There And Back Again

As you all know, I’m working toward my goal to become and extra in the Hobbit, which begins filming next year 2010. If I’m unable to take a year off of work and move there, then I’m going to go down at least a month and try to get into as many scenes as I can,. That’s a given. BUT 2 days ago, I signed the twins and i, up to a return to New Zealand !!!!  December 2011.  Red Carpet tours ( the tour company we went on in 2006) is taking reservations, for their tour for December 2011, anticipating that like with the LOTR Premiers there will be an overwhelming response. They had over 160 people attending.  They are giving everyone an option to reserve your seat, before then. After much mulling and pondering. I sent in my response. The Twins constantly talk of going back, and I knew we would someday, also, its 2 years away, exactly the same amount of time it took for me to raise the money last time,, Its Fate!  Not to mention, the boys will be out of high school, 18 years old, and hopefully have jobs, so they can pay their own way. I do expect them to be attending College, but they should be on Christmas break then..  I wrote Vic and Raewyn James owners of Red Carpet Tours, explaining that IF I don’t make it into the movie, then the next best thing would be to attend the premier. Tom is so excited he is already planning on a Tattoo!!!  Stay tuned, this blog was created to document our trials and tribulations in getting there 2 years ago,, ( that long ago! wow!). I expect the boys to start writing for the blog again, Namarie Max

RED CARPET TOURS
SAMPLE 12 DAY LOTR ITINERARY ~ 2006

The following is a sample itinerary only, representing a typical
monthly tour.
Details may vary from month to month according to availability of key people, places and acommodation.  Final itineraries are confirmed and emailed 4 weeks prior.
ARRIVAL DAY  1:
We meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel – as 
pre-arranged.
Your hotel is The Spencer on Byron   We gather informally this evening to meet each other and prepare for our early start tomorrow.
DAY 2 :
Be ready to depart at 08.00 ~ Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton. Prepare to be enchanted by Hobbiton – a very special site to visit. Have us take your photo beneath the Party tree and outside Bag End. We will have lunch at Hobbiton in ‘The Shire’s Rest’, on the farm.
In Rotorua later this afternoon, we’ll show you some geothermal
activity and suggest optional activities ~ such as 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).
Overnight – Lake Plaza Hotel, Rotorua.
DAY 3 :
From Rotorua to Ohakune, via the Wai-o-tapu bubbling mud pools and Huka Falls to Lake Taupo, where we stop for ‘Second Breakfast’ on our way to  Mt. Ruapehu and the sites of Mordor, Emyn Muil and Mt Doom. See the spot where Sam and Frodo were lost amid volcanic lava flows and where they first met Gollum.  Later we’ll visit Gollum’s fishing pool, where Andy
Serkis was careful not to plunge over the waterfall !
Overnight – The Powderhorn Chateau or The Bayview Chateau Tongariro ~ where the Stars stayed.  (You can request a Star’s room.)
DAY 4 :
Ohakune to Wellington via the River Anduin.  First up there’s an
optional extra activity at Gravity Canyon for the mad and daring  ~ 
great viewing for the  rest of us !
After lunch, a visit to the site where the Elves are leaving Rivendell
for the West  and Arwen has her vision of Aragorn and their son.
Next, the  Black Rider’s Ranch  ~ we meet him in person and enjoy his hospitality. He trained the horses , taught the actors to ride and also had several ket roles in the trilogy.
Then, on to Wellington City – just in time to see  the ”Get off the
road!” site.
Tonight we suggest dining at “The Green Parrot”- a favourite of Viggo’s.
Tonight and tomorrow night in Wellington, staying at The Duxton Hotel.
DAY 5 :
We are joined at breakfast by the Calligrapher & Map Maker, Daniel
Reeve. He’ll show samples of his exquisite work ~ and some are for
sale.
Next, a “Wellywood!” city tour past Stone Street Studios,  Weta
Workshop & the Chocolate Fish Cafe – second breakfast – a favourite Hobbit eating  place.
Your afternoon is free to explore Wellington.
You may choose to visit Te Papa Museum – open till 9 p.m. ( LOTR 
souvenirs. )
Dinner tonight ?  Perhaps “Strawberry Fare” – just up from the Embassy Theatre where the ROTK Premiere was held.
DAY 6 :
Today we call in at the Elven Cloak factory  and see how the cloaks are made ~ opportunities for purchasing and photographs.  Then it’s over the hills  to the beautiful tranquility of the Leaving Lothlorien  site~   and where Smeagol  strangled Deagol  !!
We take a side trip to the wine district of Martinborough for lunch.
On our return to Wellington we’ll take time for a visit to Rivendell
(Kaitoke Park) and the gardens of Isengard.
This evening  we fly (45 minutes) to Christchurch. Copthorne Central
Hotel.
(A special guest who starred in the movie, joins us for dinner tonight.)
DAY 7:
Your South Island adventure begins. It’s time to head for the site and magnificence that is Edoras.  We’ll buy a picnic lunch today, as we are
going to a remote area. Bring shorts and sturdy footwear. We have three
streams to cross on our way to the summit !
Later we’ll view beautiful, mountain fed, Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, plus N.Z’s highest Mountain – Mt. Cook,  over 12,000 ft  high.
Overnight at Twizel’s  McKenzie Country Inn.
DAY 8 :
We depart at around 9-00 a.m. for the Pelennor Fields . This area once rang to the thunderous sound of 300 horses on the charge.
Moving on, we check out the site of The Great Chase and then on 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 be able to say hello while we’re in the locality. He manages The Warbirds Museum at the small airport across from the Archery.
Overnight – Cromwell. The Golden Gate Lodge. This is a great place to study the night sky – have you seen the Southern Cross ?
DAY 9 :
We head out to Alexandra this morning, to where the Rohan village was burned.
Can you find the canyon where the leaf brooch was dropped ? ( Dwarves are ‘dangerous over short distances’ here !)
After lunch at The Old Bakery Cafe in Ophir, ( population 50 ! ), we
visit the locations of Amon Hen and Ithilien. The remainder of the
afternoon is free to enjoy Queenstown.
Overnight – Queenstown. The Novotel Gardens Hotel.
DAY 10 :
We’ll take a picnic lunch and an overnight bag today as we head to the  Mavora Lakes where there are 4 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 you may like to take the jet boat down the River Anduin or take a helicopter ride to Peter Jackson’sfavourite location.
Tonight you may choose to eat where the stars did – Redcliffs Cafe.
Over night in Te Anau.  The Luxmore Hotel.
DAY 11:
You have the option today of joining a coach & cruise trip to Milford
Sound and catching up with the group in Queenstown later in the day.  
Your Guide can 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.
This afternoon and tomorrow you are free to pursue optional activities:
+There is time today to take the Heliworks flight to the Ford of
Bruinen.
+Or the trip up Deer Park Heights  ?
*Accommodation in Queenstown again for the next two nights.
DAY 12 : The last day of our “Fellowship”.
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 jet boat ride or bungy jump  ?
Your Guide will discuss options with you and assist or advise with
bookings.
Tonight we’ll ride the Skyline Gondola up for our farewell dinner at
the Skyline Restaurant ( included in tour costs).
DEPARTURE DAY:
Alas ~  your journey through Middle-earth with Red  Carpet Tours, is at an end.
We thank you for travelling with us  …..  there and back again…..
Haere ra  ~ Good-bye from us all at Red Carpet Tours.