Pelennor Fields

Pelennor Fields was the largest set for filming in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Real Farmer, Ian Hayman

Ian Hayman, the quirky farmer, led us through our next adventure on the shores of Lake Pukaki.

We saw film locations in this area, but this post is only about sights during our travels.

The clouds lifted enough to reveal a magnificent valley before us.

Our journey south along the Kaikoura coast brought us face to face with baby seals.

All three of us had fun trying to find a trail, then walking the loop, before making our way back to the hotel.

No Lord of the Rings movie tour would be complete without visiting the maker of the One Ring.

We took a ferry from the North Island to the South Island, and the weather changed in time for river kayaking.

We used our free afternoon to ride the Wellington Cable Car up the hill to the Botanic Garden and the Bolton Street Cemetery.

Meeting the calligrapher, cartographer, and artist Daniel Reeve was a highlight of our tour.