Journey to Middle Earth

'The journey is more important than the destination' We've all heard that well-known, life-affirming phrase. I shall endeavour to remember it, probably with gritted teeth, while at 30,000 feet, 20 hours into flight time and the pilot cheerfully saying 'Below and to your left you can see the famous Great Barrier Reef. We have only 5 more hours to go until we touch down in New Zealand'! FIVE MORE HOURS?!

New Zealand has long been on my list of top places in the world I'd love to visit, but the flight time has definitely put me off in the past, that and the cost of course! But I'm finally biting the bullet and facing my fears before I get too old and knackered to be able to do the mountain hiking I so love. And what a stunning set of mountains New Zealand has on offer. The draw to these beauties has been a magnet for such a long time and now I'm actually going to see them for myself. Add into the mix Maori culture, thermal activity and not forgetting the most important thing - Hobbit Houses and this is promising to be a trip most excellent.

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Trip Length: 3 weeks
Blog Entries: 28
Photos: 534
Words: 26086

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Blog Entries

Date	Blog Title	Location
March 9th 2016	Epic journey to Middle Earth begins!	Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London
March 10th 2016	Beijing-a-ling-a-ding-dong	Asia » China » Beijing
March 11th 2016	Kia ora...nau mai!	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central
March 12th 2016	Rotorua roadie	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
March 12th 2016	Rotorua arrival - check out that Polynesian Spa!	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
March 12th 2016	Meeting Maoris at Tamaki Maori village	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
March 13th 2016	Rotorua lakeside wanderings	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
March 13th 2016	Hobbiton Movie Tour	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Waikato
March 14th 2016	Hot, hot, hot!	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo » Wai-O-Tapu
March 14th 2016	Countryside walking but not as you know it...	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
March 15th 2016	Mountain biking - heinous activity!	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo
March 16th 2016	Sail Fearless, pirate style!	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo
March 17th 2016	Tongariro Alpine trekking in the fog!	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Tongariro National Park
March 18th 2016	Heading due south	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo
March 19th 2016	Clang, clang, clang went the trolley. Ding, ding, ding went the bell!	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch
March 20th 2016	Count them out, count them in!	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch
March 20th 2016	Wild!	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Dunedin
March 21st 2016	Dunedin Doodlings...	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Dunedin
March 21st 2016	Making it to the mountains	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Queenstown
March 22nd 2016	Milford - Fjord he's a jolly good fellow!	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Milford Sound
March 23rd 2016	Moonlight riding in the day time	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Queenstown
March 23rd 2016	Kiwis and Cable Cars!	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Queenstown
March 24th 2016	Rob Roy Glacier Tramping	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Mount Aspiring National Park
March 25th 2016	Fahren zu Franz Josef	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef
March 26th 2016	Kayaking, Kiwis and Kicking back	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Franz Josef
March 27th 2016	Onwards to Greymouth	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Greymouth
March 28th 2016	KiwiRail Trans Alpine scenic train journey through the mountains	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Greymouth
March 29th 2016	Rangitoto Island - Bache Houses	Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Rangitoto