From Waitomo to Auckland.
Just travelling today. Got the Newmans bus through to Auckland today and got chatting to a couple on the bus called Neil and Nadine. Was a pretty chilled day apart from having a beer inside a giant apple... don't ask.

Caves
Started the day in Waitomo with a brief phone conversation with my parents before I hit the caves.
Was met in the info centre by our three guides and my fellow cavers. Our guides were Hone, Scott and Stan. My fellow cavers were Macarana, a friendly chilean girl, Annalee, a smiley Swede and Johanna, a funny Austrian. Quite a good set up.
We headed out to the caves and got kitted up in our sexy wetsuits. We then were given a tour of the area surrounding the caves and shown where we would make our descent. We headed over to the abseil platform and there were trussed up in our gear. After that it was merely a case of doing the 100m abseil down into THE LOST WORLD! The view on the way down was spectacular and it was awesome looking around as we descended down. We arrived at the bottom and were served sandwiches, tea and biscuits by our guides, which just seemed insanely civilised at the bottom of a 100m ravine! Once we'd fueled up we headed to the entrance to the caves to get stuck into our 4 hour journey through the underground caverns. The caves were awesome and the rocks seemed almost alive with the flow of water that came down over them from the above landscape. We fought through the heavy currents and across the rocky terrain and made good headway even though the river seemed to be rising. It was awesome fun. We even stopped halfway through for another tea-break and a chocolate bar... 50m underground! The "WTF" factor was pretty high on that one. Afterwards we strolled through waterfalls and leap from rocks into the pools below. We got to the far end of the cave and stopped. By this point I had totally forgot that we were using artificial lights to guide us since our headlamps were pretty powerful. However we stopped in a cavern and turned off our lights and were treated to the site of the glowworms on the cave walls. It was like looking at a night of green stars or some weird underground city landscape that stretched off into the distance. We emerged from the cave after and took the brief overland walk in our wetsuits to the caving hut where Stan and Hone had started up a BBQ for us. As I said the whole thing seemed crazily civilised.
Was a completely awesome day.

Back to Waitomo
Got the bus to Waitomo and listened to the driver's interesting monologue about the history and legends about the area. Took a two hour walk around the area and was taken with the picturesque nature of the place. Not much to report until I hit the 7 hour epic caving expidition the next day.

Rafting
Ok, ok... I kinda, sorta messed up today. I was suppose to turn up for my rafting at 9am but for some reason I thought it was 11am. Needless to say I missed my slot. However, thanks to NZers being the easy-going friendly lot they are I just rearranged for the afternoon.
I came down at 12.30ish and got talking to the receptionist and a guy named Nigel until I finally realised that he was there to pick me up for rafting. He was a good guy and the banter was pretty funny.
When we got to the raft hut we were met by another member of the crew called Jimmy who was equally good for the banter. The rest of our crew were three English guys named Ryan, Tom and Mark. And our saviour from having a complete sausage-fest was the lovely Lizzie, a suffolk lass.
We shown the safety procedures and warned about the rather explicit nicknames the guys had for the rapids we were gonna go through (Example: Jenny Craig: Cause it's wide, shallow and easy) After many of them the guys had us raise paddles and chant with them: The main one being that we had to shout "TOO F*CKING EASY" after most of their lead shouts. The main one seeming to be: "WHAT IS NIGEL'S MUM?"
The ride itself was a total blast. We hit rapids and waterfalls. Then we hit the big boy: The highest commercial waterfall in the world. A 7m tall cascade of watery goodness! We were given another safety brief at the top then hit the waterfall at full speed. We ducked inside so we didn't get tilted out and the raft went vertical as we fell. We splashdowned and the boat resurfaced and for a moment it had seemed we had come through it without any mishap. Suddenly the raft lurched as a boil of water on the right side pushed up on the underside of the raft and since it hadn't quite settled from the fall it just tilted. There was a brief moment when everything just seemed to stand still as the raft suddenly did a 'millenium falcon' as the guys had called it where the raft goes vertical on it's central axis. And we were thrown into the water.
I went through a brief moment of panic as I hadn't quite caught my breath as I hit the water and the raft came down on top of our heads. But there was only one to go: up. So I kicked and surfaced. Realising I had lost my paddle I scrabbled briefly and grabbed a hold of one. The guys shouted for us to swim to the left so I kicked off that way as they struggled with the boat to right it. I seen Jimmy and Nigel hook a cable underneath then Jimmy leapt on top and hauled the rope as hard as he could and the boat flipped again righting itself. Jimmy and Nigel leapt in the boat and pulled a couple of us on board grabbing the paddles as they went. Lizzie hauled me into the boat and there was a near stillness as we all realised we were back in the boat and safe again.
Jimmy then said: "Alright guys: Tell me how that was?"
We raised our paddles and dished out our line: "TOO F*CKING EASY!!!" We whooped and screamed, laughed and all shook hands. What a rush... and to be honest... I'm glad we tipped, so much more fun.
Later, while still buzzing, the guys asked if any of us fancied doing more swimming so I raised my hand and the guys said: "Show us your best backflip then, Steve". I simply tilted out the boat and was in the water and was soon joined by Lizzie. The guys then told us we were gonna go through a rapid without a boat: "... we call this rapid, The Gullible Backpacker... HAHAHA!" Funny stuff.
After the rafting I hooked up with Lizzie for a few drinks and to watch her play an awful game of pool with me. However I did find out she was a fencer and an anime fan which meant we had more in common than I thought. Good day all in all.

TIME FOR ACTION!
I awoke and realised that although I wasn't completely over my flu it was time for some ACTION! So I sent my ass to the Agrodome. A place of many random adventure sports. I first hit up the Agrojet, a small speedboat that is more engine that boat and can hit 100 kph in under 4 seconds. I got in and told the guy: "Open her up, man, been looking forward to this"
"Flat out?" He asked
"Flat out."
"Great!"
I was astounded how this thing cornered. The speed it hit was awesome and the course was only 1 km around.
Afterwards I hit the Swoop diving. You're basically strapped into a sleeping bag with a harness with is attached to two cables and then hauled up to the top of a crane. Then you simply pull a ripcord and do the 40m swing. It was awesome fun!
Next... Zorbing! The idea is that you are put in a giant inflatable ball half filled with water, hauled up a hill and then rolled down it. It was like being inside a washing machine. It was amazing fun, bouncing and rolling down this hill while getting waves of water hitting you. Was a great start to the day.
In the evening I was going to a Maori Concert and Hangi (traditional Maori meal). We started the night with a brief intro to Maori history and culture and the history of the business, Tamaki tours. Afterwards we headed out in our 'waka' or canoe (or bus) towards the Maori village. On the way the driver told us that we needed a chief for the night to guide our tribe. He told us he must be Brave, Intelligent and Handsome. And he said "If any man feels he's got what it takes, and I have to see this, Stand up now."
There was a moments silence as everyone looked around, then one man stood up raised his fist and shouted:
"I'LL DAY IT!"
And for the foresighted among you, you're right, that man was me!
We got to the village and were given the traditional entrance ceremony where we were met by three warriors who offered us a token and then were welcomed by the head woman of the tribe. We took a wander round the village and took in the different skills of the Maori people. From getting a talk on the warriors fighting style to the women showing us their skills with the Pois.
We then went to the concert and got some traditional Maori music, dancing, poi skills and Hakas.
Then, my favourite part of the night: THE HANGI! An awesomely huge feast of food cooked in the old style by using an underground oven to steam the stuff till it was ready.
After that the chiefs were hauled up on stage and we were given a small present of necklaces and then we did the All Blacks Haka to finish off the night.
Then we jumped back in our 'Waka' and headed to town where we were told we needed to sing a song from our own country. I, of course, chose to sing the Proclaimers and "I will walk 500 miles" YUSS!
Brilliant day.

Grr...
Spent two days in Waitomo where I SHOULD have been caving and having an awesome time but instead was relegated to being stuck in my cabin with a GODDAMN FLU! Waitomo is a lovely place however and I have to say I was impressed. Even tho it rained constantly, with thunder and lightning as well to sweeten the deal, the place was awesomely picturesque.
After spending two days in bed TRYING to recover I headed to Rotorua to the Hot Rock backpackers hostel. Once I arrived I found I was sharing a room with a quiet Scot by the name of Colin. My other room-mates turned out to be two American girls of hot-ness status. Usually I would've turned on the charm but I have to say a flu is THE least sexy thing known to man... well, maybe not THE least sexy but I couldn't think of anything less sexy at the time. I hit the bar with them anyway since they were a decent chat. The bar turned out to be pretty random: I got talking to a German biker who'd had many random adventures in his time and then ran into a bunch of Kilted Scots and Irish lads on a stag night so ended up talking to them for a bit.
I hit the sack early tho since I was still ill. Hoping I can see a marked improvement by tomorrow or I'll be in a bit of a mood.... again.

The inevitable wine hangover...
Didn't do much today since I was recovering from the wine last night. I spent most of the day chilling out in some of the parks and trying to decide where to go next since it is my last night in Auckland.
I hit up the travel agent and spent a LOT of money buying a bus pass, booking caving, swoop diving, zorbing, argojeting, rafting, a Maori cultural tour and meal and, of course, a sky dive. I'm thinking about doing a canyon swing too but I wanna see how much money I spend over the next few days. Then it was merely a case of packing my bag and getting sorted for my bus to Waitomo tomorrow.
So i guess this is "Seeya later, Auckland"

wow
Exert from Steve's journal 20 mins after doing a skyjump: "OH MY F**KING GOD!!! I MEAN HOLY SH*T THAT WAS GODDAMN F**KING AWESOME!!!" Needless to say I was pretty pumped after the jump.
Started the day with heading to the sky tower to leap off the platform 192m up. I was trussed up in an all in one jump suit and then strapped firmly into my harness. I was lead to the elevator and sent up the tower.
I was met by two of the sky jumps "throwers" who, although they introduced themselves, names I have completely forgotten. I took one look off the edge of the platform and the first words that escaped my mouth were "I can't do this." Luckily the girls had seen this before and began trussing me and strapping me while giving lots of encouragement. Before i knew what was happening I was standing on the edge of the platform facing the building with my heels on the edge. Probably a good thing since it didn't give me time to think about it.
Then they gave me a countdown and I jumped backwards onto open air. I fell around 3 metres before the winch stopped me and the rush just hit me! I was hanging 190 or so metres in air suspended by nothing more than a wire cable looking down at the city of Auckland for a VERY new perspective. I looked up and seen the people all waving on the observation right in front of me. I was so pumped by this point I knew this was gonna be an awesome ride. I gave the crowd a heavy metal gesture and then screamed: "LET'S F**KING ROCK!!!" and BOOM! I was falling at 75 kph towards the ground, the wind flying in my face and the adrenline hitting me like a brick in the face. I landed on the platform and wrapped my arms round my "catcher" and just shouted: "THAT WAS AMAZING!!!" I was buzzing full on by this point.
She smiled: "Enjoy that?"
"Oh aye... that was incredible" I breathed
"Would you go again?"
"Oh yeah"
"Wanna go now... for free?"
"DAMN RIGHT!"
So I was taken back up to the level and told the girls that I was so glad they talked me into that. They trussed me up again and this time there was no pause just a straight fall to the bottom and the rush was just as good.
I spent the rest of the day buzzing and then hit up an All-you-can-eat-pizza-and-all-you-can-drink-wine night. Needless to say it got messy. I don't remember coming back to the hostel but I remember the pizza was good.

Looking Death in the face and spitting in his eye... well... on the 3rd attempt anyway.
What better way to start the day on a lazy Sunday morning than to throw yourself off a 40m high bridge with only a latex cord to hold you up! I mean, GODDAMN! It was amazing!
The guy gave me a countdown from 5 and then i had to jump. I froze on the first two countdowns, looking down from the ledge was just terrifying for me. On the third one I just went for it and powered myself off the board. There was about 2 seconds of freefall where I couldn't think of anything other than the fact I was falling really fast towards the water. Then the cord bit in, I bounced and the rush just hit me! I screamed something along the lines of "OH MY GOD!!!! WOOOO!" and then bounced again. I was buzzing so much. It was awesome! I didn't come down for ages.
In the afternoon I went sailing on the American Cup Yacht, NZ41 which was a nice way to come down from my buzz. I got to work the grinders and steer the boat for a bit. Was a good ride and we got some awesome views of the city. Including going under the bridge I had jumped from that very morning.
The evening was a non-event tho. I just stayed in the hostel and chatted to a couple of folk then hit the sack in preparation for the Skyjump the next day... Rock on I guess.

Goddamn it!
Sailing was cancelled due to high winds! I hit the booking agent (right between the eyes) and cancelled my dolphin and whale safari to be replaced with having another crack at the whole sailing gig... and also booked a bungy jump for early the next morning as I thought it would be a good way to wake myself up.
Not wanting the day to be a waste I took a quick wander up Mt Eden to have a look at Auckland from a different perspective. I met up with Ray in the evening and we hit a mexican place for food. We chatted a bit but I hit the sack fairly early so I was ready for my jump the next morning. The banter was good with Ray at least, Im getting off to a stuttered start here in New Zealand.