There And Back Again

ARRIVAL DAY  1:  Monday 9th October
Our venue ~The Spencer on Byron Hotel.
At around 6 p.m. this evening we gather informally in the foyer to meet for the first time as the ‘October Fellowship’  and have a meal
together (cost not included).  Time for questions and last minute
instructions in preparation for our early start tomorrow.
* The Spencer on Byron Hotel. Contact Ph:64 9-9166111. ( Room &
Breakfast.)

DAY 2 :  Tuesday 10th October.     Hobbiton !
    Be ready to depart at 8.00 a.m. ~ Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton.
We take a 2 hour drive south of Auckland, through rolling farmland and small towns.  Hobbiton is situated on a glorious working sheep farm . It’s Springtime, so there are lambs galore ! You will recognise the Shire immediately !  It’s a great start to our
tour of Middle-earth,  so let it enchant you !  We’ll take your photo beneath the Party Tree and at Bag End and ~  why not have a dance on the  party field !!
We spend about an hour and a half  enjoying Hobbiton and then have a light lunch at “The Shire’s Rest”, there at the farm.
    In Rotorua, later this afternoon, we’ll show you some geothermal
activity and suggest optional activities ~ such as riding the Zorb,
having a relaxing soak in hot mineral Polynesian Spa Pools and /or in
the evening a chance to experience a traditional Maori concert and meal
( Hangi ) at Tamaki Village.
*The Sudima Hotel, Rotorua . Ph:64 7 348 1174 (Breakfast included.)

DAY 3 : Wednesday 11th October.
    From Rotorua to Ohakune, via the Wai-o-tapu Mud Pools, the Huka Falls and  Lake Taupo, where we stop for ‘Second Breakfast’  ~  and again briefly to check out ‘floating rocks’  on our way to  Mt. Ruapehu and the sites of Mordor, Emyn Muil and Mt Doom.  You will see the spot where Sam and Frodo were lost amid volcanic lava flows and where they first met Gollum.
( Weather conditions on the mountain occasionally restrict us, but
hopefully ‘not this day’ ! )
    Later we’ll visit Gollum’s fishing pool, where Andy Serkis was careful
not to plunge over the waterfall !
Overnight – The Powderhorn Chateau,  Ph:64 6 385 8888  ~ where the
Stars stayed.  (Did you request a Star’s room?)  (Breakfast included.)
DAY 4 : Thursday 12th October.
Ohakune to Wellington today, with:
* a peep at the River Anduin.
* a visit to the site where the Elves are leaving Rivendell for the
West  and Arwen has her vision of Aragorn and their son.
*the  Black Rider’s Ranch  ~  meet him in person and enjoy his
hospitality. He trained the horses, taught the actors to ride and also
had several key roles in the trilogy.
Then, on to Wellington City.
Tonight we suggest dining at “The Green Parrot”- a favourite of Viggo’s.
Tonight and tomorrow night in Wellington.
* The Duxton Hotel. Ph:  64 4 4733900 (Breakfast included.)

DAY 5 :  Friday 13th October.
Our day begins with a special guest joining us at breakfast-  Daniel
Reeve, Calligrapher / Cartographer. You’ll see samples of his exquisite
work ~ and some are for sale. ( Ever had an invitation to a 111th
Birthday Party ? )
    Then it’s time to head to “ Wellywood “ and tour past Stone Street
Studios, P.J.’s new Park Road Studios, Weta Workshop  (fingers crossed that Richard Taylor might be available) and take a break at the
Chocolate Fish Cafe for Second Breakfast – a favourite Hobbit eating
place. On our way back into the city, we’ll check out the  ”Get off the
road!” site on Mt Victoria.
    From there we head to the wonderfulTe Papa Museum ( ‘We likes it don’t we Preciousss’ ) and the rest of the day is yours to explore Wellington.
If you need aqua shoes for tomorrow’s adventure, they are approx, $5 pair from ‘The Warehouse’ – the big red building opposite Te Papa Museum.
Dinner tonight ?  Perhaps “Strawberry Fare” – just up from the Embassy
Theatre where the ROTK Premiere was held.   ( We’ll tell you about it !)
* The Duxton Hotel.  Ph: 64 4 4733900 (Breakfast included.)

DAY 6 :  Saturday 14th October.
Today we visit the Elven Cloak factory  to see how the cloaks and other items are made ~ with opportunities for purchasing and photographs.
    Next it’s over the hills  to Featherston, to the tranquil Leaving
Lothlorien  site  ~ and also where Smeagol strangled Deagol  !!
Along the way we’ll check out Helms Deep and visit the Gardens of
Isengard and  also Rivendell.
    We arrive back in the city at around 4 p.m. and head for the Airport
and our 5 p.m. flight to Christchurch ( AirNZ Flight 479 ~  45 minutes duration).

~ Our North Island adventure concludes. ~

* The Copthorne Central Hotel tonight. Ph: 03 -379-5880 (Breakfast
included.)
  We have a guest joining us at dinner tonight in Christchurch.
  Brett Beattie,  Gimli’s double and stunt man.  He will have
photographs to show  you and stories to tell.  Brett is a new
‘addition’ to our tour  and we know you will really enjoy meeting him.

Our South Island adventure begins…

DAY 7:  Sunday 15th October ~ Edoras !
    Nice and early, 7-30 a.m. we’ll head for the magnificence that is
Edoras,  stopping along the way for you to purchase a picnic lunch to
enjoy in this remote area.   We recommend bringing shorts to change
into today and sturdy footwear. We have three streams to cross on our way to the summit ~  a hand towel, plus aqua shoes or footwear that will grip on river stones, will be useful !
    Later we’ll get to view Lake Tekapo & the Church of the Good Shepherd;
Lake Pukaki  and N.Z’s highest Mountain – Mt. Cook,  over 12,000 ft high.
*Overnight –  McKenzie Country Inn,  Ph: 64 3 435 0869,  at Twizel.
(Dinner and Breakfast included.)
This is a great place to study the night sky – have you seen the
Southern Cross ?

DAY 8 : Monday 16th October.
    We depart at around 8-45 a.m. for the Pelennor Fields . This area once rang to to the thunderous sound of 250 horses on the charge.  Movingon, we’ll take a comfort stop at Omarama,  stop briefly at the site of The Great Chase and then head to scenic Lake Wanaka for lunch.  After lunch we’ll take time out for you to try your archery skills – do we have a budding Legolas amongst us ?
    If Ian Brodie, author of the LOTR Guide Book,  is available we may beable to say hello while we’re in the locality. He manages The Warbirds Museum at the small airport across from the Archery.
* The Golden Gate Hotel, in Cromwell.  Ph: 64 3 445 1777 (Breakfast
included.)

DAY 9 : Tuesday 17th October.
We head out past Alexandra this morning, to the stark, dramatic 
landscape of Poolburn, where the Rohan village was burned.  We’ll find
the canyon where the leaf brooch was dropped !    ( Dwarves can be
dangerous over short distances here ! )
After lunch at The Old Bakery Cafe in Ophir, ( population 50 ), we’ll
head into Queenstown.    Time to enjoy a free afternoon in this
picturesque ski town.
*  The Novotel Gardens Hotel. Ph: 64 3 442 7750  (Breakfast included.)

DAY 10 :  Wednesday 18th October.
Queenstown to Te Anau today, with a stop along the way to buy a picnic
lunch to eat at the Mavora Lakes, where there are four LOTR sites :
+ the Orc funeral pyre,
+ Fangorn Forest,
+ the log which concealed Merry & Pippin before Frodo left the
Fellowship,
+ and where Sam and Frodo paddled away on the next stage of their
journey.

Later, in Te Anau, you may like to take a jet boat ride down the RiverAnduin
and/or take a helicopter ride to Peter Jackson’s favourite location.
Or take an evening Glow Worm Caves Tour.
* The Te Anau Hotel & Villas.  Ph:03-249 9700 (Breakfast included.)

DAY 11:  Thursday 19th October.
( You have the option here of joining a coach trip to Milford Sound and
catching up with our group in Queenstown this evening. Vic will advise
you about this. )
    Today our group will travel to Queenstown,  via Arrowtown ~ a charming old settlement, historically significant in the gold rush days of the 1860s.
It’s also the location where Isildur was attacked by Orcs at Gladden
Fields.
We’ll make Arrowtown our lunch stop, before heading  into Queenstown.

This afternoon and tomorrow you are free to pursue  optional activities:
+ There is time today to take the helicopter flight to the Ford of
Bruinen.
+ Or perhaps a Deer Park Heights tour.
+ Or the steamer “Earnslaw” to Walter Peak Station.
+ Or that Bungy Jump you were thinking about ?
* The Novotel Gardens Hotel for the next two nights. Ph: 64 3 442 7750
(Room only – a chance to sample the many Cafes within easy walking
distance.)

DAY 12: Friday 20th October.
Devote today to further optional activities and last minute shopping. 
How about
+    A 4 wheel drive tour to the Pillars of Argonath with Nomad Safaris ?
+    Dart River Stables – Horse trekking  ?
+    A Shotover jet boat ride  ?
+    etc.  etc.  etc.
Vic & Raewyn will discuss options with you and assist or advise with
bookings.

Tonight, we ride the Skyline Gondola up for our Farewell Dinner at The
Skyline Restaurant ( included in tour costs).
*The Novotel Gardens Hotel. Ph: 64 3 442 7750 .

DEPARTURE DAY:  Saturday 21st October.   
Alas ~  the  Fellowship is breaking up ~ your journey through
Middle-earth with Red  Carpet Tours, is at an end.
Thank you for travelling with us  …..  there and back again…..
Haere ra  ~  Good-bye
from us all at
Red Carpet Tours.=