Eytan reporting and Liz editing!
Hello to all the followers of the Walkabout Group! It has been an action packed couple of weeks to say the least.
As we sorrowfully said bye and did the hongi (a traditional greeting) with our lovely Maori hosts, we quickly found ourselves in the hands of our doe-eyed new host Dan. He would serve as our guide for the next week at New Zealand’s Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (BMAC).
With just the night to get settled in, the next morning Dan informed us that we would spend our day on a high ropes course! Our instructions were simple enough, two at a time we were to climb up opposite sides of a log 40 feet in the air, meet in the middle of the log, hug, and descend down. Things were going swimmingly, until it was time for me (Eytan) and Courtney to go up. As I reached the top of the log, I was quickly realizing that my partner was veritably afraid of heights. Courtney had a very tight and unrelenting hold of her log and it did not seem that she would be moving willingly anytime soon. Fortunately, my gentlemanly instincts kicked in. As my legs shook profusely I made my way all the way from my end of the log to her, grabbed her hand, and led her to the middle of the log and we descended together (and they say chivalry is dead.)
After this adrenaline inducing activity, Dan’s right hand (wo)man Rachel led us to our next activity… Caving! Now while some people in our group suffer a lack of acrophobia they make up for with there intense claustrophobia! What a perfect day for facing fears this was becoming! All jokes aside we ended up having a fantastic time in the caves, and got to experience a rarity in seeing real life glow worms! Did you know that it is actually their poop that gives off the beautiful steady radiance? But I digress…
The next day was filled with equally exhilarating activities, the first being ab-sailing (or repelling) by a waterfall! Once again this found our team acrophobe Courtney in a very difficult position, but with a little persuasion by the charismatic velvet-tongued Dan, Courtney too found herself plunging down the 80 foot cliff. After this, we enjoyed some relaxing time kayaking on the river.
This led us to the day I personally dreaded the most. While I do not have a fear of heights or closed spaces, I do suffer from a fear of physical activity. We agreed on going on a 6 hour mountain biking track. Now, we were given the option for either a 6 hour day of mountain biking or a 3 and a half hour day of mountain biking. Perhaps our optimism got the best of us as we somehow agreed on doing the 6 hour trek. Once again I digress. We honestly did have a great time biking DOWN hills ( I emphasize DOWN hills for a reason) with gorgeous scenery all around us.
After this fun and enervating experience, we spent a glorious day out on a white water rafting adventure! This was an absolute thrill.
The conclusion to this week was a tramp called the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which passes right by Mt Ngauruhoe, or as Lord of the Rings fans would know it, MT.DOOM! (dramatic bum bum buuum feels appropriate here.) It was around a 6 hour hike that lead us near the peek of the nefarious and awe inspiring volcano.
Anyway… what were we saying?
This week was student-led travel. We spent a night in Wellington (although we wish it were more time of course) and left early the next morning for Lake Waikeremoana. The next three days we hiked (or tramped!) around the lake, staying at huts along the way. The hike was strenuous at times, and we had to carry our packs, but the views and the trees (LIZ) made it worth the long hike. The forest was a prehistoric rainforest with a variety of bird life and ancient ferns (LIZ) :)!
Now we’re in Rotorua, a city on the North Island that smells like sulfur because of the thermal activity nearby. It’s a pretty neat town, and we’re planning on seeing kiwis tonight!! (the birds, not the fruit or New Zealand citizens…) On Sunday we’ll be heading to Auckland to begin our conservation work for the week!
Anyway,
Guttentag!
…that doesn’t feel right…
Eytan (and a little Liz)