So... I picked up a very weary Gaz at the airport just before 5am, slightly grumpy (both of us!). I tried to get a couple of hours sleep at the hotel before we headed off on our journey south.

Having refuelled Gaz and the car we stopped at Matamata. Gary was about to hit a new level of surrealism with a trip to Hobbiton, the movie set! Having recently filmed 'The hobbit, the desomation of Smaug' the set was in incredible shape. We had an entertaining guide who talked us around the set, allowing for plenty of photos. We stopped at The Green Dragon Inn for a cider and a mahoooosive chunk of pork pie with chutney. Both of us were impressed with the tour which we enjoyed a lot more than we had anticipated.

Another couple of hours in the car and a trip to the Rotarua isite we found ourselves in the Emerald Spa motor lodge. Nice clean accommodation with a pool which we quickly found ourselves in.

We took a long stroll into town and tried some crafted beer in the Croucher microbrewery. I had a glass of pilsners whilst Gaz opted for the Vicars Vice. We had a meal at the Indian Star which came highly rated by LP, but we had less than average service and a menu which appeared to be a thrown back from the 80's. That said, we didn't have to wash up and it tasted OK, even if the sag aloo resembled a bowl of swamp water!