I have to tell you that I’m a Tolkien fan. I have been since I was seventeen. Fully paid up. Read all the books. Not just the ring trilogy and the Hobbit, but Unfinished Tales, the Silmarillion, the Children of Hurin, etc., etc., right down to Tree and Leaf, and Farmer Giles of Ham. I’ve read them all. I’m a fan. So being in New Zealand, it’s hard to pass, on visiting various sites, where the films of the Hobbit and the Rings were made.     
 For this reason, I took Vicki and myself off to Hobbiton, the site of the filming of the Shire village scenes. The countryside all around is exactly as you might have imagined the Tolkien Shire, even though it lies at the opposite side of the world to where his books were written. What I did not know was, that if you wish to visit this site, you will need to book far in advance. We arrived at 11.30am, to discover that the next available tour was 4.30pm. The decision not to bother was instant, even before I found out that the entrance fee is $79!!! I satisfied myself with a coffee and muffin in the cafe and a look around the souvenir shop, where you could buy an elven cloak, (not really elven, you understand), for $900!  

  
Off to the Waitomo Caves instead. Real caves. Real stalagmites and stalactites and real Glow Worms. Thousands of them. Lighting up the otherwise black dark cave ceilings. Beautiful. 

   
 From there, we head for National Park, (that’s the village name and yes, it’s at the National Park), for the night. I expect a good day’s hiking tomorrow.