Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Wednesday 21 May 2008 and we had a short bus ride up to Rotorua. Arrived for our first proper taste of the Maori culture where Jack and Chris managed to win a cheeky little prize for their vast knowledge. Left there and got ourself checked into Base Hot Rocks! First thing we did notice about Rotorua was the smell. The place constantly smelt of sulphur. Not the nicest. After our 256th Subway of the tour we got ourselves prepped for a bit of white water rafting. After being picked up the mini bus took us to the rafting base where rumors already began to fly about a 7 meter waterfall drop. Changed into some sexy, attire which consisted of a fleece, a wet suit that didn't leave much to the imagination, some slick shoes, a raincoat and a helmet. Well at least we looked the part. Headed off to the base of the river and luckily enough we were aloud to stay as a six to head down the river with the other boat only packing 2! After a Maori prayer it was into the boats. The first couple hundred yards consisted of training. There was a lot of get down / hold on based banter. Feeling like we were ready we hit the rapids for mental fun. We were riding water that made Thailand's white water rafting look like a bath. After a short while it was time for our first of three waterfalls. In quick succession we had managed to negotiate (or cling on like a mofo) down a 2 and a 3 meter drop. A couple of rapids later and indeed we were sitting at the top of a 7 meter drop. A little nervous we fired ourselves up with some Maori chanting. The other boat went down first and managed to float it out to the other side. With the 2 big boys Jack and Andy at the front we knew we may get a little damp but we all had our fingers crossed the boat wouldn't flip. Off we went and after a brief paddle everyone got down and held on. What happened next isn't entirely clear but what we've gathered from the photos the boat shot down the waterfall, completely submerged itself underwater and instead of coming back up upright it flipped and we were all under. A little shocked by the cold and quite frankly not knowing what day of the week it was we all managed to drag ourselves out the boat and back to the surface. James had got a little dis-orientated and popped up to the surface between Luke and Chris which was good work as he had started on the other side of the boat. Matt popped his head up a good ten fifteen seconds later, after taking a little longer the most to realise he was indeed upside down and that bad boy wasn't going to right itself! After a different route out (he initial came up back in the boat) he was out. Safe and sound. After swimming to a cave nearby we hauled our arses back into the boat and we were all thoroughly pumped at what had just happened. We were all glad the boat had flipped as it made the experience that much more rememberable. After that it was off down the river and to our next rapid. Our guide now thinking we were used to the water instructed us to put the paddles in the boat and jump out. We were swimming the next ones! After a brief moment where we thought he was taking the piss we all jumped out and clung onto the boat for another amazing experience. It's not every day you feel rocks brush under you as you hurtle down a river. Whilst some may say slightly dangerous we were loving it. It's nice to come to a country where health and safety doesn't kill all the fun and you can do something, take a step back and say 'that was insane'. 'Can we do it again?'!!! After a few more photo shoots and getting soaked we pulled over and parked up. Totally awesome. Having all felt proud of ourselves (god knows why as we looked idiots) we headed back to the rafting base to pick up our photos. We're going to miss this extreme stuff! That evening we had ourselves signed up for the Tamaki Maori Cultural evening. This was something we hadn't been to before but something we all thoroughly enjoyed. After a traditional Maori welcome we had the chance to look around an original Maori village. After that we had a show with singing, dancing and the Haka. It was amazing to watch and we were all very impressed with the culture. After that we had what was probably the best meal of the tour. It was an all you can roast dinner with other fish based dishes and pavlova for dessert. To backpackers they may has well of called it Disney World. It's safe to say it got a bloody good hiding! All stuffed we rolled back to the bus and off to Base. A traditional Maori goodbye and we were done. Bed time.
Next morning it was up at 06:15 for champions league final time (Paul you may want to look away now). Everyone knows what happened and to sum it up Chris sat there like a complete emotional state right up until the end where he exploded into life and bounced round the bar like an idiot. He may have also accidentally head butted Luke in the process! After an epic morning with all the boys making it down for penalties we headed out for breakfast before the real main event. Luging part 2. After our rumble and tumble in Queenstown we heard that Rotarua was packing a better set of tracks. It was on! We managed to sign up 3 other lads so it was a 9 way warfare. After everyone giving it the big ones up to the top of the gondola we lined up for the scenic track. There was nothing scenic about it. From the go it was on. 2 wheeled action was rife and after some intense battles we knew it was on. One of the new lads we had roped in summed up how intense it was about to be after he stuck straight into the trees and come out his luge. The tears of laughter were dangerous. After a mad go down the intermediate one and a ridiculous shoot down the advanced, where it was simply to fast to race, we decided our last two blasts would be on the intermediate. It was fast and overtaking could be had. Our first of the two saw Andy follow suit of the first run and stick it in the trees at high speed. His grey jumper looked like someone had been quad biking on it. Again tears. After that it was all on the final run. With the Devon boys in danger of taking no bragging rights home from this tour they were pumped. Jack set of first with a little head start whilst the rest of the boys belted after him. It's safe to say by this point weight had nothing to do with it and Chris was on Jack like white on rice finally passing him on a straight of all places. However it was close and on the second to last bend it was down to whoever could hold their nerve would take victory. This was the bend that had already claimed victims including Andy's jumper and Jack eating some fence. Chris went in first and there's no other way to put it. He f***ed it. On two wheels and smashed it into the fence. Yikes. Jack followed but managed to not mess it so bad taking the lead whilst Andy and Luke also shot through. Matt and James were bringing up the rear and if Chris had f***ed it Matt didn't even take part in it. to say there wasn't much attempt at cornering was an understatment. He was eating tree. One final push from Luke and Chris trying to save LDN's pride the two Devon farmers blocked the road and sealed victory. Unbelievable. Despite Chris trying to send Jack back up the hill still in his luge in some bumper car based banter they had taken the final event. Gutting. If it had been on points there's a sneeky feeling Luke would be carrying the trophy. The only consolation was when for one final time the boys struggled to stand through tears of laughter. Matt had dug himself out the bush and come rolling round the corner looking like d*** Van Dyke from Mary Poppins. His face was black, his jumper was mud coated, his knee was bleeding big time and his foot was twice the size it should have been. That pretty much summed up travelling. We haven't once done things by halves! Even if he did look a complete tit! After luging we had a relaxed day. A meal in the bar and a bit of banter we were done. Rotorua had been class. 2 days that felt jam packed. A few more ticks in those boxes!
- comments