# New Zealand film tourism surge

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/new-zealand-film-tourism-surge
> Updated: 2026-10-22T12:07:24.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The production of the upcoming film ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ has triggered a significant increase in tourism to New Zealand. Directed by Andy Serkis, the production has led to a phenomenon described by the industry as ‘anticipation travel,’ where tourists visit filming locations prior to a movie’s release.

Data from the travel portal Expedia shows that worldwide accommodation searches for Wellington have increased by 70 percent since filming began in July. Interest in the Tolkien-inspired world remains a dominant driver for film-related travel, with 27 percent of interested travelers seeking to visit these locations, outperforming other major franchises. Key destinations for visitors include Mount Victoria, Kaitoke Regional Park, the Hutt River, and Harcourt Park.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: New Lord of the Rings film sparks tourism boom in New Zealand

Filming for ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ in Wellington has driven a 70% increase in accommodation searches, fueling a tourism boom in New Zealand ahead of its 2027 release.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-lord-of-the-rings-film-sparks-tourism-boom-in-new-zealand

### 2026-10-16: New Zealand sees tourism surge due to Lord of the Rings filming

Filming for ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ has driven a 70% increase in Wellington accommodation searches as fans engage in ‘anticipation travel’ ahead of the 2027 release.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/new-zealand-sees-tourism-surge-due-to-lord-of-the-rings-filming

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Cite as: New Zealand film tourism surge. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/new-zealand-film-tourism-surge