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From Matamata we head for the city of Rotorua. The entire place is alive with geothermal activity and the stench of sulfur. Our first stop is a familiar place, the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserves which was a part of Amazing Race 2. The park is home to boiling mud pools and active geysers that shoot out boiling water and steam the whole day long.

At a farm for a show reminiscent of the movie “Babe”, we saw how different breeds of sheep dogs were used to herd and classify sheep. In New Zealand everywhere you look there are sheep, sheep and more sheep. Sheep outnumber humans 15:1. My brother got to milk a cow while my sister got to feed a baby goat; I got some wool to take home after a shearing demo.

The day ended with a spectacular Maori concert, depicting their hero Maui and the Legend of New Zealand. The Maori, New Zealand’s natives are like most Polynesian folk in looks and culture. Maori traditions are highly regarded and followed by Kiwis (the name New Zealanders are referred to).

Day 3 brought us to the Tongariro National Park where we got to see Mount Ruapehu used for Mount Doom in the movie. Also on the itinerary was a trip to the Iwikau Village the location for Mordor. The long drive to the capitol city of Wellington brings us past the Rangitikei River Gorge which was the back drop for the River Anduin.

Highlights in Wellington include a visit to Mt. Victoria where they shot several scenes including the frightening encounter where the hobbits hid from the Nazgul under a huge root.

Wellington is also the home of Peter Jackson (right, bottom). Day 4 saw us drive by his house on our way to the Chocolate Fish Cafe (right, top) which was where the LOTR movies were conceptualized, and where the cast and crew would regularly meet. The Embassy Theater site of the world premier of Return of the King no longer had a huge Nazgul on top of it; we were disappointed to hear it was taken down a few days before we arrived.

That same day we left New Zealand’s North Island. At the Wellington airport we were both surprised and thrilled to see Gollum perched on top the arrival area reaching for a large ring. We were late by just a week because they had people dressed as the Riders of Rohan and soldiers from Gondor all over the airport the week before.

Upon arriving in the South Island we were treated to the colors of fall. Seasons in the southern hemisphere are the exact opposite from what we are used to. In the middle of May it was Autumn, the perfect time to stroll through the Christchurch Botanical gardens. Christchurch which is referred to New Zealand’s Garden City, is very much like London.
 
 

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v1.0 updated 21-May-2004   

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