Wellington’s Greenbelt Tours

In the Fellowship of the Ring, Wellington’s Greenbelt is where the hobbits nervously hide when escaping the evil Black Rider. In real life, however, Wellington’s Greenbelt is an agreeable area of protected open space in the hills. Given the tracts of undeveloped land, this area just to the west of the city was also the site of the outskirts of the Shire. 

Today, in addition to stunning hilltop views which gaze down on the surf-battered coastline, Wellington’s Greenbelt is also a favorite of Lord of the Rings tours from the city. High above the bustle of Wellington, the Greenbelt is often a morning stop on a full-day tour of filming locations. There are numerous walking tracks which traverse the area, and tour participants are given time to explore the rolling hillside.  

The tours also offer guided walks through the area, and the exact specifics of scenes from the movie are recounted in fascinating detail. From these grass-covered hilltops looking out over Wellington, knowledgeable guides recount how the hobbits walked through these hills when courageously setting out on their quest. More than just scenes from the movie, however, Wellington’s Greenbelt is one of the best places in the city to breathe deeply, take a walk in the woods, and escape the pulse of the urban rush in New Zealand’s art-infused capital.