Global Travel Stories

22/10/2026

What an incredible afternoon exploring the historic Skippers Canyon near Queenstown, New Zealand! 🏔️

Had a wonderful time yesterday with Cal and Aster, the adorable Golden Retriever, on The Goldrush Tour, discovering the breathtaking scenery and fascinating gold mining history of this spectacular canyon. 🐾

Couldn’t recommend these two highly enough! If you’re looking for a unique Queenstown adventure, this is one experience worth adding to your list!

16/10/2026

Exploring the Real Middle Earth, Hidden Lord of the Rings Locations in New Zealand! 🎬

What if you could visit Lord of the Rings filming locations in New Zealand that few tourists ever get to see? From flying over the Southern Alps by helicopter to exploring hidden Middle Earth locations with an actor from the original trilogy, we’re taking you beyond the tourist trail!

Visit https://SouthernTrails.nz/ for our Lord of the Rings Sightseeing Tour options. Enter the discount code GLOTRASTO at checkout to save 10% off LOTR experiences.

🏔️ Watch our full adventure here:
https://youtu.be/4mzxPT5RJf4

Our journey begins in Queenstown with a spectacular Lord of the Rings helicopter tour, taking in the Ford of Bruinen, Isengard, Mount Earnslaw and Dunharrow.

We’re then joined by our friend Dean Morganty, who played an Uruk, Gondorian Ranger and Harad soldier in Peter Jackson’s trilogy. Together we explore lesser known filming locations around Amon Hen and Ithilien, including the sites of Boromir’s death and Aragorn’s battle with Lurtz, while hearing some fascinating behind the scenes stories.

From horse riding through the beautiful Paradise Valley near Glenorchy to travelling across Otago and Canterbury in search of more Lord of the Rings and Hobbit locations, including the Pelennor Fields near Twizel, this is a journey through the real Middle Earth!

Know someone who would love to experience these places? Share this adventure with a fellow LOTR fan! 💚

10/10/2026

What if you could explore Lord of the Rings filming locations in New Zealand few tourists ever see? From soaring over the Misty Mountains by helicopter to exploring hidden Middle Earth locations with an original trilogy actor, we venture beyond the tourist trail!
https://youtu.be/4mzxPT5RJf4

Our journey begins in Queenstown with an unforgettable LOTR helicopter tour over the Southern Alps, visiting the Ford of Bruinen, Isengard, Mount Earnslaw and Dunharrow. We're then joined by our friend Dean Morganty, who played an Uruk, Gondorian Ranger and Harad soldier in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. He reveals hidden Amon Hen and Ithilien locations and stories of Boromir's death and Aragorn's battle with Lurtz. We ride horseback through Paradise Valley near Glenorchy, then road-trip across Otago and Canterbury to discover more LOTR and Hobbit locations, including the Pelennor Fields near Twizel.

What if you could explore Lord of the Rings filming locations in Ne...

03/10/2026

Unboxing Éomer’s Sword from The Lord of the Rings ⚔️

We’ve added another incredible piece of Middle Earth to the collection! ⚔️

Unboxing the officially licensed United Cutlery Sword of Guthwine, Éomer’s sword from The Lord of the Rings, right here in Queenstown, New Zealand 🇳🇿

This one will be joining us on our LOTR filming location tours with Southern Trails - Independent Lord of the Rings Tours.

Visit https://SouthernTrails.nz/ for all our Lord of the Rings Sightseeing Tour options. Enter the discount code GLOTRASTO at checkout to save 10% off LOTR experiences.

03/10/2026

Locals day at The Remarkables! 🎿🏔️ Awesome day out with Samwise and Frankie carving up some classic mid spring slush in the Queenstown sunshine.

The highlight was checking out the slowly thawing Lake Alta from the chutes, getting ready for our summer hiking adventures with Southern Trails | Independent Lord of the Rings Tours! 🥾❄️

02/10/2026

What do the Lord of the Rings filming locations look like from the air? 🚁 We take an unforgettable Middle Earth helicopter flight over some of New Zealand’s most spectacular and remote LOTR filming locations, including the Misty Mountains, Isengard, Lothlórien and Dunharrow.

We Saw Middle Earth From Above! | LOTR New Zealand
https://youtu.be/Q1kIMC6LlWo

Taking off from Queenstown with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, we soar above the Southern Alps and Mount Aspiring National Park, following landscapes transformed into Middle Earth for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Our flight takes us over the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon before passing Mount Aspiring, the Misty Mountains and the spectacular Earnslaw Burn, featured in The Hobbit and later as Khazad-dûm in The Rings of Power. We continue over Paradise and iconic filming locations including Isengard, Lothlórien and Amon Hen before crossing Lake Wakatipu towards the Greenstone Valley, used as Dunharrow. Along the way we also discover locations featured in Mission: Impossible, Fallout and Vertical Limit. From remote glaciers and alpine peaks to some of New Zealand’s most famous movie landscapes, this is Middle Earth from a perspective few people ever get to experience.

What do the Lord of the Rings filming locations look like from the ...

25/09/2026

Could you cycle 152km across Central Otago in just 2.5 days? 🚴‍♂️

We tackled the entire Otago Central Rail Trail from Clyde to Middlemarch, following an abandoned railway through spectacular Central Otago scenery, historic tunnels, bridges, tiny towns and the incredible Poolburn Gorge.

Three riding days, 152km and one unforgettable New Zealand cycling adventure! 🇳🇿

Watch the full Otago Central Rail Trail journey on Global Travel Stories.

19/09/2026

Could we cycle the entire Otago Central Rail Trail in just 2.5 days? 🚴‍♂️ We take on all 152km of New Zealand’s original Great Ride, uncovering the remarkable history hidden along the way.
https://youtu.be/8PrUezK2fkc

Starting in Clyde, our Otago Central Rail Trail adventure takes us through Alexandra, Chatto Creek, Lauder, Poolburn Gorge, Wedderburn, Ranfurly, Waipiata and Hyde before reaching Middlemarch. Following the route of the historic Otago Central Railway, we cycle through century old railway tunnels, across historic bridges and viaducts, past abandoned settlements and through some of Central Otago’s most spectacular landscapes. Along the way we uncover the region’s gold rush history, discover how the railway transformed isolated communities, climb to the highest point of the trail and learn how an abandoned railway became one of New Zealand’s most famous multi day cycling adventures. Three riding days, 152km and plenty of history, this is the Otago Central Rail Trail from Clyde to Middlemarch. Central Otago NZ

Could we cycle the entire Otago Central Rail Trail in just 2.5 days...

18/09/2026

After a massive snow dump this week, the boys headed up to Cardrona for an epic day of skiing and snowboarding at New Zealand’s largest commercial ski area! 🎿🏂❄️

It was our first time exploring the relatively new Soho Basin, and it ended up having some of our favourite runs on the mountain. Fresh snow, incredible alpine views, lunch and a few beers at Captain’s Cafe, and plenty of cheers along the way! 🍻🏔️