Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Hobbits

Went to Te Papa Museum in Wellington yesterday and learnt quite a bit about the Maori people. Both English and Maori are the official languages of the country fact fans. Best part by far though was about the faults in New Zealand. I didn't know it, but a huge fault line runs right through NZ so the place is susceptable to many earthquakes or tremors which occur on a daily basis. Wellington has one about once a week but I didn't feel it when one happened the other day. A guy who lives near here felt his room jump about which would have been quite cool! There was a simulation in a mock house and that was quite scary.

Went to Mount Victoria with the people I will be travelling the south island with today. Had a great view of the city from the top and then wondered through the woods to find a couple of scenes that were shown in The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Eventually saw it and it was really exciting - it's the part where the Nazgul are riding after the hobbits in the scary woods after they leave The Shire. Really, cool and got a great picture of it. Also found the part where the Hobbits hide under the roots of a tree and the Nazgul is just above them. Unfortunately, the tree roots in the film were not real but I found a few branches to do my own impression. No
tourists here thankfully doing the same thing as none of the big books mention it haha. And it's right here in Wellington next to the city. Never would have known that! If the camera had panned around 180 degrees, you would have seen colourful houses.

Got the cable car(a train on a slope rather than a carriage hanging from cables) to the Botanical Gardens and spent 10 mins there. Not that great really!

Well off on the ferry at 1:30am and heading to Kaikoura. Will probably do some whale watching as Sperm Whales are there right now and I find them to be fascinating creatures. It's slightly warmer down south and at least it won't be as windy as this place. I'm so stupid as I only found out Wellington was the capital of NZ 1 day after arriving here. Would not think it as the place is pretty small and dull. The city planner must have had a screw loose due to the diabolical road system.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing some volcanoes, glaciers and large sea monsters.