Will Joy

Day 10 - Rotorua to Onewhero (last full day) HOBBITON DAY After a coffee by the lake I was staying at, I jumped in the car and sped straight for Hobbiton. In not wanting to miss anything, I arrived an hour early. Fortunately they offered me an earlier tour than my booking. It was actually emotional. The level of detail they've put into the whole place is just astounding. Tours like this rarely fully transport you, but I really did have to pinch myself at thinking I was actually in Middle Earth. Whilst Hobbiton from LOTR was destroyed after filming, this version that they built for the hobbit was designed to stay up, and it's so well looked after. Following a tour around the village, and into one of the hobbit houses, it was straight on to The Green Dragon for a very delicious Stout (not normally my drink of choice, but I wanted an appropriate sense memory!) Not content with seeing all this magic, I wanted to make one final middle earth stop, and track down Weathertop. The sat nav took me down about 20 miles of the sketchiest gravel road I've ever been down (and nearly abandoned!) I soldiered on, and wow! It was worth it, such a beautiful sight, made all the more special with the tricky journey. I stopped by a beach on the way to my Airbnb, to take in the NZ coastline one last time. The Airbnb was actually in the middle of nowhere. 10 miles down a road to nowhere in fact (and very almost an anagram of nowhere, called Onewhero) It was SILENT! Nothing but birds and insects on the air. I sat and had a very chilled evening watching Avatar 2, preparing for the long journey home tomorrow. Can't wait to get home to Jason, but very sad to leave this special country!

Day 9 - Tuaranga Taupo to Rotorua After a chilled morning in my barrel I headed on the road round lake Taupo, stopping in Taupo for some breakfast by the lake. First stop on the way up to rotorua was Huka falls, not the steepest waterfall of the trip, but no less impressive by the volume of water flowing through it. From here I headed to the buried village of Te Wairoa, much of it preserved by the volcanic mud that fell on it during an eruption in the 1800s. Went for a wander around Rotorua, which i was very excited about, but was actually a little disappointing, but I imagine it's not the place to be in the off season on a Sunday afternoon. The smell of sulphur everywhere is quite overwhelming, and does make one think of rotten eggs... Fortunately the evening picked up the pace and excitement with an evening visit and hangi (ceremonial Maori meal) at Mitae Maori Village. It was a fascinating evening of food and culture, seeing traditional performances and chants, seeing thr ancestral village and eating incredible traditionally prepared food. Oh, and more glow worms!! Finished the evening sat looking over the lake from my Airbnb, and pretending that I couldn't smell the eggs.

Day 8 - Raetihi to Tuaranga Taupo Woke up to a lovely view out of my little hillside hut. After a gentle morning I very slowly edged my car down the steep driveway (not wanting to repeat the events of the previous evening.) I stopped for breakfast in a cute cafe in Okahune, then drove up the mountain road to check out a couple more filming locations for LOTR. I found gollums pool! I tried to make it up Mount Doom (an active volcano called Mount Ngauruhoe) to get some Mordor photos, and to throw a Red Scrunchie in, but the weather wouldn't have it. STRONG winds and heavy rain held me back. Finally having been defeated by the weather, I made my way back down and found some thermal pools. It's so strange! You hear weird bubbling and hissing everywhere as you walk around. I went into the centre and decided to book a private pool for 20 minutes to get the full experience. It was SENSATIONAL! And so hot!!! I kept my head above water as instructed, and enjoyed the feel of the cool rain gently falling. No brain eating amoeba for me! After this I figured I'd accept the day as a bit of a washout and went straight to this evening's shelter, which was a large barrel in a back garden just on the edge of Lake Taupo. Enjoyed a relaxed evening for a change, and prepared for Rotorua tomorrow.

Day 7 - Wellington to Raehiti Well, I slept like a log! Had a quick breakfast at a lovely café, and went straight to the NZ Museum in Wellington. A fascinating experience exploring wildlife, geology, culture, and a fascinating exhibit about Gallipoli, featuring installations by the Weta workshop. Their colossal squid was very impressive (I think about 12 foot long!) After pottering around there for the morning, I finally left the city for the mountains again, and headed straight for Rivendell!!! So cool to see the area in real life. Then motored on to a nature reserve in Pūkaha. They had loads of native birds and reptiles, all kept in natural habitats in the middle of a natural reserve. And I saw a Kiwi!!!!!!!! Very odd, but strangely cute creature. After this I headed on to my next accommodation stop in Raehiti, a small hut in the middle of a field. With the long drive, I ended up not arriving till about 8:30 (also having picked up a McDonald's on the way...) The hosts had advised any nervous drivers not to drive up their hilly driveway, so straight up I went... and down I slipped. Long story short, I ended up wedged in a ditch, unable to go up or down. The lovely landlord came out and pulled me up in the end after I repeatedly told him that I was a fairly experienced and competent driver. Finally got settled into my tiny hut and let the rain and wind outside send me off to sleep.

Day 6 - Wellington (no travelling!) After zero sleep, I got back in the car, off the ferry, and realised I had no idea where I was going! I pointed the car south, drove through the city and finally found a spot to stop, get my bearings, and greet the sunrise. It was exceedingly windy on the coast road. Sunrise done I decided to find a breakfast place, and found a cute little option that was up by the filming location for the hobbit hidey-hole and Nazgul pursuit. Some playing around with recreating photos later and I decided to head over to the area of the Weta workshop, where I'd booked a guided tour of their design studio. I found the most amazing place nearby called Scorching Beach, so I parked the car and stopped for a coffee in the sunshine alongside the peaceful beach before walking up to Weta for my tour. To say Weta was incredible is an understatement. The company, their attitudes and philosophy are sensational in every measure. I got to play with masks, swords and helmets galore!!! Walked back to the car, and stopped for some time on the peaceful beach (dipping in my sore feet for some relief), then went for a little drive around the coast road before heading to my lodging for the night (a disappointingly regular hotel room) and finding some nice food before finally collapsing in bed to sleep off an insane 48 hours of non stop movement.

Day 5 - Hokitika to Picton (bye bye South Island) As soon as I got up, I got over the fact that I won't be sleeping tonight. That said, I had a lovely night sleep last night in an extremely comfy room that some flowers had vomited all over. Seriously, they were everywhere. Landlady was lovely though, and we had a nice chat on my way out, and she gave me some [caviar limes?] off her tree to try, though said I should leave them a couple days before digging in. Stay tuned! Headed into Hokitika Town for a coffee and a wander before heading up to the gorge, which is meant to have blue waters. I stopped at a place called Blue Pools in Haast Pass yesterday, but they weren't blue because of the heavy rain, so my hopes were not high. But the sun was out, the air was clear, and by god the waters were ACTUALLY BLUE!! Incredible sight. Something to do with rock flour. Sure it tastes dreadful. Afterwards I headed up the coast for my next stop called Shantytown. A replica pioneer village of sorts. All good fun, and I got to try my hand at panning for gold which was fun! The next stop along the coast was Punakaiki. Here they had these amazing stone columns carved out of the coast by the sea, but it looks like a stack of pancakes (so named pancake rocks... also sounds a little bit like punakaika. Never asked about that one...) There was also a fun museum/interactive experience there which was very new and featured some very cool immersive exhibits about all things West Coast. A few more stops for wanders along the way (including at foulwind cape, because I'm a child). At about 5pm I decided to make the break to get over to Picton on the North East side, with the idea of getting some dinner on the way. There was nowhere... in 4 hours. Some really terrifying roads in the pitch black as well. Shortly after followed by mile upon mile of vineyards as I went through Malborough. I arrived in Picton at 9:30. There was nothing to do, and nothing to eat, so I finished all my car snacks and went for a few walks. Finally boarded the ferry bang on 2:30am (I checked in at 12:30!!!!) and bid a final farewell to the South Island. Tomorrow there shall be less moving. Just Wellington! Beef?

Day 4 - Lake Hãwae to Hokitika (Haast Pass) Mostly wet today (again!) Still don't care, kind of feels right for the landscape. Started off by seeing the campground i arrived at last night, and after realising they didn't do coffee, it was straight off to Lake Wanaka. Apparently they have a famous tree in the lake. It was very pretty, and I could have sworn I saw a penguin sitting in it. Back then past Lake Hãwae to brave the Haast pass, a stunning journey down through the mountains and ravines toward the coast. Plenty of little stops on the way offered waterfalls galore, and a gorgeous expansive river where I built my own little cairn (people near me built one about 6 foot tall, but there were 6 of them, so I'm pretty sure I won!) After this the rain became pretty heavy, so I motored on along the coast. Whilst driving through Whateroa, they thought it might be fun to sound all their emergency warning sirens. No idea what it was for, so I journeyed on, fearful of potential rockslides and tsunamis. I arrived safely in a very sleepy Hokitika (tell me what's wrong....) where I managed to find a singular eatery still serving a basic menu, so I made do with a beige basket of fried goodness, and thought I might check up on what the deal was with the ferries over to the North Island. This is when I panicked, and realised that the only option was a 2:30am departure after day 5. Oh well, funny story I guess! Managed to finish the day with yet another glowworm in a Dell (is she touring again?) It was super dark and creepy, but well worth it (even despite annoying tourists with flashlights!) Better get some rest before day 5, it's gonna be a long one!!!

Day 3 Te Anau - Milford Sound - Lake Hãwae After a quick breakfast I motored on towards Milford Sound. It's one road the entire way from Te Anau, and there aren't even any roads branching off it, but it took nearly 2 hours to get there. The drive was like something out of a film (probably Lord of The Rings). There was non stop mountains, sheer cliffs, waterfalls, dense forests, and a tunnel through the mountain like something straight out of a horror film. Miford sound was immense. Enormous sheer rock faces shooting right out of the sea. I was so glad to have booked a 2 hour cruise around it. The captain sailed us right into a waterfall, so I spent the rest of the day very damp, but no less buoyed by the experience. The drive to Lake Hãwea took me back past Te Anau and Queenstown, then on a steep mountain track up into the hills (offering more great views!). I arrived at my glamping tent after dark, and found the only restaurant in the area, which fortunately did the most excellent locally sourced venison.

New Zealand Day 2 Queenstown to Te Anau Had a great breakfast (chorizo cassoulet!!!), then after a bit more walking around Queenstown I went to pick up my car. Got straight on the road down to Te Anau, and the scenery just never stopped!! Lakes, mountains, plains. Every second more beautiful than the last. Arriving in Te Anau, I found my camper van Airbnb, and headed over to my Glowworm Caves excursion (after a bite to eat in a cute little cafe). After a ride across Te Anau lake we got to the caves. I had to do some sort of awkward crab walk/squat to get inside, but what an astounding experience (no photos allowed...) The little clusters of light all around the cave walls almost looked glued on. We got on a boat and sailed down a river in the pitch black looking at all the beautiful lights. Sailing back on a clear night left some opportunity for stargazing in an unpolluted night sky.

Holiday Time!!! Great day yesterday of bidding a fond farewell to Melbourne, and flying across the ditch to New Zealand. Arrived in Queenstown after an incredible flight over the mountains. Spent the evening walking along the lake, then stopped at a food truck for a lakeside pad thai. Looking forward to a great adventure in this amazing country.

With so many apologies to my Aussie friends, I love you all dearly, and am very aware that this is a beloved (and very tasty!!!!) treat. I, however, am a child, clearly with nothing better to do, and this amused me faaaaaar too much

Lovely evening down by the Yarra river, toasting the end of an excellent week of rehearsals with this phenomenal team. Feeling exceptionally lucky and thankful to be here! #dreamteam