In search of hobbits...

...and so, my friends, not being touristy tourists, we nearly missed out on the Hobbiton tour...as, late in the day, on a rainy afternoon, we wound our way through the rolling hills of Matamata to find the Hobbit farm...surely not many people would be there on such a yuck day in the middle of winter...but it went something like this...

(Hobbit person)  "Do you have an online booking?"
(Kiwi person) "Uh...no...didn't even cross my mind that I would need it"
(HB) "Well...the 3:30 is full...hang on...
(KP) Thinking...oh shit..this is an expensive trip to the gift shop...
(HP) "You just got the last 2 seats on the last tour of the day at 4 o'clock"
(KP) "Whew!")

Just a cool $75 each to get in (I'll never moan about Disneyland entry prices again!) and we were off.  P.S. There is no local price.  It seems we are one happy, global whanau, and we all pay the same!

A great day in Hobbiton

A hobbit hole, complete with vege garden

Visiting...

So as not to get lost...

A beer and a cider (complimentary) at the Green Dragon pub

The Green Dragon Pub!

Rotovegas!

Tourist stuff!

Te Puia thermal area - Pohutu geyser doing its thing

The consummate tourist shot!

Not a postcard...just my amazing pic!

Hmm...I wonder....

Nec minit....

Food glorious food!

Hastings - barbee cooked by the bro!

Eat, drink and be merry they said...and so we took them literally!

Wellington - brekky

Hastings - Steak pie with salad and tomato stuff 

Some samples of food that we ate...on the way around the island...just some...nowhere near all...amazing!

Martinborough - Pancakes with bacon and banana (and blueberries and maple and cream!)

Tinui family dinner - Roast lamb, roast veges and gravy

Rotorua - Bread and dips (oh, and wine!)

Weta Workshop

Here's where it all began...a very ordinary-looking place...

So off we went, to Peter Jackson's place.  To describe it as understated is, well, understated.  Amazing kiwi ingenuity and attitude all around.  Really enjoyed the visit and Sheryl now has new ways to use her work equipment - creating swords and weapons and stuff!

...with some extraordinary inhabitants!

My new mate - he's a local

Sheryl's new mate...local too

...and the kids in the yard...

Friday night in the big town!

So...regular Friday stuff...groceries, laundry, gardening, extensive cups of tea...holiday at its finest.  Dinner at 'The Club' - a service club similar to the RSA, which is similar to the American Legion gave Sheryl an opportunity (another one!) to experience a New Zealand that most tourists never see.  She is ever appreciative of such opportunities! Pool, darts, raffles, indoor bowls, onsite pokie machines, gambling on horses, greyhounds and anything else that moves!

We continue to eat our way around the country, and nothing happens without a cup of tea first.  Big rugby final tomorrow night, and the melodious tones of the start of 'Coronation Street' calling me from the lounge! Must go!

Hawkes Bay

So mostly we have been zipping around the Hawkes Bay doing touristy things - "stand there for a photo" reverberating around the hills and tourist points. Great weather...not cold...sitting out in the sun (until the sun goes down and we are done!).

National Aquarium, Napier

Bro, me and Pania - glad Pania is smiling!

Jake and Kiri...and water!

Napier harbour - gorgeous!



Lunch at the Thirsty Whale on the Napier waterfront

Te Mata Peak

Nope, it's not photo-shopped, it's real!

Anyone for a quick jump???

A Kiwi Saturday Morning

Rippa Rugby is where we start. 

Nephew Ben being a star with the ball

Changing boots on the tailgate of the car.  Does it get any cuter?

On to hockey we go, and here is niece Charlize taking the field

Classic mouthguard pic

Crossed the road to check out the netball - nobody we know but definitely part of the NZ Saturday morning

Sports is huge in New Zealand, and we start young!  Saturday morning sports is the norm.  Kids are out on the rugby/soccer/hockey field or on netball courts everywhere.  It's a great time to hang out and yak, drink coffee, eat sausages (a great fundraiser!) or anything else to keep warm on a crisp morning! Then, in the evening, we are back at it, watching the Wellington Hurricanes beat the Brumbies (Auzzies...blagh!) - this time with a beer to keep warm...in front of the telly...HURRICANES!

He aha te mea nui o te ao? What is the most important thing in the world?

You know, the real reason to come home is whanau and friends - that about sums it up really.  Here is a wee insight...

 

 



Twins! No, not me and Blair, the girls!

An evening in Paris with Aunty Sheenagh

Charlie and the spoon move!

Charlie - isn't he gorgeous!

Look at these pics from the last time I was here guys.  You were all so little!

Here's to the girls!  Cheers!

Aunty Diane and us

Te Papatongarewa - our national museum

Spent a great day at Te Papa - great day to be inside as it happens. There is currently {and for the next 4 years) a special exhibit regarding the battle at Gallipoli where NZ and Australia fought a long battle and lost a lot of men for no real return - bit of a screw up actually.  The figures were created by Weta Workshop (of Lord of the Rings fame) and were 2 1/2 times the size of a real person -amazing detail.   That was only a small part of an amazing museum that we could have spent much longer at.

'Gallipoli - the cost of war'exhibit - amazing!

The external entrance to the marae at Te Papa

Te waharoa - the gateway

Random architecture

Some random shots of some random buildings ...

 

Residential - right opposite cousin's - right out the window actually (the neighbours will never know!)

The Overseas Terminal - used to be for ships arriving, now fantastic apartments right in the city.

Private hospital where my cousin (yes, same cousin) is the hospital manager