Oasis Resort Taupo

... to inform us about it, and the woman there said "Choose a company, I'll book you in" and 1 hour later we were already at the airfield. It was such a sudden decision, but I think that was good, otherwise we would maybe have changed our minds. So we really jumped and it was such an undescribable feeling. Josh bought some photos (I found them too expensive), so you will soon see them online. :)

We woke up once again to grey skies and sky diving looked distinctly unlikely, so we downgraded to a Bungy Jump! Having booked it up we decided to catch the Aratiatia rapids, which are caused by the opening of the dam at 10am every day.<br><br>On our way to the lookout we heard a siren and broke in to a run but arrived to not much happening so assume this is to warn the ducks. Anyway the dam ...

... Mom). We laid around most of the day and Mike drove us around to see some of the town of Taupo. We made it up to the Huka Falls and drove around the lake for a bit. Also, worthy of noting is Mike made chicken divan by himself and it was delicious. I was glad to be feeling up to eating again by then. <br><br>Today (Sunday) I am feeling much better, not 100%, but much improved. We wandered around downtown Taupo checking out the stores and ...

... Tongariro Crossing, the best one day hike in New Zealand, tomorrow. It is the reason we are on the North Island... The weather has been terrific but they say it may rain and be not good enough to go tomorrow. I am very on edge, I badly hope they are wrong. Very frustrating given the number of useless stops our bus has taken the last few days, such as this one I blogged about already (see picture): But anyway, to the events ...

... three months earlier, clearly stated a 3rd floor room, we guessed she had moved us to accommodate some new arrivals.) We spent the afternoon by the hotel pool and strolling along the edge of the lake (coming across some steaming hot pools on its edge and a hot stream running into it). In the evening, we found a nice pub up the road where Jayne had fish of the day and Steve had scallops.

... several weeks and so we shouldn't have complained - but we did!!! Around mid-afternoon we arrived in Rotorua, one of the world's most concentrated and easily accessible geothermal areas, intending to visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. However with the rain still coming down in stair rods we reviewed our plans and headed instead for the town's museum. Here we saw more Maori artefacts and were able to look around the former bath house - a remnant of Rotorua's ...

... Anyway i was the first one out at 15,00 feet and the scariest thing was the door opening and sitting on the edge of the planes door feet blowing below us and the ground looming. Then after miraculously smiling for a photo, off we went, an echo of my expletives following us through the air. After an initial few seconds of not being able to breath and feeling as if i was plumeting to my death a wave of euphoria overcame me and there i was falling ...

... I was called a range of nicknames from 'Spannerhead' to (my personal favourite) 'Teaspoon' and we gave each other riddles to work out along the way - exercising the body AND the mind! They were great company and it was a great day. After walking around the crater and lower Tama lake, we started walking back towards our starting point and all stopped dead with the sound of rumbling! It really did sound like Ruapehu was making some noise and I think even Stu was a little worried!