Day 32 – The Hobbits return home

So there we have it. Folks.

6000 kms travelled, 4500 photos taken, Close encounters of the Third and Fourth kinds. We have experienced things that go “Bump” in the night, strange lights in the skies, baby seals with a touch from God, funny looking cows, deer, Killer Keas, Dolphins and way to many sand flies!

We have wondered at ladies who sing to trees, old men who smile with true radiance and honesty, learned about the famous New Zealand call, “Sweet Asssssss”, been terrified by wild coach drivers who think that the speed indicators on blind bends actually mean at what G-force you should go around them, people who live in steel houses, Bungee jump kamikaze idiots, Daryl, the amazing man in Lake Taupo, and experienced the fantastic world of Frodo, Bilbo and the tribe.

 

We have smelled the most beautiful scents of coffee in the morning, afternoon and evening. (Ok, maybe we do have a few too many…) Luppins, Sea and lake air and the tingle as thunder threatens.

We have marvelled at lofty spires and plunging cliffs, deepest of deep blue waters, ice flows, crashing waves, lakes, mountains, beaches that go on for ever, sand dunes that rise for ever!, Huge trees, forests with every conceivable colour of green, and then some, crashing seas, loads of islands, rivers, stars, police cones stuck up on the highest parts of a tree and mermaid pools

We have also been welcomed!

Our thanks go firstly to the wonderful team at Wilderness Travel who, from the outset, have been of the utmost professionalism and kindness, always willing to assist and offer advice and really look as if they enjoy seeing their customers enjoying the NZ experience.

We also want to thank our wonderful friends in Takapuna, Simon, Debbie and their children, Claudia and Sammi and their cat, and their open greeting, dinners, and an introduction to paddle boarding.

To Fi, Justin and Jack, their dog, cow and lambs down in Masterton, (which is nowhere near Wellington!!!!!) and their introduction to us, of Paua eating, BBQs with a difference and farm animals to swing a stick at.

And finally, we want to thank you the reader, for bearing with us through these 32 days. Of our ups and downs, our bumps into curios animals, noisy foreigners, missing curtains, sand flies, and The most wonderful, inspiring adventure these two hobbit fans have ever had… and that is saying quite a lot

Send word if you encounter any other oddities whilst on your route. And if we have been able to help you in deciding where to go (or not to get within a 100 light years of the place), then that, for itself, is worth every line and every word we have squeezed out of our bodies, trying to paint our picture, our picture of a wonderful place.

New Zealand

Goodbye.

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