Day 99 - Tongariro Crossing

Finish!

Like Everything in NZ, It Ended With a Hike Through the Rain Forest

A Glimpse of Lake Taupo as We Come Out of the Cloud

We Walked Right Through a Big Cloud for About a km.

Emerald Lakes

Emerald Lakes

A View of Where We Hiked Up, Around and Down Red Crater

View From the Edge, Looking Into Red Crater

We've Reached Snow!

View of the South Crater that Sits at Approximately 1669m Above Sea Level

Begining Of the Track: 0km

The Huts Where We Camped

This was the most intense hike I have ever done. It was basically a 7h 15m hike up and over the mountains. 19.4 km (12 miles) in length with the total altitude of 1880 m (1.17 miles). This is the area where the land of Mordor was filmed for the Lord of the Rings. The sights here were unworldly, from the rock formations, to red crater, and the emerald lakes. it was really amazing to conquer such a huge feat. This is one of my favorite things that I've ever done.

Day 92 - Waitomo Caves

Clibing Down Deeper

Our Group at the Entrance of the Cave

Deeper...

Me After Jumping Backwards Down a Waterfall

(keep in mind its pitch black when you jump.. it just looks bright because of the flash)

Just Before Heading to the Cave

This trip to the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves was again, amazing. We entered the dark cave with nothing but a tube and out head lams... and of course I volunteered to head through the cave first, ahead of the tour guide. At one point in the cave, one of the guide stoped us to show us a very large eel that was living in the waters we were wading through. There were two points where we had to jump off of small water falls to continue through the cave. It was fun but scary because we had to jump backwards into our tube. Near the end we turned off our lamps and played what the guides called "find your way out of the cave with no lights". Luckily the glow worms covered the ceiling of the cave, loosely guiding the way. This was the third time I've seen the glow worms and still I was baffled by how awesome the are. Indescribable.

Day 77-79 - Rotorua

Preparing to Zorb.. Our instructions were basically "Jump In"

That's Me!

Me After Tumbling Down in the Zorb

Luge Track

We All Raced Down the Advanced Track Obviously

Gondola up to the Luge

Natural Hot Pool (Picture 1 of Many)

Natural Hot Pool - Sun Rising Through the Woods

Natural Hot Pool (Yes, That is a Waterfall That We Were Sitting Under)

Boiling Mud Pools

Fields of Steaming Hot Pools

Geysers

Steaming Forest

Jet Boating

Free Falling

The Rotorua trip was one of the best trips I've done since I've been in New Zealand. We got to do so much great stuff! The first night we arrived, it was pretty late, especially since we encountered a flat tire along the way. So the night started and ended at the bar. We all woke up nice and early the next morning and headed off to Te Puia. Te Puia is a large Maori cultural center, but also a place where you can experience geysers and hot/mud pools up close.

Next was AgroVentures. There were a bunch of activities to try here and I picked Jet Boating and the Free Fall. Free falling was BY FAR the coolest thing ever. They put you in a goofy suit and give you goggles that are too small and send you flying over a giant fan. Its supposed to simulate sky diving. Too cool.

That night we went to check out a place that some locals showed us. It was a thermal pool in the middle of the forest. And because Rotorua is a town built in the middle of a volcano crater, I was basically sitting in a hot pool in the middle of a volcano... pretty neat. A few of us got up early the next morning to see it in the day light.

Following the trip back to the hot pool was the Zorb. Basically a huge ball filled with a little bit of water that gets thrown down a hill with you inside. It was wild! After the Zorb we headed to the Luge. Its not the same as the snow luge but the same concept I guess. its a tiny little go cart that the race down a hill. It was pretty fast with some huge turns, we all had a blast.

After such a long weekend, we were all exhausted and ready to go back home. But, it was an AMAZING experience!

Day 71 - Horseback Riding and Muriwai Beach

The Skim Boarders

ME!

Me Jumping in Cave Entrance

Me and My Horse

The USU Crew

This trip was nice because we got to do some great stuff, but it was only a day trip. The day started off with some horseback riding through some awesome landscapes. The ride was about an hour long, nothing too exciting but still pretty fun! After the ride, we went for lunch and then headed to the beach. While most people were relaxing in the sand, a few of us went off to check out a cave that was accessible while the tide was out. Afterwards, we rented a few skim boards and played around for a while until it was time to head home. We were lucky the weather was so great. Its been getting a little chilly here so we're probably not going to have many more beach days!