I had two main goals for hopping over to Kiwi land:

  • visit the Hobbiton movie set (where the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies were filmed)
  • take in some Maori culture

Both accomplished. Auckland, by the way, is very much a big city with typical big city flair. So I don’t have much to write about it. The people were incredibly nice though, more so than in Sydney. I saw way less brown people but there was no problem with that. People were more interested in approaching me to discuss the American election and how they hoped we would not vote for Donald Trump (Spoiler alert: We did).

Anyway, highlights and video from Auckland, then, as usual, the main photo link far below…

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Emptiest airport I’ve ever seen. Cairns.
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Thanks for the reminder. I was just about to stand on that.
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Philippine Air. You are a bastard for this.
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An article in a foreign paper. Everyone was watching.
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Now this is an airport entrance.
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A gift from Middle Earth
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With the Maori performers
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Beef tongue. Y’all know I eat everything.
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SHEEEEEEEEP!!!!!
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Hobbit hole.
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On the way to the Green Dragon
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More hobbit holes
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MORE SHEEEEEEEEEP!!!
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Stilts. Nope.

Click here to see Auckland

Click here to go to Middle Earth

What’s the best drive to travel? To experience culture? Eat? See sights from the movies? Let me know!