Should we travel to New Zealand LOTR tour now with toddler or later when he is older?

[mamma536]

DH, DS and I have moved from the UK to SE Asia for a couple years for work. So far we've visited a few SE Asia countries, very relaxed, nothing too ambitious, 4-5 days at most, lots of beach destinations and a bit of sightseeing, and we want to see more and do more ambitious things.

We are thinking of making the most of our location and planning at least a 7-10 day trip to NZ when DS is 3yo next year. This is still a considerable journey (8h flight) and quite expensive (just beginning to research this). We really want to do a Lord of the Rings tour (big LOTR fans), probably by car.

What I'm not sure of is whether we should do the trip now (using up half our annual leave) or to wait until DS is a lot older, like 10yo when he can appreciate it. I guess I'm a bit worried about the stress of driving a toddler around for so long. He's already pretty hyper and challenging, and our lives revolve around him, his routine, ensuring he gets enough exercise and just trying to minimise the tantrums, get decent food in him and tire him out enough to get a decent night's sleep. We struggle to cope with him sometimes. We don't know if things will get better or worse in the coming months. I can't imagine what it would be like to manage him for long journeys on the road. (No car at the moment to train him up, but he did used to love being in cars in the UK). DH has driven a lot around the Scottish Highlands so I'm guessing he'll be ok on the NZ roads. We also feel a bit limited in what we can do with DS - we don't have the confidence to go for long hikes or on boat trips for example (because of tantrums, DS being too heavy to back carry and too small to walk much himself).

Do we just go for it whilst we are living in Asia? Or would it be better to wait a few years when he's older but we'll have to start our journey from the UK? And bearing in mind we don't know if we will have other children in the meantime.

I kind of just want to go for it. But I'm scared it will be too much for us to cope with and we would be better off taking shorter, nearby holidays - we can do 3-4 long weekends for the same annual leave.

Would love any advice please!

I spent a lot of time in NZ at the height of the LOTR frenzy. Generally I say 'the landscape doesn't move' although in NZ that isn't the case...

things to remember: a lot of the locations were never there (CGI trickery merging landscapes), on private land or dismantled totally. There's Hobbiton and that's about it. Doesn't mean you shouldn't go as the South Island in particular is one big LOTR view - but unless you go on the commercial tours ('hold a sword', 'meet an extra') you won't get into many of the locations.

if you can get hold of Ian Brodies location guidebook it gives a lot of info about what was done where and what you can get to.

BUT - it involves long days, long walks and long drives. Many of the tours won't take a toddler, and even if they did there's no point, he'll be bored rigid and wreck it for you and everyone else.

sorry - I think this is something that has to wait until he and any others are much older. It isn't a fashionable statement but having small children actually does stop you doing some things.

the scenery may move a bit but it won't go away.

The slow travel and the need for him to be in a car seat for long periods. I’d leave it for now. My friends took their toddler and nearly went stir crazy. Toddlers like a pool or beach and the odd wander round a sight. Landscapes do not do it for them IMO

Hmmm...ok thanks for the insights. Is it worth visiting NZ with a toddler for just one or two places for several days rather than a big tour? We could also put it off until he is 4 before we come back to the UK.

At which point they'd be in a booster seat rather than a car seat.

Honestly OP it’s an outdoor hike, look and see sort of place. It’s more low key, of course you could have a great time, but I don’t think it’s ‘trip of a lifetime’ stuff for you guys

I can't comment on NZ bit it doesn't sound like a good trip with a toddler, and I'm someone who has taken their toddler on a month long jaunt around Thailand so I'm all for giving these things a go!

There's so many more things to do in easy reach of SE Asia that you would all enjoy.

You could base yourself in Wellington and do the movie stuff round there. We camp at Kaitoke regional park (about 45 mins from Wellington) a fair bit, where Rivendell was filmed, you can drive up and park a 5 minute walk away and there is a swingbridge and beautiful river to swim/paddle in, my dc have been going there since youngest was 1. There are signs there and a map so you can work out where the sets were. They've built a smaller replica of the gate they left through at Rivendell for pics too. Upper Hutt has a campsite next to the river they used for Anduin in the films, and a piece of the Orc tree that was used in the film, and Harcourt Park there was used for Isengard and some other scenes. All child friendly, and not much walking.

Then in Wellington you have Weta workshop, and lots of locations. Mount Victoria (the big reserve) was used for several shots, and you can see the theatre where the premieres were. Yes the sets aren't there anymore but the settings are beautiful. Wellington is great for a 3 year old too as you have Te Papa museum and the cable car up to a great park in the botanic gardens, as well as a zoo and Zeelandia wildlife centre, so you could do all this to keep him entertained as well. Mine all love Wellington.

You could always then fly down to Queenstown from Wellington and see some of the scenery and locations there. We did quite a few of them on camping holidays when my eldest 3 dc were all under 5. Definitely get the location guide book, it is great.

These are some pics from our camping trip last week, the film set map at Rivendell and the rebuilt gate, plus one of the trolls outside Weta Workshop 😀 Me and dc2 (in the pics) are particularly big fans!

These are some pics from our camping trip last week, the film set map at Rivendell and the rebuilt gate, plus one of the trolls outside Weta Workshop 😀 Me and dc2 (in the pics) are particularly big fans!

Sorry those pics have posted twice, phone said they hadn't each time... You can enjoy them twice though 😁

@42dontevenblink thank you that sounds super! We'll definitely explore that option then. And we'll save a more extensive hiking trip when DS is older.

Let me know if you want any more info/help. I've got the guide books, although you can prob look it up on online too. I've had many years of experience of trying to fit in some sightseeing here with 4 young dc in tow! There are some good child friendly things in and near Queenstown too, my eldest dc was only 4 when we first went and had a good time.