Pure Glenorchy are a NZ owned family business, running Lord of the Rings Scenic Tours since 2005.
We are a family team and are super passionate about Lord of the Rings and this beautiful part of the world.
All of our guides have a genuine love the Lord of the Rings and look forward to giving you an unforgettable experience. Operating since 2005, we take pride in delivering a fantastic tour to our guests every day.
Joel Lamason & Kate Cruickshank, Owners & Operators
We absolutely love showing off the breathtaking beauty of Glenorchy and its surrounding natural areas to our visitors – and of course, all of the incredible Lord Of The Rings film Locations!
After many years in the tourism and hospitality industry we know the importance of customer satisfaction and good old fashioned customer service.
We take pride in each and every trip. Our team does their best to ensure all of our guests leave with the sense of awe we felt; the very first time we experienced the wonder of Glenorchy.
Vicky, Driver & Guide
As a former Rohan refugee (Vicky has some LOTR tales to tell!) arriving as a backpacker 27 yrs ago, she fell in love with the area and just never left!
Having ‘grown up’ in the tourism industry – from being a Great Walks hiking guide on the tracks from Glenorchy, retail manager for a rafting company, marketing for the ski fields, to running two visitor publications – she is a bit of a ‘know it all’ (in a good way!).
Keen skier, enthusiastic biker and hiking addict, she spends any spare time she has outdoors with her springer spaniel Dexter and her daughter. Her fave LOTR quotes:
Gandalf: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
Gandalf: “The world is not in your books and maps. It’s out there.”
“Vicky was our excellent tour guide for this most memorable tour. Being small it was also flexible, giving us more time to spend in certain worthwhile locations and to dress up and play at being LOTR characters in the forest where Boromir was killed. Vicky’s driving was second to none, negotiating winding roads and potholes with a skill that was envious. We all felt totally safe in her responsible hands. Her wealth of knowledge about the movie, a lot coming from personal experiences as an extra made the experience all the more special. 1000% recommend”
Ben, Driver & Guide
Ben has been part of the Pure Glenorchy team for the last 2.5 years. On his days off you’ll find him climbing mountains and white water rafting. He also loves Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and travelling. His favourite quotes from LOTR:
Gimli: “Oh, come on, we can take them!”
Aragorn: “It’s a long way.”
Gimli: “…toss me.”
Aragorn: “What?”
Gimli: “I can not jump the distance, you have to toss me… oh, don’t tell the elf.”
Aragorn: “You have my word.”
“We really enjoyed this tour with Ben who was extremely knowledgeable, passionate and funny. A very easygoing group and Ben showed us some very interesting highlights on the LOTR tour locations – even if you are not really a LOTR fan, this tour is great for the scenery – highly recommended.”
Kate, Management Team
Kate loves gardening, yoga and being a mum to Harry. She also loves riding her mountain bike but doesn’t get to do that much these days.
Favourite quote rom LOTR:
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” — Gandalf
