Blog 11: Last Days on the North Island

It is time to leave the North Island and to head to the lonelier South Island. Our last days on the North Island we spent in Wellington and in Ashhurst. In Ashhurst Marama had done an exchange year during her high school time and we visited her host family. The house was huge and the view from the living room outstanding (see picture). We were treated with hospitality and enjoyed a real bad, homecooked food and a warm shower.

Also I made a culinary discovery: the Feijoa fruit. For me it was the first time that I saw and ate this fruit. It's a common fruit in NZ that is used in smoothies, for jam and in desserts. You can't find it in Europe since it doesn't grow there and the ripe fruit is prone to bruising. Moreover the period of optimum ripeness is short. So they aren't exported much.

Besides we visited another Lord of the rings scenery, the Pitangurina Pinnacles which are the Dimholt Road from the third movie. The road is supposed to lead to the Path of the Dead. I couldn't find the entrance, though.

A short quote:

'Elrond: Anduril, Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil.

Aragorn: Sauron will not have forgotten the sword of Elendil. The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith.

Elrond: The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the Ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt Road.

Elrond: [pause; in Elvish] I give hope to men.

Aragorn: [in Elvish] I keep none for myself.'

More connection to the Lord of the Rings can be found in Wellington. Wellington was our last stop since we took the ferry from there to the South Island. In Wellington we visited the Weta Caves in which all creative development for the Lord of the Rings like weapons, make up, costumes and props were produced. The tour we did was interesting and one could feel how everything was finished with an astonishing attention to detail.

In general, we had a great time in Wellington. We visited a museum (TePapa museum), jumped a lot in a Trampoline Park, walked along the ocean front, went for a movie, drinks and food and enjoyed to be in a bigger city once again, especially since Wellington has much more spirit than Auckland.