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Day 5 was another long day spent on the bus. We pass through Mackenzie Country, a flat plain covered in Tussock Grass that was the perfect choice for the Canterbury plains in the movie where the Battle of Pelennor Fields took place. We stopped at Lake Takepo, with its magnificent cobalt blue waters, for lunch where we met another Filipina working at the restaurant. Her manager was also a Pinoy. Pinoys are really conquering the world!

Lake Pukaki, a glacial lake, so cold that it supports no marine life, was our next stop. From there, we had a good view of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s and the Southern Hemisphere highest mountain. That day she chose to hide her head in the clouds though. I got to dip my feet into the cold lake, not that I was trying to check out the temperature of the waters but I lost my footing while maneuvering my way down the rocky slopes to the lake’s edge for pictures of scenery to die for. I was forced into slippers for the remainder of day which was a good thing because I was prepared to wade in the Ford of Bruinen located in Arrowtown. One can recall the Nazgul had chased Arwen across this same river and I felt that at any moment one would show up just as I was reaching the opposite shore which technically put me in Rivendell (see photo on the right).

We also passed by Kawarau River which is the site of the world’s first commercial bungee jump. Little did we know it was also the site for the Argonath or the Pillars of the Kings. Although the pillars were computer-generated for the movie, this scene is easily recognizable.

As we headed down south, the burst of colors got more intense. By now the trees were yellow, orange and red. Our final leg would was the skiing resort town of Queenstown (similar to Aspen, Colorado or Monte Carlo). We had visited several rose gardens in New Zealand but the ones here were spectacular, with some roses the size of a salad plate and the array of colors and perfume was indescribable.

We all fell in love with Queenstown and were thrilled to have had the opportunity to spend two days here with lots of free time to roam on our own.

Day six was reserved especially for the Dart River Safari. The tour allowed us to view the sites for Isengard, Saruman’s stronghold (see photo top right), and Amon Hen, the place where Boromir was killed (photo bottom right). We also got to walk through the Woods of Lothlorien before we were treated to a jetboat ride that did 360 degree spins while we sped upstream over the shallow, rocky, river beds of the Dart River. The snow-capped Mt. Earnslaw in the background was used to portray part of the Misty Mountains.

We capped the day with dinner at the Skyline Restaurant (not our GMA caterer) accessible via a Gondola ride up to Bob’s peak 790m above sea level and providing breathtaking views of Queenstown.

Our last tour day brought us to Deer Park Heights which was the location for more LOTR scenes, mostly for the Return of the King. We stopped by the area where they filmed Gandalf riding off to Minas Tirith on the West Road to Gondor. My brother and I took some photos at exact place where Legolas fired his first arrows, while my dad and I hung off the cliff where Aragorn was dragged over. But the most amazing location was saved for last, the place where Rohirrim Refugees were led to while fleeing Edoras. Our guide brought along a photo from the movie, and minus the snow on the mountains and the refugees it was exactly as we saw it. (see left photo)

The animals at the deer park are trained to come when they hear the park van drive up. We got to feed not only the deer but also three bison. It was a unique experience having this humungous creature eat out of the palm of your hand.

We flew back to Auckland that same day and got ready for our flight back home. Though in his works Tolkien was describing his old England one can’t help but wonder if he had ever been to New Zealand. Throughout this entire trip I found myself in Middle-earth and began to believe as if this legend was true after all.

After slightly over a week of travel it was the end of my journey. It seemed all too short but reality beckoned, so I flew into the day, jetlag, poorer in the pocket but fulfilled knowing that I have taken the journey of journeys.

Now that I am back, I long for a bit of the shire as it would be a perfect place to live, far away from politics and deadlines.

 
 

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