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So two weeks have passed since we left the thermals of Hot Water Beach. Sadly yesterday we had to wave off Franky so we are back down to two. What a time the three of us had though! We settled rather nicely into our little trio of campers. We rotated Lamb BBQ, Fish and Chips, and curry. We can erect Franky's little 1 man tent in less than 2 minutes without having to speak to each other. Dan and Franky took rather to mid 80s power ballad duets whilst I fumbled for the radio. And the inevitable increase in tolerance for stink when only cold showers were available at campsites.
Next stop after Hot Water Beach was the rather geeky Hobbiton where we got our fix of 'LOTR' facts, and photo opportunities. Then on to the geysers and thermal pools of Rotorua. A week prior to our visit Franky found out she had a second cousin in Rotorua, who kindly put all three of us up for 2 days. Her husband even smoked us a metre long trout (you can't buy trout in NZ, he swapped it for a 'Ute' of firewood). It was here in Rotorua Franky and I especially enjoyed a close and personal Haka from a group of (topless) young Maori Men…
After an obligatory stop to gawp at the Glowworms in Waitomo we whizzed over to Napier and Hawkes Bay, as Franky confessed she had in fact never been wine tasting. Needless to say we all got well involved. And were safely in bed by 8pm.
Via some further thermal bathing in Taupo a window in the weather allowed us to walk the Tongariro crossing - an awesome one day hike - but most importantly incorporating Mount Doom! The walk was very cool with erupting volcanoes, fluorescent lakes and snowy peaks. The regular signs 'Please do not stop unnecessarily in the active volcanic zone' kept us walking fairly fast, as did gawping at the fresh craters on the path from Nov 2012 (caused by flying rocks).
To recover our legs we pottered about windy Wellington for a couple of days, continuing some Lord of the Rings madness with a visit to Weta Caves, Peter Jackson's studios. Oh yes, we saw Sauron. And three life size trolls….
Time on the North Island was up and we took the ferry over the Cook Straights and no sooner had we landed but Franky was demanding more wine tasting in Marlborough. We reluctantly obliged - though things took an unusual turn when Hank Marvin appeared.
We continued down to Kaikoura for Franky's trip to finish on a high when we went whale watching and got up close and personal with Giant Sperm Whales, not to mention the Albatross, Seals and Dolphins.
As we waved Franky off the Senior Hiles' arrived in Auckland and will catch us up later in the week. We are slowing things down for a few days in the North of the South Island, there are some world famous ales here to be sampling.
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