Wairakei Resort Taupo

... he had shoved me out!! I didn't know where I was for a while, and then just concentrated on breathing which was really difficult as it was so cold and fast! I wasn't looking forward to the parachute openeing and being pulled with some force upwars but i barely noticed it- then there was more time to look at the views- we went over the lake and spun around and then landed! The videos funny there me just going 'why are my ears squeeking?' They were, It was really wierd- like a ...

... of rock and over the falls.
Journeying north we were seeking a thermal reserve where we could see boiling mud without paying exorbitant entry fees. No luck there so we will have to rely on memeory of times past.

Arrived in Rotorua rather late in the day so set up camp at Rotorua's Blue Lake in the dark.

... is gonna offer, the experience or the people. Which all can be very demanding and challenging yet it can be just as rewarding and exciting...and i found this to be true this afternoon. I was surprised to found myself on a mountain bike, venturing through these trails, through the woods, challenging enough so i got a buzz from it but not too hard so i was oot of my realm and i was loving it!! I thought ...

... people who want to be dunked don't come close to the water. The bungy cord snapped me back up and even that was scary. I bounced about three of four times before the boat came over and the guy reached out with a pole to pull me down. I collapsed into the boat shaking from head to toe and the first thing I said was I am never doing that again! The boat dropped me at a little pier from where I could walk back up to the Taupo Bungy building. Alan was after me in the queue so ...

... on repeat and the discussion of songs in English people who don't speak English know and love (Hotel California takes the cake in South America for sure). Today was a sleep in waiting for others to do the cave tour. We got to Taupo and had a quick look at Huka Falls before checking into the Base hostel here near the shore of Lake Taupo. It's brand new and the most expensive of the hostels, but the guy at the front ...

I'm writing from the town next to Lake Taupo (the biggest lake in NZ), aptly named Taupo. We've been having lots of adventures since we left Dunedin! I'll try to talk about them all. First, we headed up to Mt. Cook in the center of the South Island. We had tried to go there before but the weather was really bad so a second attempt was necessary, as it IS the tallest mountain in NZ. This time the weather was stunning! I live near mountains in Colorado so ...

... brought you back to one with nature. The stars shone more brightly than I have ever seen them shine......well it was 4am as we both darted OUTSIDE to go to the loo!! Finally on the morning we were due to leave, Heather and I played out 18 holes at the lodges mini-golf course and with a few expert pointers I managed to hit the ball....more than once!! Well I best leave it there and let you get on with the piccys. Kia Ora everyone J & H xx

... up tonight at the Waiataka reserve by Lake Taupo near a town called Turangi. Going to head into Tongariro National Park tomorrow to hopefully do one of the greatest day hikes in New Zealand on the volcanically active peaks. I heard on the radio tonight that a weather warning has been issued for very high winds and heavy rain/snow moving north from the south island. Just hope I can get the hike done and get off the mountains before the weather closes in.

... up to the 'craters of the moon' where steam issues from bubbling vents in the ground, and there's also a sign on the main road which says 'steam' as even more comes out there. Still, it has its compensations; free hot springs everywhere you look and cheap geothermal electricity!

Tomorrow we hope to go sailing with two IBRSC friends (weather permitting) - should have brought a club burgee to fly here on the other side of the planet!

keep in touch - yours in autumn (very pretty!)