Lord of the Rings North Island

On arrival make your way to your hotel. If time allows, see the Harbour Bridge, stroll the Botanic Gardens or enjoy dinner on the city's beautiful waterfront.

This morning, look forward to Weta Workshop Unleashed, a 90 minute guided experience through fully themed environments, including immersive horror, fantasy and sci-fi story worlds. The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring as you wish.

Collect your hire car and head south for Rotorua. Enroute, stop off at Matamata to experience the magic of the Hobbiton Movie Set. As you're escorted around, see famous locations such as the colourful Hobbit Hole doors that scatter the hillsides, and the Green Dragon Inn (143 miles).

Take in the amazing sights (and smells!) of this incredible place. See thermal mud pools, clouds of steam, natural hot springs perfect for bathing in and spectacular geysers which erupt to heights of up to 100 feet as many as 20 times a day. Later, hit the road once more and drive to Tongariro, which is centred upon three volcanoes (95 miles).

This national park rewards with natural wonders of unparalleled beauty, including emerald lakes, old lava flows, cascading waterfalls and steaming craters. Perhaps follow one of the park's many walking trails.

Continue your drive southwards. Top stops along the way (with short detours) are Foxton Beach and Nga Manu Nature Reserve (207 miles).

Your tour includes a wildly imaginative and immersive 90 minute experience at the Weta Workshop. Learn about the making of props, costumes and creatures created for your favourite films, and interact with cool stuff from the creative departments. If you're lucky, catch an artist at work on the tour stage! Afterwards, continue sightseeing independently.

Grab some last souvenirs before the tour concludes with your onward journey.