We drove into Auckland early on our last full day in New Zealand. We had an all day tour planned. We ended up having a private tour. Our first stop was a great beach area. The water was nice to wade around in and really calm so the kids could try it out as well. I could have stayed there all day.
Next we went to a pottery factory. They had the greatest playground set up. I want one for our house. They did a demonstration of their facilities. I love seeing how professionals throw pots. They make it look so easy.
We went to the Matakana farmers market and had a ball. They had great music and I wanted to get all their wonderful products. Alden and I danced while he sat on my shoulders. Strangers kept trying to steady him like he was going to dive off. For lunch we had mussel fritters. So good. The atmosphere was so cheerful.
In the afternoon we went on a glass bottom boat ride around a marine reserve. We saw all kinds of fish, jelly fish and rays. After our time scoping out seaside caves and snapper we headed back to the city. We ended our time with a little walk through Parry Kauri tree reserve. The bush was beautiful. It was all really wild looking. I loved seeing the vines all over. After we got dropped off we walked along the wharf and got a nice dinner and ice cream to finish a great day.
True to form for most of our trip we did a lot of family friendly activities. One evening we went to a great little park up the road from our B&B. The short walk was filled with gorgeous scenery. There were huge redwoods and a crystal clear spring. It was very picturesque.
Another evening we went to Paradise Valley Wildlife Reserve. Again, the landscapes were so pretty. Eden got to pat a lion cub, which was huge. Then we walked around and petted animals. They had a river running through the property that had plenty of huge rainbow and brown trout. It made me want to order trout the next time we went out for dinner. But apparently they only allow private fishing, so no trout on the menus. There was a spring on the property that was safe to drink from so I lowered Eden down to take a sip. She slipped and got a faceful. It was pretty funny. She is a good sport and was ready to try it again.
We went to the Agrodome to finish up our time in Rotorua. They had a fantastic sheep show. There were something like 19 breeds they showed. They also did a sheep dog demonstration, sheep sheering, baby lamb feeding, cow milking. Eden got a chance to milk the cow, and she ran off after touching it. It was good fun. We went on a tour of their farm and saw kiwi vines, had some of their undoctored honey and once again petted more and more animals.
On our drive up to Auckland we stopped in Waitomo and did a glowworm cave tour. Caves are always something special. Those glorworms are like little lights all over, with sticky translucent threads hanging down. The guide said that when they metamorphose, they no longer have a mouth, so they only live a little while before they starve. Wow. At one point the guide was talking about the fantastic acoustics and asked if there were any singers. I whispered to Eden to sing and as she started everyone went quiet. We got a great little concert of Baa Baa Black Sheep. It was so nice to hear her little voice. My goodness, I love that girl!
We found a local sitter through an online service. She stayed with the kids during their nap for two days at the B&B while we did some not-so-kid-friendly activities. It worked out great. The kids got some really good rest and we got to try some new things. We were running late getting back the first day so Mick and Teresa took care of the kids until we got back. They were playing outside with the kids when we returned. They were so incredibly good to us.
First off we went on an extreme jet boat ride. It was like a 16-passenger jet ski. It was amazing to see the control the driver had. What a complete blast. We got an amazing view of the Huka falls too.
The next activity is something I have NEVER had the desire to do. But when I read online that this establishment was so confident and precise with their measurements that you had the option of getting wet anywhere in the range of your wrists to you ankles I decided maybe I would think about it, and since Chad wanted to do it. When we arrived at Taupo Bungy I changed my mind.
Elisa needed some convincing to go bungy jumping. How could I seriously consider jumping 160 feet–that is almost a 15 story building. I wasn’t concerned about the harness or cord safety. I was more worried about getting a giant dose of whiplash and/or Chad and I hurting each other in our free fall; we won’t even get into my potentially orphaned children in a foreign country. When I made my decision I was done. Elisa didn’t hesitate after she decided to do the jump. I encouraged Chad to go with out me.
In the end I had straps tightened around my ankles and the operators were counting down 3…2…1. Were my eyes opened or closed? Did I scream? I am fairly certain I hunched into a sort of semi-fetal position. Chad reminded me at the last moment to break our fall into the river with my hands. It’s really hard to remember anything about the free fall. I just have an image in my mind of the river way above our heads. It felt like we plunged 10 feet deep–but these guys were true to their word and we were only dunked above the waist. I held on to Chad for dear life after the dunk.
The worst part, besides feeling terrified, was getting ripped back out of the water. My nose filled with water and being upside-down gave it nowhere to go but my sinuses. I had the worst sinus headache for the rest of the day, until all the water drained out. I like thrilling things a lot but bungy jumping is one thing I never plan to do again. In the future I’ll trust my instincts. I don’t think I ever need to do it again either. Most other bungee jumps aren’t from so high, and they don’t end underwater.
The next day we went horseback riding. The scenery was beautiful but an hour half at walking speed became quite long. Maybe we need to take a lesson so we do not have to go at a snail’s pace next time. I kept wanting excuses to trot. Elisa and I need to do an intermediate ride sometime together. After that we went ZORBing. It is basically a giant plastic hamster ball with another ball suspended inside and filled with a bit of water. You get in, start doing the hamster run and then down the hill you roll. Chad got some ill-suited advice for our tandem roll down the hill which resulted in a number of colorful bruises on MY knee, shin and shoulder. Rude. But it was all worth it and really great fun.
