Quinn's Class
On Quinn's last day of school, the class was photographed at "fitness" in the Christchurch square.
Traveling on the Lynx
Griffin's silhouette against the window in the bay surrounding Picton. The Lynx was a catamaran that sped us across the Cook Strait. The down side is that the front of the boat moves quite a bit with each wave.
Wharenui at Te Papa Museum
One of our first (and frequent) stops in Wellington was their national museum. This was quite an elaborately carved whare or meeting house. A whare is designed to pay homage to and represent the spirit of the ancestors.
Modern art meets tradition
From the contemporary Maori art area, this installation at Te Papa is an artist's rendition of a Whare. It includes lots of the traditional elements, while also being very different.
Bungy Boy
Griffin has often mentioned a desire to bungee jump, or do the incredibly daredevilish carnival rides (thus our grey hair). This ride looked safe and fun but not for the faint of heart (or stomach). The attendant was a kid at heart who helped the kids go way high!
Wide eyed Quinn
It doesn't look as high in these pictures as it was in person, but this look on Quinn's face let's you know that it was pretty awesome!
Finally!
When Griff was little he would ask when it was going to be his turn to be the big brother. Finally! This booth from the Lord of the Rings exhibit at Te Papa, was designed to demonstrate how filming tricks were used to alter the appearance of size.
Look, sheep!
These New Zealand sheep get to hang out in some of the coolest, most beautiful places on earth. Mt. Ruapehu, an active volcano, is the tallest mountain on the north island.
Mt. Doom
The clouds make it appear as if this volcano, Ngauruhoe, is smoking. While it isn't, the area surrounding the mountain is almost devoid of vegetation and covered with volcanic rocks.
The (easy) ascent to Mt. Doom
Riding the ski lift towards the ski slopes on the volcanos. It's so rocky, it's hard to imagine that there could be enough snow to ski here. This is the middle of autumn and quite cold with a few small snow fields, but good weather for hiking around on the slopes.
View from the ridge
We hiked around, making our way through the rocks and up to a ridge with a spectacular view of the plateau below. The clouds began to roll in beneath us making the scene look very other worldly.
Bundled up
From this vantage point you can see the other two peaks while standing on the third.
Quinn's Perspective
At the high point of our hike, Quinn found a spot to survey the plain and look over the row of volcanic cones extending north out into the ocean.
At last - Snow!
While hiking we could see several snow fields. They were deceptively difficult to reach, but once there the boys enjoyed playing a bit.
The country's highest cafe
Of course we had to stop for tea at New Zealand's most highly elevated cafe. You could see for miles till the fog rolled in, changing the scene to resemble Mordor, which in fact, we discovered, it was! Not the cafe, though.
The Baileys aloft
On the ski lift, on our way back down the mountain. Hang on to your hats! This photo was taken by a passing albatross.
One Last Look
The volcanos were quite awesome, especially in light of their recent and active history. The clouds make it seem as if this one is ready for action again!
Sunset over Mordor
Another roadside attraction. The setting sun became so incredible that we had to stop the car and appreciate the view in the great outdoors. The sheep seemed unimpressed, but we gawked in awe.
The Haka
A trip to the Maori Arts Center in Rotorua was the opportunity to see some traditional dances and hear stories and songs. That old kilt question comes to mind.
Never missed a beat!
This was quite a display of dexterity - they sang, used the sticks to tap out a rythm and tossed them back and forth. The activity was originally designed to help develop eye hand coordination and other skills crucial to hunting. Do not try this at home.
Designed to Intimidate
The facial gestures of tongue out and eyes bulging are meant to frighten off foes. These Maori are doing the Haka, the war dance, to scare off their enemies. Sounds like a good alternative to actual conflict.
The storage house
It both amazes and impresses us that a building used for storing food would be so ornately carved. It seems that it must reflect a great appreciation for blessings.
Ah, the smell . . .
Rotorua can be found by tracing that line of volcanic cones north a hundred killometers. As well as being famous as a cultural center, It is know for its thermal activity including springs and geysers. The whole area is scented with sulphur. Some of us were not displeased to move on.
Geyser Guy
We happened to be present when one of the larger geysers in the park saw fit to make its presence known. An impressive display.
Many forms of water
Between the clouds, steam, flowing water, and verdant bush, the park was a natural wonderland.
A moment of meditation
This Maori Anglican church was quite remarkable. Its tudor style exterior was quite a contrast to the elaborate Maori carvings inside. The Maori Jesus etched on a window, appears to be walking on the waters of Lake Rotorua, located behind the church. Pamela's favorite spot in Rotorua.
Our new home
While driving to Matamata this caught our eye - it's quite prominent from the road. It is actually a doll museum.
Look, sheep!
Oh, to be a sheep in New Zealand. This was a truly lovely, pastoral place. Acres upon acres of rolling green - soothing to the eyes and the spirit. This was also the tour of Hobbiton . . .
Griffin greets the locals
As soon as we arrived in Hobbiton, Griffin set off on a quest to photograph (if not pet) a sheep. The farmer chuckled hearing his desire to pet one, noting that they were far too shy to allow it. Instead Griffin contented himself roaming this absolutely georgeous sheep farm constructing memories.
Griffin's Dad
While photographing his sheep, Griffin paused to look up and take this picture of Mark surveying the farm. Griffin is developing a very keen eye for images.
Frodo and Sam
It wasn't hard to imagine those characters in this place. But now sheep have taken to roaming the Shire. This is the only LOTR movie set which hasn't been returned to its original state, although the earth is doing its best to swallow up these hobbit holes.
Griffin capturing memories
Griffin enjoyed the magical aura surrounding the former movie set, which was enhanced by the farmer's stories of events during filming. Word has it that "Sam" would take off with the farmer's sons to help shear sheep, thus missing his call time.
Tie dye Hobbit
Although Quinn was the impetus for this trip to Hobbiton, we all enjoyed the place far more than we had expected.
Bag End Bookends
It was delightful to see Bilbo's house. The endearing childlike qualities of the Hobbits were transferred to the happy touristers as they all had their photos taken.
Hobbit Sized Holes
From this photo of Quinn, you really get a sense of how small these hobbits were, and how large someone from outside the Shire is in contrast.
Bilbo's Doorway
This is the perspective from inside of Bag End looking out at the party tree and the lake (minus the bridge). While there was not much left of the hobbit holes, being in and around them was magical for all of us kids.
Young traveler muses
It seems that Griffin is imagining the Hobbits at play - Bilbo's birthday celebration at the tree. . . This was a place that inspired the imagination, not only the remnants of the movie set, but even more so, the astounding beauty and simplicity of the bucolic environs.
Hobbit Hole
Another of the remaining Dwellings tucked into the hillside.
Exploring Hobbiton
Our two Hobbits went on their own quest to discover the secrets of the town. It was hard to head back to Matamata and return the shire to the sheep.
Early Morning Golf
After locating a cache of missing golf balls, the boys were given a lifetime membership to the Ohakune Holiday Park 18 hole course. Conveniently, it was located right outside our cabin. Golf before breakfast?
Tongariro Crossing
Heading back to Tongariro, we set out for a day's hike on one of the famous walks in the country. Passing between two active volcanoes, this trail starts in lush grass, passes through sparse volcanic soils and then rises up to high mountain lakes tinted by the acrid soils surrounding them.
Volcanic Foliage
The trail winds its way through a very eclectic mix of plant life. The colors were hard to capture but range from a white that looked like snow, to yellow and browns and a very few lavenders and reds. All were adapted to live in what appeared to be very inhospitable and caustic soils.
Cooler colors
The colors were collected in clusters. This was one of the cooler congeries.
Still Life with flowers
One of the striking elements of this landscape was an absence of bird and mammal life. While there were striking displays of flowers, the only animal life we was an ocassional butterfly.
The carpet up close
Here is a 3 decimeter square section of the valley floor. The white flowers that carpeted much of the valley were soft tufts with a sturdy short stem. The occasional eruption of small white flowers that rose a full 6 or 8 centimeters above this floral canopy added a delicate accent.
Mt. Ngauruhoe
As we began our hike the mountain was topped with clouds that gradually dissipated to reveal the cone. Later in the day they swept back in to blanket the entire area.
Perfect pool
The runof from the mountains has led to some trememdous floods in the area. This has cut wonderful canyons into the igneous rock. Here is one of the pools that is downstream from soda springs.
Heading into the clouds
As we hiked around we noted that this was one of the few places in NZ that wasn't very green. Sticks were used to mark the trail. You can see a couple of them in the photo, behind the hikers (Griff and Pamela) and a ways in front of them.
Wee small hikers
Again note the intrepid Mr. Green and his hiking partner. Seeing those tiny figures helps to put the picture in perspective. Nothing like wilderness to make one feel like just a wee speck of life in a grand place.
Volcanic vista
In a treeless landscape, these harsh bits of rock jutting up from the ground were quite prominent. We wondered, if a storm were to come in fast, where could we seek shelter? Fortunately, although the clouds seemed full of mischief, we didn't have to find out.
Noon on Ngauruhoe
At the warmest part of the day, the clouds temporarily parted to briefly reveal the cone of the mountain.
Quinn on the Crossing
On the quest for interesting rocks as well as unusual photographs, Quinn picked his way carefully along the trail.
Soda Springs
Upon our arrival at Soda Springs, we paused for a wee bit of lunch. The lush appearing surroundings belie the rather caustic nature of the water. Having percolated through the volcanic soils it sported a rather extreme ph value. None the less it provided a beautiful as well as melodic respite.
Life at the springs
Similar to some of the lush life found in the country's rainforests, this is a very small section of life growing on the rocks of Soda Springs.
Preternatural landscape
This weathered ignious rock was in stark contrast to the life growing up through and around it.
Nature's surprise
Isn't it remarkable, how an almost monochromatic landscape will hold a surprising feature, like this burst of color.
LIght and Magic
As the clouds moved to envelop the landscape, floating pockets of light bathed the hillside in theurgical illumination.
Mountain flora
This place was richly textured in a sharp, angular way. Such a contrast to the richness and roundness of the rainforest.
Magic in the Mircocosm
We made a point of stopping to examine the multitude of life in a very small area. This is about 3-4 decimeters wide (1 foot). Note the variety of tones (even two spots of purple) and textures that provide a counterpoint to the foundation of white.
Close up
The detail is surprising when you look closely. The vegetation tends to cling closely to the earth's surface here - not much ventures up past knee heighth.
Fleeing the Clouds
Towards the end of the day on the trail, the clouds seemed to suggest they might be up to something serious. Fortunately the heavy rains held off till we were snug in our beds at the holiday park. But . . . what about the Brill girls out there in the wilds?
The Brill Girls
At the end of the trail, travelers are frequently met by unusual characters with whom they share tails of the road. These travelers-well-met regaled us with tales of tramping, tribulation and triumph as they spent their spring break hiking around Tongariro. Since our meeting we have done the hokie-pokie.