Day 20 we cannot show you pictures of the best part of the day

We got reservations for a Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tour, only to find out we cannot share anything that will reveal anything.  Everyone knows they are using this site to make a two part new Hobbit movie (prequel to Lord of the Rings), and we had to sign a no internet picture agreement till the movie is out. They showed us a news story of guy who paid a big fine, so they are very serious about this.  So you can see the bus we took to the site and the sheep shearing that occurred after we left.

Chris feeding little lamb (tour bus in background):

Sheep shearing (quite a skill):

The rest will have to wait till we can show you in person or until the movie is released.  We were lucky to get here when we did because it will closed from early October till sometime in November, presumably for filming.
 
The trip to the Alexander farm in Matamata was really easy - more rolling green country side and sheep and cows and rocks and did I say green! It was a beautifully sunny day that even got warm enough for Chris to de-layer!

After we saw some of the farm's 1 week old lambs and a quick sheep-shearing, we had lunch and went to Rotorua.  We discovered a weekly craft fair of all things NZ and managed to spend a few dollars.   

We also saw local black swans and steam from their famous mineral springs, then off to the visitors’ center here and got ideas for tomorrow.

Black swans near lodge we are visiting:

Natural sulfur escaping in the park near Rotorua:

Chris through Hobbit window at visitors’ center:

We came back to the Ariki Lodge and a nap for Chris and this entry for me!  Tonight we see a Maori culture show and dinner.