new zealand [day two]

So on Day Two we left that cosy carpark in Tuakau and drove through fog and light rain for a bit (and places with names we couldn't pronouce, like Ngaruawahia!!!!!!!!!!) before reaching Waitomo Caves. A smidge of bad weather doesn't really matter when you know you're heading underground. On recommendation (thanks Mum and Dad), we signed up for the Glowworm cave tour; the prospect of drifting silently and effortlessly in a boat, on a river running through a cave, gently illuminated by little insect things had totally caught our imaginations! 

Sadly, our tour guide was the most uninspiring fellow one could hope to meet. He made our cave tour seem as exciting as clipping your toe nails. Don't worry, his insipid approach didn't dampen our enthusiasm. Let's face it, this was a boat ride in the dark!...not a sound to be heard except for the tiny drip-drop of water!...millions of sparkly shining stars above our heads!!!....OF COURSE we were impressed, it was magical to say the least. Yes, those glow worms more than made up for our near slumbering guide (who probably needed a caffeine hit). And guess what? They aren't actually worms at all. If I tell you what they really are, please promise me you won't lose the romance of it all!? Are you ready? Those twinkly little creatures with cute glowing bottoms...well, they are maggots, or larvae to be fair. Their real name is Arachnocampa luminosa. Rather a grand title.

Now the reason I haven't shared any photos of the caves is because photography was strictly prohibited. I did get a picture of our tour guide but I didn't think it polite to publish it after I've not said very nice things about his guiding skills!

After a leisurely lunch in our motorhome, we pushed on to Matamata, arriving at Hobbiton around 3ish. With the sun already starting to fade, and the temperature dropping fast, I wondered if maybe we'd left our run a bit late. Thankfully though, we got there just in time to catch the last tour bus of the day. Hobbiton (located on an extensive sheep farming property) is of course the very place where scenes from Lord of the Rings were made and later, The Hobbit. I haven't even watched the entire trilogy (I find it far too violent), but I love Tolkien's story of The Hobbit and I absolutely adored this set. The attention to detail was amazing! There was even washing hanging on the hobbit sized clothes lines! It was a fun place to photograph, but with the sun falling, the light was quite poor.

Our tour guide Benji regaled us with some funny tales of true die hard fans coming to Hobbiton, as you can well imagine. He told us all about the Lord of The Rings enthusiasts who regularly show up dressed in full costume, reciting quotes and playing out the scenes from the movies. Benji said the hard core fans know ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING about Middle Earth, including what plants grow there!

After enjoying the complimentary ginger beers in the Hobbiton Tavern, we hit the road once again. Benji (a tour guide with actual spunk) had told us about a great pizza place in Matamata. If you are passing though town, you must stop at Power Pizza. My mouth is watering just typing their name. The pizza was the best we'd eaten in quite some time!

Oh and here's where we camped on Day Two...

Yep, just us...and a power box...ah the serenity.. It only cost $10 to sleep here. Ben slipped the money under the museum's door. Maybe we should have paid extra for the lemon Ben pinched off their tree!!!! (just one I promise). This museum, by the way, looked great but (i) it wasn't open and (ii) we had Day Three all planned out. There's always next time...

Coming up...

Day Three: Rotorua, Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland, Huka Falls

Did you miss Day One?

Check out our motorhome here.