Well hope you all had a wonderful Easter break! I know I sure did. After one of our crappiest summers ever, this past Easter weekend was one of a kind. Beautifully hot, clear blue sky and a very light breeze every day. *sigh*… Lovely!
After a day and a half in the city we took off down country during the late evening, after hubby finished work and four hours later sat in our Motel looking out at the swimming pool, the hot tubs with the sound of the harbour waves caressing white sand in the moonlight, while I sipped a white chocolate mocha with my feet up…mmm.
Now while I am resting I just want to take a moment to explain to those who haven’t been visiting my blog long, “Walking with me in Aotearoa” is a simple guided tour (if you like), with me as your guide, through my country. If you would like to read the previous posts, please go here, or use my sidebar cloud and click on “Aotearoa.” Since I spent this last weekend travelling south out of the city, I thought it was a good opportunity to pick up from where I left off and continue showing you around. About two hours out of the city one veers slightly to the left towards the east coast and travels through the Waikato country passing 
near Matamata or as it is now referred to “Hobbit” country, or “middle Earth.”
We follow the East coast after passing through the Waiuku Gorge and after driving through the lively town of Tauranga made our home for the next two nights in Mount Maunganui, (which is where I am now, or was when I started writing this).
It was Jazz Festival time, so we started the day with breakfast on the main street which is blocked to allow for street performers, cafes to spread out and bouncy castles for the kids and stall sellers from fruit and vege, wine and cheeses, to arts and crafts, there was much to see and experience. The “Mount” and Tauranga
never 
fail to impress and give visitors a rousing time you won’t forget. You could listen to a concert or add your wish to the wish list board or simply watch as children enjoy face painting and explore the wonder of all things, paint, glitter and anything else their little heart’s desire. (Mum will have a job getting it off their
faces and out of their 
hair and clothes later).
We found the biggest second-hand book store in New Zealand, run by the Rotary Club and delighted in spending time rummaging through amazing finds of written music of some of the greats, LP’s of the Beatles and thousands of other stars of stage and screen, to books of classics well worn, or
autobiography’s of Audrey Hepburn, and many others…. The price! Anything from $1.00 to $5.00. That’s about US50c to US $3.00. Children’s books were plentiful and I enjoyed picking up a few myself. I smiled to myself as a father nearby helped his small child as she picked a classic, Pooh Bear!
On to Tauranga and a wander round the main streets, enjoying the festive spirit. Standing room only in most places, this is a popular place anytime of the year.
Here a street performer performs for us. Everyone enjoys the fun.
Time for a coffee served with Easter eggs.
We then travelled to a Historic village a few streets away where there were also jazz bands playing.
A Maori woman is showing children how to make poi poi’s.
Later they performed for us also.
Now here’s an interesting car, I wouldn’t mind owning….lol.
A young boy shows his talent.
It’s nearing the end of another perfect day down on the East Coast. Out in front of me one can barely see the tip of the ship that broke up late last year spilling oil along this coastline. As we head back to our motel we get a late call, friends are heading down our way and we arrange to meet them at their uncle’s place an hour away.
After a lovely evening of being wined and dined in a tiny village south of Tauranga, this morning finds us making our way back through the gorge towards Auckland and the big smoke. Here we stopped to take a couple of pictures
A morning tea stop an hour later. Paeroa home of the “world famous in New Zealand L&P drink.” Check here for info about the drink.
Back home with still the afternoon sun tempting me outside I am found back writing, an idea for April’s PB draft for 12x12x12 which had been developing in my mind on the way home finally unleashed on the screen in front of me.
A perfect long weekend!
Writer and Dreamer at work 
Sounds like you had a fabulous end of summer weekend. So glad you took all these photos and were able to walk us through all the sights and sounds. I do confess I would love to go to Matamata, have seen such great documentaries on the making of the trilogy. Wow, you must have enjoyed that bookshop!
LOL speaking of Matamata I have something in store for you, so stay tuned Joanna. I have been meaning to take you a little further down country where more of the trilogy was made and myths and legends are plenty. Give me another week.
Yes it was a book fair that was housed in three huge container buildings… Awesome!
That’s wonderful Diane, we have friends in Tauranga and it is a beautiful place with loads to do. It sounds like you had a lovely Easter. I’m pleased you had good weather for it too.
How cool to have friends down there. We also have friends in the Mount, who have been wanting us to shift down when we retire…lol. It was a lovely weekend…. went so fast.
Thanks for the tiki-tour!
Everything looks dreamy – especially the photo of you looking out to the sea. Sigh.
What are poi-poi’s, and what is in the famous L&P drink?
LOL… Julie it might be a good idea for you to take a quick look back through my other posts of “Aotearoa” and you will learn poi-poi’s are used in dance. I will bring it up again later in another post… so stay tunned. Click on the “check here for info” to find out more about the L&P drink. It’s very good for upset stomachs, (my mum swears by it). It kind of tastes like a lemon 7 Up!
Will do!
Thanks for the tour. I loved revisiting. We drove the south island a few years ago and enjoyed your beautiful country immensely.
Thanks for stopping in to say hi at the Write Game. Very nice to have new visitors. Hope to see you again.
Your very welcome ! wow so you have been downunder… so glad you enjoyed the south island, you should pop back and visit the north, someday.
Thanks for the tour. We visited your beautiful south island a few years ago and enjoyed our time there immensely.
Thanks for stopping in at the Write Game to say hi. It’s always wonderful have new visitors. Hope to see you again.
Thankyou, and will do. Thanks for your comments.
That’s very cool that you’ve been to “middle earth”! 😉 I have seen a street performer perform on our town’s Community Day and I helped him balance. He was juggling knives (while on a wobbly plastic board, which I helped him get on!),clubs and many more things! I wish I could’ve been with you on your trip! 😉
Erik
Glad you liked the post Erik! Yes we often drive past “middle earth”. The “Mount” as it is affectionately known is a great beachside resort and very popular with visitors. One day Erik!
Sounds like a perfect get-away to me! Thanks for sharing. I do wish to visit your country one day and you have given me some great motivation.
Glad you liked it Darlene. Well stay tuned as I hope to update this series again soon. You will be very inspired…. 🙂
I love how you and your husband just pick and travel, whether it is a few hours from home or half way around the world. I always enjoy learning more about NZ, The Jazz festival sounded like fun. But, sitting on the mount looked like a beautiful way to soak up the last of summer. The “Hobbit Country” and the “middle of the earth” were quite interesting. Are those “eyes” looking out? What a great weekend.
LOL… thankyou Pat. We love just up and going. I never used to like Jazz much but in an atmosphere like this or at a winery it is lovely. I love the idilac places too.
The “eyes” are the Hobbit homes and you can actually look inside. Very cute.
What a phenomenal trip! Thanks for sharing all the great photos too.
Glad you liked it Julie. Hubby and I often travel down here about 3 times a year. Thought I would share a bit with you all. There are more pics on my FB for you to enjoy as well as videos.
Sounds like a lovely trip. All those books to browse through too,how many did you buy?
Oh between hubby and myself quite a few…lol. Even picked up an “All time Movie Greats” A behind the scences with some of the movie industries great actors and directors that I had never seen before.
You live somewhere very beautiful, Diane! It looks like you had perfect weather for your travels and, being a big old geek, I wish I could go see the hobbit holes. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your weekend.
lol You are very welcome Heather. Stay tuned as I intend to continue this series. Glad you liked this.