Rotorua and Rafting

The next day we woke up and drove to where the river rafting place was just past Rotorua.  It was about one hour out of town.  When we arrived we were delayed as there was a whole busload of young adults arriving to go too.  In all there were four rafts (8 in a boat) on the trip.  The river wasnt wide but it was moving a good speed and yet nothing close to our trip in Whistler.

The guides were all great and the group of kids were very nice.  In addition to the rafters there were about 6 who were going down the river on nothing more than wake boards.  their gear (ours was similar to what we had for the Waitomo caves only add a lifejacket) were a little more substantial for body protection.  

Our guide was a little more seasoned than the rest but a load of fun.  Our guides name was Lee too.  I was in the front position, Forrest behind me and Dana next to him.  My partner was a kid who rowed from Oxford.  It wasnt until in the river did he and the rest of us realize that didnt prepare him for river rafting.   He frustrated not only me but Dana and that side of the raft (they took their cadence from him).  Nevertheless we still had a blast, all of us with big grins at the end of every rapid.  

After four smaller rapids we went down the 7 meter high falls.   You will see in the pictures the boat completely submerges underwater at the bottom of the falls and then spits us out.  We lost one person but he was fine (not one of us three).  It was great fun. After that our guide took us down a rapid backwards surprising us.  the whole experience was great fun and the guides were all very skilled.

After the river trip we stopped at a geothermal park and walked  the trails.  the park was pretty amazing.   The ground bubbled, popped and hissed.  One pit was full of clay mud and it spit and bubbled at least 6 meters all over the surface.  The whole area smelled of sulphur but you got used to it.  The sites of fizzing streams and steaming deep holes was so unique and impressive.  it was a nice stop on the way back to the ship.  

From there it took us three hours through very hilly, winding roads and land as the south of the North Island is very rural and agricultural rich.  Pretty country and the Kiwis are very welcoming and amicable.   We arrived on time in Napier.  They were waiting for us and we were able to drop the car at the pier.  The last thing we had waiting for us was that we had been checked out of the ship when we got to the gangway.  Fortunately it is a small ship and the Captain was standing there and we got it all settled.  our cabin hadnt been given away or anything scary like that.  it was more of a data thing.  they got us all checked in and everything ended up being fine.

Needless to say we were tired after a busy two days.  We had fun though and we got to see a great deal of NZ.