Day 11 - Taupo

Drove to Taupo this morning with another 6.30am start... Stopped to see some volcanoes (from afar!!) on the way and then on to the town. First up today was Rock n Ropes. This involved high level ropes strung between telegraph poles with me walking them.. It was all about 15metres off the ground! Very challenging for someone with a fear of heights. Successfully negotiated the most of it, then came the trapeze... Which involved climbing a vertical pole, getting ontop of it (which was really hard!!) then leaping out to catch a trapeze!! So scary. Caught it though :) Then did the crazy legs on my descent back to earth!! Finally there was the giant swing.. NOOOOOO!! It was a 15m platform you had to jump off and fall into a swing. Took me ages to get off, finally made it, let out the biggest death scream you have ever heard!! Was too funny, my friend who was filming it was just pissing himself. Gave me whiplash but it was ok! Scared the s*** outta me so I couldnt do bungy, should have done it first as apparently bungy is less sharp on the jerk bit when the rope catches. After that we headed straight to our Boat Cruise which had a P Party theme, I went as a pupeteer with Billy the Bird lol. Pretty rubbish but I couldnt think of anything else/didnt have time to get a costume! Was pretty fun, had a skipping competition inside on the boat lol, did ok!! Then into town where we danced away until 1am and then decided enough was enough. Tomorrow, Giant Hamster Ball... :D

Day 12 - Rotorua

Headed out on the coach this morning after a 9am departure finally! Stopped at Huka Falls first which were AMAZING. 220,000 litres per second go over them. It was just scary to watch the power of it and the noise! All I could think of was Mad Dog riverboarding lol..... Next stop after that was the Mud Pools which STANK of sulphur but were pretty cool, never seen anything like that before. Kinda reminded me of something out of Labrynth or Dark Crystal... Then it was time to go ZORBING!! This was what Id been looking forward to the most in NZ. Signed in, got on the bikini and headed to the top... Decided to take the straight track in the wet zorb and go with my friend Mike who was gonna video the calamity! Water was pretty nice, I screamed most of the way down, but it was soooooo much fun!! LOVED IT! Got out and went straight back up for a second go alone this time on the Zig Zag track, again wet (Zydro) Zorb. Didnt like that as much as the first one just felt like a washing machine, was awesome, other one flipped you a bit. After that, went to Rainbow Springs to see trout, ducks, trees, ferns, birds and the KIWI!! Was hiding a bit at the back but did catch a glimpse. We then headed back to the hotel where I just passed out on my bed for about 2 hours (partying is catchin up with me!) and then we had our "Hangi and Concert" which is done by a Mauri family. Its really interesting, we even saw the Haka performed live, scary.. Some of our tour guys got up and did it too which was funny! Treated myself to a Polynesian spa with a 36degree pool and then thermal spa after as every muscle in my body is aching from excursions and running! Another lie in tomorrow, then its my final day on tour and tubing in a cave... :D

Day 13 - Waitomo

Today was a leisurely start, which involved a trip to Agrodome where we saw a load of different breeds of sheep I didnt know existed and saw one being shawn and the working dogs. Was pretty cool! After that we went to see the farmyard nursery where Mike fell in love with the puppy lol. Then onto our lunch stop where Jake, Mike and I got left behind on the bus but caught them before they got off the main street!! We were getting booze supplies from the supermarket... a valid excuse!! That afternoon I went caving/tubing in a cave. Involved once again - a wetsuit, helmet.. but this time boots not flippers and a tube not a board. Why was I putting myself through this again?! It was pitch black in the caves and some very scary parts where u literally had to lie back flat on ur tube and feel your way along the roof which was only centimetres above your head. Saw glow worms which apparently were actually glow maggots, but they were cool green things none the less! Safely completed the caves and headed back for our last nite on tour :( Was very laid back evening although later on, Mike did strip off to Rock DJ in the bar which most of us missed as we were safely tucked up in our beds!!

Day 14 - Auckland

A solemn drive to the big city today, most of us would be saying goodbye :( Hopefully not forever though as some great friendships were formed which can hopefully be kept up! I stayed with Jake and Nikki at the hotel as I had to leave at 4am for my flight so didnt make sense getting a room to myself! We walked around the city a bit, then went and played mini golf (I won, very important :p) and had an afternoon nap and a quiet dinner before falling asleep watching tv!! Goodbye New Zealand :(