Corrugated capital

We cycled up and over the caldera ridge leaving steamy smelly Rotorua behind. Well almost… our skin and clothes still have a whiff of sulphur.

36 miles later we rolled into Tirau - a surprise little place of about 1000 people where corrugated iron has taken on a life of its own. The classic construction material has been used to create merino wool shops shaped like sheep (visitors enter through a door tucked beneath the cheerful creature’s chin), a huge dog, shepherd, and other smaller creations throughout town. Amanda was rather fond of them.

We stayed the night in a motel directly opposite the dog, before cycling the 12 miles to Matamata in the morning to catch our Hobbiton tour bus.Read more