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Welcome to New Zealand, Home of Middle Earth.

As we all know, the real star of Peter Jackson's trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkien 's Lord of the Rings is the beautiful country of New Zealand (plus of course, a number of "human" actors in "supporting" roles)." Tourism New Zealand even issues postcards saying "Welcome to New Zealand, Home of Middle Earth" that are distributed to cinema goers watching the films around the world. New Zealand, being a relatively young country (from a geological perspective), has a stunning diverse set of landscapes that seem to fit the various locations of Middle Earth as described by Tolkien perfectly, ranging from the idyllic and rustic Hobbiton, the rugged Misty Mountains, the mighty River Anduin to the forbidding Mordor. I first read the book(s) when I was 15, and have always felt that they would someday make a great film. Ralph Bakshi 's animated version, released in 1978, was a disappointment, but my hope was finally realised when New
Recent posts

The "Action Figure" Version of the Lord of the Rings

Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas at Edoras. Legolas and Gimli at Pelennor Fields. Arwen and Frodo in the flight to the ford. Aragorn listening for clues of where the Orcs have taken Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli being confronted by the riders of Rohan (outside camera frame). Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli encounter Gandalf the White. Gandalf calls for Shadowfax. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli at the Orc funeral pyre. Frodo crosses the Nen Hithoel. Bonding session between Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. Legolas looking at the horizon. Legolas spotting some Wargs and firing arrows at them. Aragorn falling off a cliff. Aragorn is offered a bowl of soup ... by “Eowyn”   Arwen crossing the river at the Ford of Bruinen. Aragorn talking to Frodo at Amon Hen.

Day 11 (Day 22 April) - Queenstown to Auckland

Today is the "optional activities" day of the tour, where individual members of the "Fellowship" chose different activities to participate in. Jeanne, Nick, Linda, Lyn and myself went on the Dart River Safari , which involved a bus to Glenorchy, a 4WD bus through Paradise (where we saw some LOTR shooting locations), a bushwalk through an ancient beech forest, and jet-boating up the Dart River within the Mt. Aspiring National Park and Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area . We then took the 4.35pm Qantas flight QF4152 from Queenstown to Auckland. Thus ended our Journey to Middle Earth. Dart River Safari We stopped for a few minutes at Bennett's Bend. It was around 8.15am, and the skies were still pretty cloudy. [Tip: clicking on the image allows you to view it in Live Spaces and download it in high resolution (1280x800)] Another view of Bennett's Bend (sky clearing up). This is a picture of us arriving at Glenorchy.   We entered "