I'm thinking of driving from Auckland to Matamata (2 hours), doing the Hobbiton tour, then driving on to National Park Village (which is next to Tongariro National Park) to break for the night. National Park Village appears to be just over 1/2 way to Wellington.

Next day we would drive to Wellington for a few days of finding LOTR movie sites.

This site gives driving times:
http://www.accommodationz.co.nz/Nort...esnorth2.shtml

but it doesn't list National Park Village which appears to be at SH 4 and SH 47 intersection a little north of Raetihi.

Does this plan/road trip seem reasonable?

Has anyone gone to Matamata and if yes, would you recommend we go or skip it? (If we skip it, we'll fly to Wellington.)

Thanks for all advice! SWR

Hi Susan

If you are going to Matamata, you will find that National Park is way out of your way if you are heading south to Wellington.

From Matamata, drive due south (SH 27) through Tirau onto SH 1, through Putararu and Tokoroa until you get down to Taupo. Stay here as it is much better than National Park. There are a selection of hotels, motels and campsites to choose from. There are also a wide ranges of restaurants and bars. Last time I was in National park I only remeber a cafe and a shop that was it. (Might be more now). SH 1 continues south of Taupo onto Wellington.

This site might help more with your planning. the maps are slightly better.

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/map/search...l?locationId=1

If you are a big LOTR fan then go to Matamata, but if time is limited and you want to see more LOTR sights, Wellington holds more for you. The farm at Matamata still has the tree from the shire, but not a lot else. Heaps of imagination required.

What ever you choose, have fun.

Even though I'm a diehard LotR fan, we chose to skip Matamata. If you're familiar with the book, the site reminds me of the "Scouring of the Shire" chapter - that beautiful place all run down and neglected. I decided I'd rather stick with my mental images from the book and film.

If you haven't already, get yourself a copy of Ian Brodie's The Lord of the Rings Location Guide, which we found very helpful for locating filming sites.

You could go with Kiwi_acct's idea of staying in Taupo, then driving to Wellington, visiting the filming sites on Mt. Ruapehu and up near Ohakune on the way.

Our North Island pictures, including at least one LotR "reenactment," are at http://community.webshots.com/user/ElendilPickle

Lee Ann

We have pictures

Thanks, but I'm still a bit confused on the routing. If I take SH1 south from Taupo, that by-passes Whakapapa Village and Ohakune - both of which I thought have LOTR sites. From Taupo, I could take an alternate route to Napier/Hastings instead - should I consider that area and why? Elendilpickle - you are a LOTR fan after my own heart! Loved your pictures.

Hi again Susan

You are right, if you drive south of Taupo you will bypass Ohakune. However you will be staring at Mts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaurahoe.

You do have an option as you get to Turangi, to turn right and head toward the mountains. This will add a couple of hours to your journey time, but it will give you a chance to get a lttle closer to the mountains. This road leads to Ohakune.

As another option, instead of using SH 1 through Taupo, you could still go through National Park, but keep driving, and stop at Ohakune for the night. If you are there in Ski season it can be a reasonably lively place for apres ski and as well you are very close to the mountains.

I suggested Taupo as an alternative to National Park purely because there is very little at National Park.

I hope I have not confused you with this.

You also went on to mention going to Napier. This too is a good option with more landscapes to be seen from LOTR. But if you were to do this I would recommend you stay in Napier and surrounds overnight and head to Wellington the following day or you will be spending too much time just trapped in your car driving.

Thanks, Susanwr! We had fun taking them.

Kiwi_acct wrote:

>>You do have an option as you get to Turangi, to turn right and head toward the mountains. This will add a couple of hours to your journey time, but it will give you a chance to get a lttle closer to the mountains. This road leads to Ohakune.<<

I'm pretty sure (without getting out a map) this is what we did. We drove from Rotorua through Taupo and spent the night in Whakapapa Village, then went up Mt. Ruapehu the next day, through Ohakune and on down to Wellington.

We were going to take SH 2 past Kaitoke Regional Park that day, but had a flat tire and eventually realized we wouldn't get there until it was dark, so we got on SH 1 somewhere south of Palmerston North and went into the city that way.

Lee Ann