The Sky Tower-Auckland NZ

This is the last destination on our trip to Australia and New Zealand-we had the time of our lives- we fly home in a few hours. New Zealand was a breathtaking expeireince but we miss our kids! 

Brad catches a good wave

 

Boggie boarding instead!

Having been unsuccessful at hot spot finding, undaunted we finished the day body surfing at this spectacular beach! 

Hot Sands Beach

We ended the day at a gorgeous beach called "hot sands" beach becasue of the magma chambers uner the sand. You can rent a spade(shovel) and dig down into the warm sand just close enough to the sea to let some water in and Volia! Your very own seaside hot tub! we didn't have much luck-there must be a trick to digging in the right spot, but enjoyed the adventure anyway! 

Oh wait it's only Daddy!

 

Whoa nellie!

That's one big fish swimming under the boat! 

Snorkeling

We stopped and tied up so we could view the marine reserve through the glass bottomed boat. Brad decided to get a more "hands on" experience! 

 

 

because of the erosive nature of the coastline here there were many blow holes and caves. Our captain even took us a little ways into some of the water caves! 

Amazing sanstone and pumice stone cliffs

Warn away into wonderful designs by the sea. Our captain had an example of this volcanic type stone and it was like a sponge and was so light it could float! 

 

An Aside-we found out what a "Shag" was here!

I figured it must mean something else! It is what Kiwis call Cormorants! Here is a rookery-dozens of cormorant nests (sqwaking babies included!). 

Cooks Beach (east coast of NZ)

On our last "real day" we enjoyed gorgeous weather and an amazing coast line. So we took a 2 hour glass bottom boat tour from "ferry landing". 

That's more like it Anne!

 

Sorry Brad you don't make a very good Hobbit!

 

the view from Bilbo and Frodo's front door!

 

had to stick a "sheep pic" in

Did you know that there are millions more sheep than people in New Zealand? There are NO natural predators whatsoever on the whole of both islands! 

..but the scenery was spectacular

A working sheep farm (before,during and after filming) 

The party Tree

 

Bag End

The tour was a bit disappointing, the set was removed after filming and only the "bare bones" were left. 

Bag Shot Row

 

Hobbiton!

No trip to New Zealand would be complete without at least a wee bit of "Lord of the Rings" touring! 

We could not touch any of the water (it would cook your flesh on your bones!) until here at the very end at "Sulpher Lake". It felt nice, like a hot bath, but my hand smelled like rotten eggs for two days after! 

More boiling muck!