North Island (Part one)

We left you last time going to the boat from Picton in the South Island to Wellington in the North Island. Well just to let you know that Wilma doesn't like boats and was not looking forward to the trip. But to our delight the the water was like glass and the 3.5 hour trip went really well. Wilma even got here knees sunburnt even though she was wearing her hat coat and a junper over her legs.

We were even joined by some dolphins on the trip into the harbour from the Cook Strait.

We met Kirsty at our hotel and had a meal in in Irish pub.

The next day we went to the place that Kirsty really came all the way to New Zealand for and that was Weta Workshop. We had a 90 minute tour of the museum of the place that made a lot of the prosthetics and costumes for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films. Unfortunately as most of the props and costumes are owned by the film company that made the films we couldn't take any photos inside the the exhibition.

Gollum was in the gift shop and then the two Trolls were in the grounds outside so theses were okay.

We also went to a workshop where they showed us how to make scars. Needless to say Kirsty was a dab hand at that.

We then went to the Museum in Wellington known as Ta Papa. There was an exhibition about Gallippili where Weta had made some of the exhibits. There were stories about men in the war and 2.4 meter tall models of the men.

It poured down when we came out of the museum so we got something to eat and made our way back to the hotel.

The next day we had a long drive to Rotarua. it took about six hours and we met Alistair and June and their son Scott in a beautiful house where we were to stay in the next couple of nights.

The next day was full on. Kirsty and Scott went white water rafting but didnt buy the photos. The four older statesmen and women went to Hells Gate where we had a mud bath and spa morning.

After a relaxing lunch the kids went to the Zorb balls. I didnt have a go because I dont think I could get through the hole. The Zorb's are filled with water so you dont stick to the sides of the ball. They had 4 rides each and came off totally wet through.

We still hadnt finished and we then went up the gondola to the sky swing and luge.

YES Wilma had a go too. Unfortunatly I havent a photo of her doing it at the moment because I was on it with her. There is a Video on Kirsty's phone but its three minutes long so I need to get hold of it and edit it for the page.

There was only one attendent which put our other activity back and when we got to the luge we were only allowed one run down the slope instead of the three we had paid for. June is going to email them to complain.

We did have a photo opportunity at the bottom of the gondolla where they had a couple pf mock ups for photos.

Yesterday on our way up to Auckland we stopped at the Film Set for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. It was a great morning with a guided 90 minute tour of the set. Lots of photos were taken and here are a few of them.

We then went back to Alister and Junes and ended the day with a BBQ at one of their friends houses, Dianne and Stevie.