downtown matamata

got up early today but didn't shower as we'd probably still feel dirty anyway. last night twiddle thumbs saw a huge cockroach in the bathroom and well, that killed the idea of ever showering in that hostel again. on our way to matamata, i realized that i had forgotten my flashlight and "the hobbit" book back at the hostel. last night i was reading it in bed by flashlight. i didn't have a night stand or anywhere to put them so i put them under my pillow. big mistake! i totally forgot about them. i rung the hostel and asked them to charge my card and send it to where i am staying in rotorua. it's just a book and flashlight but damn if those things aren't expensive in new zealand.

the kiwi experience bus goes on to rotorua, only 45 more minutes away but we got off in matamata because we wanted to tour hobbiton. it's the only set left from "the lord of the rings" trilogy. we came all the way to new zealand; we're not leaving without seeing the shire, damn it! we walked down to our hostel, hobbiton backpackers (which is like an old weird creepy sort of hotel that would be excellent for a movie location - but hey, at least they have soap!), checked in, ate lunch, rested, then off to tour hobbiton!

a collage of my visit to hobbiton

a panorama of the shire

bag end, the home of bilbo baggins

the tour, including to and from the farm in hinuera, was about 2.5 hours for only $50 kiwi, which really isn't such a bad deal but i can't help thinking about how lucky the farm owners must be. not only did they get paid to have their land used in the film, but now they make money off giving tours of it.

hobbiton is on a sheep and cattle farm. mostly sheep. up to 12000+ of them and only about 200 angus cows. needless to say, there was shit everywhere. it took a lot of maneuvering but i didn't step in any of it, which is quite an accomplishment!