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Deer Park Heights Queenstown

📍 Kelvin Heights, Otago

4.6(739 Google reviews)👶All ages

Private summit reserve reached by unsealed road with 360° views over the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu and the airport. Free-roaming alpacas, deer, Highland cattle, goats and ponies. LOTR filming locations marked by signage and owner-provided map.

LOTR filming locationspanoramic summit viewsfree-roaming alpacashilltop reserveQueenstown day tripcapped daily numbers
★★★★★Featured review by Sofie Svedlund

Amazing place. The landowners have pointed out a lot of the lotr-locations on a map on their website and also with signs on the site. Me and my husband loved visiting this place. We were here for about 4,5 hours while recreating alot of the lotr-scenes. All the animals was of course a bonus. There are clear signs on which parts of the site you are not allowed to walk which are few. But all the lotr-locations are available. But be careful to approach the animals with antlers, thats one of the rules of the site. Great experience, would totally do it again! Remember to buy tickets in advance. It's about 10 lotr-places here. If I remember correctly, only 7 is marked.

🏆 Family Action Verdict

The summit panorama justifies the drive on its own — then alpacas walk straight up to you and there are genuine LOTR filming sites to track down with a map. Download the location guide before you go. Allocate a minimum of three hours. Advance booking is essential, especially in peak season.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Download the LOTR location map from the owners' website before you arrive — signs on site correspond to it
Book at least two to three days ahead as daily visitor numbers are capped and it books out fast
🎟️The access road is unsealed and narrow — drive slowly and watch for free-roaming animals on the road
🚗Bring coins for the on-site animal feed dispensers

💬 What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.6

739 Google reviews

Panoramic summit views45%
Animal encounters30%
LOTR filming sites25%
S

Sofie Svedlund

a month ago

Amazing place. The landowners have pointed out a lot of the lotr-locations on a map on their website and also with signs on the site. Me and my husband loved visiting this place. We were here for about 4,5 hours while recreating alot of the lotr-scenes. All the animals was of course a bonus. There are clear signs on which parts of the site you are not allowed to walk which are few. But all the lotr-locations are available. But be careful to approach the animals with antlers, thats one of the rules of the site. Great experience, would totally do it again! Remember to buy tickets in advance. It's about 10 lotr-places here. If I remember correctly, only 7 is marked.

B

Brenden Minter

a month ago

Drove up Deer Park Heights and it was unreal. The road winds up nicely and along the way we hit a few Lord of the Rings filming locations, which was a rad bonus. The lookout at the top is epic — huge panorama over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the mountains beyond. Definitely one of those spots that sticks with you. If you’re in the area and want a mix of adventure, scenery and a bit of movie magic, don’t skip it.

J

Julia

3 months ago

Absolutely loved Deer Park in Queenstown! The views are insanely beautiful — mountains, the airport, and so many animals like alpacas, goats, sheep, ponies, deer, and cows. Every spot feels like a postcard. It’s such a special life experience, and I’m really grateful this farm opens its doors to visitors. Make sure to book at least 3 days in advance!

E

Estella Zhu

a month ago

Dear Park Heights is a lovely place to stay — lots of cute animals around and the view is amazing. You can see the whole of Queenstown from up there! The road up can be a bit tricky at times, but totally worth it for the view. Highly recommend!

Reviews from Google

Overview

Deer Park Heights rises above Queenstown on an unsealed road that winds to a summit taking in the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu and the airport strip. The property was a Lord of the Rings filming location — sites are marked with on-site signage and a detailed map on the owners' website. Animals roam the hillside freely: alpacas, deer, Highland cattle, goats, ponies and sheep. Feed dispensers are on site.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday07:00 – 21:00
Tuesday07:00 – 21:00
Wednesday07:00 – 21:00
Thursday07:00 – 21:00
Friday07:00 – 21:00
Saturday07:00 – 21:00
Sunday07:00 – 21:00

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