Fry tweets his way around the capital

Stephen Fry. Photo / Supplied

Stephen Fry has been tweeting about gorgeous Wellington, flat whites and a Maori "doodad".

The British broadcaster arrived in New Zealand last week for his role in The Hobbit.

He said it took him a while to get used to the 11-hour time difference which he said was "a little alarming" and "damned annoying". But he used the time difference to let his British followers in on some observations about the future. "You'll find the future weird. New style in hats."

On his first day in the country he went exploring Wellington and posted a picture of "a sort of Maori plaque doodad floating the harbour".

"Had a wonderful wander. Forgotten the pleasures of a good flat white. Non-antipodeans mightn't know what I mean, though you can get them in UK," he tweeted.

He said Wellington was "pretty damned gorgeous", he bumped into Sam Neill, and Queenstown and the Remarkables were the "greatest sight on Earth".

Fry said Weta Workshops was "just the most astounding place" he had ever visited and said it was "packed with the most astonishingly talented committed people".

He would not give away any details about The Hobbit, but tweeted: "Marvellous wardrobe and makeup fittings. I am sworn to utmost secrecy and non-tweeting or uploading of pix, I'm afraid so no use begging!"

The wig he had to wear led to a case of mistaken identity as he kept being called James May, a presenter on Top Gear. "A damned good haircut should end this. I'm hoping."