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Hot springs and geysers in New Zealand’s most spectacular geothermal area. Enchanting mystical atmosphere (created by tiny creatures) inside a cave of lights. We experienced the wonders of nature!

Welcome to the Shire! Outside of Matamata, on the North Island of New Zealand, this enchanting village became the perfect setting for the movie adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies! Hope you will experience the magic with us.

“Explore a world more wonderful,” announces the webpage of this extraordinary garden. Located in the small town of Hamilton, in the heart of Waikato, near Rotorua on the North Island, it’s listed as one of the top 3 things to do in New Zealand.

Our self-driving exploration of New Zealand’s North Island started from Auckland, and led us through beautiful green countryside – on the east coast – to the very north end of the island. Then back to the west coast, somewhere halfway between Cape Reinga and Auckland.

Often referred to as the “City of Sails,” Auckland was our first stop on New Zealand’s North Island. This two-island country is located in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia. Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city; an urban gem with beautiful landscapes, beaches, rich Maori culture, and is a gateway to the country’s natural beauty.

We were lucky that our private, full-day cultural tours were led by a very knowledgeable local guide, who explained to us the Hindu traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs as we visited sacred temples, mountain villages, and local markets.

After spending two days on a boat and sleeping in a tiny cabin when we visited Komodo National Park, we found ourselves in a luxury resort. What a change! Unfortunately, only for one  afternoon and one night.

Among Indonesia’s countless natural and man-made wonders, the Komodo dragon occupies a prominent place. In order to see this ancient and large lizard, we spent two wonderful days on a boat, cruising from one island to another.

This mysterious, unique, and breathtaking island of Indonesia has something for everyone. We came here for a week to experience the distinct culture and to see the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon.

A quick 12 hours, packed with lots of adventures! Getting from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia via two flights through Singapore. For now, it was our short visit to this unique city state.

We wished we had more time to explore the capital city of Papua New Guinea, the largest of the country. The visit was quick, but we were glad to get a glimpse of life in this city.