Wellington - The Capital City

Blog 18 - Wellington, taking in more LOR locations:

Multi tasking personified!

One of many Vineyards  south of Napier

Leaving Napier and travelling south towards Wellington we passed many fine vineyards and flat valley farm land.  We did stop on the way at the old heritage village of Onga Onga. Multi tasking in the victorian times still continues to this day!

Film set at Kaitoke Regional Park

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The twisty roads through the big hills 

The road to Wellington became more and more hilly as we climbed and twisted our way over the mountain range, part of the long chain that in the South Island is known as the Southern Alps. On the way we were exploring the beautiful Kaitoke Regional Park (the realm of the Lord of the Rings 'Rivendell').

Not exactly the motorway!

Jacky the very energetic map lady decided we could take a short cut to our evening destination at the Harcourt Park Motel. We went higher and higher and bendier and bendier till we were actually above the clouds. It was a bit fractious but eventually we came out right on the button at the final destination of the day. Well done indeed the Navigator! The holiday park was full of big hairy stock car racers preparing for a Saturday evening meeting at a stadium up the road and it was fun trying to park up between old bangers and trailers. Sally Subaru felt at home as she was looking weary after her own hill climbs and off-roading. 

Harcourt Park film location (LOR)

The "fault line" at Harcourt

As a Lord of the Rings location Harcourt Park was The gardens of Isengard and a very pleasant place it was too. This whole area known as Hutt Valley however has a major volcanic 'fault line' 

running through it and indeed the motorway and railway line on the approach into the city

Eagle sculpture at Wellington Airport

from the North were built on land that was raised up 20 feet by a major earthquake in 1855 measuring over 8.2, one of the highest on record. Yet another city in this vulnerably Country that felt the force of the volcanic instability that lies below while the world  continues to live a life above. Only this January there was a 6.2 magnitude earthquake at the main Airport which ironically brought down the famous eagle sculpture that advertised the Hobbit trilogy films.

The next morning we were visiting the city itself. First stop was the famous WETA workshops and visitor centre in the cliff top suburb of Mirimar around the bay. This is the home of the LOR Visual Effects Company:

WETA workshops in Mirimar

Talk about sods law - We had to negotiate several closed roads as there was yet another major event going on, this time the Wellington 'round the bay' half marathon with over 40000 runners taking part.  

Uruk-hai (big baddy in LOR)

On arrival at WETA we watched an interesting film about the company and its history in film making but unfortunately we did not have time for the tour around the actual model making workshops.

We had a lot to fit in on this our last day on North Island. The redevelopment at the quay side and the world famous Museum and St Paul's Cathedral before our last resting place at a hotel near the Picton ferry terminal which will take us over Cook Strait to South Island. A busy afternoon ahead in this vibrant and busy City. 

Hobbits' Hideaway Mount Victoria

For now it was on to another LOR site, this time Hobbits' hiding place in the woods at Mount Victoria. 

The view from Mount Victoria

At the top of the hill walk there is a fantastic look out point over the city harbour and beyond. There is a lot of Maori history of an early fortified village on this hill and I found the whole visit here fascinating. This place in Maori is called Matairangi meaning"a place to watch the sky". The star gazing here at night is meant to be so clear with a great view of the Southern Cross and the upside down Orion (being in the southern hemisphere) and Sirius or Dog star, the brightest star in the whole sky.

There is a an interesting fact about the stars here that have caused many a Mariner a spot of bother. There is no southern equivalent to the North Pole star (Polaris). Mariners look for the long axis of two stars on the Southern Cross to get their Southern direction bearings. However there is a false Cross or Diamond Cross very close in the sky but it is facing the wrong way. Follow this and literally you are all at sea and could easily be lost forever or worse shipwrecked!

The skies are clear here because we are in the windy city. 173 days in the year in fact at an average of 32 knots and that is blowy. In 1968 it reached a record double hurricane145 knots and it sunk the Cook Straight Ferry and 51 were lost (gulp I am on that tomorrow!! - Still three visits to make so lets get on....

Wellington Museum (Te Papa)

"The love we bear for one another"

The Te Papa Museum was a wonderful place full of interest especially Maori history which I am loving - The Maori King Movement (Kingitanga) is 150 years in the making and today is a important part of the Kiwi heritage  - There was an amazing exhibition on these years and the meaning of Kingitanga is literally "the love we bear for one another". Look around the harbour area and in the cafes, watch people walking along, they are a happy people, they smile in the face of adversity. What a great word to use as a mission statement for one country and one people irrespective of colour, race or creed. The capital city - I like it a lot - it is clean, vibrant, great harbour development area and the Museum was excellent.

Wellington Cathedral

After the harbour area our final visit was a peaceful evensong service at the Cathedral. I said a prayer for our journey thus far and the journey still to come. We are being looked after, of that I am sure. I have still much to learn from this travel adventure, especially if you dig deeper into cultures and ask questions, look into eyes not over heads.

Picton Ferry - check out the weather!

The next morning we are in prime position for a short journey to the Picton Ferry port and the crossing to South Island. My blogs will take on new horizons, higher mountains, lakes, fiords (as the kiwi spell it) and cities. Ah yes and maybe some sheep!! (there are supposed to be 30 million of them somewhere)

Stay tuned for Blog 19.

DKT