Having tried a second time to go up to see Mordor, and being closed in by the fog again, we went around south to see a couple more LOTR locations. First we made our way to the other side of Mount Ruapehu to Mangawhero Falls, where JUST before the falls, Andy Serkis made like Gollum chasing a fish down the river. It was rainy and windy, so I didn't cross the stream, but still it was immediately recognizable. Then we got a look at the falls that Andy would've been only so far away from... spectacular falls over a lava flow. Then we went further south, lacking anything better to do in the weather, to Rangitikei River Gorge, a site of the River Anduin from the films. Dad wouldn't go out on the bridge (heights) but I got a good look at it. Very nice indeed! Upon return the rain made it clear a third attempt up the mountain would've been fruitless. Hoping for the morning now, I guess.

Addendum: After sitting down with my book, some time passed and small blue patches came through the sky. If you've been hear, you know that this means nothing, we had them last night too. But then I noticed the light on my book was bright for at least five straight minutes, so I looked, and it was maybe a third blue. I walked to the other side of the villa, almost all blue! So I called to dad in his room reading, and we decided to scurry up the mountain to see if we could see anything. It was a little over two hours later that we came back down. Stunning. Even as we turned off the side street we're on, I said to dad that I thought I saw the snow cap. As we made or left up the hill, we stopped. There it was! We found, with complete certainty, the rock that Gollum creeps down as his introduction to The Two Towers. I got on top and hopefully have a picture of myself up there, though I did not strike the Gollum creeping pose (there were other people milling around). I think we spotted the area where the lined up (real New Zealand!) armies for the prologue, and certainly found parts that look like other locations we know were shot there though we don't have specific locations. Also got a good look at the next volcano over, Mt. Tongariro.

I got a few pictures of "Anduin" and then the sun pokedd through for about five minutes, so I re-shot a couple photos. The rock wall is amazing. What's interesting is that all the "river" sights we've been to have been more difficult to spot because the water levels are a lot higher (and muddier). Yet, the south island is the middle of a draught. The weather and geology make it very interesting here. You can predict neither one ten minutes ahead if you don't know it already.

Have stocked up on provisions (libations) as well. We'd run out.

Addendum: The "car park 5" in the guidebook no longer exists as they are redoing the lots up there. However, I'm fairly certain we found it because it was the only one on a large enough expanse to hold a number of people. We also, I believe, spotted one of the Emerald Lakes on the way. The difference between the fog and the clear is not something that can be relates in words. We were utterly lost as to where we were, where the peak was, where there were buildings, even signs that turned out to be 10 feet off the road that would've told is we were nearing the right place. Then today, a whole different planet unfolded. Very interesting indeed!