I have to admit that last night and this morning we were slightly doubting it to be a good idea, especially as the German couple who was also coming on the trip from our hostel were quite experienced and surprised that inexperienced rafters were allowed to do the trip. But sure enough we were allowed as most of the rapids were only grade 3 and the guides looked after us really really well.
There was about four rafts with of people and we managed to end up in the lead boat with two instructors and the German couple from our hostel, we were very pleased about this as it meant we felt safer and got to do more risky things as we were in good hands. Plus we had the Maori ancestors watching over us from their riverside burial location, as before we started our guide summoned their blessing and thanked them to let us travel safely on the river.
We were thrown in the deep end (literally) from the start with two smaller waterfalls and plenty of rapids and practiced the position to get into on the fall. Then before we knew it we saw the main event ahead and our little hearts pounded, but with excitement mostly. I thought we'd do the fall as smoothly as we'd done the rest so far since we had such an experienced team but at the top one of the instructors did an extra paddle which spun us slightly and tipped us enough to dunk one corner as went down; I still suspect this might have been on purpose.
And guess whose corner it was... mine of course, so in and under I went and even bumped my lip on a rock and lost hold of the raft which I had vowed not to do (didn't bump too hard though, still have all my teeth and no blood was drawn ;-) ). We had been warned that you can get taken under with the fall for a bit but luckily I surfaced quickly and directed myself in the the slower part of the flow and it wasn't too long before I was hauled back in the boat, shouting and whooping and watching the other three boats launch themselves from the top. It really was exciting.
After that we could properly relax and throw ourselves into it, which we did around the next corner and went down one of the rapids on our backs in the water which meant another dunking tumble. We even did some boat surfing at the bottom of one of the rapids. Lots of silly fun in the river in the sun.
Back at the base we were shown lots of photos of our antics and were persuaded to purchase the CD of them (we sneakily arranged to share with the German couple as we could just copy the CDs back at our hostel). So the photos above is courtesy of the rafting company. After doing this we ate our pre-prepared lunch and headed on our way to Taupo.
But as it was only about 1pm we took our time and did some stops on the way. The first was at Wai-O-Tupo boiling mud pools. We had been told that these were "ok, if you're interested in boiling mud". Luckily we are interested in boiling mud as it is an unbelievable prehistoric looking phenomenon. We couldn't understand how anyone could not think them interesting, we genuinely had to drag ourselves away (I know this sounds sarcastic but its true). The photo won't do the hot, smelly, bubbling, muddy bog any justice. They bubbled and boiled and grumbled and spat and erupted all over the place. I kept expecting something to appear out of them or for them to speak like grumbly monsters hiding under the surface.
Anyway, we did drag ourselves off down the road to the Wai-O-Tapu thermal park but as we caught a glimpse of it from the hill on the way in we decided to save ourselves the $30 entrance fee, have a coffee and look at it from afar and get on with our journey.
Just before we arrived in Taupo we stopped again to take in the sights of Huka falls through which 400 tons of water travel every second!!! The sound of this was immense and the sight very impressive. We were glad not to be rafting over this.
We finally arrived in Taupo at about 3pm, checked into our hostel and then got in the car to go and have a drive through town and a look at the lake for which the town is famed.
Back at the hostel we mentioned that we were hoping to do the Tongariro crossing tomorrow (location for Mordor in Lord of the Rings) and it turned out that the girl (also from Essex) who worked there is planning to do it too. Yesterday when we'd called ahead to find out about it they were unsure how the weather would be but apparently its due to be fine enough to do it tomorrow and so we got ourselves booked onto the shuttle bus that comes via the hostel at 6am to take you to the start of the 17km 7 hour crossing! I think we've lost the plot.
So its early to bed with us tonight as we're knackered enough already. We've just cooked ourselves a nice healthy vege dinner and got ourselves packed and our settling down to bed, again with a mixed anticipatory sense of excitement and nerves wondering what tomorrow's journey through Mordor will entail. Hope I don't have to throw my ring in...
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