Month: March 2015

So we can spend as much time as possible in the South Island we have a big drive ahead of us today. All the way to Wellington so we can catch the 6.30pm ferry to Picton on. 7 hours drive from Taupo but we made it on to the ferry.  

     

  

After Hobbiton we left for our campsite at Lake Taupo. It was a nice drive in the evening sun.Taupo is in the middle of the thermal reserve and produces its electricity from hydro electric and thermal heat changing. Both Taupo and Rotarua have a unique aroma of rotten eggs.

    

The Hobbiton set is deep in the hills near Matamata. The set was rebuilt for The Hobbit Trilogy as a permenant feature as the original set was made of plywood and polystyrene and only meant as a temporary structure for the Lord of the Rings films.

The family who owned the land approached Peter Jackson and the film company to see if they could turn it into a tourist attraction after filming had finished.

There are several full size, 90% and 60% Hobbit holes so the film makers could use trick photography to make the actors look like Hobbits who were no more than 5ft 4in.

  

   

   

   

     

   

   

So Monday morning we are ready to set off on our adventure. Everything packed and reay to go

We spent the morning saying goodbye to some of the relatives

 

A warm start to the day

Well today was family day with people from the UK, Australia and New Zealand meeting up for a traditional kiwi BBQ

Family old and new met and had a great time in the late summer Sun

we spent our first full night in the camper, which was fun and soon we head South.

down to the beach to walk the dogs, play football and then a fish supper. Red Snapper is the fish of choice and very nice it is too. It turned a bit cold for the oldies so we ate in the van.

 

 

 

 

Mr Fuzzy & Mr Nuts waiting for the ferry to Auckland