Hobbiton

We intended to visit the Hobbiton Film Set. It is near Matamata, which was about 50 minutes from Rotorua,  our destination.  I had looked online the night before to see if there were spaces - there weren't.  We were resigned to having to book for the next day. 

Arriving in Matamata,  we went to the i-site - which is a 'Shire' style building.  We queued for a bit and then I asked if they had tickets for today.  The time was 26 minutes past 12. The lady said that they had two tickets for 12.30. We said ok and I ran off to get my camera from the car - only to realise that I was parked on a 30 minute space.  I moved the car in double quick time,  grabbed my camera, my fleece and K's cardigan and ran for the coach.  It was waiting for me.  I had applause when I boarded.  Then I realised that I had dropped the cardigan - too late.

The drive there was fine,  and we had a great tour, and a drink and some pie in the Green Dragon Inn. After a rushed start it turned out to be a really good visit.  I was also pleased to see that if you drove to the site yourself, it still cost $75.00  to get in for the tour.  I bet that the owner of the Farm now makes a lot more money from tourists than from sheep. The place was packed! 

The Coromandel and Hot Water Beach

We decided to try to get to the Coromandel Peninsula. This weekend is the national celebration of the Treaty of Waitangi.  I didn't know this when I booked the place in Paihia.  As we left,  things were hotting up with Maori tribes arriving and lots of celebration planning.  It's a long drive - we thought that we would do about 2.5 hours each.  As it turned out,  K did about four,  and I did the rest.

We passed Hot Water Beach on the way,  and the conditions were just right - so we spent about an hour digging holes and sitting in the very hot water.  It was great.

We carried on to Whitianga and a very nice room at a hostel right on the beach.  It was like staying at someone's house circa 1960. Long walk along the shell covered beach made a nice end to the evening. Only one night here so we were up bright and early for the drive down to Rotorua. We were going via Matamata and Hobbiton!

Rotorua - After Internet Problems

Been having a few problems with the old Internet access.  Currently in Rotorua - will need to catch up on the stuff that we have been doing recently. It's Sunday 8th Feb. Been doing the thermal thing today.  The weather is very warm again.  Here are some photos of where we have been today. 

KeriKeri and Doubtless Bay

We seem to have broken the spell of sunshine that New Zealand has been having.  It was raining a lot when we set off for the above from Paihia.  We were going to Reinga Point, but the weather was so bad,  and the going so slow, that we turned around at Awanui and headed back - it was late in the afternoon by then.  We had spent a while in Kerikeri - looking at a Maori village named Rewa's Village and at the Stone Store - NZ's oldest surviving stone building. 

Going around by the coast may have been an error,  we didn't get a far as we had hoped - the weather didn't help.  When we reached Doubtful Bay, all we had was rain and mist.  Sheltering on the beach we couldn't see much at all. 

Paihia and Russell

Best night's sleep so far.  Pitch black and nearly silent.  Excellent. We awoke to a bright sunny day.  The kitchen at this YHA is a lot smaller,  so breakfast was a coordinated ballet with about nine dancers.  We had decided to visit Russell via ferry today.  A brief stop for sun lotion and we managed to be the last on the boat as it left.  The crossing took about 20 minutes and it was very calm.  We were on the top deck,  so had a great view. 

Landing at Russell we made good use of the sun cream,  then I bought some cans of drink before we began our wandering.  The views back across the bay were lovely.  After exploring for a bit we found the Pompallier Mission. If you follow the link it will tell you all about it.  Very interesting place. 

A bit more wandering and we found the oldest Church in New Zealand still regularly used.  Onwards to Russell Museum - which was a little smaller than we were expecting - but interesting nonetheless.

After buying a cool bag and freezer block (don't ask), we boarded the ferry again. We stopped for a drink and some lunch at a waterside bar in Paihia.  Green lipped mussels and garlic bread.  Very tasty. About an hour went by with us watching the boats come and go.  A visit to the supermarket - I had to go and get the car because  we bought a bit more than intended - and it was very hot. 

Back to the YHA to put the food away,  then down to the beach with a drink and a snack.  The sun was nearly down when we returned to cook steaks,  which we ate with mushrooms and salad.  An early night as we intend to do a bit of driving tomorrow.

Northwards....

Time to move on.  We packed the cases the previous night,  so just had to add bits and pieces.  After breakfast we vacated the room and I left K in the kitchen area whilst I walked down to get the pre booked car.  It took about twenty minutes to get there.  I spotted the Auckland train station on the way - looking pretty impressive - so I headed for a quick look,  only to find that it had been converted into apartments. 

I found the hire place and collected the car.  I was early,  but they just put the hire back an hour.  The young chap who processed me was from Preston in the UK.  A trained teacher who had a kiwi girlfriend.  I asked him when he would return to live in the UK?  He answered "Never". The car was a Nissan. The only odd thing about it is that it had a foot operated parking brake.  I picked K up and we headed for Paihia.

The motorway North has one toll stretch.  We stopped at the BP station before this for lunch. We both had beef and cheese pies - K had a gluten free version.  Yum. The chap at the hire place suggested that we left the motorway at exit 398 to take the scenic route. We did this and passed through a place named Orewa - my daughter and I stayed there at a backpackers lodge named Pillows  eleven years ago.  It was still there! 

A long drive and a miscalculation on our part to follow a 'Tourist Route' which took us 20k out of our way meant that we got to Paihia in the late afternoon.  It was very hot.  We have a great double room at the YHA, and it's four minutes to the beach

Auckland Winter Gardens and Museum

Another fairly restless night - it was hot,  sticky and noisy because we had to have the windows open. 'Ladies of the Night' seemed to use the road next to the hostel to ply their trade - laughing and calling most of the night.  Then you have the 'Johns' circling the block in their cars and vans plucking up courage and viewing what's on offer.  All too noisy.

After breakfast we spent nearly the whole day at the museum.  We walked there from the place where we were staying.  We visited the Winter Gardens on the way. They were very good. The surprise for me at the museum was that it cost $25 each to get in.  This is only levied on foreigners.  That's about £12.50 each for us.  It's a good museum,  but that seems a little steep. The last time I was here it was free, and you could make a contribution.  We had lunch and later a coffee there.  Turned into quite a pricey day. 

We went to bed fairly early to try and catch up with some sleep before the night shift started. That was ok on theory,  until the recycling lorries emptied the glass bottle containers at three in the morning.