After storing our bags at the hotel for our late afternoon flight we crossed over the street into another world at the Weta Workshop. This is a special effects company, made famous for their work on the “Lord of the Rings” The shop alone was mind boggling….

The tour was divided into the 3 film types, horror, fantasy and science fiction. The horror section was guarded by Jeff, a full sized animatronic orc, but civilized….sort of !

Here you could practice make up, wield swords and learn how to make all types of props. H had a horror makeover, I just lost my head.…

We then moved onto fantasy, thru a workroom with the storyteller fast asleep at the table in front of his model.

Thru the next area was identical, but 9 times bigger !

The model was now huge, and you could really see how movies were filmed as you walked around “inside” it. Fantastic….we really enjoyed this set.

The final area was a film set of a science fiction film with a giant robot, over 10 metres high, capable of moving and lighting up.

It was time to say goodbye to our friend the orc, and head somewhere much scarier…..Auckland Airport !

But our flight went well, and we were met by our local friends who pet sat Cooper and Rosie last year. It was good to catch up and we’ve been spoilt with dinner and wifi ! Dunedin looks wonderful, exploring tomorrow and replacing some camera film I left in the hotels fridge….if that’s the only thing to go wrong….