New Year's Eve in Wellington, New Zealand

December 31, 2017
For us, the day started like any other. We began with a delicious breakfast and then made our way to the "Wellington Zoo." That meant crossing the entire city. When we reached the zoo, we received a small park map and the animal fun began. Right at the first enclosure, we were shown that this zoo has more to offer than bored animals. An otter family couldn't get enough of exploring the enclosure. They ran from A to B, played with stones, climbed through a waterfall, and swam together in the water. We could have spent half the day just watching them. The next highlight of our visit was the "Kiwi House." As you may know, these funny flightless birds have captivated us. First, we caught sight of a little orphan. The little kiwi had lost a foot in a trap and has been living on one leg in the Wellington Zoo ever since. We felt so sorry for him - he kept trying to walk. But with only one leg, that was not possible. Instead, he kept hopping around to turn or move. It was hard for us to leave the little kiwi alone. But besides our one-legged friend, we could also watch another kiwi looking for food. It's so funny how these animals move their round bodies when they walk. :)

The enclosures in the Kiwi House are completely open, only a waist-high fence separates visitors from the birds. But the behavior of some visitors was hard to believe. Kiwis are animals that are very sensitive to noise and light. When you see families with flashlights walking through the nocturnal house and talking loudly, we can only shake our heads.

Next, we visited the Keas. These birds are real troublemakers. Their caretaker was cleaning the enclosure - and the Keas immediately got in the way. Everything in their outdoor enclosure is interesting to the green mountain parrots: the rake, the cardboard box, the tree bark, and anything else lying around. The Kea can also be found in New Zealand's wildlife and is notorious for pecking at cars. Whether it's antennas or weatherstripping, nothing is spared.

Another special feature of this zoo is the medical department. The examination rooms are almost completely glassed in, so you could watch the veterinarians at work. But we decided not to and instead visited the next animals.

After marveling at the lions and tigers, we came to another highlight. We went to a slightly different petting zoo with the theme "Australia." We were greeted by a grumpy emu. But what was hopping over the sidewalk? Could it be a kangaroo? Suddenly it was right next to us. At the beginning, we were a bit confused, but when a woman approached it and stroked it, our inhibitions disappeared as well. We had no experience with kangaroos - but it was definitely not bothered by the petting. It continued to graze diligently at the roadside and even posed for the occasional photo. What an experience! :) After that, we made a stop at a giraffe, which we could have touched if we wanted to - and of course, a visit to the meerkats and their offspring was a must - so cute! Finally, we visited the kiwis again. After waiting for 5 minutes, we heard rustling and a kiwi was exploring its enclosure. This time he even came up to the fence and was close to us. We left the zoo super happy and made our way home.

By 6:00 p.m., we were back at our Airbnb accommodation and treated ourselves to a snack. In the evening, we got ready again because we were heading to Wellington City. In New Zealand, fireworks are not sold for New Year's, so we wanted to go to the harbor, where the city's official fireworks display was taking place. At around 9:45 p.m., we got back in the car and drove to our tried-and-true parking garage. The closer we got to the official event, the more crowded it became. We found a nice spot in front of the stage and listened to the musicians - they covered various pop hits along with British classics. It was very enjoyable to listen to, as the singers were accompanied by an orchestra.

On this evening, the city lived up to its nickname "Windy Welly" again, as there was quite a bit of wind. We enjoyed the last hours with Australian lemonade and pistachios. Very classically, the song "Final Countdown" started and the fireworks began right at midnight.

January 1, 2018
Happy New Year from New Zealand!

We have to point out at this point that the atmosphere was great the entire time. There were no signs of aggression or noticeable drunk people. Everyone celebrated together peacefully. The few crazies who almost jumped naked into the harbor were cheered on loudly. After the beautiful fireworks, "We are the Champions" was played and that was it ... We were a bit surprised when the band started dismantling at around 12:15 a.m. and the visitors left the square. We've been to Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate for New Year's Eve - that's when the real party starts! But in New Zealand, New Year's is celebrated a bit differently. It starts relatively early, and after 1:00 a.m., almost no one is out on the streets. So we watched the crowds for a while longer, saw them head home, and then started moving as well. We strolled along the harbor promenade up and down, then drove home at around 1:30 a.m. We hadn't had such a relaxed New Year's celebration before. :)

The morning started quite relaxed at around 10:00 a.m. Our host Kriz greeted us warmly and told us that she would be away until tomorrow evening. We had the place to ourselves! We made breakfast and planned the day. At 12:00 p.m., it was finally time in Germany, and we celebrated the new year with family and friends again. Then we set off by car towards the city center. Our first stop was at the "Wellington Hill Sign." The landmark may not be comparable to the "Hollywood Sign" in Los Angeles, but it was enough for a few snapshots. The next stop will make the hearts of "Lord of the Rings" fans among you beat faster. We paid a visit to the "Weta Studios" in Wellington. These film studios are responsible for costumes and special effects - including for "Lord of the Rings," "Avatar," and "District 9." On-site, you can visit a kind of museum for free. There, you can see original armor and figures from the movies. You can also book various tours through the production halls. We opted for the free film that tells the story of Weta's creation and development. It was very interesting, and we learned that even the director of "Lord of the Rings," Peter Jackson, is a founding member. For big fans, there are still various figurines, masks, and swords available for purchase. After visiting the studios, it was time to visit another filming location of "Lord of the Rings." On Mount Victoria, a little south of Wellington's city center, the filming of the trilogy began in 1999. We visited the spot where the four hobbits hid under the tree roots from the Nazgul. The location itself is only roughly signposted. But luckily for us, there was a "Lord of the Rings tour group" in front of us. So we could see exactly where the scene was shot. Honestly, without this group, we might have just walked past it. After that, we went to our last destination for the day. When we arrived at the summit of Mount Victoria, we had a wonderful view of the capital. We had a great view of the airport and the arriving planes, the harbor with its large ships, and the entire skyline. Whether you climb the mountain on foot or drive up by car - we can recommend it to every visitor to make this trip. After enjoying the 360-degree view, it was time to drive back to Johnsonville. There, we ended the first day of the new year in a cozy way. Tomorrow, we're moving to a new Airbnb accommodation.