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The Taupo Bungy

I finally got the courage up to attempt a bungy jump. Headed to the Taupo Bungy site first thing, before I lost my nerve, and was lucky to find some people jumping. After some reassurance that it is a smooth ride and not a jerky one, I was persuaded to part with my money. Standing at the edge is a terrifying experience for a first timer. Some how I managed to jump, or at least fall forward, and must have had my eyes closed as the next thing I remember is plunging into the water. A few more bounces up and down, while spinning round at the same time and I was feeling thoroughly disorientated. With my hands tingling from being upside down, I was lowered head first into a boat which took me to shore. Unable to wipe the grin off my face, everything else I did today pales in comparison.

Crators of the Moon

 After a change into some dry clothes, I got a transfer up to the Craters of the Moon, a thermal area with lots of fumaroles (gaps in the ground from which steam emerges). You can do a short walk through the area and up to a lookout with views back to Taupo and the lake. Next I hit the Honey Hive where you can taste lots of different types of honey and start to appreciate just how mad for honey New Zealander’s are.

Maori carvings on Lake Taupo

In the evening I went on a sailboat cruise with a group of Canadians out to some Maori carvings on Lake Taupo. It was great fun, and I got to steer the ship for a while and bring in one of the ropes. The carvings are relatively recent, and were done by abseilling down a cliff face, meaning that you can only see them from the water. I was the only one brave enough to go for a swim, and found the water the same temperature as the air.

February 3rd, 2012 | Category: New Zealand, Travel & Backpacking | Subscribe to comments | You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed