This morning we started the first leg of our road trip as we left the hustle and bustle of Auckland for the quiet winding roads of the New Zealand countryside. Jay has become quite comfortable driving on the left side of the road which allowed him to take in the sights as we made our way south to Rotorua.

Along our drive we made a brief stop at an overlook which offered sweeping views of the farm land below and the Coromandel Forest Park in the distance. This break offered a nice respite from the road and a chance to grab today’s driving snacks! From the lookout at Kaihere we continued onto our next stop, Hobbiton.

Hobbiton was the filming location for portions of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie series. The majority of the surrounding land is still a working sheep and cow farm which has been owned by the same family, the Alexanders, for generations. Back in 1998 this location was identified by the film crew as the ideal location for the home of the Hobbits (also known as The Shire). As the story goes, the film crew identified the location via aerial scouting and went to knock on the Alexanders’ door. Luckily for the film crew, the rugby match was at halftime, therefore, the family answered and the rest is history. The family employs countless gardeners, landscapers and equipment operators to keep the set in tip top shape for the thousands of daily visitors who come to experience the magic of Lord of the Rings. The Alexanders now live on the south island enjoying the fruits of their ancestors’ impeccable skill at picking the perfect farm location.

Stephanie felt right at home with the low ceilings and small doors, Jay not so much! Hobbiton is an immersive experience with beautiful plants and trees, all of which receive constant attention, and “working” hobbit holes which have smoke billowing out of their chimneys and steam rising from their stoves. The experience included a free beer or cider which we enjoyed at the Green Dragon Inn. We now have to binge watch the movies again to see all of the locations we explored today.

The final leg of today’s drive brought us to our accommodations in Rotorua. We had some time to relax before this evenings’ entertainment which was a Maori cultural experience. The Maori cultural experience began with a traditional welcome ceremony to determine if we were friends or enemies, thankfully they determined that we were the former instead of the latter! We then learned more about their culture through shared activities and demonstrations by our guides, each of whom took great pride in explaining their customs and heritage.

We ended the excursion with a multicourse meal with traditional Maori and Maori fusion cuisine with our fellow guests. It was an incredibly memorable experience! Tomorrow we continue our journey south as we make our way towards the capital of New Zealand – Wellington!