Day 37 1.9.2011 – The Misty Mountains - Distance Travelled: 2789km

Franz Joseph  → Wanaka

Hello all,

Well today has been a first...our first light aircraft trip! Yes on a spur of the moment thing I saw a winter offer for a scenic plane ride over the Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers. It was an amazing experience, at first you think this is madness getting in a tiny plane for 30 minutes but once you are up and taking in what you are seeing below you it just becomes a fantastic adventure.

We flew up and over the glaciers and to the peaks of the tallest mountains in this part of the Sothern mountain range. Mt Cook being the tallest. Flying in and around these beautiful peaks and realising that what you are flying over has been featured in movies is a crazy thought but one I had while I was taking the near 600 pictures I took during the flight.

Both Steven and Michael were ok at the end of it, we weren’t sure how we would be but it turned out ok and great fun. It was such a fantastic thing to do, the whole thing was a once in a life time which was well worth it. It is something I will never forget as every time I see the lighting of the beacons in Return of the King I shall remember I flew over the Misty Mountains!!!!!

After to calm our selves back down and relax a bit (as Steven was still a little iffy) we went to the hot springs nearby! A 36, 38 and 40°C pool, it was very relaxing and nice to just sit and do nothing. 

We then headed down on a long trip across the mountains to the other side and Wanaka, the drive and views once again on this road were great, over ridges to then be looking upon another huge lake or forest swarming up a mountain. Its all great to see.

Then arriving in Wanaka which is a lovely place set at the foot of a lake with imposing mountains in the distance. We found the site and were treated to a great view as we pulled up for the night.

This is me signing off...J

Day 36 31.8.2011 – The West Coast drive - Distance Travelled: 2493km

Westport  → Franz Joseph 

Hello all,

Today we decided to drive down far along the west coast to the Franz Joseph glacier. Along the way though we stopped off at the blowhole scenic park!! It was a great thing to see, although we got very wet unexpectedly from a blowhole we didn’t see!!! 

The whole coastline is amazing to drive down, the rapid change in scenery and the rapid increase in size of the mountains is fantastic. As we made it down to Franz Joseph, after a stop start journey with lots of pictures being taken of this fantastic coast line, we were treated to a very overcast view that was stopping us from seeing the Alps in front of us. Hopefully it clears up tomorrow.

Oh and just a quick note the road we drove today was one of the Lonely Planet’s Top 10 roads to drive in the world!!!

This is me signing off...J

Day 35 30.8.2011 – The Ring and the pass - Distance Travelled: 2213km

Picton → Nelson → Westport

Hello all,

Today we headed from Picton over to Nelson. The weather was rubbish, overcast and rainy as we crossed over another area of high hills, with some very twisty roads. 

The roads are great fun to drive, later on when we cross over the beginning of the Southern Alps I was having to concentrate but enjoying it far too much!! Any way we stopped over in Nelson for lunch and supplies, but while we were there I thought we would go out in search of the jewellers that crafted all of the rings for LOTR, over 40 of the One Ring were crafted including one that we 16cm in diameter, all made in 24ct gold!!! 

So over the mountains we headed onto the west coast, it is beautiful over here, I know I have said it before but you do not know what view you will get around the next corner. I am having alot of fun seeing it all here on the other side of the world.

We made it over to Westport even if it was a long drive.

This is me signing off....J

Day 34 29.8.2011 – The tunnel and the ferry - Distance Travelled: 1881km

Wellington →Cook Straight → Picton

Hello all,

Today we went off to find the location that we missed on Mt Victoria, with the help of the new book I got yesterday with the updated more detailed locations from the movies. With great success we found the tunnel Frodo looked down and sensed the black rider coming for him. It was cool to see this as it’s just a random tree tunnel and if you look to the left you can see and hear a small part of Wellington!!

Then we headed off to get the ferry down to South Island! We were some of the first vehicles on as we got there early and were put behind the tankers.  

It was a 3 hour ferry journey and we saw there was a cinema on board, so we watched X-Men: First Class, which is a great movie! After it was over we were heading into the coves at the top of South Island approaching Picton. The coastline was misty and very reminiscent of scenes from a movie that being many movies, as New Zealand is showing us how versatile it is when it comes to its varied landscape.

We got off the ferry and the campsite was within sight so an easy trip over. Now to explore South Island!!!

This is me signing off...J

Day 33 28.8.2011 – Weta again and the Meusum - Distance Travelled: 1851km

Wellington

Hello all, 

Ok so even though yesterday we went to the Weta Cave and brought things, they told us that the guys who had written to book I had brought were doing a signing today so I though as we were then why not!! So we went back and I managed to get my copy signed and I got another of the shields that I missed yesterday!

So after this we went in search of the old bookstore that had a huge collection of Tolkien books, alas it was not there anymore as some other shops were sitting right where it should be. But hey these things happen so we went browsing around the rugby stores, we ended up all buying a new rugby top each!!

Also wandering along we came across the Embassy Theatre where the premiers of all 3 Lord of the Rings movies where held, we went in and I can see why, it’s a lovely old place but currently places very limited and different movies to those on in mainstream cinemas.

Then Mikey fancied KFC! So went and found one, it was very different....the gravy had mash in it!!! Also the buckets came with actual roast chicken, which was very tasty!

Finally we headed off to the Te Papa museum which had some nice exhibits in it and we went on a simulator that took us to the bottom of the ocean and shook us about alot, it was just something different to do!

This is me signing off....J

Day 32 27.8.2011 – Weta and Wellington - Distance Travelled: 1800km

Wellington

Hello all,

Today we are in the capital of New Zealand, it’s a really nice place. First off we headed straight through to get to the coolest place so far...the Weta Cave, home of Weta and Weta Digital the guys and girls behind the effects and miniatures the helped make Lord of the Rings even more real and amazing!

It is only a small place on the corner of the lot that they have as a place of work but it is packed full of the models, miniatures and collectables that they have made over the years from LOTR to King Kong to Avatar to District 9.

There was a movie about the history of Weta and what it had done since the couple first started making miniatures and creations for some small movies. I have to add that I spent far too much money here on some small bits and pieces and collectables, like small models of the shields from LOTR. I think I have found yet another thing to collect as a hobby, new Weta creations and models of scenes from movies they help create.

After we headed over to Mt Victoria to find the location that Frodo stood on the path and then hid from the Black Rider under the tree with the other Hobbits. We searched around a few places where we thought it could be but to no avail. As we drove off I spotted one other place it could have been but only seemed to find some other places that I thought were in the movie but not sure. So we left slightly disheartened but hey at least we tried!

We went for an explore of downtown Wellington for the remainder of the day then watch the funniest movie of the year so far Horrible Bosses, all 3 of us were laughing our head off most of the way through it. 

This is me signing off....J