In the films they are Middle-earth royalty - but on the streets of downtown Wellington Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortensen look decidedly more down to earth.

The Lord of the Rings stars are back in the country to film more scenes for the third and final instalment The Return of the King.

The first films have grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide.

Mortensen was spotted padding bare foot around the city - ironically shopping for socks at camping store Gordons, with a top-secret copy of a script poking out of his backpack.

He said he was back in Wellington for a week to reshoot some scenes, and to catch up with the menu at his beloved late-night restaurant The Green Parrot.

Tyler was photographed later the same day returning to the Duxton hotel surrounded by several minders.

It is understood she had just completed filming her last scenes.

Tyler and Mortensen have been joined by Matrix star Hugo Weaving and hobbit Dominic Monaghan, who has taken to zipping around the capital in a powerful Mitsubishi Diamante.