with Red C…

I went on the Red Carpet LOTR Tour four months ago and cannot wait to go back to New Zealand for another tour with Red Carpet. Vic and Julie James are knowledgeable about Tolkien writings and films and created the experience of a lifetime for me. We stayed at great hotels, enjoyed wonderful food, and of course visiting the sites of the films was fantastic. All I can think about is "How soon can I go back?!!!"

Reviewed 12 months ago and experienced in October 2010

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DeannaC's avatar

DeannaC

New Zealand, Aotearoa

Ranking: 10/10

The last 3 days (18th -20th Nov), I was lucky enough to experince a slice of what a LOTR Red Carpet Tour is like! I had…

The last 3 days (18th -20th Nov), I was lucky enough to experince a slice of what a LOTR Red Carpet Tour is like! I had been friends with a person online for 10yrs, never met. She was coming to NZ to do the tour, and so I contacted Raewyn and Vic and asked if they could tell me the free times the tour would have while in Wellington. These wonderful people not only told me what I needed, but invitied me to join them on the Wellington leg of the tour, so I could spend more time with said friend. This is what makes RCT different from other tours. Raewyn and Vic care about those taking the tour, you are not treated like a tourist, but family, and nothing is a problem for them, they will do all that is within their power to make the tour an amazing experince for you.
The hightlights,being with friend, meeting Daniel Reeve, visiting Weta Cave, a guided tour of Stansborough (wonderful elven cloaks), watching friend being tattooed by the same gentleman who did the hobbits, excellent meals at Green Parrot,Strawberry Fair,and Kaitoke Cafe, taking in the sites at Helms Deep, Rivendell,Vic's stories and meeting an excellent group of people in the November fellowship.
I live in Middle Earth,and some may think that it wouldn't be worth a kiwi going on the tour...I'm here to tell you it is. You will enjoy everything like it was new, and because RCT makes everyone feel like family, you'll hate leaving the tour at the end!
Raewyn and Vic went out of their way for me, and I cannot thank them enough for that! I have come away from my "mini" tour with a new love for my part of Middle Earth,and precious memories.
Thank you Raewyn and Vic, for bringing two friends together, in Middle Earth.

Reviewed 21 November 2010

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mirwalker's avatar

Thomas

United States

Ranking: 10/10

With apologies to my folks re: family trips growing up, Red Carpet was, bar none, the most enjoyable and enlightening gr…

With apologies to my folks re: family trips growing up, Red Carpet was, bar none, the most enjoyable and enlightening group travel I've ever done.

The Jameses (proprietors and guides) provide an amazing mix of personal (knew us by name, asked and learned about our specific interests and quirks, literally "hung out" with us as part of the the tour community) and professional (handled everything, knew their stuff). Their genuine hospitality and encyclopedic knowledge of film, locations and culture made the (stunningly gorgeous) sights and LOTR stops only part of the trip's enjoyment.

And their approach attracts wonderful tour-goers to share the experience. I'm still in touch with everyone from my tour.

I can't recommend them enough; I'd repeat the same tour annually if I could.

Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in May 2007

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meledhel2003's avatar

meledhel2003

United Kingdom

Ranking: 10/10

I had the opportunity to go on a Red Carpet Tour way back in October 2005. It remains to this day the best thing I have …

I had the opportunity to go on a Red Carpet Tour way back in October 2005. It remains to this day the best thing I have ever done. I was only 19 at the time and travelling alone, but Vic and Raewyn the tour guides were so friendly my nerves about my journey to the other side of the world soon disappeared. The tour perfectly encorporates the brilliant LotR locations and the stunning New Zealand countryside. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone!

Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in October 2005

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marymac's avatar

marymac

United Kingdom

Ranking: 10/10

I did a north island tour with Vic and Raewyn and loved every minute of it. They made me feel so special and well cared…

I did a north island tour with Vic and Raewyn and loved every minute of it. They made me feel so special and well cared for -it was wonderful to meet Daniel Reeve and to visit Stansborough. I can thoroughly recommend Red Carpet Tours and can't wait to have the full experience when time allows.

Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in November 2008