Wellington, the scene of the British & Irish Lions’ finest hour so far on New Zealand soil, could well be the setting for a series victory against the All Blacks in 2017.
After a warm-up against the Hurricanes at the Westpac Stadium, the Lions will lock horns with the All Blacks for the second test of the tour at the same venue.
And aside from the rugby, Lions fans have plenty to look forward to when they visit the famous city.
Travel guidebook publishers Rough Guides describe Wellington as the “urban jewel in the country’s otherwise bucolic crown” and ranked the city as the sixth most important place to visit this year.
The Lions gave the travelling Sea of Red cause for great excitement when they levelled the 1993 series with a 20-7 victory in the second Test – to date their biggest-ever win over the All Blacks.
Wellington boasts breathtaking scenery, world-renowned museums, galleries and nature parks as well as a vast array of top-class restaurants, bars and cafes.
Vogue named it the “Coolest Little City in the World” earlier this year, while CNN.com lists Wellington among the world’s “Eight Great Coffee Cities”.
Wellington is also synonymous with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, and this summer director Sir Peter Jackson made props and costumes available from the films for 'The Middle of Middle-Earth Costume Trail'.
Lions fans travelling to New Zealand for the 2017 tour will also be interested to learn of the newly-launched Weta Workshop and evening tours of Hobbiton, providing the ultimate Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy experience.
The final film features backdrops of the stunning Lake Pukaki in the south island, among others, and visitors can fly over before hiking and cycling through Mount Ruhapehu in the north island.
The north island's Matamata is the home of the Hobbiton movie set – one of New Zealand's premier tourist attractions.
Tourism New Zealand's International Visitor Survey indicated that 13 per cent of the 2.5 million international visitors to the country in the 12 months to June 2014 noted the The Hobbit Trilogy was a factor in stimulating their interest in New Zealand as a destination.
Fans are now able to guarantee their place on the 2017 Tour to New Zealand with a fully refundable £250 Priority Access Pass for the official supporter packages. Guarantee your place at the front of the queue when ticket-inclusive travel packages go on sale during the 2015/16 season, and also receive an exclusive invite to meet the Lions Head Coach before they depart for New Zealand. With exclusive access to special events, flights and hotels, it's the genuine Lions experience – click here for more details.
