Left the south island and arrived in Wellington today. Caught the bus at 9am from Nelson to Picton, then the Interislander ferry at 1.30pm from Picton to Wellington. Watched the onboard film which was Bridgit Jones: The Edge of Reason. I hadn't seen it before, although I'd read the book (but couldn't remember much from it except that she ended up in a Thai prision). It was a really funny film, but also very cringeworthy. Was staying at the YHA in Wellington,...

Saturday 23 - Today was my Rover Ring Tour (ie lotr tour). Had done some lotr stuff yesterday, so some of it was repeated. Again started off by going to Mt Victoria (3rd time I've been there now). But this guide, called Dan actually knew where the exact locations were. So first he showed where Frodo actually said 'get off the road' and then the spot where the black rider was. We then went and had a look at where the studios were where a lot of the stuff...

Thursday 21st - met up with some more relatives today - Jean Taylor who is Audrey's step daughter. Her partner John came to pick me up and drove me to their house in Porirua, which is about a 15 minute drive from Wellington. Met Jean and her daughter Stef, who is just about to drop, and Stef's son Nic. Chatted for a while over tea and cakes, and then went with Jean and Nic to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. It was a really nice day and the sanctuary is beautiful. ...

On Tuesday I had booked up to do a couple of trips and the one I had arranged for today was the Cape Palliser and LOTR locations trip (you also went to see a seal colony, go to a wine yard, and see lots of ace scenery in quite a few different areas) - a full day with a pick up in the centre at 8.30am - so I had to get up really early! However I arrived at the pickup point and waited and waited and wasn't picked up. Apparently the visitor's centre hadn't properl...

Left Napier at 9.15am and got on the Intercity bus to Wellington, arriving about 3pm. The weather was awful - grey and raining, so the scenery didn't seem that great, so had a kip on the bus. Am staying in the Worldwide Backpackers, 291 The Terrace, which is quite close to the centre of Wellington. Was given a dorm room with 5 other people, 3 blokes and 2 girls. The room absolutely stank. It was gross and also the curtains which were right by my bed had mil...