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