New Zealand: Queenstown, Family Vacations -  Looking for Middle Earth?The magnificent Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in New Zealand, much of it near Queenstown. For fans the chance to see the location of Middle Earth itself, surrounded by the misty mountains, rock-laden streams and fern grottoes reminiscent of the films is almost too tempting.
 

While not led by Elijah Wood, several companies specialise in taking visitors along the route of ‘Frodo Baggins’ to a variety of locations used during filming. The method of transport is one of the unique choices making each trip an adventure.

Bushwalk or jetboat. Dart River Safaris is located in the small frontier town of Glenorchy, just 45km from Queenstown. Their incredible excursions take participants up the Dart River Valley, into the corridors of the Mount Aspiring National Park. The Valley is part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, "Te Wahipounamu" which means place of greenstone. Three major parts of the movie were filmed in the Dart Valley. The Elven wood Lothlorien scene was filmed in the area known as 'Paradise'. It is also the setting for Isengard, with Mount Earnslaw in the background. The last great battle in the film, in Amon Hen, when Merry & Pippin are captured by the Urak-hai was shot in the Valley.

Try a four-wheel excursion. Nomad Safaris offers a “Safari of the Rings Tour” that takes guests on 'The Road to Mordor'. The safari goes to real places, not film sets. The areas that a Nomad Safaris tour visits provide the spectacular backdrops for the action in Peter Jackson¹s The Fellowship of the Ring. See firsthand The Ford at Bruinen, The Misty Mountains, Isengard and Lothlorien, better know locally as Skippers Canyon, Macetown and Paradise.

Soar over Middle Earth. Glenorchy Air craft provides the aerial view for visitors to Middle Earth. They have created a Trilogy Trail air excursion that provides passengers with a window seat and an unimpeded view.  Because Glenorchy Air provided support services to the film makers, there are many great stories about the its making. Guests are encouraged to recall the scene when Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf in the first film) he flew on the back of the eagle to escape from the top of the tower.

Use fat tire power. Mountain biking is also an option for families with energy to burn. Fat Tyre Adventures

Has created a “Ride the Rings” route. It is a three to five hour cross-country mountain bike ride with lots of sheep tracks. It follows terrain in and around The Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers and the village and land of Rohan. The only way to access many of these rides is with Fat Tyre Adventures.

With or without the Lord of the Rings connection, New Zealand offers families a beautiful natural adventure and time of the year. From glorious beaches to snow capped mountains, rain forest untouched for 80 million years to awe inspiring glaciers New Zealand boasts almost every scenic backdrop imaginable. With a population of only three million people and 60 million sheep it’s easy to get away from it all.

Add to the remote beauty laid back, friendly locals, reasonable prices, great food and variety of activities ideal for families. Queenstown, originally a farming and gold mining town, is nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps, in New Zealand’s South Island. With a local population of just 10,000 it’s known as the adventure capital of the country and rates internationally as one of the world’s top destinations.

Queenstown is also a special place for families. Meg Mckenzie, our friend and resident expert, has a menu of LOTR options well-suited to families (http://www.kidzgo.co.nz/LOTR.htm). In fact if she has answered plenty of family type questions. Her aim for “Kidz Go! Queenstown” is to help families make the most of time in Queenstown.  Because there are hundreds of restaurants, activities and apartment/hotels from which to select, Meg McKenzie the founder of Kidz Go! Queenstown has narrowed the list of options to those establishments that are particularly family friendly. Find out what may be done for free and how everyone stays sane when it rains. Her Website indicates how old children have to be to participate in activities, and they locate childminders to lessen holiday stress. (Kidz Go Queenstown, 20 Richards Park Lane, 03 442 9382 / Mob: 025 295 3597 or www.kidzgo.co.nz)

DETAILS

Dart River Safaris. Mull Street, Glenorchy and P. O. Box 76, Queenstown 9197, +64 3 442 9992, Freephone (NZ) 0800 DART JET (0800 3278538) or www.dartriver.co.nz

Fat Tyre Adventures. 025 2262822 or www.fat-tyre.co.nz

Glenorchy Air.  91 McBride St, Queenstown. 64 3 4422207, info@glenorchy.net.nz or www.trilogytrail.com

Nomad Safaris. PO Box 341, Queenstown NZ. Freephone 0800 688 222, phone 03 442 6699 or www.outback.net.nz