More NZ Postcards from Hobbiton, Rotorua and Taupo

New Zealand is divided into 2 islands: North Island and the South Island.

One of the hobbit houses in the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, North Island.

Our road trip began in Auckland and we managed to visit many places along the way in the North Island.

In this entry are just a few pictures highlighting our road trip stops in Rotorua and Lake Taupo which were the first 2 days of the road trip. I was quite amazed to see and learn that there were just so many things to see and do. It is too bad that we do not have enough time. I mean don't we all not have any enough time?

I have added a few Hobbiton pictures here as well, which is not part of our road trip. I went here on my own after our road trip. For those who do not know what Hobbiton is, it's the Hobbit scene from the famous Lord of the Rings book/movie.

I cannot really help but laugh with this Maori sticking out the whole tongue and scary bulging eyes. It is actually a serious thing not to be laughed about. It is part of the battle ritual to intimidate the opponent.

The Maori town hall in Whakarewarewa.

We visited the Whakarewarewa village in Rotorua. This is one of the Maori villages that sit on a geothermal terrain. Those are hot pools. The Maoris living here cook and bathe on these pools.

There is also a hot lake in Whakarewarewa and it was quite nice that they have installed a walking path through it. Very surreal here.

Our first picnic stop on this road trip! Thanks to my friend Hen who provided us these goodies including the wine. Camembert cheese, liver pate, nuts and dried fruits, blueberries, gourmet toasts with almonds and an Oyster Bay Chardonnay wine.

We visited the Rotorua Night Market where we bought our dinner. The night market was just timely that it was on the night we were in the city. We did search for the crab foodstall but couldn't find it so we were stuck to having barbecue and pad thai for dinner.

Because Rotorua is a known health and spa town in New Zealand, we grabbed our chance and went to Hell's Gate for the mud and the pools. Well, under the bright starry night. Great evening start for a road trip!

Who wants to wake up to this every morning? I was having my very early morning breakfast here on my own because SisterJ and Myrhh were still sleeping hehe. I joined them later again for a cup of coffee.

Beautiful lake in Rotorua where we camped on our first night of the road trip. That's our house on the road. It is a self-contained campervan from Jucy which means it has a kitchen, a toilet, and a bath, and sleeps 3 people.

We stopped also in Lake Taupo on the way down south.

I visited the Hobbiton Movie Set after the road trip on my own. I know it is very touristy and not really original as it is a concept from a book later made alive in the movie, but the place is magical.

These are just the highlights. More detailed stories and pictures very soon.

Travel Period: May 2018
Destinations:

Hobbiton in Matamata (Waikato), North Island
Lake Taupo (Waikato), North Island
Rotorua (Bay of Plenty), North Island

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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)

All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.