Hobbits and Wine Off to Rivendell Another cool sunny day. We leave Wellington and head towards Napier.Our first stop is Kaitoke Regional Park, or the site for filming Rivendell for Lord of the Rings fans. All the sets have been removed but there are signboards showing where scenes were shot and where certain trees are in those scenes. The archway from the movie has been reproduced on a slightly smaller scale. …
A Day in and Around WellingtonOld St Paul’s We wake up to bright sunshine so we head out to explore the city.Our first stop is Old St Paul’s Anglican Church. Built in 1866 in Gothic Revival style. It is a beautiful church with wooden arches and a warm, woody smell inside. National Parliament BuildingsOur next stop is the Parliament Buildings. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. All the Parliament tours …
A Day at the Museum of New Zealand Te PapaThe Museum of New Zealand Te PapaThe day is rainy and cold so we decide to go to the Papa Museum in Wellington.This museum is not to be missed. It is fabulous and it is free with only an extra charge for certain temporary exhibits. There are six floors and over 36,000 sq metres of space.I loved the New Zealand …
Christchurch to WellingtonKaikouraThe alarm goes at 6:00am and we are on the road by 7:10am to travel from Christchurch to Picton and then by ferry to Wellington. So far it is a cool, overcast day.The departure on Interislander Ferry is at 2:15pm but we must be checked in at the marshalling yard by 1:15pm. The drive from Christchurch to Picton is 4.5 hours if not stopping. We first stop …