New Zealand – Weta

Yet another early start! Today we had a visit booked at the Weta Studio Tours. We went out early to find parking near the Weta Cave (studio shop) and so we could get breakfast.
The tour was fantastic, we had picked the combo tour which incorporates the workshops where The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit (and a various other films) where exhibition props are made. Again I don’t want to spoil anyone elses enjoyment if they visit so I’ll just say it was impressive.

It also included the Thunderbirds sets and props which was an amazing case of up-cycling. I think because we had booked the first tour of the day we had a private tour guide to ourselves for the Thunderbird’s section. Lee was in his element being a film buff and an editor (in waiting). The guide Reece and Lee were clearly on the same wavelength…I just marvelled at the creativity.

After the tour and bankrupting ourselves in the shop we went to look at the Roxy Theater in Miramar (a district of Wellington). Outside is a statue of Gandalf.

The interior of the theater is worth a look too in its Art Deco grandeur.
The guide at the workshop had recommended a display of the studios work as part of an exhibition at Wellington’s Te Papa museum so we went.
The exhibition ‘Gallipoli, The Scale Of Our War’ was very interesting, with enormous Weta made props, giant soldiers (nearly 2.5 times the size of average person) and nurses so detailed it was amazing.

After this and a short wander to Cuba Street, which is full of cafés and arty shops, we decided to go the the cinema and rest our feet for once. We went into the Embassy Theater (which was the cinema) and were awed by the stunning art deco interior, even the toilets were all stain glass windows, polished wood and black and white tiles etc.

South Island tomorrow…..