Then drove north to Palmerston North, NZ. No good scenery. Lots of cows and sheep farms. After a night there, went north to Hamilton to rest for the night. Again, nothing worth a photo. The next day we drove north to Auckland to the Fed Ex office to pick up our passports that have been returned from the India Embassy in the US with our visa pasted into the passport. We were a little concerned that we were here without our passports for several weeks that it took to do this when we had booked trips for the next 3 months in various countries that we could not change. After feeling relief, we went southeast to a small town of Whakatane, NZ where we stay for 3 days. Took a long walk on a very humid day and worked up a soaking sweat. No scenery. Next day drove along the coast heading east just for some scenery and found some, but nothing compared to what we saw on the south island.
Next we drove west to see the west side of the island that we had not seen when we were on the north island earlier. Had to make sure that we stopped at a place to watch the Super Bowl by 2:20 pm on Monday the 2nd. Stayed in Rotorua overnight and then headed further west the next day to New Plymouth.
February 3 - 5, 2015 - Went to view some scenery around the area. It was rainy off and on so the clarity was not the best. Unable to see the top of the high mountain yet as it has been shrouded in clouds.
We came across this place where the movie "The Hobbit, an unexpected journey was filmed". At least a portion of it was filmed here. We stopped for a tour and were the only people on the tour and had a fantastic guide named Warrick that gave us a prolonged tour along with a ton of info on the filming and the site. Great visit!
A sword battle scene was filmed here.
Our 2 heroes drawing their swords.
Another scene from the movie location and I am standing on the yellow "X" that marks the spot that the actor is to stand on.
These are real swords.
This is a walk along the beach that is left after the tide goes out. It is all filled with water when the tide comes in.
These formations are called the 3 sisters. This is also the 3rd time on our travels that we have run into a formation called the 3 sisters.
Went for another ride to check out a lighthouse that was very difficult to get to, but we managed to get past the cows guarding it.
Went out for a ride down some back roads and found this garden park in the middle of nowhere and down a number of one lane roads.
Hundred year old water wheel that still operates.
This is rainforest.
Out to the coast. Tasman Sea.
