Holiday 3: Rivendell / Wellington

Waking up, I was eager to catch a glimpse of the stunning Mount Ruapehu, but the clouds had other plans, shrouding the mountain from view.

Undeterred, we quickly hit the road, making a small detour to shop for better shoes. However, our journey hit a little hiccup when we noticed the tire pressure was dropping significantly. At first, we refilled it, hoping that would solve the issue, but the problem persisted. In the next village, Bulls—a quirky little place with a distinct redneck vibe—we got it checked. Sure enough, there was a needle lodged in the tire. Thankfully, it was a quick fix and only cost us 30 dollars.

The rest of the drive was long but rewarding, with spontaneous stops whenever something caught our eye. The route was breathtaking, with rolling hills that looked straight out of Middle-earth—every turn seemed like it could reveal the Shire. One highlight was stopping at the Rivendell film location. Now a well-maintained park, it retains just a single arch from the original movie set. Nearby, we wandered through a small patch of rainforest, enjoying a refreshing walk after hours on the road.

Arriving in Wellington, we got in touch with Chris and Hannah, who had arrived earlier that day. We met up for a lovely evening of dinner (steak) and drinks, making plans to visit the Weta Cave together the next day.Read more