New Zealand Day Sixteen: Rotorua To Matamata. More Exploration Of The North Island.

New Zealand Day Sixteen: Rotorua To Matamata. More Exploration Of The North Island.

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After my long day exploring Rotorua, I awoke early the next morning.  I looked out my window and saw the steam from the geysers and geothermal  vents continue to spew into the air. I wanted to take one more hike in this town before I moved on and continued my exploration of the North Island.  steam from geysers in Rotorua

I had to check out of my hotel by 11 a.m. so I couldn’t travel far. I looked for trails on  Google maps and noticed I actually was only about two miles from the Whakarewarewa  Redwood Forest.  I found a trail that looked like it would get me there. I decided to follow it to the forest.road in Rotorua

Unfortunately the trail led to this dilapidated bridge. I was able to cross it but found a fence blocking the trail on the other side.old dilpidated bridge

Instead of following the trail on the map I walked the highway that  followed the trail. I still needed to cross the stream that followed along the highway.road in rotorua

I eventually found another bridge that crossed the stream that blocked my way to the forest.bridge in Rotorua

The trail took me past some residential developments, a school and finally a conservation center.  I still wasn’t able to cross the stream. classic car

Finally I found a bridge that crossed the stream and led me   through a commercial pine tree forest and,tree farm

eventually to the redwood forest I visited the previous day.redwood tree

I again hiked under the giant redwoods. And again shared the forest with groups of Chinese tourists.touriste in redwood forest

New zealand Day Sixteen Rotorua morning hike (22 of 48)

bike park

After about a  mile hike, I walked back to the visitor center and then  headed back to the hotel. I took a slightly different path and came upon this  bicycle  obstacle course.

There were some familiar plants and flowers along the paths. The pokeweed,pokeweed berries

and morning glory had to have been brought to New Zealand with the first settlers to the area,morning glory flowers

I only saw a few birds on my hike  including this pukeko.pukeko bird

On my return walk I visited the local neighborhoods and found them very similar to suburban America.mailwoman on moped

I enjoyed  exploring  the streets and trails of Rotorua. Here is a link to some more photographs from my morning hike. New Zealand Day Sixteen Rotorua morning hike. February 20 2019.New zealand Day Sixteen Rotorua morning hike (43 of 48)

I got back in time to quickly pack and  check out of my room at 11 a.m. I  next  satisfied my hunger at the sumptuous lunch  buffet.  There was excellent internet at the Holiday Inn hotel. I spent the next three hours in the quiet hotel lobby finally  editing and uploading the many photographs I took on my trip.  At 3: p.m. I took the shuttle to the iSITE and waited for my bus for the 1  1/2 hour drive to Matamata. When it arrived I was view from bus delighted to find it was a double decker and almost empty.

I had a birds-eye view  seat with a beautiful view of the passing scenery.clouds over fields

And the scenery was beautiful.

We drove through farms lands,

cattle and sheep ranches and

dense forest.

It was a delightful ride. We  encountered  some construction as we neared Matamata.

And I was soon departing the bus in this quaint little town,  the closest town to Hobbiton. Here is a link to a gallery of photos from my ride. New Zealand Day Sixteen Rotorua to Matamata bus ride. February 20 2019. clouds and cattle

It was after 5 p.m when I arrived in Matamata. I was staying at the  Central Hotel. I liked for a taxi, they are usually near the bus stop. I didn’t see one. I asked someone near the bus stop and they said there is only one in town . They said I’d be better off walking. Well I did and I discovered my hotel was a 1/2 mile from the bus stop.hotel in Matamata

The sidewalks of Matamata where not designed to pull luggage. It was an interesting 1/2 walk. I looked like a refugee.  But I loved the experience.  I was  soon checking into a comfortable room at my hotel.hotel room

And soon leaving it to get a quick look at this once small and rural, but now rapidly growing town.truck and clouds on highway

Matamata is the closest town to  movie set of Hobbiton. The home of hobbits in J.R.R  Tolkien masterpieces the Hobbit and the Lord Of The Rings. The town is flooded with the book and movie fans. I was one of them.main street Matamata

I walked past the Hobbit themed iSITE and walked the Main Street. It was bustling with activity.iite Matamata

Locals having dinner and a beer were joined by many tourists visiting Hobbiton.main street Matamata

I walked past the local shops and stores that lined the busy main streets andliquor store

walked into the residential neighborhoods.

It was getting late and I was getting hungry so I returned to my hotel via the railroad tracks. Here is a link to some more photographs from my evening walk.  New Zealand Day Sixteen: Matamata evening walk. February 20 2019railroad tracks

After a quick shower I returned to town and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Osteria Matamata Italian restaurant.fish and vegetable dinner

“Travelling the road will tell you more about the road than the google will tell you about the road.” 
― Amit Kalantri

This is my first post