Tauranga/Matamata - to June 15

Tauranga is a beautiful seaside City, fairly large.  We wandered around but we didn't have a lot of time as we wanted to get to Matamata (aka Hobbiton...where portions of The Lord of the Rings was filmed) while it was still daytime.  We wanted to take a tour.

I know this is an unusual picture but I just wanted to show the public toilets in this Country.   They don't have bathrooms in all restaurants like we do at home so they have these lovely structures all over the place for your convenience.  Very well maintained and they cater to your every need.

This is in Tauranga

I just loved this palm tree in Tauranga, on the boardwalk by the sea

I thought this made a lovely shot also in Tauranga on the Foreshore

This is actually taken at the Information Centre...as there is a new film of the Hobbit being shot, we had to sign confidentiality agreements so, sorry, can't post any more pictures.

After the tour of the area for the movie, we were treated to a sheep farm experience.  We had a shearing demonstration and I got to bottle feed a lamb (it was a pretty old lamb)

Doesn't she look cute!

I had to twist Dalton's arm to get a picture of Damion...

They have to wear, what looks to be pieces of leather cloth, wrapped around their feet to keep from slipping, there is so much lanolin in the wool that the floor gets really slippery.

That's quite the pile of wool, they only get just over $3.00 for a bale of wool these days, not very profitable...luckily they also raise sheep for the meat.

I always did like babies, of all types...