There's no way that we will visit New Zealand without visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour in Matamata and the Weta Workshop in Wellington. The Weta Workshop is a studio tour where famous films were created. It's more than just Lord of the Rings because Weta Workshop is also the home for Avatar movies, Ghostbuster, The Hobbit, Tomb Raider, MIB International, The Planet of the Apes, The Adventures of TinTin and so much more.
Weta Workshop Studio Tour shows guests the process on how to make props, costumes, models, and sets from conception to execution. The guided studio tour is about 45 mins. long and costs NZD 25 per adult (2017 price). You may check their official website for the update price and book from there. Right now, there are other packages being offered aside from the studio tour. You can now have hands-on prop making tour, miniature set tour, leather and chainmaille making tour, intro to sculpting or special effects and make-up workshop or have a tour with food.
The tour started in this small red door. It looks plain and ordinary but little did we know that once we entered the red door, the magic and creativity of how movies were made began.
We were led to the front shop where we saw the gigantic structures, literally. The souvenir shop is where you can also purchase the tickets for walk-in guests but I highly suggest you purchase yours online as tickets sold out very fast.
There's a lot to see inside the Weta Workshop. The tour guides were all very friendly, warm, and knowledgable. They explain very well and would give fun facts per movie project as much as possible.
Unfortunately, you're not allowed to take photographs inside the workshop but there are at least 1 or 2 areas where you can take pictures--the guides will let you know if it's okay to take a photo.
Towards the end, there's a part where the staff and artists house some private commissioned work and this is the part where we can also take as many photos as we want. The tree like structure is a commissioned work for an elite family in New Zealand. The father wanted to have a slide or some sort for his kids to play with. This, my friend, is a very very expensive slide hahaha.
At the end of the tour, you will be directed to the souvenir shop again. The collectible products are one of a kind as mostly exclusively sold in Weta Workshop. Items such as prop replicas, clothes, jewelry, books, toys and more. Also, I noticed that there are more unique LOTR items here in Weta versus in Hobbiton Movie Set in my opinion. So, if ever you want something here, do not think twice and wish to find the same item in Hobbiton because most probably it will not be available there so just go and buy it. Same with Hobbiton, the souvenirs are exclusively distributed in that store so most likely, it will not be available in Weta.
We saw the LOTR ring and it costs NZD 4,899 or almost PHP 160,000 WOW!!! You can already buy a very good quality of a diamond ring with that price tag. But, would you look at the details. It's sooooo nice! Any LOTR fanatic would love to have this ring.
Overall, I suggest you take time to visit Weta Workshop if you will visit Wellington, New Zealand. It's an interesting tour even if you haven't watched most of their movies (like me!). It's fun to know the behind the scenes of the movies and get inspired with how it was made from scratch.
I do not suggest bringing very young children inside the workshop though as they might not enjoy or understand it yet. Plus, they might destroy the props inside... yikes! The workshop is stroller and wheelchair friendly but do note that the space is small and just enough for a group of 10-15 people at a time.
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