Fishing at Te Puru

Today was all about fishing. Having been leant a rod by the lovely owners of the holiday park the boys were so excited to try it out. The Thames area is a real fishing hot spot so were bound to catch something, right?

First spot, the river beside the holiday park.

At this point we are only using bread as bait.

Nothings biting.

We have some lunch and head to the beach and with squid for bait.

Not yet.

Get in there!

I collect pretty things.

The boys try the rocks.

We break for dinner and head back to the river.

Not a sausage! 

I even have a shot.

The ducks come to check us out.

We get creative.

And call it a day.

Any fishing tips appreciated!

Te Aroha to Te Puru

After leaving Hobbiton we had nowhere to go! After abit of searching we found this awesome place.

Space was tight, but the sun was out.

Flying Fox Fun.

And a spot of pool.

A quick trip into Te Ahora for food and thrift shop, 6 books for 90p!!

The sun goes down in Te Ahora.

Up and out and off to Karangahake Gorge. Amazing Gild Mining tunnels, railways and bridges.

One of many swing bridges across the gorge.

Signs everywhere warning of rock falls made us walk a little quicker.

Freddy and Mark loved the tunnels, El and I not so much. At one point two came in and three came out!

It's like Indiana Jones.

Then it's off to the Lemon and Paeroa bottle. Therapeutic spring water was discovered in Paeroa in the 19th century. It was mixed with lemon and manufactured as New Zealand's very first own natural soft drink!

Group hug.

Now here's the place we've been dreaming of. Two bedrooms, small kitchen and room to swing a cat or two. So it could use a lack of paint and a good dyson but who cares.

WE DID A BG SHOP!! 

Beach fun before bed.

Hobbiton

Today we headed for Matamata for a tour of Hobbiton. Very excited about this. We hung around the Shires Rest for 2 hours waiting for our tour to begin.

Tour buses constantly drive up and down the farm road to the set. Peter Jackson chose The Alexander family farm because it had 3 things, a tree, a pond and rolling green hills.

The Shire!!!

So cute, so cool.

Hobbit geek!

Hobbit washing! When they made the set it was someone's job to hang washing in the morning and get it in in the afternoon. This helped to create worn pathways. Now the washing just stays out.

Our new home!

Bag End.

The beautiful shire

Hobbiting around.

Yes please.

PUB!!

Lets get a pint boys!

So cool, not a pint of Southfarthing, but apple cider will do.

Cheers.

Got abit carried away with photos, this place is so brilliant!

Sam and Frodo or Merry and Pipin?

The Oak Tree on top of Bag End is fake. It's metal and resin and the leaves were made in Taiwan. PJ decided that they were the wrong shade of green so had a team of people spray paint them.

The veggie patch was worth a look. Still contains some arteficial veg and there are 5 full time gardeners looking after it.

Fruit was also removed from Apple and pear trees and fake plums and leaves were wired into them as plum trees were mentioned in the book.

Farewell Hobbiton, we love you!