Edoras Day Tour, Lunch Included

Lord of the Rings, Journey to Edoras Day Tour from Christchurch

★ 4.8 379 verified reviews on the listing

from NZ$335 per person

Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation applies to the Journey to Edoras day tour, and the 24-hour rule decides the outcome. Cancel a full day or more before the start time and everything you paid comes back. Cancel inside that final day, or try to change the booking inside it, and the money is not returned and the request is not accepted. Deadlines run on Christchurch local time, which is worth watching if you are booking from across the date line. The destination is a working high-country station, so the day depends on passable weather. If the operator cancels for poor conditions, a new date or a complete refund is offered. A minimum number of travellers is needed as well. When that minimum is not reached, you may rebook, switch experiences, or take your money back in full.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: Free cancellation applies to the Journey to Edoras day tour, and the 24-hour rule decides the outcome. Cancel a full day or more before the start time and everything you paid comes back. Cancel inside that final day, or try to change the booking inside it, and the money is not returned and the request is not accepted. Deadlines run on Christchurch local time, which is worth watching if you are booking from across the date line. The destination is a working high-country station, so the day depends on passable weather. If the operator cancels for poor conditions, a new date or a complete refund is offered. A minimum number of travellers is needed as well. When that minimum is not reached, you may rebook, switch experiences, or take your money back in full.
Meal: Meal included
Run by: Hassle-Free Tours

Edoras Day Tour, Lunch Included runs through Hassle-Free Tours. Rated 4.8 across 379 reviews. Runs 9 hours. From NZ$335.

Overview

This Hassle-Free Tours day trip runs from central Christchurch to Mount Sunday, the hill that stood in for Edoras in The Lord of the Rings. The full day lasts around nine hours, departing from outside the main entrance of the Canterbury Museum at COCA on Gloucester Street, and returning to the same spot. A driver-guide provides live commentary for most of the drive, mixing film lore with local history and geography.

The route takes in stops at Mount Somers, Lake Clearwater and Mount Sunday itself, finishing with time at Mt Potts Lodge. The picnic lunch comes with sparkling wine and is included in the price, along with hotel pickup and drop-off. Admission at each stop is free. Reviewers repeatedly warn that the climb is genuinely uphill and that the summit wind can be fierce, so decent footwear and a warm jacket matter more than film enthusiasm.

It suits travellers with moderate fitness who want a long, scenery-heavy day out in a remote area, whether or not they know the films. The group is capped at 16, though some reviewers reported larger coach loads on their dates, so the small-group feel is not guaranteed. It is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for children aged 4 and under.

What's Included

Included

Picnic lunch with sparkling wine
Driver/guide
Live commentary on board
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Not Included

Gratuities

Itinerary

Meet at Canterbury MuseumMeet outside the main entrance of the Canterbury Museum at COCA, 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central City. Departure is at 08:37.
Drive with commentaryTravel toward Mount Sunday with live commentary on board covering the filming, local history and landscape.
Mount Somers stopA 10-minute stop at Mount Somers. Admission is free.
Lake Clearwater stopA 15-minute stop at Lake Clearwater. Admission is free.
Mount Sunday (Edoras)Roughly 1 hour at Mount Sunday, the filming location of Edoras, with time to walk up the hill and take in the views. Admission is free.
Mt Potts LodgeAbout 1 hour at Mt Potts Lodge. Admission is free, and the included picnic lunch with sparkling wine is served during the day.
Return to ChristchurchThe drive back ends at the original meeting point outside the Canterbury Museum.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller reviews, and they shape the day more than the film trivia does.

Fitness and pace. The walk up Mount Sunday is a real uphill climb, and several reviewers described extensive uphill walking and advised taking your time.
Wind and layers. The listing asks for good footwear and a warm jacket, and reviewers confirm the summit can be extremely windy. One advised tying back long hair.
Food and drink. A picnic lunch with sparkling wine is included, and opinions on it vary, with some calling it delicious and one calling it very average. Specific dietary requirements should be flagged at the time of booking.
Props and photos. Several reviewers mentioned replica Lord of the Rings props, including a sword carried up the hill, which made for good photos.
Long day, remote area. The tour runs about nine hours with a long drive each way. One reviewer found the destination remote and not commercialised compared with other South Island tours.
Group size. The listing caps the tour at 16 travellers. Some reviewers reported much larger coach groups on their dates, so if the small-group format matters to your booking decision, bear that in mind.

Common issues. The day depends on good weather and a minimum number of travellers; if either condition fails, the operator offers a different date or a full refund. Some reviewers booked expecting a small 4WD trip and instead found a large coach with extra pickup stops, which made the day run late. Lunch quality drew mixed comments. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, cruise ship pickup is not offered, and the Mount Sunday climb demands moderate fitness. Gratuities are not included.

Choosing Well

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a picnic lunch with sparkling wine, a driver-guide, live commentary on board, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Admission at all the stops is free. Gratuities are not included.

Where does the tour start?

It departs from outside the main entrance of the Canterbury Museum at COCA, 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central City, at 08:37. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the tour ends back at the meeting point. Pickup from cruise ships is not offered.

How hard is the walk up Edoras?

Mount Sunday requires extensive uphill walking, and reviewers recommend taking your time if you are not especially fit.

Is the tour suitable for children?

It is not recommended for children aged 4 and under. The listing asks for a moderate fitness level, and the long drive and the summit wind are worth considering before booking with kids.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of travellers, and if it is cancelled for either reason you are offered a different date, a different experience or a full refund.

What should I bring?

Good footwear and a warm jacket are the two things the operator specifically asks for, and reviewers stress the wind at the summit, with one suggesting something to tie back long hair. Mention any dietary requirements at the time of booking so the picnic lunch can be arranged.