Kensington Marks Lord of the Rings Anniversary with New Zealand Set-Jetting Tour

Kensington is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with a New Zealand journey that immerses travelers in the landscapes and film sets featured in the iconic film.

The set-jetting trend — trips planned around visiting filming sets and locations — continues to drive interest in key destinations around the world. Most recently, Christoper Nolan’s epic The Odyssey has raised interest in Greece, with several tour operators unveiling special itineraries themed to Homer’s classic adventure.

Luxury tour operator Kensington is embracing set-jetting with its new tour, which celebrates the Lord of the Rings film franchise. “New Zealand’s Big Screen Landscapes” is a 12-day tour that takes guests from Auckland to Queenstown, with stops in Wellington and Christchurch. The itinerary pairs the county’s natural beauty with behind-the-scene experiences, such as a guided tour of the Hobbiton movie set.

“New Zealand’s Big Screen Landscapes” goes beyond the typical Lord of the Rings itinerary. In addition to visiting Hobbiton, travellers will enjoy several LOTR themed tours, such as a small group Middle Earth and Weta cave tour in Wellington, as well as an aerial tour in Queenstown with the pilot who served as principal aerial pilot on the original trilogy.

Additionally, the first 40 travelers to book the tour will have the opportunity to attend a special anniveresary event on Dec. 4, 2026, hosted at Hobbiton. The Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary Celebration includes a themed dinner, an interactive marketplace experience with games, music and live entertainment at the Green Dragon Inn, and an evening walk through The Shire.

“New Zealand has a way of making people feel as though they have stepped into another world, and that is exactly what this journey delivers,” said Helen Giontsis, president of Kensington. “The landscapes that captivated audiences on screen are even more extraordinary in person, and our guides bring both the scenery and the stories behind it to life. For anyone who has ever wanted to experience these places firsthand, there has never been a better time to go.”