After getting up very early to sneak out of the hostel car-park we had parked in to meet our mates we set off to the rafting centre. We had decided we enjoyed white water rafting so much in Peru that we would go down the highest commercially raftable waterfall in the world - a drop of 7m!! It was also a grade higher than we had done in Peru, it went up to grade V.

Slightly nervous and apprehensive we got our wetsuits on and jumped into the van to take us to the river. The river we were rafting is called the Kaitiaki, which in English means 'the place to eat eel/river fish.' This river was a very sacred river to the local Maori tribe so before we got in a prayer was said in Maori, the company we were with had got the Maori Chief to bless them and their passages down his sacred river and apparently they are the only company to do this.

We had a few easy rapids to start with, there were fewer commands to learn than in Peru because the Kaitiaki River was made from an old lava stream so there are no boulders to tip the boat, the main one we would be needing was 'GET DOWN'!!!.

We got back into the swing of rafting very quickly and before we knew it we had gone down 3m high and 1.5m high waterfalls. We then pulled into the shore just before the big waterfall and were given the opportunity to get out if we wanted to - kind of a last chance to chicken out!! Another prayer was said (this alone was making us nervous!!) and we were all given a piece of sliver fern for bravery and to guide us through the rapid safely.

We lined ourselves up for the rapid and then it was 'paddle, paddle, paddle, GET DOWN!' as we plummeted over the 7m high falls. The raft went vertical and then was completely submerged, the whole raft and all of us were underwater for at least 1.5 seconds, see the photos and wait for us to pop out, gasping for air!! It was so much fun as we popped up the other 2 people in our raft fell out, it was hilarious!

Further on we were told that there was a "warm area" to dive into which we duly did but it was freezing - we are such mugs!! After this we went down a rapid holding onto the side of the raft, the force of the water is just incredible swirling and eddying around our feet. As soon as the adventure had begun it was over, time flies when you are having fun!! 14 rapids and a 7m high waterfall in an hour and we survived it all!!

Sarah had managed to get us a bonus deal because of our van, for an extra 3 bucks (one pound) we could go to Hells Gate for a private mud pool and spa. We couldn't believe it this would normally cost 100 dollars each!!So after the rafting we had a nice relaxing spa before heading down to Taupo.

The mud pool was fantastic 38oC water and lots of mud in the bottom to put all over your body, apparently it is good for the skin, I reckon it's just a good excuse to get muddy!! We were then made to have a freezing cold shower after this, apparently quite a few people scream when the cold water hits them but we held our own!

This was followed by a hot sulphurous spa bath to unwind - it was beautiful and we had the place to ourselves. Feeling clean, relaxed and refreshed we headed south to Taupo so we could book a Skydive for tomorrow.

Love A&S xxx