NEW ZEALAND : AUCKLAND, MATAMATA & ROTORUA

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

3 MAY 2024

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Is a major city in the north of New Zealand's North Island. Some of the best things in Auckland highlight its vibrant Maori community, waterfront seafood restaurants and bars, as well as a dazzling skyline. 

5 OCTOBER 2018 - MATAMATA, NEW ZEALAND

At 7 am, the group checked out of the motel to continue the journey to Matamata, which is approximately 161 km from Auckland. The journey takes 1 hour and 54 minutes. 

Matamata is a town located in Waikato, Northern New Zealand, near the Kaimai Range. It is a thriving agricultural area and also a famous horse breeding training ground. Matamata is part of the Matamata-Piako District. 

Matamata means "headland". This was a name of a new pa established in 1830 by Te Waharoa, the famous Ngati Haua chief, on a ridge of high ground projecting into the swampy valley of the Waitoa River near Dunlop Road, a few kilometres north-west of present day Waharoa. 

This is the filming location of the movie Hobbiton, from The Lord of The Rings. A visit to Matamata would be incompleted without exploring the Hobbiton Movie Set. This enchanting location, just a short drive from the town center, is where you can immerse yourself in the real Middle-earth. 

HOBBITON MOVIE SET

Hobbiton Movie Set, a location used for filming The Lord of The Rings movies and The Hobbit series, is located on a family farm about 8 km west of Hinuera and 10 km southwest of Matamata.

The New Zealand government has maintained a set of film studios in this area to be used as a tourist attraction.

There are as many as 44 Hobbit houses built in this village.

From the Hobbiton Movie Set, the group was then taken directly to Rotorua, approximately 67 km from Matamata, with a journey time of 52 minutes.

ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND

Rotorua is a city on the South Coast in the Bay of Plenty area of the North Island of New Zealand. It is famous for its geothermal activity and Maori cultural village (the indigenous people of New Zealand). In the Whakarewarewa Te Puia Valley, there are bubbling mud pools and the 30m high Pohutu Geyser which has erupted several times.

ROTORUA GOVERNMENT GARDEN

Rotorua Government Gardens (originally known as Paepaekumanu) are a public park located on Lake Rotorua. They are a major tourist destination in New Zealand.

The area is of historical significance to the local Maori, with battles having been fought there. 

The Rotorua Museum (Te Whare Taonga or Te Arawa) is a local museum and art gallery in the Government Gardens near the centre of Rotorua, New Zealand. 

It housed the former Bath House building which was opened in 1908 and is noted the first major investment in the New Zealand tourism industry.

 

BLUE BATH HOUSE 

The Blue Bath House us a heritage geothermal baths building in Rotorua. The building is designed in the Spanish Mission style, listed as a Category 1 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand. It was opened in 1886 and stood for over 40 years before being demolished in 1932 when the present building was constructed alongside. 

WYLIE MEMORIAL

This monument commemorates Fred W. Wylie, a young soldier from Galatea who fought with the 4th New Zealand Contingent. He is a member of a unit known as the "Rough Riders". He was killed while leading the attack at Klipfontein on 26 May 1901.

Further readings:

1. Rotorua Museum : Fred Wylie and his rifle

2. Rotorua South African War Memorial

The group stayed at the Rosecourt Motel at 329 Fenton St.Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand.

NEXT:

DOWN MEMORY LANE: 6 OCTOBER 2018 > NEW ZEALAND NORTHERN ISLAND

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

3 May 2024 - 25 Syawal 1445h: 10.10 P.M

NEW ZEALAND - NORTH ISLAND

HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

2 MAY 2024

On 3 October 2018, my wife Hjh Norziah bt Ahmad joined Kembara Sufi Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd on a visit to North Island, New Zealand.

The group departed from KLIA 2 Airport at 11.40pm aboard Air Asia D7 206. The distance from Malaysia to New Zealand is 8,792.92 km.

My youngest son and I sent my wife to KLIA 2

The flight from Malaysia to New Zealand will stop at Australia's Gold Coast to change flight crew before continuing to New Zealand.

My wife and her friend Hjh Noraini traveled together to Europe (France, Belgium & the Netherlands) in 2017 and also to Turkey in early 2018.

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Gold Coast is a city in Queensland, Australia, located about 66 km from Brisbane. The Gold Coast is the 6th largest city in Australia.

After completing the Air Asia crew changeover at Gold Coast Airport in Australia, the group boarded the plane back to Auckland, New Zealand, and arrived at Auckland Airport, New Zealand, at 4.10pm NZ time.

AUCKLAND AIRPORT

Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand, located near Mangere, a regional suburb and Airport Oaks. It serves as the domestic and international hub for Air New Zealand, and the New Zealand hub of Jetstar. 

After completing all baggage and immigration procedures at Auckland Airport, the group was taken to their accommodation at the Airport Kiwi Motel located at 144 McKenzie Rd, Mangere Bridge, Auckland 2022, New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is an island country located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean that contains two main large islands, the North Island and the South Island.

The Maori community named New Zealand as Aotearoa, which means 'Land of the Long White Clouds'.

The origin of the name New Zealand comes from the notes of the Dutch cartographer who called it 'Nova Zeelandia', which is a Dutch region called Zeeland.

British navigator James Cook anglicized the name to New Zealand. It has nothing to do with the Danish island of Zealand.

Auckland, a city in the North Island, NZ, is the largest city in New Zealand with a population of 1,628,900 people. Auckland's name in Maori is Tamaki or Tāmaki-makau-rau.

There is no tour program for October 4, 2018. All members of the group are given enough rest time for the next day's tour program.

OTHER READINGS:

TAKE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE: 1991 - INTERNATIONAL ROYAL FLEET REVIEW: AUCKLAND & WELLINGTON

NEXT:

DOWN MEMORY LANE: 5 OCTOBER 2018 > NZ NORTHERN ISLAND

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

3 May 2024 > 24 Syawal 1445H: 12.23 p.m