Wednesday 23 January 2013

Hobbits and Sky Jumps


Our hottest day yet, between 26 and 29 degrees (thank goodness we aren't in Australia!) We drove down to Matamata, about three hours away, to Hobbiton, the film set experience. Now Jim and I had  intended taking a trip to see this from our 5-day break at the end of next week. But then we thought everyone would enjoy it so we all went. Yes, it was a bit of a hike, but as Kit says, distances are no problem because the roads are good and not too much traffic. Obviously Jim and I have read the books - several times, and seen the films, but none of them had done either, though Dylan has whizzed through the first 100 pages of the first book in LOTR which I brought with me for him. Nevertheless, they all throughly enjoyed the experience, and I wouldn't have missed it for the worlds.


The entire site is about 200 acres of the most wonderful undulating ground, trees, ponds, and fabulous small scale hobbit holes and gardens. They employ a team of gardeners to keep the gardens looking just right.



The boys had a grand time, but you can just see from this that the doors conceal a mere three foot deep  interior with rubble floor, used mainly to store implements. It would have been wonderful to step into a 'real' Hobbit-hole, but you can imagine how long the contents would last!


So many lovely shots, you really didn't know where to stop clicking! Jim was always bringing up the rear with his cam-corder!

             
    The scenery was stunning. This is a working farm, the sheep ad cattle are real and had to be painstakingly removed to other areas during filming.


     The approach across the bridge to the Green Dragon Inn, where we stopped for refreshments.


Yesterday Jim and I took the boys out for ice cream and popped into a store to buy the LOTR trilogy dvds for the family - but Dylan and Krissie want to read the books before watching the films! Apart from this little trip out, yesterday was a rest day, we all just chilled out, spot of ironing, spot of stitching, not very much of anything really. Kit and Krissie are working their way through Jamie's 15 minute mesa, we've had two so far, and the timings are getting better! Yesterday we had the spicey prawns and pasta with a fennel and lemon salad - yummy!

Today we have been into Auckland to go up the Sky Tower. I had jokingly said on facebook that I would do the jump...so many people took me at my word!


So, what d'you think? Is it me? Am I stupid? No, I must come clean, I wouldn't do it for a million pounds. They drop you gently from the very top, we were sitting in the cafeteria a floor down when I took this, then they hang you there for about 30 seconds, then DROP you very quickly, and everyone gasps /screams! As you near the ground they slow you down gently. I could scarcely bear to lean over the curved windows to follow the jumper down, so there is no way you'd get me up there jumping, or even doing the skywalk.  It took me all my nerve to walk on the glass floor!



                                                            Huh! They didn't fool me!


When we left the Sky Tower Kit drove us round to Mission Bay, to a very special destination!



KiwiYo is the Place to Go for teens and many others. Frozen yoghurt is the delicacy, but not just any frozen yoghurt. First you choose a size of container, then your flavour yoghurt. Then you add your sprinkles, marshmallows, fudge, Oreos, chocolate drops....oh, too many toppings (I had melon!) then you add your drizzle, chocolate, fudge, strawberry etc. They weigh your pot and you pay accordingly.



Yes, you can imagine the mess at Fraser's place at the table - thank goodness for wet- wipes!

Well, a quiet night in front of the TV now the boys are in bed - we are watching Primeval New Zealand. Early night I think! Catch you next time!

31 comments:

  1. Oh Lynne your holiday sounds wonderful and how lovely to be able to go to Hobbiton. You all look to be having a great time and the weather perfect. Those iced desserts look good too. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
    Patricia x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Patricia, yes it's been on our 'bucket list' for a while now, so glad we managed it. Lx

      Delete
  2. SO disappointed you didn't do the drop Lynne - you've gone down in my estimation! ;0)
    Enjoy your time there.
    R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now you didn't really think I'd be daft enough to do it, did you?

      Delete
  3. WOW Lynne : I REALLY enjoyed that look of Hobbiton !!!!!!!!
    So it is réál after all .....;-)
    Glad you didn't jump ! I wouldn't either (in a million years !)
    I already felt the itchy feeling in my legs just sééing you
    stand on that glass floor ! We have a space tower like that
    in Rotterdam. I used to go there, but haven't been for ages.
    Lots of fun in the rest of your stay !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, after a certain age, self preservation kicks in! I was surprised how wobbly I felt about walking on the glass, too, though I did get over that.

      Delete
  4. Aren't you the brave one standing on the glass floor! You will be mighty disappointed at this I know, but... the snow is melting, it's not been as cold (only minus two to four last night!) and it's expected to be six degrees during the day at the weekend... positively balmy my dear! Or in our case, barmy?
    You are obviously having the time of your life out there, a good mix of quiet times just pootling about, and out and about times seeing the sights. Bet it's going too quickly for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, bring it on! (The melt, I mean!) Surprisingly it is going slowly, not as in not enjoying ourselves, but as in, life is so chilled out it just flows gently along! Lx

      Delete
  5. Your braver than us, we just looked at it from street level and said " oh that's high". Looks like you rhaving great fun.
    Gillx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I took a last photo from outside and BOY did it look tall! Yes, we are having a great time, Gill.Lx.

      Delete
  6. Now I really do wish I was there! Hobbiton looks fab, you are a brave woman, I hate heights, wouldn't find me standing there! Glad you're having fun! :) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was quite strange, I don't mind heights, but the viewing area is curved, so that you can lean towards the window and look down, and I felt quite peculiar doing that!

      Delete
  7. Wonderful experience and fabulous photos shared. What an opportunity! As for the Sky Tower.... you were brave enough, my friend to do what you did! Wow!
    Jo x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Watching the children, Jo, they have NO FEAR! Especially Fraser the smaller one. I really didn't mind the height, but I just could not have done the jump. Bex is still mulling it over, I do believe she would do it...if we paid her enough/! Lx

      Delete
  8. It looks like you're having a great time. I totally want to go to Hobbiton - it looks amazing!
    Claire

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Claire it is well worth the visit, you wouldn't be disappointed. Lx

      Delete
  9. wow, hobbiton looks so cute, I WANT a house that looks like that! In fact I want one so much I might just have to send people here from my blog and tell everyone I want a house like this...
    I did a sky dive when I was 18, I don't think I'd do one now!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Those little hobbit holes are brilliant, aren't they? I believe Peter Jackson bought 3 of them, had them plumbed and fitted out with water nd electricity and furnished as guest rooms for his family, all in his garden! How the other half live, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Meant to say yesterday... either your dearly beloved is very, very tall - or you're not. For some reason, I thought you were about five foot 6 or so.... why did I think that, 'cos unless he is VERY tall.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mmmm, I'm about 5' 4" and Jim is ...6' 2". I'm saying that as that's what we always WERE, but of course you shrink a bit as you get older! Son Kit is 6'4" and our Mike is the tiddler at 6'!

      Delete
  12. Hobbiton looks wonderful...lucky you! At 64 years of age I am still a Hobbitt fanatic. Don't like the heights...I have had to ride in outside the building glass elevators and had to face the door and shut my eyes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Linda! Yes, me too, I bought the LOTR for my first night duty when I joined the QARNNS in 1969! and read it yearly for about 10 years...now I read it once in a blue moon, but we have watched the trilogy of course. I had mixed feelings about the Hobbit film, and wonder why they felt they had to make a trilogy out of a fairly slim book. Heigh-ho, it'll make a lot of money for someone!

      It is great introducing the younger generation to the books though, and they did enjoy Hobbiton.

      Delete
  13. Ooh it all looks wonderful Lynne. Great photos, thanks for sharing ;-)
    Anne x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anne! Nice to spread a bit of sunshine and warmth back to Blighty!

      Delete
  14. What a wonderful trip you are having. I would love to see Hobbiton. I'm on the 3rd book of the trilogy. Can't believe I've never read it before! I totally agree with you on that glass floor. I would have had a really hard time crossing it myself. Enjoy your vacation in the sun.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The whole set-up is so pretty, Sue. And although you do KNOW the doors are just fronts, there is a feeling of great disappointment when you open them to find a 3 foot deep, rubble-floored cave instead of a delightful, wood-furnished miniature home with pots and pans and......you can fill the rest in yourself!

    ReplyDelete
  16. You look to be having a wonderful time Lynn, and long may it continue! I must say I don't think I'd risk that jump either!!

    Thank you so much for the get well wishes, everyone has been so sweet, and I do think I'm on the mend :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Annie! We are all a bunch of wusses, aren't we! But LIVE ones! Pleased to hear you are over the worst, take care, won't you? Lx

      Delete
  17. Hello Lynne, your vacation sounds fantastic and I love your photos of Hobbiton. The only thing wrong with this post, was that I wasn't there with you. I think I might have been afraid to walk on the glass floor. It looks scary. Have fun and eat an ice cream treat for me . . . sure looks yummy . . . it is making me think about hopping in the car and heading to the grocery store for ice cream, LOL. I love that stuff.
    Thanks for taking time from your trip to share it with us.
    You're a sweetie pie :)
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Connie, lovely to hear from you. Yes, We are really making the most of our time here and loving being with the family. The beautiful weather is a real bonus, especially as it is so dire in the UK at the moment. Lxx

      Delete
  18. Just had to share this cake with you after your visit to Hobbiton... take alook at this blog
    http://patchworkchickens.blogspot.co.uk/
    love Jo x

    ReplyDelete

I'd love you to comment, maybe join in the conversation - I always try and reply if I can.Anonymous spammers take note: you will not be published. Genuine posters having difficulty will be accepted. Thanks so much for visiting!