Soooo excited!! We drop off the camper and make tracks for the airport boarding around 11am. The plane is great, really comfortable and were delighted to discover it's unlimited drinks (dangerous) and the food is not too shabby! We aren't sat together though, Jacqs a row infront of Matt and makes friends with a Hawaiian teacher called Kay whose been on a programme in new Zealand. We have unlimited movies also and indulge In the Hobbit trilogy for the journey onl...

Woke up by the bay late, Matts wrecked driving so we lay in until 10.30 and head off in search of the airport. We don't fly until tomorrow but as it's so close Jacq wanted to check in with the New Zealand airlines as we booked our flight via a useless agency hat has no contact details to enquire about adding a case for the guitar. The airport is fairly big but easy enough to find the airline she's delighted to discover the flight includes two cases and all food a...

We have not really slept being soooo excited and all and get to the door for a 9.30am tour costing $75 each. We are like kids as we board the bus into Alexander Farm where the magic happened first in 1999. It's only a 5 min drive and we are taken by coach. We arrive to the entry point of the Shire and our guide gives us great knowledge of it all during filming and Peter Jackson himself. This was initially, in 1999, an artificial set which was easily disposed of...

Not fussed on hanging around and with so much to do we make tracks for Taupo early. It's off to discover hot springs and the "craters of the moon" today. We decide to start at the tourist info spot to get a better grasp on our route. The lady there does our head in quite quickly promoting expensive tours we just want info on what's free really being on a budget - her response "nothing is free" we grab a map and head off. We make tracks firstly to the occupied M...

Woke up at Picton rugby club for our ferry ride to Wellington nice enough free campsite with decent loos which is always a luxury! We set off to the local library stuck doing annoying flat sale carry on for our solicitor back in England - noisiest library ever! Load of foreign cruise types face timing families much to the dismay of locals. We headed to the ferry terminal, our ferry is delayed half an hour so we make use of the showers at $2 a pop - bargain can...