Welcome to Wellington!

Upon arriving in Wellington we had a drive tour of the city on the way up to Weta Cave’s mini-museum of all the films that were filmed in NZ! I knew of the LOTR and Hobbit trilogies as well as Avatar but was shocked to see so many other titles. Apparently New Zealand is a relatively cheap country to make movies in and it is also easily adaptable to look like a variety of other settings.

Next up was the 360-degree view at the top of Mount Victoria

We then drove through the tunnel in the mountain which is nicknamed ‘two-toot tunnel’ as for some reason everyone spends the duration tooting their horns at each other.

We spent the afternoon at the National Museum seeing New Zealand’s prize possession – the giant colossal squid as well as some more Māori cultural buildings.

We had a great night out in Wellington, it’s a fantastic town full of plenty of young people and plenty of clubs

Lake Taupo and Tongariro

Today we stopped off at the beautiful Lake Taupo for lunch, time to catch up on a little admin and relax in the park before moving onto Tongariro National park for the next couple of days.

We took the very scary ski lift up to the mountain in the hunt for some snow and were in luck!! Although it did cost us out freezing legs (some idiot forgot to wear trousers!!)

Once we got back to the hotel I spent the afternoon in the spa and went for a nap around 4pm…. Although didn’t wake up until the next morning!! Looks like travelling has finally caught up with me!

ROTTorua

On our way to our final destination for the day we drove through the town of Matamata – often known as Hobbiton due to it being the closest town to the farm where some of the LOTR and Hobbit trilogies were filmed.

Before we got to Rotorua we’d been warmed of the smell that was yet to hit us but I don’t think anything could have prepared us for it when we got to the natural hot spring. I’ve never smelt something that was literally so rotten. Rotorua in Maori means two lakes (as there is two lakes in the town) however I think it is more fitting due to the ROTTing smell!!

That evening we spent the night in a Maori Marae (traditional house) where we were initiated into the tribe after performing a welcome song. We had a wonderful dinner prepared by the family and then we’re able to watch and take part in the traditional dances – which definitely weren’t as easy as they looked! Traditional story time from the father of the house Sean before an early night ready for the early morning!

We spent the day rafting down a 7 metre waterfall and finished up in the Hobbiton farm grounds where the actual set is held.

Māori translations

On the way to Cape Reinga (the furthest northern point of New Zealand) we passed through a variety of towns with historical significance for the Māori people. We were told a variety of stories about tribal differences and fights other the years as well as how Captain Cook came over with the Europeans to begin settlement.

Our comical guide took us through a town named (in Māori) Long Harbour, which actually didn’t have a very long harbour at all and another town named Big River which again wasn’t very big at all. She warned us that the morale of the story was never to trust Māori men when they claim something is big or long..!

When we got to Cape Reinga we had a walk to the lighthouse, from which you get beautiful views of Spirits Bay and the beach of Cape Reinga. You can also see the point where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.

There is also a very cool signpost which got me thinking about my next destination…

We had lunch on the beach, which of course meant eating in record time then heading down to the water to have a quick dip – although it didn’t make it past my toes!!! It was freeeezing! Definitely not in Australia anymore..
The highlight of the day was of course… SAND DUNE SURFING!! It was a long painful walk to the top but it was definitely made worthwhile when you could just jump on your board and surf all the way to the bottom! (With ouch worrying about falling off every two seconds like actual surfing – yes I’m rubbish at that!)

On the way back to the hotel we stopped off at a fish and chips shop which claimed to be the best in New Zealand. It most definitely had nothing on my local (big up Devon) but I do feel sorry for New Zealanders if this is the best they have! The town we stopped off in was called Manguoi – which translates to big shark… Quite glad we didn’t go swimming there!

Our final stop of the day was a 5 minute walk around the rainforest along a very expensive path which was built for the Queens visit (of course she never actually walked far along it) but what did they decide to name it?…. Mangina-ngina