The Road Goes Ever On

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Tauranga And Mt. Maunganui

We proceeded on, to Tauranga, on the Bay of Plenty, where we found one of our best campsites yet, Fernland Spa. A mineral, thermal-type spa, not really a campground at all, but which permits tenters and RVs, with the usual amenities. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. Next day we went into Tauranga and then spent the afternoon at the beach at Mt. Maunganui. And then went back for another night at the spa.

The big pool at Fernland Spa; 40 degrees centigrade, all natural

The private rooms; big enough to swim laps; $7 per 30 minutes
for us seniors

Mt. Maunganui Beach

Up closer

Natural habitat for this species

Mt. Maunganui itself

More beach, islands, Bay of Plenty

Other side of the little 3-block wide peninsula: harbor of
plenty

Our site at the beautifully-landscaped Fernland Spa

Only problem was, the dew was so heavy it literally poured
off our tent fly

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.