Taupo

Today we drove from Rotorua to Taupo...all of an hour!! We stopped at Huka Falls to have a look

This was from a look out above the falls

A boat came up the river as we were watching, the oower of the water just pushed kt backwards

From the path beside the falls

And off goes the river.

We called at the info centre to get Eve some postcards

This took my fancy!! I could sit here for hours.

Love this carved panel

I went for a walk in the late afternoon, it is still hot, it was a pleasure to get near the lake and get a breeze. There is an art trail here so had a look at a few of them

This was made form glass and signifies a maori cloak 

This is for all the people who have come to Taupo and settled here.

There weresome interesting sculptures in the park

This was another sculpture and over the road were

Two guys who had riden up to the Mulligans Bar and hopped off for a beer, not something you see everyday.

Last of the art works.....better think about dinner soon I 'spose.

Happy days.

Rotorua...photo heavy

We were up bright and early this morning to go on a small group tour to some places around Rotorua. Turned out we were the only people,  so was a private tour!!
We started at Ohinemutu at the Maori village there...I don't knkw hoe people live here as there is steam coming up everywhere, there would be no problem heating your house in winter!!

Here we are outside the meeting house

Imagine this in your yard, you could boil an egg in 2 mins or cook corn on the cob.

Looking over the lake to Mokoia Island

Frkm there we went out towards Wai-O-Tapu and stopped to see the boiling mud on the way

I didn't think the smell was strong or bad but a young American girl was retching as she was going down the path, she was not a happy camper!!

Mud in action.

From there we went to see Lady Knox geyser along with hundreds of other tourists, something is put down the geyser to encourage it to erupt on time, 10.30 thanks, it does it other times by itself  but is not conducive to tourism!!

When we arrived

Cameras at the ready

Here we go! It shot water up to about 5 meters but was hard to photo with the tablet.

From there we went into Wai-O-Tapu and did a 1.5km walk around to look at the craters and boiling things

One of the ink pot craters

The Champange pool , the overflow brings lots of minerals with it causing all the different colours.

Another crater, could be Inferno Crater.

Lots of sulphur around this one.

We came back to the motel for lunch, then headed out to have a look at the Lake

One tiny corner of Lake Rotorua. As we were driving around we heard bagpipes so found a park and had a watch and listen

We missed the competition that was on but got to see the massed bands which was awesome. 

My favourite building in Rotorua which now houses the museum, originally it was the bath house building where people used to come and "take" the waters here...great mineral water to cure all ills!!!

 Are you still awake???

I will finish up for now. 

Kia Ora.

Blogging friend

Today we drove (with only a few wrong turns) to Kihi Kihi, just out of Te
Awamutu and to Threadbare Cottage and to Julie. We have met through blogging and we thought it would be wonderful to meet in person this time I was in New Zealand.

Julie made us a beautiful lunch, we had a bit of a chat and then had a look at her wonderful cottage....I  wish I  could put smell into a blog post as the smell going into the cottage was just heavenly!!!

We received a special welcome to the cottage....how good is that!!

Here is a look inside at some of the beautiful things on sale

The other end of the shop, there were so many things I would have liked to take home with me, Julie makes so many lovely things.

We were given a gift each in a personalised bag

I have untied the bow so it isn't as pretty as when I was given it!! Inside was

This, which opened up to

These, which the tablet has put sideways once again!!!

The mug mat smells of cloves and is just heavenly and the soap has lavender and calendula in it and also smells divine!!! It will be beside my bed tonight. 

I did buy a couple of things that I couldn't resist, but they are wrapped jn bubble wrap to get home, so should stay that way for now. 

We had a wander around the garden, the cats Blackie and Pippi kept well away from us strangers, then the time  came to take our leave.  We had a wonderful visit, thank you Julie for making us so welcome and for looking after us so well.

From Julies we drove for just over an hour to Rotorua and I am pleased to say we didn't get lost...thank you Julie for the directions,  they were spot on!! We went to the tourist info centre to get a map to find the motel and found we were not far down the road. We settled in...we are in an upstairs unit so that meant carrying everything yp the stairs......had a cuppa and then it was time to go out again to Te Puia and a Maori cultural evening.

We saw the opening of the hangi, then were officially welcomed onto the marae and into the meeting house.  Then there was a musical performance, with tourists going up on stage to join in, then we had dinner, a feast  of food, including pavlova.....I was sitting next to an Aussie from Brisbane,  so a lively debate went on all evening as to where the pavlova was first made...I won, although I think he thought he won!! Lol!!

To dinish the evening off we went to see the geyser but sadly it had performed before we got there. 

Enough from me for one day, time for bed!

More culture to see tomorrow.

Happy days.

Hobbiton bound

Today we have driven from Paeroa to Matamata.....it took us about an hour. We left Paeroa earlier than expected because there was no hot water for a shower.....nomone a good the motel had hot water...so a basin wash it was and off we went. The info centre at Matamata looks like a hobbit house for giants, the photos are on the  amera sadly not here, but after a look around we set off for Hobbiton and got on our 11am tour. We met Jenny and her daughter Jessica there. I was blown away by the movie set, we had a guide who walked us around and explained what had been used in the movie and at which part

Of course I took photos of many hobbit houses!!! 

The film set has been established on a beef and sheep farm that covers 1250 acres. 

Originally the homes were made from polystyrene, untreated timber and ply

The road in from the edge of the farm was put in by the army, we were told they were not busy that day!!!! The army also handled logistics of moving all that was required on set at all the different locations and then they played the Orcs!!!!

With the start of the last movies in 2009 the Hobbit homes were rebuilt over two years, and today they are well maintained 

There were many Monarch butterflies fluttering around and lost of bumble bees, my favourite bees) buzzing around in the flowers.

The vege gardens are real and the gardeners are having a competition to see who can grown the biggest pumpkin!!

This pond was created as part of the movie set and as soon as it was filled up many frogs moved in. When filming started Sir Peter Jackson asked for them to all be removed to another pond as they were louder than the actors talking! ! Lol!!

The woodcutters wheelbarrow

Looking from the Hobbit village over to the Green Dragon.

This was the only Hobbit house we could go into,  some were not safe, others the gardens were being protected from many tourist feet.

More houses in the hillside

Another view to  the Green Dragon.

The flour mill

And here we go into the Green Dragon for a ginger beer, pale ale, cider and another beer we can't remember!! From here we went back to the bus and were driven off the movie set and back to the tourist centre, where we had lunch. It was a great day out, loved Hobbiton and would recommend it to anyone going near.

 We are now at Opal Springs just out of Matamata in what feels like a luxury unit..even has hot water!!! 😀 I have been in for a swim in the pools, one for swimming and two for sitting, the hottest is 49 degC, so good for taking away the aches of the day.

Might go for another soak before bed.

My token sewing effort...one little star.

Happy days.