Wellington rises in global set-jetting rankings following new film production

Thursday 15 October 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated Thu 15 Oct, 5:00am

In this story Peter Jackson

Wellington has been ranked as the fifth top global destination for 2027 set-jetters by Expedia. This follows the commencement of filming for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum in July, which has led to a 70% year-on-year increase in accommodation searches for the city.

How they headlined it

4am5am

1. StuffThu 15 Oct, 4:00am

   The camera hasn’t finished rolling yet tourists are already booking their next LOTR NZ trip (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldThu 15 Oct, 5:00am

   The Hunt for Gollum puts Wellington back on the map for set-jetting tourists (opens in new tab)