Fans of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies will have the chance to have a close up look at some of the costumes worn by the stars of the films at a Costume Trail throughout Wellington.

Sir Peter Jackson is lending about 20 costumes and props created by Hobbit production company 3 Foot 7 and Weta Workshop for the event.

The Costume Trail was announced today at a special screening at Miramar's Roxy Cinema of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, by Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks and head of costumes at Weta, Bob Buck.

Costumes from Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, elves and dwarves will be on show.

An enormous amount of work had gone into making thousands of costumes for the films and now people will be able to see them close up, Mr Buck said.

"People will be able to see the detail that goes into them."

Ms Wade-Brown said the trail would be launched on the same day as the film opens in New Zealand, on December 11.

"It's going to be 22 costumes all meticulously detailed and it's going to be available free for Wellingtonians and visitors alike over the summer in Wellington."

The 16 locations include Wellington Airport and Roxy Cinema, she said.

"I think people will definitely come to Wellington to see the costumes up close and personal, and also it's a message the work that went into The Hobbit trilogy and the Lord of the Rings, are skills and talents that are still here to make more films."

Mr Perks said most of the costumes would be downtown.

"So you'll be able to weave your way through the city."

Matt Dravitski from Wingnut Films said the costumes were the real thing and not replicas.

"These costumes are a big part of how we tell the on-screen story of Bilbo, Thorin, Legolas, Bard and the others.

"In each of them you see not just their culture, but the character's individual history and personality," he said.

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