Our Christmas began with sleeping in (indoors, no less), exchange of modest presents (mostly camping and trekking stuff; “here, give me this for Xmas”), and then a nice cooked English/NZ hotel Xmas breakfast. We skyped with Rebecca and Rachel, with whom we had not talked in some time (nice to hear of them carrying on the traditions), then posted nearly 2 weeks of blogs, packed up and left Whakapapa. Happily, the volcanos of Mordor, I mean, Tongariri National Park, did not erupt nor explode during our visit. See illustration.
It has been a memorable Xmas. As I wrote earlier, it is our first in 40 years by ourselves, no family, extended nor otherwise. Not a trend we want to establish. We are used to warm climate Xmases, being from Miami—white Xmases are still a novelty—but it is a little difficult thinking of Xmas in the summer, which is what it is here. School's just out, the summer holidays are here, and caravans and backpackers are everywhere. Oh well. It's beautiful and festive enough. And the NZ Christmas trees (patutpikawa, or takupakawa, or tapoketa-tapoketa) are something special.
We drove on south and southwest to Tawhai Falls, site of several scenes from The Two Towers, Smeagol's fishing holes, among others. (Did I mention I visited the national trout fishing museum yesterday, near Lake Taupo? quite impressive). Then on further to Ohutu, from which some of the Anduin, the Great River, scenes were shot. OK, it's the Rangitikei, not the Anduin. The gorge through which the Rangitikei river passes is pretty spectacular. The actual site is now a bungy jump, of course, allegedly the highest on the North Island. The site itself was closed, it being Xmas Day, so I did not do the jump. As if.
From there we drove on to Waitarere, near Foxton, on the southwestern beach of the North Island, the Kapiti coast, and have camped at a small private campground. We bypassed Palmerston North, one of Missoula's sister cities. I did take a shot, at least, of the road sign. We have seriously underestimated the North Island and have had to really rush through it. A couple months here would be good. Next time. In some ways, I am glad I have visited this place relatively late in life. Earlier I might well have wanted to come here permanently.
The terrain as we drive is ever changing and ever interesting. After miles of river and hills and mountains, the last score of kilometers were relatively flat agricultural land, and now the giant dunes and beaches and forests emerge again. Dinner, en Bongo, was left-over Xmas fondue.
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