A lazy morning comprising some chores - restocking kids' toiletries that had been left behind at the previous stop :-( and souvenir shopping. After lunch, we headed off to WETA, a design studio that makes props etc for movies (eg Lord of the Rings, King Kong). We were shown around their workshop and it was demonstrated how a lot of the props are manufactured - eg swords and armour (real metal ones for close up shots and replica ones which are lighter and easier for actors and stunt people to wear), silicon body parts and how individual hairs are punched in. It was fascinating how the ideas develop and how time consuming making the props are. After that, we headed to the Te Papa National Museum and learnt all about earthquakes, volcanoes and base isolators (built under tall structures to withstand earthquakes.
MK: Working out how to win the alien game in the National Museum.
MJ: The earthquake safe game in the National Museum.
MH: Spinning the big ball at the National Museum.
Logbook:
09:00 (1430 km) Breakfast of toast.
10:20 (1430 km) Left for shopping.
10:30 (1435 km) Fill up.
11:50 (1441 km) Maungaraki. Lunch of fried noodles.
12:40 (1441 km) Left Maungaraki.
13:10 (1464 km) WETA cave.
15:00 (1464 km) Left WETA.
15:20 (1472 km) Te Papa National Museum. Looked at Base Isolator to support buildings in earthquake areas.
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| At Te Papa Museum |
17:00 (1472 km) Left city.
17:25 (1490 km) Maungaraki. Had dinner of roasted glazed ham with salad and potato salad.