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🇳🇿 Matamata: Hobbiton Film Set
Lord of the Ring & The Hobbits
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October 5, 2026
Nowadays a visit to NZ is not complete (I guess) without having visited Hobbiton, the movie set where scenes from 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbits' where filmed. And it is a remarkable set, with 44 dwellings scattered throughout the hills. On a sunny day (as ours today) it does look amazing.
And
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October 4, 2026
A 30 minute drive from Rotorua: the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. It offers three different length paths to wander and wonder: bubbling mud pools, craters with yellow sulphur deposits, boiling hot water pools, and a highly acid, green colored lake.
🇳🇿 Rotorua: Te Puia
Just 15 minutes from the town center (by car) it is a great experience in Māori culture and the geothermal activities in this area.
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October 4, 2026
Visits here are are always guided - and super interesting. The Maori guides are happy to answer any questions you might have - about their Maori culture, or the geothermal area you experience all around you.
The tour takes you through the Arts & Crafts Institute, a Kiwi Conservation Center, and the geothermal
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October 3, 2026
A 2.5 hour drive from Auckland brings you to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. This is a little detour from our 'relocation' to Rotorua, But absolutely worth it. The caves are magical.
These are limestone caves formed over millenia through steady water erosion. These formations in themselves are mighty impressive
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October 3, 2026
After a day on Waiheke, this part seems boring.
Girls did some shopping, then we visited the Sky Tower for a 360° view over Auckland. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel, then went for dinner and a drink, happily chatting about the day we just enjoyed.
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October 3, 2026
A visit to Waiheke Island.
First up is a walk up to cable Bay Vineyards, about 30 minutes from the ferry pier. Walking through some lush green, seeing some fern that New Zealand is famous for, and hearing birds sing I have never heard before. Though only short, it was an amazing first impression on our
🇳🇿 Auckland: Before the Ferry
Morning walk before taking the ferry to Waiheke Island
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October 3, 2026
Will be going to Waiheke Island today. But after breakfast and before the ferry enjoy a short stroll along the harbor.
🇳🇿 Auckland: After Arrival Dinner Walk
Just arrived. Searching for Dinner.
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October 3, 2026
Even coming from Shanghai it is still an eleven hour flight ... Went for a walk after arrival, get a first impression and in search for dinner.
🇫🇷 Le Mont Saint Michel
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site
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July 28, 2026
Le Mont Saint Michel has been on our list for quite some time. Finally we have been here. And it is a sight to behold.
We started walking from the parking lot and, as we arrived shortly below low tide, decided to follow a few others away from the bridge and walked across the tideland instead ... only
🇩🇪 Cologne: Monte Troodelöh
Habe ihr den höchsten Punkt Kölns versprochen … und das Versprechen gehalten 🤭
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🇩🇪 Cologne: Evening Mixer
Die Frau schlug vor eine Runde mit dem Rad zu drehen 🤗 und hat mir im Anschluss noch 30 weitere Minuten geschenkt.
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July 23, 2026
My wife is unfortunately not that enthusiastic about cycling, but she suggested we go for a ride together. I'm not saying no to that :-)
Through the Vorgebirgspark and a bit around the Kalscheurer Weiher, then back. Then she gave me another half hour which I then rode around the Decksteiner Weiher. I
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🇩🇪 Jüchen: Schloss Dyck
Ein kleiner Sonntagsausflug zum Schloss Dyck.
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🇱🇻 Riga: Midsummer
Lighting the fire
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June 24, 2026
We didn't plan the visit to Riga around these dates for these festivities. We just wanted to escape the heat in Cologne. But ended up lucky and having the chance to enjoy a beer, some dancing, praying to some Pagan gods and lighting the fire 😎
Happy Midsummer!
October 11, 2026
Walk through Arrowtown, a former gold mining village that popped up during the NZ gold rush around the 1860s.
It also has some remaining buildings from the chinese settlement that now is like an open air museum with displays and explanations of the history and conditions the chinese workers lived in.