http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Te-Aroha/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , North Island , Te Aroha en-us Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:43:04 BST Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:43:04 BST Hello againOn Sunday afternoon we went about 20 km 12 miles to Matamata to see where they filmed part of The Lord of the Rings. We didn't realize that they used so many locations on the North and South Island. However since the Seays wanted us to bring a Hobbit back and this was Hobbiton we decided to investigate. They did use a farm outside of Matamata to make the Hobbit's homes and have http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Te-Aroha/blog-27310.html HelloI'll try to catch up a little today. We went down country on Thursday last to visit a friend in Rotorua and meet his family. Rotorua is famous for its fishing rainbow trout all 38 lbs and its thermal activity. It had changed dramatically since we had been here last. It is so much for the tourist dollar that it surprised us. The sulphur smell from the hot pools was just the same. My fa http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Te-Aroha/blog-27173.html Hello againChrissy has insisted that I blog to everyone and show what she has been up to so it will be mainly her hijinks with the police. The story does end happily. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Te-Aroha/blog-27107.html Sorry I have been having so much trouble trying to get this out. We have been here almost a week and everything is quite wonderful and exciting. We had a good albeit rather long trip on the plane. The day we arrived was cool and cloudy but not uncomfortable until the sun went down. Our friends John Betty Rose met us and then Kenneth Ranger and his family came and picked us up to go to Pih http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Te-Aroha/blog-26859.html