With so many things to do in Rotorua, from thermal areas to Maori concerts, we did what we do best; had a day off and went shopping. Posted some things home (tried to post our Inca Trail walking sticks but they were too big), we both had hair cuts, bought some CD's for the van and also bought some clothes. Rotorua seems like a really nice town, and it didn't smell (well, whilst we were there it didn't). It was very quiet as well so we were quite happy...

Drove to the visitor centre in Matamata to get the tour of the farm where Hobbiton was filmed in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The location was found by an aerial search; they were looking for a lake with a pine tree next to it. They asked the farmer if they could use his land to make a film; he agreed and once he signed the contract they told him it would be used for Lord of the Rings. The setting is beautiful; very quiet and peaceful (except for the sheep!). T...

Having hopped (Easter Island), skipped (Tahiti) and jumped we find ourselves in New Zealand. Picked up our camper van and headed North. Heading up to the very tip of the country at Cape Reinga tomorrow.