Baden Lodge Motel Rotorua

Wow - this Luge I never grow old of......we did it when we had a bunch of guys down for our wedding in 2001, and then again brent &amp; I did it in '07, but this never grows old!<br><br>Picture yourself on a plastic sled, hurtling down a mountain at 45mph and you are close tot he thrill of the Rotorua Luge! It's so much fun......check out some pics attached, and you'll get the idea.

... do there, I went on a jet powered boat and a simulated freefall where a big wind machine blows u up in the air. <br><br>On the night I visited a local Mauri tribe and there was a big show whit singing and dancing. I was a Chief of my bus and was welcomed into the tribe and went on stage to greet the other Chiefs. Was really good ...

... all the same. After a couple of drinks in the backpacker bar attached to the hostel we were staying in (when I realised I was a lot older than about 90% of the people there) we went to bed still debating if we were really brave enough for the next day's activities - sky-diving! I dreamt of falling out of planes that night but despite that we decided we were definitely up for sky-diving by the time we woke up, unfortunately the weather wasn't going to comply. We drove to Taupo ...

We got a lift down to Rotorua with Stuart and Anne as they were headed down to Napier and the East for a road trip for a few days, to the area which just happens by strange coincidence to be wine country. We checked into the Central backpackers for a night which was OK, and went straight out to look around. We got lunch and went to eat it at the lake, but the part we headed to happened to be Sulphur Bay ...

... told them not to tell anyone about it. They thought their meeting was completely random, crazy, but were still willing to give the newly drawn map a chance. After driving several hours north to outside of Rotarua they used the map to find the fabled swimming hole. Andy and Greg spent several days there camping and cleared away parts of the trail. A few months later they happened to meet the same guy randomly while dropping off the Belcaster's kids at ...

... I really need a full nights sleep and tomorrow I hope to relax for the day before heading to Taupo on Thursday. I got back from the tour just after 4pm and I've been doing menial things like hand washing clothes, sorting my backpack out (I now carry dried museli and noodles with me) and getting dinner.. actually no I treated myself tonight and had instant macaroni cheese, it was horrid! But food is just a survival thing now, I cant afford to ...

... j* sed*, kuid*s pe*me mets*s käitum*, seejärel viidi meid jõe äärde, kus m*oorid tulid meid tervit*m*. Jub* k*ugelt oli kuuld* loom*häälitsusi j* pe*gi võis k* näh* tõrvikuv*lguses k*nuul sõudv*id näom**linguteg* keelinäit*v*id metsl*si. Seejärel uurisime n*tuke mets*s ringi j* meile näid*ti, mis puu on mis tähtsuseg* j* räägiti n*tuke lähem*lt kultuurist j* inimestest. Mets*j*lutused tekit*v*d t*v*liselt nälg* j* jub* oligi *eg m ...

... Taupo so it was for a good cause. The rest of the afternoon was spent in this free Geothermal park near where the hostel is. It was weird, all these pools just bubbling all over the place, some were muddy and some were boiling water and acid - really dangerous. Our bus driver told us on our way into Rotorua that people can wake up in the morning and they will have one of these pools in the middle of their gardens - random. As ...

... I guess that's not really a controversy) in the most prestigeous yacht race on the face of this planet) and priding itself of having the highest building in the southern hemisphere with it's communications building, the Sky Tower. Good view from up there and mad hatters can jump it bungy-style. Other nice spots in Auckland are the war memorial museum and the seaside. Mt Eden is great for night time views of the city. More on Auckland in my first entry from yonks ago ...