Thursday, 29 October 2015

New Zealand. In September we took a trip to the North Island of New Zealand. We started at the top in Auckland and drove down to Wellington in the south and back up to Auckland. We visited Rotarua, known for geothermal activity, saw how kiwis grow, spent some time in Hobbiton, and visited Weta Workshops, where they did many of the special effects for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.

At Sky City in Auckland, NZ
Auckland
In the observation tower



At the Planetarium in Auckland


Hobbiton Tours

Welcome to Hobbiton
Hobbiton

Hobbits!

At Bilbo's birthday party









Bridge over the Brandywine River

The Green Dragon Inn

Maple enjoy's a pint at the Green Dragon

Maple at Hobbiton



Kiwi 360, a kiwi plantation
Kiwi 360



On the tour

Kiwi's on the vine

By the Big Kiwi









Under the kiwi trees

Geothermal park in Rotorua , NZ
Rotarua

Natural hotsprings

A cultural evening

Doing the Haka, a Maori war dance
Haka


Watch for Trolls!
Weta Workshops

'ow do these cook up, then?


With Gollum at the Weta workshops in Wellington

At the Wellington Zoo

a red panda

Middle Earth, AKA New Zealand

A black sand beach on the North Island of NZ








On the Ferry to Devonport, across the harbour from Auckland
Devonport

Bunker vents on Mt Victoria, at Devonport.
Artillery guns guarded the harbour during WWI.
Vents are now painted like mushrooms.

On the Ferry ride back



Friday, 16 October 2015

Football, Soccer and Norman. Mike had a good Footy season. His team, the Trafalgar Bloods, got as far as the grand final, but lost. They got silver for the season. Veronica's soccer team played hard but didn't get into the grand finals. She won the Player's Player award. The winner is chosen by the team. In August, we also had Brenda's cousin Norman come for a short visit.

Mike after a playing on a very wet football oval

Number 18!

A visit to the Hermitage Exhibit at the Melbourne Art museum

Norman enjoys an Aussie burger with "the lot"

On Safari at the Werribee Zoo


Lolly break at half-time

Number 14

A cold day for soccer. Veronica, Tom, and our good friend  Carl Richardson

Grand final Banner

Getting fired up before the grand final


Back Pocket

Avid Fan!

Half-time strategy session

Score says it all. The Bloods go down. by 44 points


Getting the Silver


Football awards ceremony. 




Soccer awards
School concert. Mike sings...
Random action shots

The Player's Player
Silver medal. More Bling