Home » New Zealand » Christchurch, Arthur's Pass, The glaciers, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, Tongariro National Park, Bay of Islands, Auckland

South Pacific - part II

Christchurch, Arthur's Pass, The glaciers, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, Tongariro National Park, Bay of Islands, Auckland

Hector Yague
2005-10-09 15:46:17

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wonder this is New Zealand's acknowledged stronghold for the nightlife and bar scene ahead of Auckland, a much larger city and the country's economical engine.

We only spent one day in Wellington because we only had one week left for the entire north island. However, we met a very friendly and extroverted girl called Marie (from Denmark) and the three of us hit downtown for some pool games and some beers.

The day after, waking up under the always amusing hangover-derived effect of sorehead, we packed up our stuff and drove few hundred kms to the very center of the island into the Tongariro National Park. As we drove out of Wellington, we immediately took notice of the different landscape characteristics between the two islands: where the south island is alpine and wild, the north one is slightly hilly, green and tamed.

Tongariro National Park

...And on the 21st of November 2004 I, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, led the Fellowship of the Ring into the dark and sinister land of Mordor... well, not quite; but Felix and I did arrive to the Tongariro National Park, where Peter Jackson shot Mordor outdoors scenes for his 2001-2003 blockbuster trilogy The Lords of the Rings.

This National Park is a volcanic area with a handful of volcanoes scattered about. The fields in between are dusty, rocky and devoid of any vegetation whatsoever other than a dry bush here and there. Pretty gloomy place to be honest.

Felix and I trekked for hours once again to reach the plateau summit for some kick ass moon-like views.

Felix and I, founding members of the LotR freaks club, would try to figure out what scene had been shot at what place and from what angle. In fact, we had rented The Two Towers (LotR episode 2) the night before and watched it at the guesthouse TV room. I reckon we had a ball walking the set where ...