Monday was a day packed with one thrill after another. We traveled the Kapiti coast northwards towards the Tongariro National park, past the spectacular central volcanoes of the North Island to our resort beside New Zealand’s largest lake, Lake Taupo. We drove through the gumboot capitol of New Zealand en route to Taupo.
We also drove by Mount Ruapehu, one of the world's most active volcanoes and the tallest peak on the north island. It's three major peaks are Tahurangi (2,797 m), Te Heuheu (2,755 m) and Paretetaitonga (2,751 m).
The mountain tops were buried in the clouds but still snow capped in summer.
T pauses outside the bus to appreciate the volcanic peace.
First activity of the afternoon was the Hukafalls Jet, an exhilarating 30-minute speed boat with 360 degree spins and near head-on collisions with poles, trees, and other structures. Bridguet, me, Skye, and Skip were the Contiki riders.
Bridguet and Skye
Skip and I braved it in the front seat.
We got up close to the Huka Falls, which could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 5 seconds and dipped our hands into the naturally hot thermal springs.
Next stop was a quick helicopter flight over Huka Falls and Taupo’s best attractions, including an aerial shot of the next thrill, the Taupo Bungy!!
I let Skye take the front seat since I'd been in a helicopter a few times before. I asked to ride with the doors off but apparently it was too windy. Wouldn't that add to the thrill?
Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand.
Another shot of the Huka Falls
A sneak preview of the next thrill. The bungy jump cantilever is in the top right of the above photo.
Before arriving in New Zealand, I had no intention of bungy jumping. I imagined the bottom yank would snap my spine out of place and be ridiculously unsafe. But I am indeed gullible, taken by infomercials and most recently optional activity video advertisements. After watching exhilarating jump after jump and hearing the zero accident or injury track record, I had no further objection. Sign me up! Most keen thrill-seekers had already been bungy jumping and/or sky diving in the South Island, so I was the lone ranger to choose this optional but I later coerced Skye to join in the fun. I was so excited that I immediately sprang off the ledge after the 3-2-1 countdown.
It was a 47 meter (143 feet) plunge reaching speeds of up to 60 kph into the Waikoro River from a cantilever platform extending 19.5 meters out from a cliff. It is the highest water touch bungy in New Zealand. Each bungy cord stretches up to four times its length and performs 500 jumps before it is retired. The ride was shockingly smooth, with a soft bounce at the bottom. I elected to get dunked into the water, which was not as hard an impact as even a high dive. The 2-3 bounces after the initial dip gave a feeling of weightlessness and my first yelps of excitement. The initial descent was completely silent – I think I was just taking it all in.
I grabbed onto the pole and was lowered into the skipper boat and tarried to the side, where I waited for Skye to dive off the ledge. As soon as she reached the bottom, I said “AGAIN, AGAIN!” What amazing powers of persuasion. We raced to the top of the hill (a bit of an effort) and paid half-price to experience the thrill once again.
This time I lept off the ledge backwards! I am hooked. If time had allowed, I would have continued to jump again and again. What a thrill!!! I got a t-shirt with the phrase “Why live on the edge when you can jump off”! There's enough photos to see the sequence of the jump on this one...
As it was, we had only half an hour to shower and get ready for the evening dinner party cruise (booze cruise) on Lake Taupo. We shuffled through the shower and surprisingly beat others to the bus.
We were greeted with tequila shots as we loaded the boat and told to costume up with hats, scarves, feathers, and other paraphernalia tucked away in bench storage on the boat. It didn’t take long for the goofy to come out in everyone. We did some fishing off the back end of the boat, saw beautiful Maori rock carvings, enjoyed a kiwi bbq dinner, and lots of dancing.
me and Skye
Kate, Sarah, Sarah, Liz, and Catherine
Stick 'em up!!
A costumed-up group shot.
Liana, Skip, Skye, Bridguet, and me
The Maori rock carving
me, Simon, and Nora
T, camera shy?
Fishing into the sunset
Oh let there be dancing!
Felicity (Flick) and Alex are laughing as I do some kind of backwards dip. They're best friends and are my new BFFs. They live in Melbourne so we'll be doing this all again very soon.
After the cruise, we meandered into downtown Taupo for some local nightlife. The great thing about being in the Contiki tour is that even if a place isn’t at all happening, it is after we arrive. We just bring the party with us wherever we go.
