Xplor Tours

Here you can see Vicki at Harcourt Park, gardens of Isengard and entering and leaving Rivendell, the home of the Elves. Vicki is about the same height as Gandalf but shorter than her favourite actor in the movie, Aragon.

On 24 August 2023 I was privileged to take around the LOTRs sites in the Hutt Valley, Britain's first female football commentator Vicki Sparks.

Below you can see her at Dry Creek Quarry home of Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith. Then it was a short drive to Poets Park where the River Anduin scenes were shot.

Final tasting was at Te Kairanga Wines which has opened again with a new building with a tasting section and a restaurant. Brian looks deep in thought as to which wine he should be purchasing.

As we were driving out of Martinborough I mentioned that they had a craft brewery in town to which Grace replied lets try some. So we did.

After lunch it was onto Moy Hall Wines tasting 4 of their wines. Grace started tasting first as Brian had to make a quick call to the USA but he joined shortly after.

On 7 August 2023 Brian and his daughter Grace from USA took timeout from Women's World Cup games and joined me on a Martinborough wine tour.

Below you can see them at Poppies Martinborough doing some wine tasting.

On 18 June 2023 I meet a newly wed couple from Miami, Florida, Mark and Jill and Rachel from Southport, Queensland. They were on Xplor Tours Seal, Lighthouse and Wine tour.

Our first stop was to wine taste and meet Christine at Bwine. Then it was onto Poppies for more wine tasting and lunch.

After a quick tour around Martinborough we were off to see the Seal colony at Cape Palliser

Emma and Sean also rode the Wellington Cable Car, saw Parliament Buildings, Wellington and visited Old St Paul's.

23 September 2022 I had a half day Wellington tour with Emma and Sean from Perth, Western Australia.

Below you can see them at the Wellington sign in Miramar and at The Wētā Cave where they are having a bit of a tussle with one of the trolls.

Last stop for the group was Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington.

When I said that is it for the tour they jumped for joy !!!! no they didn't.

After the lookout Stan took them where the red carpet had been for the premiers held in Wellington and showed them the Embassy theatre.

Next stop was Hobbit’s Hideaway - « a short cut to Mushrooms » where Jonathan and Kim sat in the hideaway, looking really scared as the Nazgul were looking for them, used by the hobbits and then Jonathan standing at Dunharrow looking at his army assembling below

Tuesday 20th September 2022 I ran a half day LOTRs tour for Anne and Simon from Australia and met up with Jonathan (UK) and Kim from USA, that were on a full day LOTRs tour at The Wētā Cave.

You can see them all battling one of the trolls at the cave. Kim in particular went for thrusts all over the troll's body.

On the way home we stopped at C'est Cheese for some yummy cheese.

On Sunday 18th September 2022 it was off to the Martinborough wineries again with Jo, Kim and Brandon from Colorado USA.

First stop was B-Wine tasting with Christine, then it was onto Muirlea Rise Vineyard and here Hils kept us amused and finally onto Poppies Martinborough Winery.

We finished up by going to Poppies Martinborough Winery for more wine tasting and a group photo.

Saturday 17 September 2022 saw Xplor Tours helping out Phil from Zozo Tours by taking 11 people over to Martinborough for some wine tasting.

First stop was B-Wine and then it was onto Moy Hall for more wine tasting and lunch.

On Friday 16th September 2022 I once again had the pleasure of looking after Sheryll and Richard from Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Richard is part of the Wilton family so we visited Wilton House and the Wilton Reserve. Next it was out to the Lower Hutt area visiting Gracefield where Sheryll spent sometime as a youngster. Sheryll's house had gone but the Wainuiomata tunnel entrance was still there.

We had a sentimental stop at St Michaels Cres in Kelburn as this was where Megan used to flat when she was studying at Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Then it was off to Parliament Grounds where we had a selfie. I'm not that great at taking these. Must get a tooth put in.

At The Wētā Cave you can see them by the "Hobbit" door, inside the cave looking at military uniforms and then Chris has a scuffle with a troll.

15 September 2022 and Megan and Chris from Mt Maunganui came on my Wellington city tour.

You can see them below at Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington, the Wellington sign and The Wētā Cave door.

14 September 2022 and Caroline and Paul from Sydney, Australia had a Wellington City Tour with me.

You can see them at Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington, The Wētā Cave and by the Wellington Cable Car in Kelburn.

They went inside the Wellington Cable Car museum and sat and stood on the old cable car. Then it was off to Wellington Parliament where the team did a jump photo. In the second photo the men left the ground as did one Sue.

John, Sally, Daryl, Sue and Myrene joined in on the action fighting the troll. Why are the the ladies smiling? They should be scared.

At The Wētā Cave Susan did not mind getting picked up by a troll-she is smiling. Daryl and Sue met Lurtz inside the cave while Susan and Craig managed to find swords and Gandalf's staff and attacked the snotty troll.

On 12 September 2022 Craig, Susan, John, Sally, Daryl and Sue (Victoria, Australia) and Myrene from North New South Wales joined me on a Wellington city tour.

At Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington we had a couple of photos the second one showed how good their balance was. Well except for John who kept both feet on the ground. We stopped at the Wellington sign and took a few photos just to prove that in fact, we were in Wellington.

We had lunch at the Chocolate Fish Cafe stopped at the Lady Norward Rose Gardens where we saw the Japanese peace flame and did a jump photo at Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Gee Tony you can jump!!

On 9 September 2022 I did a tour for Zozo and met an amazing couple Tony and Susan from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. We had a great tour.

Below you can see them at Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington, the Wellington sign Miramar and The Wētā Cave where Tony showed Gollan that he had the ring of power and got to know some of the trolls

On 22 August 2022 I caught up with Ram, Raji and Mala for their third tour with me. This time it was a bespoke Wellington City Tour.

We had brunch at the Chocolate Fish Cafe in Shelley Bay and also took a photo at the Wellington Cable Car.

At the Wellington Cable Car there was a new and old experience. The new was the ride on the current cable car and the old was a seat on the old cable car in the museum.

We also visited Old St Paul's.

19 August 2022 and joining me on a Wellington Half Day City Tour were Sina (Esslingen, Germany) and Judy and Angela (Bimbi, New South Wales, Australia).

Today the view from Mt Victoria Lookout, Wellington was mist but in Miramar we saw the Wellington sign and visited The Wētā Cave. Judy and Angela met Lurtz, the good looking guy standing behind them.

Xplor Tours updated their address.