Rangitoto and the Shire

Deb and Sharon are on holiday from school and spent the night on Tuesday so we could hike up an old volcano on Wednesday. Rangitoto is an island only 20 minutes off the Auckland harbor and it was a volcano. It has not erupted in like 500 or 600 years, so I think we're safe. Travis dropped us off to catch the ferry, and we had 3 minutes to spare. Morning traffic can be terrible! This island is so diverse for being what it is.
Here is a picture of a field of volcanic rock. There were many places like that, but there were trees and mosses and other plants growing into that rock all over.

Here is a forest we were walking through.













We made it to the top! Deb and Sharon were kicking my butt when we got to the steep part (I really need to do some more running!), but we all made it. It was an amazing view, showing all different parts of Auckland and the north island. We pretty much walked all day long. It only rained on us once, during lunch. We tried taking shelter under a tree, but it didn't work that great. We got back to the warf where we would catch the ferry a bit early, and I think we all fell asleep at least for a little bit. Like I said, I really need to do some more running! :)

Auckland from the ferry ride back.
















On Friday, we went to the farm where they built the set for Hobbiton for Lord of the Rings. Travis wrote all about it on his blog, so I'll just include pictures. You can link his blog from mine and read more about what you see here.