Weta Cave, 2018

We drove across old friend Wellington to the Miramar peninsula, where our campground was, a block or so from the Weta Cave, which we'd visited in 2009 and 2014. The campground was a flat spot astride Brendan's driveway, electricity provided, for 15U$. Brendan himself was nice enough and accommodating; he's part of a scheme that rents residential camping space to fellow RVers, an interesting plan we might conceivably use again, especially in the big cities (!). Anyhow, after settling in, we decided to take the bus into town for the opening of the biennial New Zealand Festival (next post). The Weta Cave was on the way.

"Please do not climb on the trolls"

Bert, Tom and William are still guarding the place, if in different positions; compare
with my 2014 post, and you will see that they are now partially clothed; something
about a US tourist posting photos of troll genitalia...

Theoden King's armor; the place is still part-museum and
part-retail store

Gollum is still there; they keep moving things around,
placing ever greater emphasis on their more recent
achievements; alas, our interest is strictly old-time LOTR

Snow White...wait! no! ...rather more of the store now is figurines and other
purchaseables; and not cheap, either

Gandalf-style hats for sale

Also still there

Bilbo's wearable feet

Mouth of Sauron

So, much later in the evening we are returning from town,walking past the Cave
in utter darkness, and I see Bert, lurching there menacingly by the sidewalk...I
wonder how many drunks have fled in terror at such a sight..

New Zealand Parting Shots

As we sit in the Auckland airport awaiting our (delayed) flight to Fiji...

One of the sorrows of international travel is that, with today's luggage weight limits,
you can't always take it with you; and sometimes it's dear things that are left behind...
here, a bottle of 100% DEET Viet Nam-era Campmor Neverbite, which we have been
carrying and using since, well, we think, 1972; used sparingly it lasts a long time, is
really hell on mosquitoes and sand flies, and, in larger doses, will remove paint from
your ice axe, your car, etc. Probably not so good for your skin...

Well, I'd read most of it...I'll get another copy and keep it next
time

The Manukau Top Ten Holiday Park is both an entry and exit point for people
touring New Zealand by RV or tent or otherwise backpacking; people exiting
leave behind all their unused food, camping equipment, clothing, whatever won't
fit; Monday morning's haul at Manukau...

If you're camping in NZ, stop here first to stock up on staples, herbs and spices,
oils, coffee, tea, some perishables, some canned goods, camping chairs and
chilly bins and other accoutrements; our last day I scored two unopened bottles of
(good) wine and two beers; of course, we left a bunch also...

And so we checked out of our cabin

Turned in our rental car...I drove nearly 5,000 miles without incident...upside-down
and wrong side of the road, too

And are here at the airport, pondering what life will be like
not in Middle Earth; but knowing we'll be back soon, a lot
sooner than the previous interval...

"This Was Once The Great Watchtower Of Amon Sul"

Determined Ringwaifs we are. After tenting in a sub-standard DOC campground, complete with feral fowl, we drove past Thames, back west to the Tasman coast, looking for the great watchtower of Amon Sul. It took a bit of driving and navigating, but we found it.

There it is

Closer up

Oops, I forgot to add the CG

There were plenty of other interesting formations in the area (Port Waikato)

Thus

Hobbiton Signage

Signage is often of interest, at least to me, and some of the Hobbiton signage, particularly at the Green Dragon, was quite amusing...

Green Dragon, Hobbiton

The Green Dragon, Hobbiton's pub, warrants attention since it is the only building you can actually enter. Interior filming for LOTR was done on the sound stage in Wellington, of course, and behind most of the Hobbit Hole doors in Hobbiton there's nothing. Moreover, the Green Dragon is a working pub, sort of, open to tour visitors and available for events ranging from proposals to weddings to corporate meetings, etc. All the detail you'd expect from Weta, et al., is there, plus much more, including two ales, a cider, and a ginger beer; and pub fare.

Green Dragon on left, mill on right

"You mean it doesn't come in pints?!"

Guest book, Sir Peter Jackson, top left, the Prime Minister,
top right

Other notables, most notably, Ian McKellen

And Martin Freeman

Great finish to the tour