Left Te Kuiti and headed back through Auckland up to Tutukaka for our last 3 nights here. On the way we dropped in to meet another member of David's vast family ( on his Mother's side) a second cousin, Dave, who lives about 100 kms North of Auckland where he and his Kiwi wife have a 10 acre small holding. They used to keep alpacas but now have 2 merino sheep, geese, chickens, 2 horses, 3 dogs, 2 pigs, 1 Dexter calf, 2 cats, 2 guinea pigs and a 6 year old girl...

Ohakune is primarily a base ski resort for the Mount Rapehau area. In the summer months there are walking (tramping in NZ speak) routes including the 4 to 6 day 'round the mountain' which we didn't attempt! We did manage a 2 hour tricky walk to a waterfall and then a fascinating 2 hour round trek to an old viaduct. The route was on an old coach road laid 200 years ago and used until the railway arrived in 1909. The original cobbled road is still visible throug...

10/2 To Napier, on the east coast. Napier's claim to fame is that is was virtually destroyed in Feb 1931 by a 7.8 earthquake and as per the architectural style of that era the town centre was rebuilt in a predominantly Art Deco style. The town plays on this and the facades of many shops and public buildings are maintained and painted in colours appropriate to that age. Napier is a pleasant seaside town with a wide promenade but also has a busy port and in recent...

After Hobbiton we continued our drive to Taupo, the main town on the Northern edge of Lake Taupo, the enormous inland freshwater lake formed 26,500 years ago by a gigantic seismic explosion. Our accomodation is right by the edge of the lake. We had previously arranged to meet up with someone David worked with many years ago and who was, coincidently, on holiday in the area with his wife and their NZ friends.We had a great evening, eating at a highly acclaimed lo...

We left Auckland and headed south, aiming for Taupo but with a diversion en route to visit the now permanent site of Hobbiton, built of course for the indulgence of Peter Jackson. As we had to pass within 20 kms of the site it just had to be done! David does not share my love for all things Middle Earth so amused himself for 3 hours while I took the tour. It was better than I was expecting and I can see why PJ chose the location. Even before the hobbit holes w...