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Published: June 10th 2007
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Urs falling to earth
Bringing her legs up uncessarily - it's still quite a long way to the ground! We only had seven days in the North Island of New Zealand but we really packed in a lot of activities. We arrived into Wellington after a picturesque journey across the Cook Strait. The city immediately lived up to its name 'Windy Welly'. While we were there we met up with Alex's friend from basketball, James, who is a kiwi who just happened to move back from Oxford to NZ when we left the UK. James and his girlfriend, Laura, gave us a lovely welcome and a bed for the night.
Then we headed off north. The next main event on our trip was our tandem SKYDIVE!!! Yes, and despite being terrified of heights, Ursula managed it too! She had been preparing herself for a while, even practicing by jumping out of the campervan in high winds.
We did our jump in Taupo, right over the lake. In the distance you can see the peaks of the Tongariro National Park, including Mt Ngauruhoe (aka 'Mt Doom' in the film of 'Lord of the Rings'). Alex jumped with a guy called 'Eric the Viking', while Ursula was pleased to see that she got to be strapped to a big
In Wellington
With James and Laura German guy called Sonke.
We were bundled into a tiny pink plane - it only held ten people and had no seats or seatbelts. Because she was jumping first, Ursula got to sit next to the "door" - a clear sheet of Perspex.
When we reached our 12,000 ft destination, just over the lake it was jump time. After our instructors made sure we were safely strapped to them, Ursula was moved into position - i.e. sat with her legs hanging over the edge of the plane. Sonke then pushed himself and Ursula so they fell out of the plane. Alex and Eric soon followed them.
The feeling was amazing. At first blind panic, and excessive swearing as we accelerated to our max speed of over 200kmph (this lasted about six seconds, or about twenty repetitions of "f**k"). Then as we started to calm down and get used to the freefall it was actually pretty cool. The freefall went on for about 45 seconds. Luckily, just as the land seemed to get closer and closer, our parachutes were released and we floated down to the land whilst enjoying the amazing views. Once on the ground we were
Eric and Alex
Unsure of why they decided to jump out of a pink plane relieved to be safe, but also sad that it was over!
After the skydive we assumed that everything in life would then feel like a risk-free breeze. However, as it turned out, the skydive put us in much less real danger than our activities the following day...
We got up at am ready to head out and walk the crossing of Tongariro National Park. As our coach drove up into the park the weather was really good and it looked like we would have a great day. Although we weren't on an organized tour, we got a shuttle coach to drop us off and pick us up at the other end so there were lots of people walking together. Tongariro, as we mentioned earlier, is home to the mountain that was used as 'Mt Doom' in 'Lord of the Rings' and the park was the setting of 'Mordor'. Hopefully this helps you get an idea of what it was like - a barren volcanic landscape.
We had been walking for an hour or so when it began to snow. We were just starting a steep climb known as "The Devil's Staircase", so appreciated the drop in temperature.
Alex enjoys the view
As he floats down to land However, as we neared the top of the climb the snow had turned into a full blown blizzard. Some people who were ahead of us were turning back, but we assumed they were just wimps and we carried on going.
The weather continually worsened until we were walking on blue ice with a layer of snow on top - it was extremely slippery. It was case of when, rather than if, you fell you would tumble down the mountain side with nothing to stop your fall. Then we heard someone up ahead had broken their ankle so decided that it was definitely time to stop.
We made our way down through the wind and snow mainly by sliding on our arses. It turned out that our waterproof trousers were ace for sliding on!
When we got back to the coach we found out that the guy with the broken ankle had been helicoptered out and that three people who were waiting with him had also been taken with hypothermia!! We're defo glad we turned back when we did.
For a bit of relaxation after all our excitement we headed up to the thermal city, Rotorua (or
I did it!!!
Ursula wants to go back up again! perhaps it should be called 'Witches Fart Town' due to the smell - we could twin it with Bridgewater). The landscape is amazing - it's volcanic and there are literally clouds of steam rising from the ground every few hundred meters.
Our first evening there was spent at a Maori Hangi (a traditional meal). There was a traditional welcoming ceremony where a group of Maori warriors came and waved scary weapons at us and stuck out their tongues. They explained that it was really important to the that you didn't laugh at this, as it could look pretty funny. But, in fact, it was actually very intimidating and your only reason to laugh would have been out of nervousness!
They then performed a concert including the famous Haka (in case you don't know it from the All Blacks rugby - it's a war dance). This was Ursula's favourite bit - she particularly liked seeing the big muscly men working themselves into a frenzy, shouting and slapping their thighs ;-).
Our last days in NZ were spent relaxing at the thermal pools at the Polynesian Spa and whipping round the Roturua Luge (a big kind of go-cart track
Mount Doom
The volcanic peak of Mt Ngauruhoe on a hill side). In fact, Alex liked the luge so much he wants to open one!
Thanks to everyone who helped make our time in NZ so fab! And to those who contributed towards Skiing, there wasn't enough snow so we put the $$ towards the Skydive instead - thanks very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Harry Armitage
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Diving, sliding, scary warriors...
Hello! The description of free-fall almost had me diving - drinks cabinet - even though it's only 10am! Instead I'm about to dive off to the swimming pool for my daily burst of athleticism. We've had such torrential rain lately that you could almost swim on our balcony! In the UK they've got typical Wimbledon weather, with serious floods in the North and TIM carrying GB's hopes on his shoulders yet again in a five-setter which was rain-interrupted and stopped thru bad light at 9.20pm. yesterday - at 5-5 in the final set ! Hope it clears up in the next month. Look forward to your Fiji and USA adventures and to seeing you soon! Love Dad