New Zealand - Ferry to North Island

After handing over the camper vans, picking up our wonderful 12-passenger van, and making the long drive to Blenheim, we were on our way to the North Island.  We were grateful to have gotten through a long day of driving so that we could stay close to Picton and the ferry. We had a reasonable morning wake up call, picked up some donuts, and made it to the ferry in plenty of time.  We had a specific reservation that had to be made well in advance because they fill up so fast. After getting on the ferry, we made ourselves comfortable, got something to eat, and prepared ourselves for the three hour trip.

Waiting to get on the ferry

It was a bit windy

Opening to open sea from the sound

Rebecca the entertainer

Wellington from the sea

After making it across the beautiful sound to the North Island, we took a little trip through Wellington, since we wanted to check out the Starbucks.  Wellington was an interesting change of pace than what we had been used to...not quite bustling city, but bigger than the small towns we had come across.

The drive was pretty scenic, as some of the road hugged the coast.  But it didn't take long to realize that  we would see more people  and less sheep in this part of the country. As we drove farther away from the coast, we got closer and closer to the mountains, and our next destination.  We had hotel reservations close to Mt. Ruapehu, where we hoped to see some "Lord of the Rings" sites.

Simply majestic

One large kiwi  

The following morning we did just that! We found the place where the beginning of the Two Towers was filmed. Frodo and Samwise are looking out at Mordor.  This was located on a ski resort on Mt. Ruapehu.  The scenery was beautiful and we had a lot of fun taking pics, then hiking to a lake and where a beautiful waterfall.

Ski resort hotel on the way up the mountain

Mt Mordor coming out of the clouds

Josh and Abby trying not to get their feet wet

Finally, we were on our way...onto Rotarua.