The Weta Cave is the main hub for visitors to the Weta Workshops complex. This is where studio tours depart from, but it is also worth coming here if you don’t plan on taking a tour.
Weta Workshops is the film production, special effects and prop company based in suburban Miramar. Weta have worked on a number of films and television series including Avatar, Blade Runner 2049, The Last Samurai, King Kong, Tin Tin, Thunderbirds are Go, Van Helsing, Xena: Warrior Princess and of course, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
The Weta Cave has a small museum that showcases props from films that Weta Workshops have worked on including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and there is also a small cinema that shows a behind-the-scenes documentary. There are plenty of photo opportunities here and it is a great day out for fans.
Of course, the Weta Cave is just there to whet your appetite for Weta Workshops’ studio tour combo, which includes two 45-minute tours: the Weta Cave Workshop tour and the Miniatures Stage Tour.
The main Weta Cave Workshop tour lets you see thousands of artefacts, costumes and props and you are also able to see people at work in the workshop. On the tour you are able to handle props and costumes for some unique photo opportunities.
There is also a second tour in the combo that focuses on Weta Workshops’ recent work on Thunderbirds are Go television series. The Miniatures Stage Tour lets you see the miniatures created by Weta Workshops along with concept art and original storyboards and go on the Thunderbirds are Go set.
There is also a premium There And Back Again tour, but that is really just the same as the regular tour combo, but with return bus transfers from the city centre. It’s really not worth paying the extra $40 for the bus transfer when you can take a regular city bus for less than a quarter the price.
