September 25,
2013: RUSSELL TO ROTORUA
This was a
long day as we were to drive from Russell in the Northland south past Auckland
to Rotorua in the center of the island. Of course, we had to watch the first
race of the day in the America's Cup sailing regatta. Team USA won the race and
the second race we missed on our drive. The match is now even at 8-8 despite
USA's two race penalty.
Whatever
storm had passed in the night had moderated by morning. There was no rain where
we were. The drive south was pleasant as I was more comfortable in the car now.
We were ready to head into some curvy hill roads when we encountered a detour
sending us east toward the ocean. This was somewhere between Whangarei and
Wellsford on your maps. Whatever the reason for the detour, our car passed some
small towns and farms and some curves that slowed us down considerably. It
rained on and off. We came within fifty
yards of the roiling surf in a place called Waipu Cove. Once back on Highway 1
we made good time. The traffic through Auckland was heavy but we made good time
as the signage was clear. Past the city we stopped for lunch at McDonald's. as
everywhere else prices for food are high here. A simple burger is $2.00.
On our way
south the tropical foliage of palms and cycads gave way to deciduous trees. As
this is the start of the New Zealand spring we were not surprised to see
budding trees and many cherry blossoms along the road and in yards. The next
large town we encountered was Hamilton. With grassy expanses of parks along
rivers and lakes this town was charming as was Cambridge a ways further. In
these towns we came to several roundabouts where the directions and my
unfamiliarity with NZ driving rules presented some confusion. In the US we go
counterclockwise, here it is clockwise. We just kept on Hwy 1 until we needed
to go to Hwy 5 toward Rotorua.
As our car
headed into the hills in this area, the tropical greenery were experienced in
the north reappeared and at one time the road seemed to exist in a deep green
tunnel of cycads, palms, and other plants all around us. The road came into
Rotorua along its namesake lake where we promptly got lost. The maps we had did
not appear to match the streets we were on. After traveling a bit we oriented
ourselves to the main thoroughfare, Fenton Street, and we soon found the
Holiday Inn. This is a large hotel at the south end of the town near the
Whakarewarewa geothermal area we detected earlier by its sulfurous smell. Yuck.
We registered quickly and went to our upgraded room on the 4th floor (or 5th
floor as the ground floor is not numbered). Our room faced the town and the
lake northward. Behind the resort were columns of steam rising from the
geothermal pools powered by the region's volcanic nature.
We drove to
the Countdown grocery for food and returned for the night.
September 26,
2013: ROTORUA AND MATAMATA
The day broke
with some sun and clouds. In the distance out our window is Lake Rotorua.
Behind our hotel is the thermal area that is fenced off for safety reasons. A
tour is available to enter the thermal village of Whakarewarewa. I tried to
walk through a decorative gate onto a bridge but was stopped by a guard who
said I would need a ticket. The tour shop had displays about the history of the
area. Apparently there were huge thermal terraces of brilliant colors in the
past. In 1886 a volcanic eruption destroyed these terraces.
Later in the
morning we drove northeast to Matamata where the Hobbiton movie set is located.
We stopped at the local tourist center and got directions to the 1,250 acre
sheep farm where the set was located. The cost for the two hour tour was $75 so
Donna said she would remain at the tour center and shop while I was bused to
the site.
The small bus
navigated over the gravel road that was built by the New Zealand army in
preparation for the movie in 1999. Deep valleys with herds of sheep lay on one
side of the road and after a short ride we arrived at the set. All the
structures here were left to the weather after the first film series was completed.
When plans for The Hobbit series were started, the set was rebuilt and much
attention was spent to make sure the rebuilt set was completely identical to
the first. We walked along gravel paths past dozens of Hobbit homes. Each was
unique and tied visually to the characters who lived there in the film. At the
top of the hill overlooking the village was Bag End, home of Bilbo Baggins. As
these are exterior sets, there are no finished interiors to see. Behind Bilbo's
green door we could see a finished interior wall but that was all there was. I
went into another door to look out the window and have a picture taken. The
only interior was a muddy and rocky floor and a back wall was about four feet or so from the door.
At the end of
the tour we visited the large Green Dragon Inn for a beer before
departing. The original Inn was burned
as part of the third film in Lord of the Rings. The new version was completed
last year and now hosts tour groups, weddings, and meetings. Once back at the
tour center I met Donna and we picked up a few souvenirs.
We drove back
to Rotorua and walked around the shopping district with the intent of having a
dinner at a place call the Pig and Whistle. Regrettably the prices of pigs and
whistles have increased considerably and we could not see spending $15 each for
chowder and bread. So our trusty Holden
hatchback beat a path back to the Holiday Inn where we had ramen noodles.
