Thursday 8th Nov

We woke up early for the minibus pick up at 7.45am to take us to Black Water Rafting. We were quite excited as we didn't know what to expect. We were given the "nice" wetsuit to wear which was difficult to get on! We went back onto the minibus again to go to the cave. Before we proceeded, we had a quick training on abseiling.

We had to abseil down into the tiny hole which was 35 metres deep. It was quite scary to have the rocks surrounding you quite tightly! Luckily we managed to squeeze through. After looking at few glowworms which was on the ceiling, we walked over the rocks into alley-like where we had to attach our safely chains onto the ropes. We were then told to turn our torch off so we can see more gloworms which were everywhere. It was quite scary for both of us cos we couldn't see or hear so we didn't know what was going on! We did hear the screams and we tried to work out what was going on til we got to the front with the guide. To get to the further bottom, we had to slide down in the dark! It was fun! It was called Flying Fox

We stopped for the tea break where we had a cuppa with flapjacks. After having few photos taken, we had to jump off the rocks into the stream which was about 4 or 5 metres deep. We had a black inflatable ring to sit on when we jumped off. We then floated on the rings with the rope to pull us along while looking at the glowworms.

When we reached to the end, we were told to have a piggyback race(!) We don't know who have won as all of us have fallen off, pushed each other off or had a messing about splash!

Back onto the inflatable rings, we made ourselves into a chain style by using our legs to hold each other. Lisa was at the front and the guide pulled the ring with her legs holding it. we all had to turn our torches off and just relaxed, looking at the ceiling for glowworms. When we stopped, we didn't know what was going on as it was dark. Our guide pushed us off the rings! We threw the inflatable rings back to where we jumped off in the first place.

We continued walking in the stream, climbed over few rocks and then when it was deep enough, our guide told us to float on our back which we did for a couple of minutes with water pushing us. We stopped again for a little break where we had hot orange drink and chocolates.

We had to climb up just a little on the rocks so we can be able to jump off into the water. We then swam under the tiny gap between the caves and the water. We have done quite alot of different things such as climbing under the waterfall, climbing up the waterfall which was difficult cos of the water pressure! At one point, we had to walk in the stream in the dark! It was impossible cos we didn't know where we were going as others followed by the sounds. We then turned our torches on and were told by the guides to turn it off and that we should use our hands to guide us along the walls of the caves. We didn't enjoy that very much!

Finally finished our adventures by 12noon and had soup and bagels. In the end, we were pleased that we have done it as it was worth it in the end, even though it was scary!

Boarded back onto the coach to move onto Taupo. Lisa have booked herself to do 15,000ft Sky Dive which was to do in the afternoon. So today was full of adventures!!

We arrived to Taupo at about 3pm to be meet by the Sky Dive minibus. We went straight to the Sky Diving area where we didn't have to wait very long, comparing to the UK! To our surprise, we had no safely training so it was a good job that Lisa have done it before so she was aware what to do! she booked a package which was DVD/Photos and a free t-shirt

After 15mins wait, it was all ready to go. When we reached to 15,000ft, Lisa was quite nervous as it was different, comparing to her first time. With this jump, she can clearly see the land. Jumped off and boy, she was really feeling as she was falling!! Did alot of turning which she didn't particularly like! It was a min free fall before parachuting down for 5 mins. However Lisa was pleased that she have done it and definately pleased with her dvd/photos.

Returned back to the hostel, checked in and didn't bother to cook as we both were knackered from the adventures all day. We treated ourselves to have a bbq that hostel was having. We had a early night to recover and got ready for the hiking tomorrow morning.