Wairere Falls

After Hobbiton, we headed back toward the Pacific coast, stopping for a hike up to view Wairere Falls, the North Island's tallest, at 155m. The walk took us through now sub-tropical forest, along a torrent, up a canyon, to the look-out on a cliff opposite the falls. Palms of one sort or another are now common in the forests as are the parasites one sees on nearly any tree of age. After Fiordland and the South Island, it seems like a riot of bio-diversity.

Hobbiton Signage

Signage is often of interest, at least to me, and some of the Hobbiton signage, particularly at the Green Dragon, was quite amusing...

Green Dragon, Hobbiton

The Green Dragon, Hobbiton's pub, warrants attention since it is the only building you can actually enter. Interior filming for LOTR was done on the sound stage in Wellington, of course, and behind most of the Hobbit Hole doors in Hobbiton there's nothing. Moreover, the Green Dragon is a working pub, sort of, open to tour visitors and available for events ranging from proposals to weddings to corporate meetings, etc. All the detail you'd expect from Weta, et al., is there, plus much more, including two ales, a cider, and a ginger beer; and pub fare.

Green Dragon on left, mill on right

"You mean it doesn't come in pints?!"

Guest book, Sir Peter Jackson, top left, the Prime Minister,
top right

Other notables, most notably, Ian McKellen

And Martin Freeman

Great finish to the tour

Hobbiton, 2

Continuing our photos of Hobbiton...