Pelorus Bridge

Hello my friends,

I'm writing to you after another day on set and reporting on my wonderful time at the Pelorus Bridge Reserve. The reason I decided to come here in the first place is because this is one of the locations where The Hobbit was filmed. Luckily for me, there is also a wonderful DOC campsite here, which also has hot showers and a kitchen.

On the way here I made a quick stop in Havlock and took a closer look at the small town. Let me say that the ice cream I treated myself to there was the cheapest I've had so far, but I must also admit that it wasn't particularly tasty. Well, that's the way it is with trying ice cream around the world.

Then we went to the campsite and I was actually the only one there. I was particularly happy about that because it meant I could chill out in the sun on my own and enjoy the peace and quiet of this place.

Since the weather was supposed to be nice for the next few days and I didn't have any other special plans, I took advantage of the time and did almost nothing else for 3 days except chilling and reading in the sun. The only exception was a hike through the reserve to a wonderful waterfall. On this hike, however, my body was somehow not quite on my side, because after the first 20 minutes I noticed that running was quite difficult and I had to take several breaks to even get to the small viewing point. During my breaks and also during my actual run, I was accompanied by a few fantails more than usual.

Super funny and somewhat worrying fun fact: Many hiking trails have warnings about the trail and its condition. The funny thing is that these signs are sometimes (or maybe most of the time) only put up on one side and hikers sometimes end up walking through dangerous terrain without knowing it.

At the end of my path there was a really beautiful waterfall in the middle of the jungle and it was a real place of peace and quiet. I stopped here and just enjoyed the sound of the water.

The return route of the track ran along the river for most of the time and was therefore also picturesque. Right next to the campsite is the location where a scene from The Hobbit was filmed, where the dwarves and Bilbo leave the barrels that they have carried through the water from the Wood Elf kingdom. Here they all climb out of the barrels and meet the fisherman and trader Bard, who lets them onto his boat and takes them to the lake town.

This place is not only beautiful, but it is also the perfect spot to take a short but cool bath. After I was a bit sweaty from my little hike, I decided to go for a swim and then take a nice hot shower. And let me tell you guys: It was really, really cold! But it was also just great to feel so alive and fulfilled and happy. Just great to be alive.

After a few days in this great, quiet place, I headed towards Picton and the ferry. When I was at the harbour a few days earlier, I also found a really interesting little shop that sells fresh mussels and also prepared mussels. But since the shop is only open on certain days, I headed there on those exact days and ate some super delicious fried mussels. Yummie!

I'll tell you where I went after that in the next post. Until then, hugs to you all!

Your Britta