Riding his horse Drum Mojor, sophomore Matt Tate treks along the "Ride of the Rings" trail at Glenorchy Stables in Paradise, New Zealand, Nov. 23. The site and the horses were used in several scenes of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. •Courtesy of Matt Tole Tondemjumpingwith her instructor, sophomore Brooke Hayes skydives 15,QOO feet over the South Island in Queenstown, New Zealand, Nov. 23. The group spent a week in New Zealand and had two free days to participate in white-water rafting, horseback riding, bungee jumping and skydiving. ' (ourtesy of Brooke HoY" / traveli.ng to the extreme HUA students experience New Zealand adventures Much like rhe "Da Vinci Code" tours that appeared all over France after me success ofthe book, tours for the sets used in (he "Lord ofme Rings" trilogywere available in New Zealand shordy after the films were released. During a stay in the country in November, some Harding Universiry Australia swdenrs experienced the scenery of "middle eanh" firsthand. The rour, "Ride of the Rings," was an hour-long trip on horse through the forests used in the trilogy. The tour rook students through the fictional forests of"LothI6rien" and ''Arnon Hen" and gave students scenic views of the "Wizard's Vale" and ended at the base of "Isengard." "We went through the forests, and the guide told us about the scenes they filmed there," sophomore Man Tate said. "I had never seen the movies, but he explai ned everything so it made sense." The rour took place in an area called "Paradise." Because of a suict contract with the production company and the owner of the land, everything that was moved during filming had (0 be replaced exactly as it was before fi lming. "There was no indication that [the production company] had ever been there," Tate said. The tour guides told the students of the trouble rhe production company went through to make sure the scenery was put back. "Before filmi ng, people came in and took pictures ofwhar everything looked like," sophomore Amanda Makool said . "They even took moss off of trees and brought it to a greenhouse so it could be replaced." Students rode trained horses through the forest paths. Three of the horses were used in the movies. "My horse was well-trained, but stubborn," Makool said. "It was difficult because I've never ridden one before." llle ho rses used in the movies had [Q fulfill specilic requirements: They could not have any spots or discoloration o r be spooked by loud noises. At rhe end of the tour, students were allowed to bring their horses ro a gallop. "Ir was easy riding rhe horse," Tare said. "It was fun ar the end when they let us go fasr." In addirion ro the "Lord ofme Rings" set, studems also saw where other movies such as the "Chronicles ofNarnia" and "VerricaJ Limits" were shot. The students stayed in Queenstown, New Zealand, for a week and were able (0 parricipate in various activi– ties in addition to me tour. According to me city's Web site, Queenstown was known as the adventure capital ofthe world and had much to offer, including bungee jumping, skydiving and white-water rafting. "Bungee jumping was my favorite thing," junior Danny Bateman said. "We jumped from a cable car; it was an adrenaline rush." ·Austin light
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