Our first stop was just outside Matamata about 120 miles from Auckland at the Hobbiton Movie Set. We'd prebooked a 12 noon tour and made it with about 30 minutes to spare. The movie set is on a very large sheep farm (yes our first glimpse of sheep was here!!!) which fulfilled Peter Jackson's requirements for rolling hills, a large lake and a big tree. When they used it for the Lord of the Rings films, the farmer had never heard of the books and the rugby was...

Very excited when we woke up and found ourselves docked at the main pier in Auckland. It's right in the centre of town, literally across the road from the city centre. We had packed last night so after breakfast we began the process of getting off the ship. Some slight confusions as to what forms we had to fill in, but eventually we were checked in as arriving in New Zealand and we went to look for our hire car. That was supposed to be there for 8am but fin...

Woke up to a beautiful day. Blue sky, nice warm sunshine. About 25C so not too hot either. We were just entering the Bay of Islands at around 7am. What a gorgeous place! A massive deep bay and natural harbour studded with islands of all sizes and everything so very green. The sea was very calm which was a wonderful change too after the last few days. We had breakfast and then went down to Reception to pick up the dive bag. It was here that we got so...

What a very eventful day! So nice to wake up to find the sea quietening down and a bit of sun. Still quite a large swell but definitely beginning to die away. We decided to have a leisurely morning and so we didn't even get up till after 10:30 and then we went up to breakfast, skipping art just for one day. At 12:15 it was the Photography Club prize photo screening and awards in the Playhouse. I was so pleased to see that they showed 4 or 5 of my phot...

The Day That Never Was has been and gone. Woke up to Monday morning…. And still the squall rages on. Force 9/10 last night and water flooded the aft show lounge!!!!! Not entirely sure how… The ship's satellite tv has been knocked out, probably blew down last night. Apparently, this weather will continue today and tomorrow and then the forecast for the Bay of Islands, New Zealand is sunny and warm. Fingers crossed as we have diving booked there. Afte...