Hobbiton -- New Zealand

Last month, we spent a week in the North Island of New Zealand,  so beautiful, but enough latitude lower than Australia, that it was pretty cold.  We'll save the South Island for their summertime!   Our meetings were on the Church campus near the temple, but we rented a car and drove up, around, and over that island, with a couple of ferry boat rides as well.  Here are photos of the Lord of the Rings film location in Mata Mata, about an hour out of Hamilton.   (And why is it called Mata Mata....it doesn't matta.)

North Island -- New Zealand

Bay of Islands - New Zealand

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Bay of Islands - New Zealand

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      A half hour ferry ride from the main land on New Zealand's North Shore to this idyllic little island --- a one - room church and little shops  (but cars have the right-of-way) and great fish and chips!

Hamilton, New Zealand

Great food and entertainment.

Dancers at the Church College campus

Auckland---our starting point

Hobbiton, NZ

Two chilly hobbits in New Zealand!

Near  Mata Mata

Why is it called Mata Mata?

 

It doesn't matta.

Any body home?

Come on in!

Photos from Sydney

Elder/Sister Baker at Hyde 

                      

Kiwi in the park

View from the deck of our "flat"

Parramatta Park -- our morning walk

Sidney Harbor -- Opera House roof in the center