Impromptu Helicopter Ride
What’s better than a helicopter ride? Well, an impromptu helicopter ride, that’s what. Whilst waiting for a rugby match to start just outside Taupo, New Zealand, I noticed a sign for NZ$45 helicopter rides. How could I pass up the opportunity?
In which I go to ‘Roto-vegas”, take a gondola up a hill and luge my way back down again and visit another thermal zone.
6 April 2011 - 0912 New Zealand
Off again this morning. A thankfully short 1 hour journey this time to Rotorua.
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And thank god it was an hour. Due to a clutch problem, we were squeezed into a tiny little bus. There was no room for my legs so I had to keep them in the aisle. After about half and hour, I started experiencing back pain so I shifted about a bit and dozed in order to shorten the experience. And it worked.
Right now, I’m at SkyLines SkyRides, just outside Rotorua town centre. I’ve just been lugeing, which is to say, allowing gravity to whisk myself for up to 2km down a hill in a little 3 wheeled go kart. And boy was it fun, particularly the advanced course where speed really picked up nicely.
Tomorrow, I’m booked in to do some white water rafting. One of the waterfalls is 7 metres high. Gonna be AWESOME! Well, with any luck. Right now, I’m gonna let this carrot cake go down, then I’m off to Kuirau Park for some more thermal stuff.
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Laundry drying. Waiting for a pizza. Life ticking along nicely in Rotorua.
Rapids Jet, Taupo
Some snaps of my 30 minute ride aboard a 180 degree spinning, rock dodging, rapids weaving, waterfall falling, human soaking, 85kph jet boat. Awesome stuff! I’m in the front middle seat.
In which I eat my breakfast with another wild bird and I recount my jetboating experience.
5 April 2011 - 1146 New Zealand
I’m in Friends Cafe this morning awaiting a Big Breakfast. Out the window is the vast expanse of Lake Taupo. It’s really difficult to comprehend it’s a volcano crater. It’s enormous! And it’s scary to think it could blow again any day. Well, not scary. There’s not much point being scared of a volcano. Either you’re in the vicinity of it’s destructive power, in which case you’re definitely going to die and die quickly, or you’re not in the vicinity. I am definitely in the vicinity and if the volcano were to blow, I’d be dead in seconds. Doesn’t really trouble me now I think about it. I’m more concerned over the whereabouts of my food.
I know its ridiculous, and I keep going on about birds, but there’s a sparrow in this cafe! It’s hoping about on the floor looking for crumbs. I don’t know what’s happening to me. I’ve always attracted birds. They just seem to like hanging out with me. But it’s getting a bit silly now.
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The Jet Boat ride yesterday was incredible. We zipped across the surface of the Waitomo River at 85km/hr, jumped into the air over rapids and got drenched as the boat did 180 degree spins. After the 30 minute ride, my heart was racing and the adrenaline was pumping. Loved it! But I need more now! Genuinely considering throwing myself off of the Auckland SkyTower in a week or so now. Reckon I could do it. Could I?
Got no plans today. None at all. Need a rest day after two solid days of fun. Tomorrow, I’m off to Rotorua, New Zealand’s tourist capital, where my list of things to do is massive! So this rest day will come in handy.
In which I burn rubber on a scooter and take in the sights of the Taupo surroundings.
4 April 2011 - 1216 New Zealand
Today, I’m scooting about the attractions north of Taupo. And when I say scooting, I mean it quite literally. For the paltry sum of NZ$37, I’ve hired a scooter for the day. So far its been a mixture of fun and terror. I’ve now pretty much got used to the quirks of the machine and it’s been fun getting up to the dizzy heights of 80km/hr. That said, I have been worried about the other motorists.
Kiwis, and forgive the generalisation, are poor drivers. I’ve seen a few near misses and it seems that their driver training and tests aren’t nearly as good as the UKs. I was told that a few years ago, all restricted license holders were just given full licenses without having to pass a test. Still, the worry decreases, the fun increases and I have a packed afternoon ahead.
I’ve just been and booked myself onto a jet boat ride. That’s at 1pm. Before that, I’m at a hydroelectric power station which is set to open it’s sluices in 10 minutes. It’s good enough to be in the travel guides so it’s good enough to stick around for. After the sluices open, I dont know what to do between then and 1pm. I’m in the middle of nowhere and I’ve stupidly not bought any food with me. Ah well, such is the life of an overseas adventurer.
In which I go to see some live rugby and end up in a helicopter.
3 April 2011 - 1332 New Zealand
A chilled out day today. I’m at Owen Delaney Park just outside Taupo to watch some more NRL rugby. Everyone expects the New Zealand Warriors to lose against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks today but the suns out, the crowds are happy and I’ve just been on a ride in a helicopter… Oh, didn’t I mention that? Hmm, would have thought that was something I’d have mentioned.
There are lots of trade stands around the grounds and one of them happens to be for a local scenic flights company who are flogging NZ$45 flights around the area. Couldn’t miss the opportunity, especially at that price, so off I went. It was awesome! Really smooth, no shakiness, just wiggling around in the breeze. The pilot tried to do as many tricks as he could in the 15 minutes in the air. Banking was the most fun. The chopper was almost completely on it’s side. Great fun. A real experience.
In which I leave Wellington and heads for Taupo where I am challenged into eating a very mild curry.
2 April 2011 - 1440 New Zealand
At Flat Hills, a rest stop on a 6 and a half hour coach journey from Wellington to Taupo. It’s a strange name. It’s the opposite of flat. It’s rather hilly. It’s been a good journey so far. Very relaxing. The driver is a nice chap, as all long distance coach drivers tend to be. Helping people with bags and giving little commentaries as we go along. When we get going again, the terrain is due to get mountainous. Well, I’d better get going again, especially as I’m now surrounded by chickens. Birdman strikes again!
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Now on the Desert Road. Yes, New Zealand has a desert.
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Arrived in Taupo. I’m staying at the Rainbow Lodge Backpackers just outside the town centre. Got shown around and to my room which was nice. I have three full days here. I already know what I’m doing for two of those and I think the other day will be a rest day where I’ll go to a naturally hot spring for a dip. Also decided to buy something and cook my dinner tomorrow. Figured it’d be a less-forced way of trying to talk to people. Tonight though, I’m at an Indian restaurant where, when I ordered a hot korma, the cocky British waiter smirked. I’ll show him.
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Oh dear, was that supposed to be hot? Please! A baby could have eaten that… for breakfast!
