Air NZ Unlocks The Secrets Of Middle- Earth

Air New Zealand Unlocks The Secrets Of Middle- Earth … From 20,000 Feet!

The Lord of the Rings fans can enjoy a birds eye view of some of the most famous locations in the movie trilogy thanks to the extensive flight network of Air New Zealand – “Airline to Middle-earth.”

Almost 90 per cent of the airline’s 44 domestic Express Class routes fly over locations used in the filming of the epic – providing the fastest way to the dramatic landscapes that have become synonymous with Middle-earth.

The airline’s most popular tourist flight - from Auckland to Queenstown – (a 566 mile, 1 hour 50 minute flight) crams in 12 top Lord of the Rings locations, prompting the airline to nick-name the route the “Middle-earth Express”.

From the rocky outcrop of Weathertop, south of Auckland, to the stark surroundings of Mordor in the central North Island and the mysterious Ithilien Woodlands, the flight wings its way past some of the most dramatic movie sites.

Crossing Cook Strait which separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand, the route runs down the South Island past a cluster of The Lord of the Rings locations dotted along the South Island’s geographic spine of the Southern Alps.

As the flight heads into the Queenstown alpine resort region, it sweeps over a landscape where the Flight to the Ford, Pillars of the Argonath, the Ford of Bruinen, south of Rivendell and the Dimrill Dale were filmed.
As the official “Airline to Middle-earth”, Air New Zealand pilots will point out main locations to passengers on the key Lord of the Rings routes amongst the airline’s 470 domestic flights each day.

One new location not shown in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring which will be seen in the second part of the trilogy is Mt Sunday on Mt Potts Station in Canterbury, in the middle of the South Island. This breathtaking setting became the Rohan city of Edoras in the film.

Almost 20 per cent of Air New Zealand flights cross this central South Island region with, weather permitting, spectacular views of the Southern Alps and the location area.

Reflecting both the sheer number of New Zealand locations where The Lord of the Rings filming took place (more than 150) and the expansive Air New Zealand network, only five routes do not fly near to movie locations.

HOW YOU CAN GET TO MIDDLE-EARTH

The most cost effective way for (British). travellers to explore the locations used for Middle-earth is with an Air New Zealand Airpass, which offers savings of up to ….% on the standard cost of domestic airfares, provided they have at least one Air New Zealand international sector in their overall booking.

Based on a voucher-system, the Airpass costs from ………. for a …………sector pass (equivalent of …….. per flight) up to ………for a ……………sector pass (approx. ……… per flight).

GETTING UP CLOSE…

A number of specialist New Zealand-based tour operators, many of whom worked on the film, offer personal guided tours of key locations for travellers wanting to experience the magnificent scenery and atmosphere themselves.

These range from ‘Safari of the Rings’ four wheel drive tours near Queenstown with Outback New Zealand Limited to Red Carpet Tours trips to Hobbiton near Matamata.

For visitors on a tight timeframe they can visit all of Middle-earth in a day at the newly launched Lord of the Rings exhibition at Te Papa in Wellington, which Air New Zealand is supporting.

Further information on Lord of the Rings tours in New Zealand is available through individual operator websites:

www.redcarpet-tours.com www.tourmasters.co.nz www.nelsonhelicopters.co.nz www.glenorchy.co.nz www.trilogytrail.com www.dartriver.co.nz www.outback.net.nz www.heliworks.co.nz

…WITH PINPOINT ACCURACY

A special Locations Guidebook to The Lord of the Rings has just been published by author Ian Brodie, who has been appointed Air New Zealand’s Lord of the Rings Ambassador.

Showing the principal movie set locations around New Zealand, the book gives Global Positioning Satellite references for fans who want to walk in Peter Jackson’s footsteps through Middle-earth.

This book, which sold out in New Zealand in just four days when it was published last month, is now in its third reprint and topping the New Zealand best seller charts.

The book can be ordered through http//:www.lordoftheringslocations.com

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