Max and Paddy

Our last night in the van was parked up by the beach with the waves lapping no more than 30 feet from the windows. A perfect ending. Was really cool having the van and we were sad to take it back. Its now off to the States ......

Jonny's Mecca

This is was what I had been waiting for. A trip around the Lord of the Rings Hobbiton film set at Matamata. It was a beautiful morning, blue skies and we were off to the Shire. The guide was an 85 year old chap called Eric. I swear he didn't look a day over 60, amazing chap. He loved it as much as us, talking about the cast and the characters and what happened where. Really put you into the picture, just brilliant, best tour we have done by far. OK I'm biased but it was amazing to be in the film set and picture the scenes. A local garden centre was purchased to work on nothing but the films !! The set was so secret they even had a no fly zone to 5k over the area ! The New Zealand Army had to build a 3km road into the set all in complete secrecy !!

Stood by the Party tree exactly where Bilbo stood in the film "my dear Boffins, Bagginses, Proudfeet"

Pictures taken of the finished set. Amazing the degree of secrecy at the time. Everyone involved signed contracts forbidding them from telling anyone what they saw for 3 years !

Stood with The Hill and Bagshot Row behind me

Picture of the completed set outside Bag End where Bilbo sat with Gandalf blowing smoke rings "Gandalf my old friend, I'll make this a night to remember "

Couple of unlikely hobbits at Bag End

Eric, the tour guide ...... 85 years old!

Sweet

That was all followed by some sheep shearing and a bit of lammykin action. The set is on a working farm. Chris the shearer had this one cut and done in about 2 minutes. The record is about 30 seconds!

Done n dusted

Rotorua

This place is a right load of steaming mud pools and hissing fumeroles. The woods are steaming with volcanic and geo thermic activity. The park was full of hot pools encrusted in different coloured minerals, some huge and over 60m deep.

Bubbly mud pools that stink of rotten eggs. Reminded us of India :)

Definitely India!

This was great; it's a geyser that goes off like clockwork every morning at 10.30am. Now I'll tell you why. Underneath are 2 chambers of hot and cold water. One is about 170 degrees, the other 75. The surface tension between the two prevents it mixing...... until.......you add a small packet of soap powder in the hole.

here we go, after a short speech the chap empties in the soap

2 minutes later the soap has diluted, the suface tension collapses and the cold hits the super hot creating steam that blasts 30m into the air !!

Like a river except it's solid, composed of mineral deposits from the water

Pea soup

Skydive 2 Rotorua

From Kwik Fit fitter to Skydiver.....Well what can I say it's just good fun jumping out of planes. Rotorua was certainly a sight to see from 12 grand. I jumped on my own this time with no other skydivers at my altitude; kicked out at 12k while the tandems went on up to 15k. Strange looking out the door on your own, the wind blasting through, biting cold, gripping the side rails outside the door and then just dropping away. It was good but it's a much better experience when its with others. Felt quite lonely falling through the sky on my own.

Good to be back on the ground :)

Rellies

It was great to catch up with my rellies who have lived in NZ about 37 years - Jayne and James, John and Olwen. Fun evening - eating and drinking.






Great to spend some nights tucked up in a proper bed. This is Jayne's new house.








With my Aunty Jean and Uncle Keith completing crosswords with the aid of some home produced wine from home grown grapes.














Aunty Jean was an angel feeding and watering us, ferrying us up and down to Wellington to sort out our replacement passports and find new luggage. Big big thanks.

We also tucked into some tasty fish and chips one night to remind us of home though not so sure about the Fried Paua Cakes.

I'm also pleased to retain my title as their most frequent UK visitor as it was my 3rd visit to NZ. Come on all you other Keningales - get your flights booked :)