✅ What’s Included
• Private and exclusive access to the Lothlórien and Gladden Fields filming locations
• Guided visit to Stansborough Mill
• Expert guide with first-hand stories from the films
• Cloaks, weapons and coracle for photo opportunities
• Cafe lunch

🚫 What’s Not Included
• Transport to the meeting point in Wellington
• Personal items or souvenirs
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

Wellington and the Wairarapa have mild, changeable weather year-round.
Summer (Dec–Feb) • Typical daytime: 18–24 °C • Conditions: sunny with sea breezes • Practical note: pack sunscreen and layers
Autumn (Mar–May) • Typical daytime: 15–21 °C • Conditions: pleasant and colourful • Practical note: light jacket for evenings
Winter (Jun–Aug) • Typical daytime: 10–16 °C • Conditions: cooler and possible rain • Practical note: rain jacket and comfortable shoes
Spring (Sep–Nov) • Typical daytime: 14–20 °C • Conditions: mild with wildflowers • Practical note: comfortable walking shoes

Documents & Essentials
• Photo ID and booking confirmation
• Any personal medication

Clothing (layered for variable weather)
• Comfortable walking shoes for short walks and grass
• Light layers, hat and sunglasses
• Light rain jacket (weather can change quickly)

Toiletries & First Aid
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Personal toiletries

Electronics
• Charged phone and camera for photos

Accessories & Nice-to-Haves
• Small daypack
• Reusable water bottle

Lothlórien filming location is a private country estate in the Wairarapa that was transformed into the heart of Elvendom for The Fellowship of the Ring.

Gladden Fields – the same estate also served as the location where Smeagol and Deagol discovered the One Ring in The Return of the King.

Stansborough Mill remains a small, family-owned business that still handcrafts costumes the old-fashioned way, including the cloaks given to the Fellowship by Galadriel and Celeborn.

Wairarapa region offers rolling hills, vineyards and peaceful countryside just over the Remutaka Ranges from Wellington.

Remutaka Ranges drive provides scenic views and a gentle introduction to the landscapes that became Middle-earth.

New Zealand’s film heritage continues to draw visitors 25 years after The Lord of the Rings, with many locations still carefully preserved.

Local hospitality at the estate and mill gives you a genuine connection to the people who helped bring the films to life.

The Summerhouse at the estate offers a beautiful, peaceful spot for lunch with views that match the on-screen magic.

Private access to these sites is rare and helps support the ongoing care of the locations.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Wellington Lord of the Rings Half & Full Day Tour: Weta & Filming Locations

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 145 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Wellington CBD pickup points; based on full-day option)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 290 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• Half-day (4 hours) or full-day (8 hours) tour
• Small group experience
• Starts and ends with Wellington CBD hotel pickup/return
• Comfortable vehicle transport
• No accommodation included
• Meals: Full-day includes Hobbit-worthy café lunch (traditional fare with dietary options); half-day has none
• Highlights: Mt Victoria Lookout, Outer Shire filming locations, Weta Workshop guided tour, Kaitoke Regional Park (Rivendell), Harcourt Park (Isengard), Great River Anduin Shores, Embassy Cinema drive-by

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: Half-day (4 hours) or full-day (8 hours)
• Key locations: Wellington CBD start/end, Mt Victoria Lookout, Outer Shire scenes, Weta Workshop, Kaitoke Regional Park (Rivendell), Harcourt Park (Isengard), Great River Anduin Shores, Embassy Cinema
• Travel style: Relaxed small-group Lord of the Rings filming locations tour with expert guide
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Wellington CBD pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness. Full-day used for higher-end estimate.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for Wellington regional vehicle operations and tourism-level food purchases.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or additional purchases).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 85 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Wellington CBD pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or short transfers): 30 kg
• All on-tour comfortable vehicle transfers (shared small group): 55 kg – higher-end diesel factor with realistic low-occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 0 kg CO₂e

• Day tour only – no overnight stay

Meals & Food – 35 kg CO₂e

• Full-day: Hobbit-worthy café lunch + snacks (tourism-level portions and waste); half-day: none – higher-impact estimate

Activities & Excursions – 25 kg CO₂e

• Guided filming location visits, Weta Workshop tour, short easy walks and expert commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 145 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset: 2 × 145 kg = 290 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices; our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

Where does the tour start and finish?
It starts and finishes in Wellington, with comfortable vehicle transport provided for the day.

Is lunch included?
Yes – you’ll collect a cafe lunch and enjoy it in the Summerhouse at the estate.

Do I need any special fitness level?
The tour involves gentle walking on grass and paths – suitable for most fitness levels.

Will I get to take photos with props?
Yes – cloaks, weapons and a coracle are provided so you can recreate your favourite scenes.

Is the tour suitable for Lord of the Rings fans?
Absolutely – it’s designed for fans with expert guides sharing first-hand stories from the set.

What should I wear?
Comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing and a light rain jacket are recommended.

Is transport included?
Yes – all vehicle transport on the day, including the scenic drive over the Remutaka Ranges.

Can I bring my own camera?
Yes – you’re encouraged to take plenty of photos during the visit.