If you want to see some fantastic New Zealand scenery, take in a couple of the sights of where Lord of the Rings was filmed, and you’re a bit of an adrenalin junkie, than a jet boat ride up the Matukituki River is the thing for you…

I was supposed to be heading to New Zealand’s west coast for another week of climbing in the Southern Alps, however with weather forecast to be less than favourable we decided to postpone our departure by two days.

Mind you, the weather around Wanaka has been perfect during our stay and we’ve been making the most of it!

After a short drive through grazing lands just outside of Wanaka we arrived at our departure point for the trip up the river.

Strewth, what a great ride it was!

Our guide expertly pointed the boat through the various water channels on the braided river, which was still flowing quite fast due to all the recent rain. Yes, the same rain I experienced whilst on the Bonar Glacier trying to climb Mt Aspiring last week.

After about half-an-hour we hopped out of the boat and took a nature walk, marvelling at the giant beech tree forests. These trees are very old and quite spectacular.

And the view of Avalanche Glacier was breathtaking.

Back on the boat we made our way towards Lake Wanaka, stopping at one of the spots where Lord of the Rings was filmed.

If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will recall a scene where Frodo Baggins is standing on a hill and is stabbed in the shoulder by one of the Ringwraiths.

This scene was filmed in the Matukituki Valley.

I must confess to being a big fan of the series, and as I walked out of Mt Aspiring a week ago, down the valley and through the forest it truly felt like I was in “middle-earth”.

After bidding our guides farewell, Janet and I relaxed by the shores of Lake Wanaka, while TomO went for a swim…

Crikey, what a great day in a beautiful part of the world – and how good is that ice-cream!

Sas January 17, 2013 / 1:56 am

I’m very jealous, I really want to visit NZ. Are there lots of Lord of the Rings fans there now? We get a lot of Torchwood fans come to Cardiff, you see them all down the Bay looking for the secret entrance to the underground lair 🙂

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- Baz - The Landy January 17, 2013 / 4:04 am
  
  The tour guide said the Lord of the Rings and Hobbitt movies have brought lots of fans to New Zealand…it is a wonderful place!
  
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sweetlybalanced January 16, 2013 / 10:23 pm

Haha I love that quote on that car!!! If I ever make my way to New Zealand, I’m definitely taking that tour and Jetboat ride!!

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- Baz - The Landy January 17, 2013 / 4:03 am
  
  🙂
  
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GiggsMcGill Jill January 16, 2013 / 3:54 pm

I love that car!!

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alissadoherty January 16, 2013 / 2:45 pm

How gorgeous! That Beech forest is beautiful.

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Amy Christine January 16, 2013 / 1:28 pm

Life is too short to have bad ice cream!!! What a fun activity to do!!! The scenery is breathtaking 🙂

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FITRJo January 16, 2013 / 11:17 am

Does Mr. Whippy still come around with 99s? If so, have one for me.

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- Baz - The Landy January 16, 2013 / 6:27 pm
  
  what’s a 99?
  
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  - FITRJo January 17, 2013 / 12:18 am
    
    Vanilla soft ice cream with half a flake bar in it- it was my very favourite in NZ.
    
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  - Baz - The Landy January 17, 2013 / 4:03 am
    
    I’ll keep an eye out for it!
    
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icescreammama January 16, 2013 / 8:13 am

That looks great!! YUM! yeah, yeah, and your trip looks like fun too. 😉

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- Baz - The Landy January 16, 2013 / 8:42 am
  
  More icecream today 😉
  
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  - icescreammama January 16, 2013 / 8:58 am
    
    now you’re just rubbing it in, cause you know i’m on a break! meanie!!
    
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