Another big day that went perfectly to plan despite more windy roads and car sickness. We had an early start from Hahei, leaving just before 8am to accomplish the almost 2 hour drive to Karangahake Gorge. I had read about these walks through the disused mining and railway tunnels and thought it would be right up Liam’s alley.

There was a great big loop to walk – about 6.5km. We started with the tramway track tunnel, and partway down this tunnel a mining tunnel headed off into the mountain. We had our headlamps with us (of course) and Liam loved leading the way and seeing how far the tunnels went. We walked back along the other edge of the gorge, then onto a forest track. Over a bridge to cross the river and a road, and the track went into a 1070m long, disused railway tunnel. Surprisingly narrow with little hidey holes interspersed along the wall in case people got caught when a train was coming. Back along the edge of another gorge. There were a half dozen suspension bridges throughout the walk, which always seemed to get a good wobble up as we walked across them.

Back to the car for our trip to Hobbiton. We got there with plenty of time to have our picnic, and look in the shop, before our 2pm tour. Lots of overpriced Lord of the Rings memorabilia in the shop so nothing bought. The property is still run as a sheep and cattle farm, and the tourism business goes along amongst it all. Very, very popular with tours of 40 people leaving every 15 minutes or so. The tour starts with a short bus-drive through the paddocks that surround the Hobbiton set. We had a lovely bus-driver and then tour guide who took us from the bus for a walk around the set and entertained us with interesting background stories. Plenty of opportunity to take photos and look at the Hobbit holes which are actually quite superficial of course, with any filming of inside the holes done in a studio in Wellington. There was one we could go in and have a photo taken, but it was only a couple of metres deep. Beautiful scenery of rolling farm hills – reminded us a bit of Chittering, only with greener grass and taller trees.

The tour finished at The Green Dragon, a pub (this one a complete building), where we all had a drink to round off the tour, before heading back to the bus and back to the car park. We all had a lovely time despite the crowds and it was well worth putting up with the craziness. Leaving Hobbiton, we still had an hour and a half to get to our final destination – Taupo. Liam and I had a snooze and Colin, driving, enjoyed the straighter roads, so it was a peaceful drive. Our accommodation at Taupo is a self-contained unit in a caravan park which calls itself a “Spa”. There are warm water pools and slides for the kids to explore over the next few days and I am booked for a massage tomorrow morning which I am much looking forward to.