Alrighty, I arrived home safely this morning, had a bit of time to chill out, and now I present to you the first batch of photos. Having trouble getting my computer to read my second memory card, so Edoras photos will be up later...
1. The gorgeous cathedral in Christchurch's Cathedral Square
2. Our first day on the road (after a week in christchurch) bought about some very heavy snow...
3.The amazing Franz Josef glacier. One of three in NZ, it is the steepest in the world, and is unique in that it decends surrounded by rainforest (!) and finishes at only 200m above sea level
4. My friend (front) and my self in a crevice in the glacier
5. Gorgeous view from my hotel room in Queenstown as the sun rises. Looks just like in LOTR when the sun hits the top of the mountains
6. Dan's Paddock. Where the grass (yep, under all that snow!) meets the forest is where the fellowship entered Lothlorien. The forest along this road was used for Lothlorien and Amon Hen, and is very recognisable. Our tour guide also told us that when they filmed the orcs running through the forest, they had to lay lines of string on the ground so the orcs could see where to run without bumping into trees!
7. The Dart River; runs along the region used for Lothlorien, Amon Hen and Isengard
8. My friend and I standing in the spot where cameras were placed to film the long shots of Isengard/The Wizards Vale. Behind us is Mt Earnslaw which doubles as Methedras
9. A photo of some shrubbery at Closeburn. It is private property where Amon Hen was also filmed.
10. The Kawarau river, used for the River Anduin and the Pillars of the Kings. While not taken in exactly the right spot (this is taken from the Bungy viewing platform) it is easily recognised
11. View up to Deer Park Heights. Used for multiple scenes, most notibly when the Rohan refugees were fleeing (and Eowyn and Aragorn had a chat as they walked). Entry was $20 (not mentioned in the guide book!) so we didnt get up there...
12. A view of the platform from which the Canyon Swing is undertaken. The canyon is 109m deep, and I jumped twice!!! (photos of my jumps to follow)
13. Last photo for now; the Dunedin railway station. Apparently the second-most photographed building in the southern hemisphere, after the Sydney opera house...
Update:
A panorama photo taken from the summit of "Edoras". The rock you see near the very left of the photo is approximately where the front steps of the hall would have been. The mountains in the centre are what are seen in the movie, as is the river...there is just less snow.
If anyone wants a copy of this photo IM me your email address...looks much better full-size.
