We set off bright and early to head back into Taupo town centre. We used the library wifi and computers to plan our Tongaririo Alpine Crossing the next day. The weather forecast was still looking good which was perfect! We booked a campsite near the start of the trek and a shuttle to take us to the start at 6.10am, and pick us up between 1-4.30 at the end point. The recommended amount of time given to complete the crossing is 8 hours, I hoped I was fit enough for it!

I had taken the plunge and booked a skydive for 11.40 this morning! I hate flying and I'm petrified of heights so there was a good chance I could have bottled it, therefore I didn't want to tell anyone until I'd actually done it! Needless to say, I had been feeling sick all morning! Every time I remembered I was doing it, I had intense butterflies in my stomach. Having said that, it has always been something I feel I should do at least once in my life, and where better to do it other than over Lake Taupo in New Zealand. I'd spent the last few days looking up skydiving accidents and surprisingly I only had a 0.0003% of dying! I'll take those odds!

The weather was gorgeous when we arrived at Taupo Tandem Skydiving which thankfully looked very official and clean. I don't know why that would matter but I feel like I'm putting my life in these people's hands... you'd hope they could keep a place clean. I registered at the front desk and was told to take a seat for my introduction. There were about 8 of us diving around the same time. They explained what to expect from the skydive and also the different packages available. Originally I was going for the lowest dive at 12,000 feet, but on thinking about it, as I probably wouldn't do one again, I should probably go for the highest and get the longer time free falling! I couldn't believe I was thinking like that but before I knew it I had put myself down for the 15,000 feet dive with the most expensive but much better photo and video package! I'm only going to be here once I told myself!

After going to the toilet 3 times in the space of 10 minutes, they called my name to start kitting me up. I felt sick! What the HELL was I doing... I'm not this person!!! One of the instructors dressed in a yellow suit with a big smile on his face sorted me out with my suit and harness thing, and yes I did ask him to double check it! I waited for my name to be called to be introduced to my instructor but no one came. All the other divers were kitted and chatting to their instructor but I was sat waiting, I hoped they didn't think I was diving on my own!

The plane we were waiting for landed on the tarmac in front of us. All the divers in my group piled on and I was still without an instructor. With that, I tall guy looking very happy and excited came walking towards me. He had literally just landed from another dive and my camera guy was walking behind him... thank god! They introduced themselves as David and hairy bear. I honestly didn't care at this point, all I could think about was whether I was actually going to allow myself to board the plane. Before I could think about it anymore, they were pulling me by a rope towards the plane. I obviously wasn't thinking straight as I didn't even give Matt a cuddle goodbye, just a pathetic wave. Luckily I'd already given him goodbye messages for him and my family if anything terrible happened!

During the plane ride up to 15,000 feet, I can't even really remember what I was thinking, I just remember feeling safest in that plane than any other because I had a parachute on! David informed me he had completed over 10,000 skydives so I felt like I was in good hands. At 15,000 feet, I heard the pilot say through David's headset, "prepare for jump!". At that point the adrenaline really set in, this was it, no going back, only outside this plane! I could feel my heart pumping like it was going to explode! David was explaining things to me in my ear but I honestly couldn't say what, my mind went completely blank. Next thing I know, the plane door is open and I can hear and feel the strong wind blowing a gale outside the plane. David ushered us to the edge of the plane door but I was holding on to the bar above us, he had to pull my hand down... my heart was at about 200bpm at this point! I couldn't bring myself to look down. I've never felt so scared in my life, but the photos and video footage shows me smiling away... definitely don't remember that!

The next thing I felt was David rocking us and I felt a strong pull as we rolled out of the plane. I kept my eyes shut, and everything for the next 5 seconds was a bit of a blur but eventually we are flat and free falling from 15,000 feet! I opened my eyes and David pulled my hands out from holding onto my brace. I couldn't bloody believe it! Here I was falling from the sky! I honestly couldn't open my eyes wide enough to take everything in, it was incredible- there's no feeling like it! We were free falling for 45-50 seconds before David pulled the parachute open at 5,000 feet! Then it all went quiet! I couldn't hear a sound, only David asking me how I felt... Bloody Marvellous David!!!!

We did some parachute swings and turns before landing smoothly! I'd done it!! What an incredible, amazing, just awesome experience! Genuinely one of the best moments of my life! I couldn't wait to see Matt, I knew he'd be proud of me for doing it!

The photos and video of the skydive were hilarious and I'm so glad I went for the better package, definitely well worth it! I thanked David for being so calm and chilled with everything, he was an amazing instructor and definitely made me feel safe.

For the rest of the day I had the most amazing feeling of euphoria. I was walking around with a constant smile on my face, I felt like I should have had a party or something. Matt spent the afternoon swimming around to the Maori carvings in the wall with a snorkel set and woggle. He was chuffed to bits as it took him an hour of intense swimming but he managed it!

Later that afternoon, we drove to our campsite for the evening prior to our Tongaririo crossing hike the next day. The 'Discovery Lodge campsite' was in a beautiful setting with very basic facilities. We sat with some dinner and clinked our ciders to a day of achievement! One of my best days of our entire trip so far!