B and G in New Zealand: Hobbiton and Te Urewera National Park

We packed our baggins and got an early start on our long drive to Te Urewera National Park, because we knew we had an important stop in Hobbiton along the way. We booked the first tour of the day, hence the pictures are not loaded with Hobbits or tourists. Hobbiton is about 10 acres of a very large family farm.

One fun fact:

During the filming of The Fellowshio of the Ring, Peter Jackson ordered a special beer made that was only 1% alcohol for cast members to drink, because he knew the filming of the party scene would take 3 days.

Hobbiton - Bag End is the hobbit hole on the top of the hill.

Sam and Rosie's Place

B's new summer bach

Bag End

Our tour guide was excellent and at the end of tour she we were given complimentary choice of ale, hard cider or ginger beer at the Green Dragon Pub which opened in December 2012.

Green Dragon Pub across the pond

Mill in Hobbiton

Green Dragon Pub

Green Dragon Pub - Second Breakfast

We drove to Rotorua, (not to stop at the thermal pools area or geysers which reeked of sulfur) but to stop at the Fat Dog Café – a very happening place with good food to boot.

The rest of the trip was a 3 ½ hour drive through the Te Urewera National Park on mostly unpaved narrow road with hundreds of switchbacks. The woman that owns our bach told us to beware of animals in the road if we saw poop. Little did we know that could mean a group of pigs (also horses and cows).

A Break from Driving the Windy Roads

View when driving through the Park

We arrived at our home in the small village of Tuai. It’s a comfortable 3-bedroom place with a deck overlooking Lake Whakamarino. We are staying near the southern end of the Park near Lake Waikaremoana, a large lake with a DOC visitor center. The daily routine became to go on a day walk in the National Park and then return home to enjoy the afternoon and evening sun at our cottage. Most days are in the low 80’s with daylight until almost 9:00.