Coffee!

Nearly there. We had a fruit platter and yoghurt for brekky and pretty much skipped the dodgy entertainment. Alex has his music on and is dozing off. Pretty early morning today so understandable.

Forgot to bring a pen so asked the stewardess for one. Mine now! Made two mistakes on declaration card. Hope they don’t mind crossing out.

Alex wired for sound and still smiling!

Fascinating flying under a ceiling of cloud. Alex thought it looked like we could walk on it until we flew through it.

Our room at the Pullman

Our view of the Harbour - kind of

Alex claims his bed

Bought a selfie stick and tried it out

On our way out to dinner

Mmm local beer - was heavy and hoppy - yum

Alex and I wait for our food. He is having a cheeky Corona but no lemon 🍋 boo. Notice the table sign is not a number but a place.

Great burgers and really filling. Alex has a double cheese burger called a “Cheesey Bro”. I am having a “luxe bird” deep fried chicken breast with plenty of chilli mayo etc. don’t forget the Fatties!

Spotted a wall of inspiration in the lobby of an office block on the walk home. Imagine being welcomed by that each morning!

Just love this one

Ready for breakfast 8:30

Alex is having corn flakes and I am having eggs and bacon on toast

Walking off the breakfast on the fitness trail

Penny for your Thorts

Picked up the Car from Hertz. It’s a CX5. It’s parked now. I’m off for a walk

Albert park has massive trees- I thought they might start speaking Entish to me.

Sky Tower, will visit that later

This is the clock tower at the University. The architecture looks like it may have inspired the Elven architecture in LOTR.

Heading to the Auckland museum now.

Giant sea pizza

This is honestly amazing. The light!

Spent a good ten minutes in front of this one. It really spoke to me.

Don’t \240think these two get on anymore.

Beautiful building and full of peaceful respect for the art. Good place to recharge the mind.

Made a friend, Elena the Russian grandmother works here and said she had another hour left to work. Happy to take my photo. I remind her of her son Dimitri who she misses terribly. Thanked her for the photos and edged out of the room.

Ooh I stumbled into guerilla girls. A full on feminist tirade. The only other people looking at this are angry women. Eek exit stage left.

This was a spinning top left by giant aliens.

Now we cross to Alex and Sean. Enjoying pizza and 🍺 beer. He’s sending me occasional proof of life so I know he hasn’t met with the kiwi version of wolf creek.

I’m now at Sky tower tallest structure in Southern Hemisphere. Will be going up and leaning off the \240edge with a cable attached.

They number you incase you fall. Faces aren’t very recognisable after a drop that big. It also helps identify the tour number so they can sell you photos. Funnily enough you aren’t allowed to take your phone up and do selfies.

What an amazing view! 192 m up and no railing ! Yikes!

Here is me with the group I walked with.

Whoooooa!

Sending Alex the Ok sign.

Leaning is freaky !

Walking with eyes closed

Leaning out. My body is fighting it so hard even though my brain says it will be OK.

All finished safely. An amazing experience!

Next I had a $40 neck and back massage followed by a Tom yum soup...

And a beef Rendang. Now back to the room to plan tomorrow

Rotorua and Hobitton tomorrow.

Meanwhile:

Kiwi friends sharing Alex’s 18th with him.

Alex’s friend Sean bought him a gift with the whole Lord of the rings theme to our trip in mind.

Simple breakfast for us. I did have organic local honey on my weet-bix though... mmmm.

Goodbye to the Pullman in Auckland. byeeeeee!

Drivin down highway 1, nice fine day ,

See ya Auckland. It’s not you it’s us!

Spoke too soon, 1 hour out of Auckland. I think we approach the misty marshes of Mordor! The Ring feels heavy! \240(Which is strange because I made sure to go to the toilet before leaving Auckland)🤔

Oooh this is looking Hobbitish isn’t it?

Beautiful countryside

So serene!

Leg stretch

We are here

Got our tickets sorted for the banquet feast and tour. Time for second breakfast!

I solemnly swear I am up to no good!

Nothing happened to the map!

Alex tells me I have the wrong movie reference.

The banquet Hall

Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.

J.R.R. Tolkien.

We are now at Lake Rotorua and having dinner.

Hokkien noodles with soy chilli salmon - yum

A beautiful start to the day in Rotorua. It’s a balmy 2’ at 9am. The frost is still on the ground and the paths are slippery with ice.

Frosty leaves!

We are right beside Lake Rotorua where there is much geothermal activity. There are Polynesian spa bathing areas open till 11pm 7 days a week.

Translation for Americans. Don’t step on hot stuff Dumbass!

Birds are using the area for a breeding ground

In the mini bus heading up to the rainforest

Beautiful trails

This is the silver fern that NZ has on their sporting jerseys. The cultural significance was that these were used as signposts. It takes nothing more than moonlight for these germs to reflect brightly white in a dark rainforest. They were used to mark trails for visitors or highlight dangers by Maori.

Should I bounce him? Hehe.

Crucifixion? Out the door, line on the left, one cross each.

Some of the trees here pre date white settlement by hundreds of years. Unfortunately natural and original rainforest represents only 5% of New Zealand forested areas. Everything else has been planted by man after logging or clearing.

We are having a blast and learning a lot about conservation efforts here

Goofy close up!

Twice as goofy

Can’t really get the perspective here but if you follow the cable there is a platform which is seven stories off the ground. There is more tree above the platform than below.

We saw lots of Robins. That’s a robin on the far right. They bobbed along with us as we walked , hoping our passing would dislodge insects or worms in our tracks.

All finished! Great time!

Next we are at Crouchers brew house in Eat street. Pizza and loaded fries with pulled pork!

Had a pilsener and an IPA - both great beers 🍺

Looking down eat street

We thought we might walk the long way home and take in the scenic lakeside views in the afternoon sun. (Still chilly).

Great family oriented park areas

The place is teeming with bird life.

This guy thinks he’s pretty special but he still smells of suphur.

Really beautiful views and we have been very lucky with weather.

Honk!

Where’s Alex?

Lots of native birds in this area: waders and ducks and robins and wrens oh my!

Lots of glimpses of the lake through trees along this track. The whole time we are accompanied by birdsong and little finches and wrens flittering about.

About time for a dad shot

Oooh whats he carrying, Danielle?

I call this Trees with cars and there nothing you can do about it.

This evokes lonliness to me. It seems dark and a singular struggle

And this shot says optimism, strong and bright!

That’s where the which lives so we went around it....

It’s been a busy few days and Alex is feeling it. Time to recuperate with some chat with mates and some screen time.

I’ve just had a relaxing hour in the Polynesian spa geothermal pools. I bathed in the Rachel pool which is very alkaline. Legend has it that those who bath in the water of Rachel springs will have eternal beauty. Hmm hope it starts working soon. Unfortunately no pics of this one. No phones allowed.

Still time for a single malt in front of the cricket though.

With Alex zonked our I’m having dinner alone. Really good butter chicken!

Pea Soup!

Stopped for a coffee and spectacular custard slice. Gotta keep the driver revived! Weather is getting better as we head south.

Another leg stretch with some amazing views!

Pretty clear skies! Yay!

Who wore it better?

Alex waiting to be beamed up by aliens. After 5 mins we decided it wasn’t going happen and we had just better keep driving.

Alex voted for a stop at Maccas. So we stopped in Bull. No it’s true! Look! And we seem to be passed half way to Wellington.

We have made it to the West coastline now a lot of beautiful views on this coast road. Didn’t stop so these are through the wins teen by Alex.

After a long drive all day and after the Nav playing silly buggers with us on approach to the hotel Alex needs some downtime. Early start tomorrow for full day of lord of the Rings tour.

10’ is OK, in fact it’s pretty warm. It’s the rain I’m hoping will hold off.

Pick up at 8:40 for full day tour.

Day packs ready to set off on our LOTR adventure!

Warming up in the lobby

We are in the bus now and we have been asked to order our food for lunch. This will be at Orlando bloom’s favourite cafe. Much of the cast would find themselves here regularly over the fifteen months of filming

First stop is Mount Victoria with an amazing view of all of Wellington. it is, as they say in the movie business: Wellywood. Since Peter Jackson’s films were made here 30% of the population work in some way with the film industry.

Alex pretending not to be uncomfortable and cold.

Back off the bus for next stop. Here will be some of the sites for filming scenes from the edges of Hobbiton. When the Hobbits are hiding from the Ring wraiths and racing to Tutleback ferry.

What has it gots in it’s nasty pocketses?

Damn ! Forgot the tin foil hat! Could have picked some up at Weta!

Not sure what type these are so always best to never miss an opportunity to not eat wild mushrooms. I didn’t and so I didn’t.

Looking familiar?

This is where the hobbits come tumbling down the hill and land on the road. They needed to test the concept early but couldn’t find any size appropriate stunt doubles for Hobbits so they asked at the local Karate Dojo. Keen to be part of the film they got instant volunteers. It wasn’t until the guy being Frodo tumbled down, landed on his head and broke a collar bone that they stopped the shoots. Those trees are recognisable from the scene.

This is where Frodo senses the Wraiths are near and looks down the road. Alex doing his Elijah Wood impression under the exact same tree.

A photo of the scene many years ago so some of the branches have changed but it is still recognisable.

And me in the same spot

This is the spot where all the twisted roots were and they hid under the road from the wraith on horseback, eventually distracting it with a bag or turnips they had just stolen. The root system and the tree was made completely of polystyrene. Peter Jackson needed so much polystyrene in the three movies that he bought a Polystyrene factory in Wellington just to ensure prompt supply.

Shot from the movie

Indeed!

This is the site of the scene where the Ring wraith on horseback appears on the crest of the hill silhouetted in the moonlight. The horses breath is visible but the rider is a wraith. The actor wore a snorkel so that his breath would be channeled down his costume and remain invisible.

Apparently peter Jackson made the hobbit actors run up and down this hill more than 30 times early in the shoot. It was dark and cold and raining. He was testing their commitment. Simon Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn but did not display commitment and was sent home. That’s when Vigo Mortensen was cast and his commitment was absolute.

The sweat a terror on the hobbits faces in this chase scene were actual fatigue and real sweat and fear that Peter was again going to say ‘once more for luck’

When Sean Aston was cast as Samwise Gamgee he realised how gruelling the filming would be on a fantasy film and began getting very fit. When he arrived in NZ Peter Jackson said ‘what have you done to yourself?’

Sean did not look like the chubby character that is Sam. He was to be sent home and the part re-cast. Sean was so upset by this and truly wanted to a part he asked for some time to correct it. He put on 16kg in 6 weeks and retained the part.

In the above scene Same is never seen running. He was so out of shape he just couldn’t do it. You see him walking up after the others stop running.

Next stop is the Weta Cave, home of the special effects for everything from lord of the rings and the hobbit to thunderbirds, district nine, power rangers, Avatar and the Avengers.

Passing what was to be the Wellywood sign but locals said it would be too cheesey. Instead they held a competition for the sign design and this was the winner. Wellington is extremely windy pretty much all the time. The catch phrase on tourism here is get blown away by Wellington.

Yeah not cheesey at all.

We weren’t allowed to stop but a quick drive by the Stone street studio and back lot. You can just make out a huge green screen at the back. Interesting little Easter egg is in the battle of five armies in the Hobbit, a man is seen running into scene yelling ‘the Orcs have taken Stone street!’

Cool Trolls out the front of Weta

Another one

I think I woke this one up!

Ure kai!

Azog (the defiler) - white goblin,in all his glory

We could only take photos in this one room. All others were considered work for clients (Hollywood) and therefore protected IP.

This guy was kooky as a nutty professor. He makes stuff- sculptures and his main medium is crushed Tim foil with heat gun glue to make shapes. See the ones to the right of shot. Then they get covered with a substance he invented which stays mouldable while wet but when set is as hard a concrete and can withstand outside elements. He was working on a cave mouth for mount doom here.

Cool dragons over the entrance gate.

That was really cool - we had a lot of fun here and Alex bought another sword. This time it was Balin’s sword from The Hobbit. It will be posted and will get delivered by DHL. He’s pretty chuffed - this is his third sword.

Next we stop at this scenic spot for lunch. It was a favourite for Cast from LOTR.

One wall is full of comics. Couldn’t resist getting Alex under the Thor cover.

Such a beautiful beach. Cold but beautiful

The toilets were artistically decorated too! (I went in the Tardis).

Game of thrones! Haha haha - get it?

Next stop the shores of the mighty Anduin river. Not looking all that mighty.

This was where the set of Isengard was built. It was a good explanation that we could visualise with all of the little bits from the guide but I expect the photo won’t be much help for readers of this blog.

The scene where Gandalf and Saruman walk and discuss the news from the south and Gandalf’s fears that the dark lord has once again awoken.

Our bus. We are now bound for Rivendell.

Elven sign post telling us how to get there. If just given a few hours and some Tolkien geek Reddit’s and I could have this translated!

The appropriate heights of Tolkien’s characters. Gandalf would be shorter than me as an average man as would Boromir. Aragorn as a descendent of the Numenor would be very tall and Legolas would be around 200cm tall as an Elf.

This is the exact same spot the promo shot below was taken

This is a map of the Rivendell sets during shoots

And after a quick coffee and muffins we are back on the road. In the background here (hard to see) is the quarry that was the site of filming for a year. Mines of Moria and Mina’s Tirith were shot here.

Peter Jackson asked to lease the place for a year and they said no. He said name a figure and the quarry tripled their annual turnover thinking of ending negotiations with a ridiculous figure including staff wages and Peter Jackson signed immediately. The quarry staff went to work on a neighboring quarry part time on full time pay.

Extras in the movies were paid $180 a day when used but had to sign a 4 year contract to never travel over seas in that time. He expected his extras to be available at short notice when called

The Ure Kai were NZ army reservists and the Elves were recruited from the local university. They deferred studies to be involved.

You can just make out the yellow tower

The phots show some of the set area and note the yellow tower

As a final gift this map cannot be bought anywhere. It is only available by doing the tour. It shows filming sites in Wellington and has a hidden message in dwarven. Looks like Alex has some homework!

We are back to our hotel and I don’t think Alex wants to go out again. We are knackered and looking forward to a night in.

Tomorrow we travel to the South Island by Iter-Islander \240ferry

Drop of the car and leave the keys in a box at departure gate.

And we checked in luggage. Boarded by 8:20. It’s like a mini cruise. Bars and cafes throughout multiple decks. We’ve found a spot.

Bleak weather

Going through Marlborough sound

Waiting to disembark

And we are here in Picton! Will pick up the bags and get a car from Hertz then hit the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again.

(Admit it you just sang that)

Arrived in Kaikoura.

Spectacular drive. At about 120km south of Picton you turn a corner and are presented with Middle Earth.

This is the pebbly beach across from our hotel. We drove along the coast along these peaks for the last quarter of the journey.

Arrived in Kaikoura

It’s the off season here and it’s very quiet. Feels a bit like Nelson Bay but with mountains and people that speak funny.

This is our hotel the White Morph.

Exploring in town

Sunset on the mountains

Thai for dinner tonight me thinks.

Our whale watching starts at 10am. Time for a little explore around the coastal road.

Highway one which is the main highway was closed for some time due to earthquakes and serious landslides over the coastal road. Luck for us it is open.

Tbis is at the right hand point of the main beach front in kaikoura.

Evidence of volcanic activity everywhere you look on the South Island.

The colours and textures are just fantastic.

Our trusty Rav 4. I still think I preferred the CX5.

Now waiting for the check in time.

Quick bus ride to the dock and we are aboard our catamaran jet boat.

Here we go whale watching hope we seen one or at least a dolphin

Our captain Jessie is a local who knows these waters very well

Within first 20 mins a sighting of a sperm whale! Amazing!

After about ten minutes he took two big breathes and dived, showing his glorious tail fin.

Going

Gone.

So cold- show us another!

Oh there you go !

Getting the shot is difficult

Caught to blowing out from the blow hole

Really on the surface in this one

Dusky dolphins were all around us most of the time. They are lightning quick and hard to photograph

Some more. They were doing back flips.

Another whale!

Having a blast enjoying this wonder. The reason they are so common is this is a feeding ground due to the Kaikoura canyon. It is a deep channel next to the coast at Kaikoura and it allows deep diving sperm whales 🐳 and even blue whales 🐋 Space and food.

Sister boat

Not frozen because he has an amazing Kathmandu jacket on.

That’s gold!

Diving whale again! At this point the staff were amazed how lucky we had been to get so many sightings.

More Duskies

Rock island

Can you spot the seals?

Just did the one drive by. Seals need to be carefully treated. These guys can spend 2 weeks perpetually at sea hunting. Their rest is paramount and sometimes of disturbed they go straight back in the water without proper rest and that is dangerous for them.

Ahoy thar she blows!

New Zealand was the first whaling nation to stop whaling. It was stopped in the sixties in recognition of the need for co see stop. If these amazing mammals.

Dinner at joes garage , nice balanced meal.

Walking around Christchurch on. Thursday night

The Novotel where we are staying

Bit of street art beside a row of food trucks. One serves Kai. Haven’t worked out what that is yet.

We made it to the wizards Retreat gaming shop to buy Alex a set of dice for D&D. He forgot his.

We got soaked in the process. It is cold and windy and raining and we just walked 6 city blocks in it with cheap brollies. Haha gotta toughen him up!

He got an Uber \240from the games shop to his friends place. Another first for Alex!

I’m hiding out in a cafe: \240Maison de Crepes and having a coffee and crepe.

The craft embassy? Well yes I think I will get my passport stamped here today.

My tasting paddle two from the north Island and two from the south, finishing on a dry cider.

They love a sculpture here

Lots of places still braced since 2011 Quake.

The front of the Cathedral.

Went to Quake world to learn about the Earthquakes. Was quite moving (no pun intended).

May have shed a tear during some of the testimony videos. Many lives lost. 15,000 homes were abandoned due to liquefaction alone.

Over 300 police specialists and victim identification officers from Australia contributed, which was the only time in our history every jurisdiction in Australia worked in a single team.

Very sobering morning but important to respect what this City has been through.

Looking back at the Novotel

Last day in NZ. We are both very tired and ready for home. Checked out of Novotel which was a great base point in Christchurch.

We have some time to kill before the plane leaves

And are going to take in a movie - something we can just relax into. Found a 13:20 session of MIB 3, then we’ll fill up the tank and return the car 🚗 at the airport and wait for our flight.

Cheers New Zealand we have loved our time here. It really has been a choice adventure and we have lots of memories to take with us!