Queenstown to Glenorchy Drive – New Zealand Vacation

The scenic Queenstown to Glenorchy drive is one of the must do things in life. If you are planning a New Zealand vacation, make sure that you explore the drive. The journey also brings you close to explore the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) film series shooting sites. In this post, I will take you to the long and scenic journey along the Glenorchy drive. You’ll also see some of the selected photos that I clicked during my Glenorchy trip.

Our Glenorchy drive team

We were only 7 people, including our driver. Our trip started at 8.00am sharp from Queenstown.

We had a land rower and our driver was Badger. He spoke very good English, was mostly very friendly and informative. Badger once mentioned as we started the trip, “This is the best job I ever had”. Quite often, he helped us clicking photos. I will always remember his enthusiasm for telling us all the minute details.

One of the Best drives for New Zealand vacation

Queenstown to Glenorchy drive is one of the best drives in New Zealand. The kind of scenery you will see is not just amazing, but also highly unseen. If you have to do only one scenic drive in the South Island (or probably in New Zealand), then you’d let it rather be Queenstown to Glenorchy drive.

How much does the Queenstown to Glenorchy Drive cost?

It depends on how you plan the trip. If you drive by yourself and you are in a group, it’s obviously going to be less expensive. However, I wanted to go for a guided tour and I checked the prices with so many trip organisers in the CBD.

There isn’t any place where you’d pay less than $150. In fact, you are likely to pay somewhere around $150 to $200. Some of the organisers, for a better trip experience, will provide you iPads to see the LOTR scenes when you visit LOTR shooting sites. Lunch may or may not be provided. So the prices of the tour would vary accordingly. Nevertheless, for $200 approx., you should be able to get a fair deal.

Tour Tip – if possible, drive your own car. Rent one if you can’t own one! Go with your girlfriend (or boyfriend, as the case may be). This is the places where you’d create memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Nomad Safaris

Finally, I booked the Glenorchy drive tour with Travel Bug.  They basically liaise with Nomad Safaris. The tour is called Queenstown Lord of the Rings Tour. You can find the latest details following the hyperlink. I paid $185. Although officially its 4 hours long trip, we did spend more time. Overall, it was a great experience with Nomad Safaris, and I’d positively recommend them. 🙂

How long is the Glenorchy Drive?

If you start from the Queenstown CBD and cover up to the northern endpoint of Lake Wakatipu, it’s around 45km drive – one way. However, we decided to go beyond the Lake Wakatipu. So we covered much more and it was spectacular wherever we went.

How much time we need for Glenorchy Drive?

Again, it depends on your plan. You’ll be spending nearly half a day to a full day if you book a guided tour. Your driver will stop at different sites (e.g. LOTR sites) to explain you the surroundings.

If you spend more time at each stop, one day is a must. But if you stop briefly, 6-7 hours would be good enough. We spent around 6 hours (8am-2pm).

Our First stop

Our first stop along the drive was to see the sunrise. Badger explained us about the paradise Glenorchy Lord of the Rings shooting details near the site. We saw other tour groups also stopping here. It was a perfect place to click photos. Here is the photo of the sunrise-

Poisonous mushrooms (death cap)

Our guide Badger was like a Mycologist. He often explained about a variety of trees and plants that came along out ways. Once he pointed to the poisonous mushrooms (Fly agaric). The mushroom is scientifically known as Amanita Muscaria. They are very poisonous and even death can happen if they are eaten.

We’d have probably missed out the mushroom with an informative guide. Here is the photo I captured for your quick reference-

Refreshing drinks

Some of our stops were near the LOTR sites. We stopped at one such site to have some biscuits and refreshing drinks. Snacks were included in the trip fee. In fact, we expected to have snacks at some cafeteria. But we soon realised that Badger was carrying snacks in the rover. He called it “Badger’s Cafe” as he started bringing food out of the rover. Badger explained us the LOTR details again.

Paradise Glenorchy Lord of the rings SITES

We visited so many places where the LOTR shootings had taken place. Here is the site of “Amon Hen” – in the end of the first LOTR movie (LOTR 1 –Lothlórien : Amon Hen -paradise). We had lunch at Amon Hen.

We also tried swords and it was so much of fun.

Here is one of the snap that I click on the Badger’s guidebook. The photo depicts filming of the LOTR Ithilien camp – Twelve Mile Delta. Do you remember the Oliphants (elephant-like animals) from LOTR?

That’s all about the Queenstown to Glenorchy drive travel review.

All my Queenstown Travel Videos and New Zealand Travel Videos are available here.

You can also check out my other posts about New Zealand tourism from my trip, or the other countries, or the complete navigation list. You can also find more about me.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Wish you a great experience with Queenstown to Glenorchy Drive, and elsewhere in New Zealand. 🙂

Last updated: Tuesday, September 5, 2017