Matamata
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A few years ago we did a small road trip
around New Zealand’s, North Island.
We chose to stay at Buckland’s BnB
near Matamata, but only around a five-minute drive
from the Hobbit Movie Set our destination.
The window above our bed framed this scene perfectly.
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Topiary…Palace of Versailles
Red vehicle
Condiments
Hobbiton…inside out
Craig’s Hut
Craig’s Hut…Inside out
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Cee’s
Black and White Challenge.
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While cruising the Swan River (Perth-Fremantle)
we were shown large, expensive properties
built on the river’s banks.
My next photos are known as God’s Window.
Located a short drive from
Mount Sheba Resort…
…in South Africa’s, Blyde River Canyon,
the views are spectacular
totally befitting a view through
God’s Windows.
If ever you are going to visit New Zealand’s
Hobbit Movie Set at Matamata,
be sure to consider
Bucklands Air BnB.
Only a five-minute drive and you are
in a world of Hobbits.
The image above is taken through
the window of Bucklands BnB.
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Cees-BW-Photo-Challenge:…Through-Windows
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Initially my thoughts turned to
Africa for this challenge.
However, a little more thought and
New Zealand it is.
New Zealand is sometimes referred to
as Australia’s seventh state;
and I must confess it is a
home away from home in my opinion.
Now for some random images from our
2018 road trip around a small part
of New Zealand’s North Island.
Near Matamata we spent a couple
of nights at Buckland’s Airbnb.
This window view, from our room,
was enough to keep me happy.
If the view appears too rural for your liking,
there is always accommodation in Matamata itself.
We were there to visit the Hobbit Movie set
which is less than 5 kilometres from
Buckland’s airbnb.
The third of Waitomo’s Cave was Ruakuri Cave.
The only cave where photography
was freely allowed.
To reach the cave floor we had
to negotiate the spiral down.
And there was no magic way of getting
out of the cave without negotiating
the same spiral to ground level.
While in the Ruakuri Cave…
…there are plenty of sights…
…to view or photograph.
Several nights were spent in Taupo,
located on the north-eastern shore
of Lake Taupo.
About 15 minutes out of Taupo is Huka Falls.
Not big in either width or height,
however, big in water throughput.
Taupo also provided an extensive range…
…of flora to photograph during our visit.
About 90 kilometres to the south of Taupo is
Tongariro National Park
where I was able to capture this image of
Mt Ruapehu
At Rotorua we spent a night or two at
Hamurana Lodge
a Boutique Hotel out of Rotorua.
Using Hamurana Lodge as our base
we were able to visit
Whakarewarewa – Living Maori Village…
…and enjoy lunch cooked in a thermal spring
the traditional Maori way.
We arrived back in Auckland a few days prior
to No 1 Son’s wedding.
Number 2 Son and his wife had been sort
of shadowing us during our road trip.
As Daughter-in-Law celebrated her
birthday the day before we arrived
in Auckland we all met up for
a family celebration.
Dinner in Auckland’s Sky Tower.
New Zealand is a peaceful friendly country
with a wide variety of attractions.
AND it is roughly a two and a half hour
flight from Melbourne.
Compare that with a 14 hour journey
from Sydney to Johannesburg.
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point
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Whether one is in
Victoria’s
Western District…
…Hobbiton
New Zealand…
…visiting the
Tower of London…
…or exploring Old York,
there is always a signpost
to point you to your
next destination.
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One Word Sunday Challenge:...Point
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Stone stacks, made by tourists,
along the Great Ocean Road.