I-heart-NZ

New Zealand Vital Stats

Human Population: 3,6 million
Number of Sheep: 49,5 million
Number of Lord of the Rings movie filming locations: 150
Number of LOTR locations visited/sighted by M&M: 5
Most adored citizen (or so it seems): Peter Jackson (please pronounce 'Peta Jaeksen')

The time for us has come to continue on to Australia after our brief NZ stop over. If I were to sum up this visit in one sentence, it would be "I'll be back!" - it's simply magnificent here: gorgeous landscapes of all kinds, lots of fun things to do and very very friendly Kiwis (the people, not the birds, those seem to have been in hiding ever since we arrived.) We're sad to be leaving so soon, but also very excited about going to Sydney and seeing Bjoern & Agnes later today. Once we get to their house I hope to get the chance to upload some photos, but for now I'll add some links below to some of the NZ treats we have been exposed to.

Day 1 - visit to Hobbiton
Day 2 - driving/hiking the Volcanic Loop (seeing "Mt. Doom", "Slopes of Mordor", "Ilthien", "Meads Wall")
Day 3 - visit to the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua (ladies, you have to try this!) + an (yet another) unsuccesful attempt at Kiwi sighting


-- the Nissan Pulsar, our fine NZ companion.

-- first sighting of Mt. Doom!

-- Meads Wall, Mt. Doom in the background

-- Your average Mordor landscape

-- Just scenic :)

-- Looking for Elves (close to where Camp Ithilien was filmed)