Dear Diary (30/11),

Before leaving Waitomo for Taupo went caving in the morning which was so much better than expected. We were all kitted out in wetsuits, harnesses & hard hats (I have looked alot better!!)

It included a 37m absail into the cave, a 10m zip line in the pitch black, a 4m jump into the dark off a ridge into water with a rubber ring. Travelled in the water on our rubber rings & the glow worms lit up the whole place - it was just like looking at the stars on a really clear night! Walked through water which at times was up to my chest, climed 3 small waterfalls - all in the space of just over 3 hours. An excellent activity to do.

Left for Taupo at lunchtime & arrived just after 4pm. Went to do a sky dive, got all kitted out, went up in the plane to 16,000ft, but jump was cancelled as too many clouds had blown over - very frustrating indeed so we had to re-book for the following morning.

Checked into hostel (Urban Retreat) & a big group of us met up in the bar area for a few drinks. Jordan came up with the brilliant idea of seeing who could drink a jug of beer the fastest just using a straw - what a genu\ius!! What made it worse was that 5 more of us thought it was an excellent idea. Well lets just say that it was hard work & set the stall out for the rest of the evening (Jordan won by a couple of slurps ahead of me!). I eventually rolled back to the hostel at 8.30am after having been to a local house party of a group I met at some club!!).

01/12

No-one was deeling their best for the skydive but think that helped to take our minds off it.

Am so glad we didn't jump yesterday as the weather today was magnificent, not a cloud in sight!

I wasn't particularly nervous at any stage except for the split second that you hang out of the plane & you are only attached to your tandem jumper. But before you can even register that feeling properly you are outof the plane free falling. OH MY GOD.....what a feeling & what views (you see the curve of the world - awesome!!). The jump was 15,000ft & you freefall 10,000ft in just 60 seconds. It is really hard to explain the feeling of falling taht fast as you have nothing to caompare it to & you have no perception of the speed because you don't pass anything!

I busted a few moves (superman, praying, tried to swim but was too difficult). Had a camarawoman jump with me who took some amazing pictures & a great video of my jump.

The last 5,000ft was so peacful & you get a much better chance to take in the scenery which around taupo was beautiful.

We were all on such a high we couldn't stop smiling - the best thing I have ever done & probably will!!

Spent afternoon down by the lake with a few beers just chatting & taking in what we had just done.

Met up with the gang I left behind in Rotorua as they arrived in the afternoon, which was really good.

A large group of us went out on the town again & had a cracking evening with lots of photo's taken & stories to be told.