Rings fans camp out for prime viewing spots

9.00am - By JULIA MAHONY

Dozens of Lord of the Rings fans who camped out near Wellington's Embassy Theatre awoke today to the event they have been waiting for.

The capital today hosts the world premiere of Peter Jackson's third LOTR instalment, The Return of the King, beginning with a parade through downtown Wellington's streets to the cinema this afternoon.

Excited teenagers and younger children, holding LOTR posters and souvenirs, could be seen along the parade route as early as 6am.

By 8.30am thousands of people were lining Courtenay Place, which leads to the Embassy.

Eager fans, who perhaps could not get a room at Wellington's bulging hotels, slept near the cinema to ensure pole position at the end of the parade, due to start moving from Parliament about 3.30pm.

Staff at the Capitol cafe, next to the Embassy, reported an "electric" atmosphere.

"People spent the night outside in sleeping bags and there were more camped out in cars around Mount Victoria," co-owner Thomas Hutchison told NZPA.

"The red carpet is stretched out along Courtenay Place, it looks spectacular, and Embassy staff told me they were dusting and cleaning the theatre until 10.30pm last night."

After winding their way through the Wellington central business district, the movie's stars will walk a long red carpet up Courtenay Place to the Embassy, for the screening of the three-hour film.

Jackson will be among those who will see the totally finished product for the first time.

"When I last saw it, it had a lot of very temporary effect shots, it had very bad colour and it had no music nor much sound," he told National Radio today.

"By the time we got to the end of the process, really not much more than a week ago, I thought should I sit down and watch it all by myself in a cinema?

"But I thought there's not much point because I can't change anything, so I'll wait and see it at the Embassy. I can't wait."

About 100,000 people are expected to turn out to catch a glimpse of the international stars as they travel to the screening.

"I'm very proud of having brought the premiere to the city," Jackson said.

He said he now had the confidence to tackle any project.

Police repeated their appeal for people not to bring cars into the city centre because of road closures for the parade.

Grandstands and barricades were erected in the city last night and Courtenay Pl was "locked down" from about 8pm.

The red carpet is 470m long -- the length of almost five rugby fields.

LOTR stars stars Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Sean Astin (Sam) delighted fans by turning up at the Return of the Ringers party at Wellington's Skyline Restaurant last night.

Wellington businesses reported a bumper weekend, as fans from around the world got into party mode.

- NZPA

Parade route

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings