Middle Earth

From Mt. Doom to Hobbiton, Middle Earth is one of the best, if not THE best, places I have ever been to. One of my favorite trips was not some far away place with no cell phone connection; rather, Hobbiton left me super excited for what was in store for the rest of my time in New Zealand. It was one of the very first areas I visited and although the tour was short it was so memorable. It was crazy to see the level of detail put into some hobbit holes that didn't even make it onto the silver screen. I heard stories that I never would have known had I not booked a trip. I was slightly worried before going that most of what I saw in the movies was pure "movie magic." That is FAR from the truth! You literally feel like you are right in Middle Earth and it was exactly what it looked like when the hobbits were once trekking about. Of course, we ended with a free drink in the Green Dragon Inn which was the cherry on top for my experience there. This trip was a great way to kick-off my time in New Zealand. AUT has also proven to be a great home away from home that has been able to guide me while I was out exploring. It was filled with great people and wonderful experiences. I would not have chosen a different school to attend during my experience abroad. From Hobbiton to Mt. Taranaki, AUT was able to provide me with great tools to be successful in Auckland and the rest of the country. The Land of the Long White Cloud has proved to be a fantastic place that I will cherish forever!