Weta Workshop in the suburb of Miramar is where the physical effects for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Avatar, and dozens of other films were created. The workshop offers guided tours of the studio floor, showing you the actual workbenches where prosthetics, armour, weaponry, and creatures are still being made for current productions. The guides are typically working artists at the studio, which gives the tour real substance.
There is also a retail gallery and exhibition space at the Weta Cave, a short walk from the main workshop. The exhibition covers the workshop's history with props, miniatures, and behind-the-scenes footage. The full workshop tour takes about an hour and a half and should be booked in advance — it is consistently one of the most popular activities in Wellington and fills up quickly.