New Zealand 12 - Rotorua

We visited Rotorua in 2018.  It was torrential rain all the time we were there.  Despite that, it was the place I most wanted to revisit.  

The first morning was spent touring round some of the lakes in the region.

And a walk along the Okere Falls, this is a pleasant walk alongside the river with multiple drops and rapids.  

On the way back to Rotorua we went on the Redwoods Walk.   A treehuggers delight.  An aerial walkway suspended between mature redwood trees.  For the most part these were planted around 100 years ago, so big but not California Redwood big.  

But there was a cross section of a tree that was over 2,000 years old.

Rotorua is associated with the geo-thermals, and the next day we saw a few.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley was formed after an eruption in 1886.  It is a fascinating place as you follow water down the valley.  

There are several lakes, and flat areas where the minerals and algae have coloured the rocks.  

When we arrived there were few people and they were well spread out.  The valley is not particularly developed, and the vegetation changes along the valley.  The valley felt very natural and unspoilt.  

After a couple of hours walking we reached the end of the valley where it reached the lake - and caught a bus back to the car park

After the valley there was the mud pool.  Gas is constantly bubbling through the hot liquid mud, making some quite “interesting” sounds.  There was a mist ver the pool and getting downwind really cleared the sinuses!  It was one of those times I was happy to have a terrible sense of smell!

Back into Rotorua we went on a walk to the lake via Kuirau Park.  This is a geothermal park that would be a major feature almost anywhere else, in Rotorua it’s just a public park.

And then at the lake it was  a visit to the Polynesian Spa.  I found my favourite pool, a 40 degrees alkaline pool, where I basically cooked but with great views over Lake Rotorua.

New Zealand 11 - Hobbiton

There were a lot of places we visited that had Lord of the Rings / Hobbit connections, but Hobbiton was the only place we visited specifically because of Peter Jackson.

We went in 2018 and wanted to go again, the experience was different.  The grounds have matured more.  The hobbit holes are surrounded by landscaping.  This has developed over the years.  We visited earlier in the summer this time, so different plants were in flower.

There are now two Hobbit holes.  You only can go into one as part of the tour.  It took 9 months to build the holes by a team who had worked on the films.  They are magnificent, the attention to detail is beyond belief - The noticeboard contains fliers and invites for groups and events in Hobbiton.  

The tour effectively finished at the Green Dragon

The tour might have changed - but it was still brilliant.

New Zealand 10 - Wellington

The first view of the North Island.

Wellington from the sea.

We caught up with a friend and just wandered for a while. 

Then headed to the Weta Workshop.  The place was amazing.  There’s no photography for much of the tour.  

There are three trolls outside, Gollum and Lurtz in the foyer. 

There are plenty of other Middle Earth characters along with characters from the many other films Weta have worked on.  The tour covers several rooms dealing with different aspects of the special affects - modelling, costumes, armoury.  Each room had a presentation either by a video or an artist, and then the chance to view examples up close.

The next day we did more of a tour.  Starting with a trip up the cable car (funicular) 

Then a short bus ride to Zealandia.  This is a 560-acre sanctuary for flightless birds protected by a predator-proof fence, centred on one of Wellington’s old reservoirs, about 5km from the centre of town.  Even without the birdlife, it would have been a great walk. 

Then back into the centre via the botanic gardens.

We then meandered to Te Papa Museum.  

One gallery was based on Gallipoli - and the stories of New Zealand soldiers during the campaign, very effective multimedia, and amazing oversized figures from Weta.

The natural history element was different to anywhere else I’ve been due to combining Maori beliefs with science.

Wellington Airport had a Smaug model, and Gandalf riding a giant eagle flying over the waiting area.