Day 21: Wellington
We were so bummed out to wake up to a thick fog in the morning. Kicking ourselves for not driving the Queen Charlotte Drive the night before, we headed out toward the ferry. Just then, the clouds parted and we were treated to the most spectacular sunrise views of the Queen Charlotte Sound.
The clouds parting on Queen Charlotte Sound
Stunning views on the Queen Charlotte Drive
Sailboats on Queen Charlotte Sound
We got to the Interislander Ferry Terminal punctually at 8AM, and had breakfast in the RV while we waited for the green light to drive onto the boat.
Waiting to drive onto the Interislander Ferry
Once we boarded the ferry, Lindsay parked us in a pair of window-front seats. Igor went out on deck to take pictures during the 3.5-hour cruise, but Lindsay wanted to protect the seats so she stayed and typed up blog entries (OK, and took a nap).
Front-row seats – perfect for pictures…and napping
Cruising the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry
Wellington coming into view – Kia Ora North Island!
We came into Wellington just afternoon and found a parking lot in Te Aro neighborhood in central Wellington that allows self-contained vehicles to camp overnight. Igor expertly parked the RV into a private corner (he and the RV are “becoming one”), and we took off on foot to explore the city.
City camping in Wellington
Walking along the harbor in Wellington
Local kids jumping into the water, while we enjoy Wellington by foot
After a 3 hour walk from Wellington Central to the residential Miramar neighborhood, we reached our destination: the WETA CAVE – our very first Lord of the Rings-themed activity! For those who don’t know, Weta Workshop is the special-effects company that produced all the sets, costumes, props and make-up for The Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit Trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other fantastical films). Unfortunately, no photos are allowed during the tour as the copyrights for all the props/costumes/etc. are still owned by the movie studios. But the replicas of the trolls (from The Hobbit) outside the entrance were very fun to play with!
Trolls guarding the entrance to the WETA Caves
Playing with trolls!
We caught the local bus back to the downtown area after the tour, and had a surprisingly pleasant evening in our parking lot.
Catching the local bus as night falls in Wellington