The adventure begins!

A little fishing could be a good thing.

A fish processing area.

And off to the smokehouse.

The gardener that lives here certainly gets Lynne’s approval.

A farm to provide the local produce!

I wonder who the proud grower of this prize pumpkin is?

A beekeeper must tend these bee hives!

Is this the honour system? Put a coin in the bag and take a jar of honey home?

It seems the baker also works on the honour system.

Were we expected for lunch?

Sunflowers brighten the day as the laundry dries.

By the look of the bottles lying around, the town lush must live here.

Our reader must have gone inside to get more tobacco for his pipe!

This tree has an unusual story. The Hobbit trilogy had a prequel filmed after the original. Director Sir Peter Jackson wanted a smaller version of the tree so the prequel would look authentic.

He replaced it with a smaller synthetic replica, and then didn’t like the shade of the leaves. Painters working from bucket cranes repainted all 70,000 leaves!

This little beauty is a Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the same species common to North America.

Sir Peter Jackson didn’t have these brought in. They are New Zealand’s most commonly recognized butterfly. They are thought to have island hopped their way across the Pacific from North America and were first observed in New Zealand in 1873.

I can’t find anyone home here. I’ll just wait a while!.

I wonder when the party starts?

We’re happy to see you! Won’t you stop in for a cup of tea?

That’s a nice looking place across the water. Let’s go have a look!

This is a positive sign!

They say it’s called the Green Dragon Inn.

Cheers!

Would you like one as well?