Sunday, March 4, 2018

Rivendell, 2018

Our itinerary now took us across a bit of the island, from west to east, above Wellington, to Cape Palliser, the southernmost point on the North Island. Along the way were two LOTR sites, Rivendell, aka Kaitoke Regional Park, which we visited in 2009, and the Dimholt Road, aka Putangirua Scenic Reserve, which we had not heard of before 2018.
Our 2014 satnav, featuring the voice of Darth Vader, found us an
interesting shortcut, crossing perhaps 20k of single lane mountain
road; at least there were no tour buses

Aka Rivendell; we'd visited on a movie tour in 2009; it is still
one of the few LOTR places on public land where there is
official signage; augmented considerably, since 2009, by the
still operating movie tour companies

Official park signage

The rest added by the movie tour companies






Very informative




All these scenes shot nearly 20 years ago; Jackson
and Co. were particularly careful to see that
nothing was harmed, that only footprints were
left behind; seriously; it's New Zealand

Famous Legolas pose; tour visitors are invited
to pose similarly










































Thus, myself, in 2009




















In 2018, been there, done that pose


"Mordor, Gandalf, is it right or left?"

Tree seen in movie

Well worn props for a tour group visiting while we were there


Some visitors bring their own props

Friday, March 2, 2018

Last Days In Welly

Our next to last day in Wellington, February 26th, it rained all day--our 5th or 6th all day rain in New Zealand so far this year--and we hunkered down in Rooby, at the Evans Bay Marina, reading, blogging, and planning. Next day, the 27th, we drove up to surburban Porirua, Plimmerton actually, for an appointment to get Rooby checked over, a new water pump  installed, and other minor items. Cruzy Campers, from whom we have rented Rooby, has an excellent reputation for maintaining their vehicles, and this was about the mid-point of our 80 day rental.
Before the rain, I did some more walking in downtown Welly;
here the beautiful art deco fire station

The city abounds in sculpture

And this example was right at the marina

Scores of self-contained motor-homes enjoying the freedom
camping at the marina

Packed in quite tightly

A bit of the marina

Rooby; to the right is a French-type personne from Bordeaux;
he and his wife were traveling/working NZ for a year; I doubt
that NZ's tourist infrastructure could survive without the
thousands of young persons, mostly from Europe, who come here
on working holiday visas

Like sardines; but nobody complaining

At a memorable outdoor furniture shoppe in Plimmerton

View from Plimmerton beach

Resident

Huge croquet club

Nice folks here

Ascent Of Mount Victoria

We've walked around on Mount Victoria several times--mostly for LOTR sites--but never really walked all the way to the top and to the observation deck there with its 360 view of the whole area. This time we did it.
But first, lunch, not at this building, which turned out to be an
interestingly painted parking garage

But at the Mount Vic Chippery, ranked #1 among such
 establishments; here, examples of their frites

The menu

And staff

And my lunch, with the kumara chips; Vicki had the pulled
pork

Just up the hill is the very old tram tunnel, under Mount Victoria,
which opened up the Miramar peninsula for development; now used
exclusively for buses

Helpful map

"Get off the road!"


On a trail-side bench

Vicki points to the now nearly unrecognizable "Hobbit hide-out,"
where Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin hid from the Black Rider

Thousands of Ring Waifs have since hid here, including us, in 2009

Look closely; Radagast stil frequents the place

Looking across to Miramar, and Wellington's signature

Beyond Miramar, the channel to Cook Strait

Pano of City of Wellington

From left to right

Thus

Harbor-side and harbor

More of harbor

The tan building right of center is Te Papa; Greater Wellington,
including Lower and Upper Hutt and Porirau, has a population
just over half a million

Airport to the left and Cook Strait

A ferry heads out toward Picton; it was a very windy day,
especially atop Mount Victoria

Book Lovers B&B, near the start of the trail