Tag 86-87 Our Crossing

Arriving in Picton, we spent a few enjoyable hours under palm trees and bathing in the Sound. Unlike our first visit, we spotted numerous stingrays in the harbor basin. In the evening, we boarded the ferry that would take us to Wellington. During the crossing over the unusually calm Tasman Sea, we nostalgically watched the South Island slowly shrinking in the distance. The next day was a dream come true for any fan of fantasy. We started the day with a visit to the Weta Cave, the forge of effects for The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and much more, and playground for all New Zealand nerds, following the motto 'be creative and make cool things.' Alongside many cool stories and anecdotes, we saw many props and how they were brought to life. Afterwards, we hiked through Queen Victoria Park and hid under the root that had once offered the hobbits shelter from the Black Rider (unfortunately, the rest of the tree was already gone). Then, we continued our journey and could see the mountains of the South Island disappear in the sunset one last time at the southernmost point of the North Island. *Sniff*