Day 5: Meeting the Weta, Visiting Parliament and Enjoying Wellington, NZ

I think Peter Jackson is a national hero in New Zealand. He's certainly done a lot for the tourist industry!

Today the kids will visit the Weta Workshop Museum (which is kind of like Pixar or LucasFilms out here) and get to see behind the scenes visual treats about the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and Narnia (UPDATE: a few pics here).

The Weta Cave

They are filming the second Hobbit movie now and if you really want to be on the cutting edge with inside information, you should "like" the Weta Facebook page for updates on how it's going.

And in case you are wondering, "Weta" is a large brown wingless insect related to the grasshoppers, with long spiny legs and wood-boring larvae, found only in New Zealand. 

There you have it. Oh and I found a little photo for you just in case you couldn't imagine how huge this thing actually is! 

Maybe the kids will bring one home for us! The weta bug.

After Weta, they head on to Parliament (which might mean they are dressed in P2P outfits today) to learn how government works in New Zealand. After that, it looks like they will tour some museums and learn about the local art scene.

UPDATE: got a very short note from Katie around midnight. All was well, they are having a blast and she'd say more when she had more wifi! Got another note from her this morning. She sent a few pics from yesterday and a little video (midway down for both)! So far so good!

From the People to People Itinerary:

While you continue your tour of Wellington:

• Visit Weta Workshop Museum, the multi Academy Award winning special effects company that helped create movies like the Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and Chronicles of Narnia.
• Learn about New Zealand’s system of government when you visit Parliament buildings and enjoy a guided tour of the facility.
• A center for the arts, Wellington has many museums and art galleries.
• Visit Te Papa National Museum, a fascinating museum devoted to Maori culture, natural history, modern art, science and technology. 

Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand

Te Papa National Museum 

Day 2: Long Flight But They Finally Arrive In Auckland, New Zealand

Getting her upbeat text last night helped me zonk out knowing she'd board the flight to Australia at midnight and hopefully sleep.

They are touching down as I write this. It's 12:50pm our time and nearly 6am, Friday, their time. If they slept, they should be in very good shape!

I got the text below while I was sleeping. The part I love most is the photo showing the top of someone's head! She absolutely sounds more excited.


After they change planes in Brisbane (to say it, keep your teeth together and say the last syllable as "bin"), they hop on a flight over the New Zealand arriving at 2:45pm their time. It looks like a three hour layover in Australia and then a nearly three hour flight to NZ. I hope they get something "Australian" to eat while they are bopping around waiting.

When they arrive in Auckland, they head off to do the Hobbitron Movie Tour, checking out the movie sets from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. That sounds awesome - Sheldon, Leonard and the guys would be SO jealous! They end the day with their first "home stay" which will be on a farm called Matamata. The whole thing looks pretty darn fantastic.

From the People to People Itinerary:

Welcome to Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. Auckland is known for its unique blend of harbor, islands, Polynesian culture, and modern city environment.

• Greet your Kiwi Delegation Manager upon arrival at Auckland International Airport.
• Witness Auckland's amazing suburbs, which sprawl generously over a narrow isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea.
• Travel south through the beautiful farmlands of Waikato to Rotorua.
• Explore the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film sagas in a fascinating guided tour.
• Discover your inner hobbit acting out a scene from The Hobbit trilogy.
• Meet your farm stay family and experience a true taste of the rural community in “Middle Earth country”.