Forget traditional sightseeing – the latest travel trend inspiring movie lovers around the world is "set-jetting." Rather than visiting destinations simply because they're famous, travellers are choosing holidays based on movies and television series they've fallen in love with on screen. From fantasy epics to Hollywood blockbusters, New Zealand has become one of the world's greatest set-jetting destinations.

While Hobbiton™ Movie Set in Matamata is our most iconic movie set attraction, it's only the beginning. New Zealand's diverse landscapes have starred in dozens of internationally acclaimed productions, giving travellers the chance to quite literally step into the movies.

Of course, no set-jetting itinerary would be complete without exploring The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Beyond Hobbiton, fans can stand beneath the dramatic slopes of Mt Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park, instantly recognisable as the fiery Mount Doom. Near Glenorchy, Paradise and the Dart Valley became the forests of Middle-earth, while Mount Sunday in Canterbury was transformed into the hilltop kingdom of Edoras. Across both our North and South Islands, more than 150 locations helped bring J.R.R. Tolkien's world to life. But Middle-earth is just one chapter of New Zealand's cinematic story.

The breathtaking landscapes of Canterbury and the Coromandel featured prominently in The Chronicles of Narnia, with Flock Hill providing the backdrop for epic battle scenes and Cathedral Cove appearing in Prince Caspian. In Taranaki, the perfectly symmetrical peak of Mt Taranaki convincingly doubled as Japan's Mount Fuji in The Last Samurai, while the surrounding countryside became rural Japan. Queenstown, Fiordland and the Southern Alps have become favourites with location scouts seeking dramatic alpine scenery. These spectacular locations have appeared in productions including Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Vertical Limit and A Wrinkle in Time, showcasing everything from rugged mountain ranges to pristine lakes and ancient forests.

Closer to Auckland, the wild black sands of Karekare Beach provided the unforgettable setting for Jane Campion's Academy award winning The Piano. Auckland also starred as Seattle in the sci-fi thriller M3GAN, while Wellington is home to the renowned Weta Workshop and Weta FX, where blockbuster productions including The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, King Kong, Avatar and many others have been brought to life through world leading visual effects, props and creature design.

The appeal of set-jetting goes far beyond simply taking a photo at a location. It's about reliving memorable scenes, discovering the stories behind the productions and experiencing destinations through a completely different lens. For many travellers, standing where their favourite characters once stood creates a far deeper connection than a traditional sightseeing stop ever could. As travellers increasingly seek meaningful, experience led holidays, New Zealand is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this growing trend. Whether your clients dream of walking through Middle-earth, venturing into Narnia, following Hollywood's biggest action stars or discovering award winning cinematic landscapes, New Zealand offers a blockbuster adventure unlike anywhere else in the world!

Set-Jetting experiences for your clients:

• Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tour, Matamata – the enchanting movie set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, complete with authentic Hobbit Holes, the Green Dragon Inn and beautifully maintained gardens.
• Lord of the Rings Safari – Nomad Safaris, Queenstown – visit iconic locations around Queenstown, Glenorchy and Paradise while hearing behind the scenes stories from one of New Zealand's most famous film franchises.
• Wanderlust Tours – Wellington – discover the locations that transformed Wellington into Middle-earth, including Rivendell, the Gardens of Isengard and other memorable scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
• Weta Workshop – Wellington and Auckland – go behind the scenes with the artists, designers and technicians who created many of cinema's most iconic creatures, costumes, props and special effects.  
• Dart River Adventures – Wilderness Jet, Glenorchy – journey deep into the spectacular Dart Valley and Mount Aspiring National Park, where many unforgettable Middle-earth scenes were filmed.
• Adrift Outdoor Adventures – Tongariro Alpine Crossing – experience one of New Zealand's most spectacular day hikes through the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park, home to Mt Ngauruhoe, famously portrayed as Mount Doom.
• Hukafalls Jet – Taupō – experience the thrill of jet boating along the Waikato River towards the mighty Huka Falls. Nearby Aratiatia Rapids featured in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, where the dwarves escape down the river in barrels – a great option for clients looking to combine adventure with a Middle-earth connection.
• See the landscapes that stood in for the Alaskan wilderness in Brad Pitt's latest survival thriller - Heart of the Beast. Filmed across the South Island, including Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Mt Aspiring National Park and Milford Sound. The film follows a former US Army Special Forces officer and his combat dog after a plane crash leaves them stranded in the ‘Alaskan’ wilderness.