It is far more enjoyable to visit places off the beaten track that most tourist do not venture. Piopio is a small town not heavily traveled. Not knowing what to expect, we went on an adventure of a 2 hour round trip scenic drive, through a remote country side of primeval forest, towering limestone cliffs and massive rock formations. Our car was basically the only car on the road for miles and miles. The photos are of the Mangaotaki Rocks where the troll and campfire scenes were filmed in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Piopio is situated on SH3, 20 km south of Te Kuiti and it is definitely worth the trip.
