As soon as I checked into my hotel in Wellington, I went look for LofR tours. Although I normally enjoy exploring on my own, my time in Middle Earth is PRECIOUS! I borrowed a phone and called up Wellington Rover Tours to reserve the first tour available. Unfortunately the all day tour was all sold out, so I had to settle with a half day tour in the afternoon. The tour guide drove us to Mt. Victoria, where many scenes in The Fellowship of the Ring were shot.
Of course we stopped by Weta Cave, a.k.a. Wellywood. I personally would compare it to Pixar since this is where all the models, props, weapons, and digital effects were created for LofR, Avatar, District 9, Elysium, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, etc., etc. I think of Hollywood as more of a gather of actors and actresses. Weta Cave is a gather of visual artists much like Pixar.
It's free to visit Weta Cave. You get to take photos of all the models and watch a film especially created for Weta Cave visitors. They also offer a tour of their actual workshop that requires an admission fee. Photos aren't allowed in the workshop, which is understandable. Weta is a magical place. I envy the people who get to do what they love for living.
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