Red Carpet Tours
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Information
Red Carpet Tours
Lord of the Rings Tours
Red Carpet Tours are the leaders in Lord of the Rings movie tours. Join us on our next journey and experience a fellowship you’ll never forget through breath-taking Middle Earth, New Zealand. Our team is here to make your dream a reality.
Suitable for Everyone
You don’t have to know the film script backwards to thoroughly enjoy our experience! The tours are popular with all types of visitors who are looking to explore New Zealand, find some epic adventures and make good friends along the way.
Home to Middle-earth
Our LOTR tours include movie locations all over New Zealand, from the likes of Hobbiton and Mt Doom in the North Island, to Dimrall Dale and Edoras in the South (and much more). Many of these beautiful places are instantly recognisable in real life.
Details
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Organisation |
Red Carpet ToursCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland |
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Directions To Office |
Group Tours
Maps
Reviews
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5.0/5
I'm a solo traveler who prefers self guided tours wherever I go.
But I wanted a LotR experience that could get me places I otherwise wouldn't be able to go on my own. This tour is perfect. Not only for the Lord of the Rings fans but also for those who wish to explore the beautiful majesty that is New Zealand. The tour guides are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kind. The lodging throughout was more than exemplary. The included meals were plentiful as well as considerate, offering both vegan and gluten free options everywhere. At no point did the tour ever feel rushed or sluggish. It was perfectly paced with tear jerking scenery, fun side excursions, secluded nature walks, and shopping opportunities. This tour has taken extra care to ensure that everyone in the group, no matter age or activity level, has the opportunity to see and experience everything that they offer. They also cater very well to both couples/families and solo travelers. This wonderful group of people are dedicated to ensuring that you not only have the experience of a lifetime but that you want for nothing during your time with them. I will gladly take this tour again and bring along as many friends as I can!
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5.0/5
I've been on two Red Carpet tours and am considering a third.
The 12 day LOTR tour of both islands is a joy. Vic and Raewyn James have such an extensive knowledge of their country and the Lord of the Rings, and a fellowship forms very quickly with such wonderful leaders. The tour visits places that the ordinary traveller might never find, and which immerse you immediately in the world of Middle-earth. Along the way there seems to be a never ending queue of wonderful people eager to share their experiences and expertise...giving a rare insight into the making of the films.
The week I spent touring the north island on the Northern Escape Artists and Photography tour was fabulous. Vic and Raewyn again looked after us all the way, finding us fabulous places to paint or photograph, and Daniel Reeve provided expertise and inspiration for a crew of painters.
The various hotels are great - comfortable places often with a lot of character - the sort of place you want to go back and stay at again. Restaurants and snack stops provided a range of choice for all sorts of diets and preferences. The various recreational activities allowed some adventures along the way - all great fun.
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5.0/5
I did a north island tour with Vic and Raewyn and loved every minute of it.
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.
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5.0/5
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!
-
5.0/5
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.
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5.0/5
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.
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5.0/5
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?!!!"
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5.0/5
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.
-
5.0/5
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!
-
5.0/5
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.
-
5.0/5
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
-
5.0/5
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!!
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5.0/5
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. : )
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5.0/5
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
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5.0/5
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!
-
5.0/5
I'm a solo traveler who prefers self guided tours wherever I go.
But I wanted a LotR experience that could get me places I otherwise wouldn't be able to go on my own. This tour is perfect. Not only for the Lord of the Rings fans but also for those who wish to explore the beautiful majesty that is New Zealand. The tour guides are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kind. The lodging throughout was more than exemplary. The included meals were plentiful as well as considerate, offering both vegan and gluten free options everywhere. At no point did the tour ever feel rushed or sluggish. It was perfectly paced with tear jerking scenery, fun side excursions, secluded nature walks, and shopping opportunities. This tour has taken extra care to ensure that everyone in the group, no matter age or activity level, has the opportunity to see and experience everything that they offer. They also cater very well to both couples/families and solo travelers. This wonderful group of people are dedicated to ensuring that you not only have the experience of a lifetime but that you want for nothing during your time with them. I will gladly take this tour again and bring along as many friends as I can!
-
5.0/5
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!
-
5.0/5
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
-
5.0/5
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. : )
-
5.0/5
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!!
-
5.0/5
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
-
5.0/5
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.
-
5.0/5
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!
-
5.0/5
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.
-
5.0/5
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?!!!"
-
5.0/5
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.
-
5.0/5
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.
-
5.0/5
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!
-
5.0/5
I did a north island tour with Vic and Raewyn and loved every minute of it.
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.
-
5.0/5
I've been on two Red Carpet tours and am considering a third.
The 12 day LOTR tour of both islands is a joy. Vic and Raewyn James have such an extensive knowledge of their country and the Lord of the Rings, and a fellowship forms very quickly with such wonderful leaders. The tour visits places that the ordinary traveller might never find, and which immerse you immediately in the world of Middle-earth. Along the way there seems to be a never ending queue of wonderful people eager to share their experiences and expertise...giving a rare insight into the making of the films.
The week I spent touring the north island on the Northern Escape Artists and Photography tour was fabulous. Vic and Raewyn again looked after us all the way, finding us fabulous places to paint or photograph, and Daniel Reeve provided expertise and inspiration for a crew of painters.
The various hotels are great - comfortable places often with a lot of character - the sort of place you want to go back and stay at again. Restaurants and snack stops provided a range of choice for all sorts of diets and preferences. The various recreational activities allowed some adventures along the way - all great fun.
-
5.0/5
There cannot be a better tour than the Red Carpet Tour of Middle Earth.
Vic & Raewyn were super guides, and wonderful people. We were with them [from Canada] on the November 2009 tour of the north and south islands of New Zealand,seeing many of the fabulous film sites for LOTR movies. Everything ran smoothly, and everything was THRILLING each day. I cried after I got home, because I missed New Zealand and the tour itself. The James somehow brought all 11 of us together as a Fellowship - so much so that seven of us met up in England this past August at a Tolkien exhibition. We all want to return to Middle Earth Red Carpet Tours for 'The Hobbit' premier.
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5.0/5
What a fantastic tour!!!
The experience of Vic & Raewyn made sure we visited some great locations that you would never see on a normal bus tour, and together with their background of each beautiful spot made you feel like you were part of the movies. The special guests at some of the locations just raised it to a new level.
With the excellent choices of hotels, restaurants and shops along the way makes it a complete package tour, for the young & old.
A special mention to Daniel Reeve for his brilliant work and patience with some "beginners" just made it a once in a life time experience.
If you are thinking about booking a tour, don't think about it, just do it. You will not regret it.
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5.0/5
The tour guides, Vic and Raewyn James, are the best I've encountered in my 45 years of touring.
They make their tours the most memorable I've experienced.
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5.0/5
Absolutely WONDERFUL!!!
Vic and Raewyn have put together something very special that NO LOTR fan should pass up. Add to the unique movie locations and the wonderful production people you will meet just the sheer beauty of NZ and its warm and welcoming people and you have a tour that is world class and worth every cent! Thank you Vic and Raewyn for an experience Shane and I will never forget. Remember we are still booked for the second film premiere tour!
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5.0/5
What an absolutely perfect way to get a good taste of New Zealand!
Being able to see gorgeous country on both the North and South island was absolutely amazing. Vic and Raewyn were fantastic, so welcoming and helpful; if you needed anything they were there to assist and set up any excursion you might want to do. The trip ran so smoothly, the accommodations were marvellous, the food was incredible, and the way everything was planned out was unparallel. I cannot wait to go back! As soon as I have the money I will be on the first plane over because it is most certainly worth every dime spent! For all those LOTR fans out there RCT is an amazing way to see the country and to see all your favourite movie locations. Standing on top of Edoras surrounded by mountains, is just absolutely breathtaking. Not to mention all the fun adventurous things you can do like Zorbing and the Flying Fox! I would recommend this tour a hundred times over!