Hobbiton!

We are going on a very big adventure. Awake quite early we pack the cases and have a breakfast of fruit salad and toast. We check out of the Arista and load up the car and are in our way to Hobbiton about an hours drive away.

The rain is lashing down as we get near to our destination, proper cats and dogs stuff. As we arrive at Hobbiton though the rain stops and the sun breaks through, a good omen. We purchase tickets, an eye-watering NZD75.00 each and are on the 11:00 tour so kill time in the Cafe with a drink and a very nich cheese scone to share.

We are soon boarding the bus to the movie set and after a few minutes are there. On the set are about 40 different Hobbit holes of all shapes and sizes used for the filming, some are quite small and used in forced perspective shots while others admit a fully grown human. We pose for loads of photographs, especially outside Bag End and Samwises' house.

It was rather cold, but the bright sunshine makes it look idyllic.

The it is off to the rather muddy party field and party tree, before finushing off at the Green Dragon with a complimentary glass of ale for me and cider for Victoria. We share a mousetrap (cheese and ham on sour dough, sans ham for us), before boarding the coach back to base camp and a browse if the souvenir shop for a few trinkets.

As we left the Green Dragon it started raining again, looks like we were very lucky with our time-slot.

At about £75.00 for an hour and a halfs entertainment, it is very expensive for what it is, but I would not have missed it.

Back in the car we decide to hit the coast and drive over the fantastic winding pass over the highlands to Tauranga on Hwy29. We stop for a photo opportunity at Mount Maunganui but the wind is owling a gale. We get on Hwy2 back towards Auckland and the wind and rain is now coming in very strong.

There is some beautiful scenery along the route.

We stop at Paeroa for a taste of some L&P - world famous in New Zealand - and a light bite before resuming our journey. Not before it was my turn to stick my head through an amusing sign!

Arriving back at Auckland Airport we drop off the car at Apex and then check into the Novotel. We share a beer and a cocktail and a game of Carcassonne in the bar before retiring to the room for a light supper, more Carcassone and to polish off that bottle of red we purchased in Auckland on Saturday.

Setting the alarm for 05:30 we crash out. Off to Tokyo tomorrow.

Rotarua

Our first full day in Rotarua starts with a good lie-in, I don't get up until about 09:00 and after showering I prepared some breakfast in the apartment, fruit salad with yogurt followed by some toast. Then it is off into town to explore Roturua.

As we could not book the flights on Mountain Air yesterday we go to the Volcanic Air offices on the lakeside and book the "Crater Lakes Flight" float-plane excursion for 11:45 that morning then we go off to do a little exploring, walking through the Maori village and marvelling at all the geothermal activity around us.

We get back to the lake side and have half an hour to kill before the flight so we go to the cafe and have our first try of a Neenish, a lovely lemon flavoured tart that we shared.

Suitably fortified for our adventures we book in at Volcanic Air and are introduced to our pilot, Rosie, who will be flying us today. We then take a photo opportunity with the float plane and are then boarded and taxiing out on to Lake Roturua. Rosie points us into the wind and we are soon airborne over the lake.

The flight lasts fifteen minutes - although it felt a lot shorter - and we fly over Lake Roturua, passing Mokoia Island then over Lakes Okataina, Tarawera, Okareki, Rotokakahi (greenlake) and Tikitapu (blue lake) . We then fly over the surrounding forests, the outskirts of Rotarua and land back on the surface of the lake and taxi back to the jetty.

Wow!

Slightly giddy from our great adventure we then drive out to Rainbow Springs an adventure park where you can get up close with New Zealand wildlife. The trout streams, terrariums and free flight aviaries are ace, but even better is the nocturnal setting where day and night have been reversed and you can watch Kiwis, the birds not the locals, foraging for food. One of the three birds we saw is 53 years old!

It was pretty chilly today so we warmed up by sharing a Mac and Cheese in the cafe before embarking on the parks Big Splash themed water ride where you go back in time to prehistoric New Zealand, through the Maori and European arrivals and back to the future by a long drop log flume - excellent, and despite the cold day we went around twice.

Arriving back at the Arista Imade use of the laundry room to do some washing, unfortunately I seem to have washed a Disney Park Map with everything!

It may be winter here, but we are determined to get best value from the facilities. The Arista has a private thermal spa tub for each room, so we fill the pool and grab beers and wine and in we dive.

As it is getting towards dusk we drive back out to Rainbow Springs to catch the nocturnal Kiwis, after aboutan hour of peering into the gloom one comes out of the burrow and pretty much goes straight back in. However, another comes out and can be seen foraging for quite some time. The park looks lovely lit up at night.

It is now time for some dinner, we drive into Rotarua and park up. After far too much choice we settle on the famous Fat Dog, I have Nachos with veggie chilli. Victoria has the veggie burger, I think the photo speaks for itself!