On a day that seemed to start off rather normal – packing up and leaving my hostel, and enjoying a cup of coffee beforehand – I had no idea what I was about to get myself into. I boarded the bus with new friends once again and we took a little time to venture around Rotorua before working our way out to see more boiling mud (which is fascinating!), the eruption of the Lady Knox Geyser, and then walk around Wai-O-Tapu… the most colorful geothermal field I’ve ever seen. The Geyser wasn’t too impressive, as they induce it with soap (since it only naturally goes off every 48-72hrs… and that, I guess, doesn’t work with their tourism! – unreal!)… Wai-O-Tapu, on the other hand, was spectacular! I feared tourist craziness, and it was actually just a bunch of well-marked walking trails that allowed a handful of us to walk out and around the furthest loop – to the waterfall – it took about 1 ½ hours to cruise (rather quickly) around the fields – they’re huge and so diverse! With sulphur caves & crystals, turquoise blue water atop bright orange (ferrous) edging, and orange (“green-algae”) coated tree branches and bark… it’s an unreal site!
Our road trip took us past huge pine tree farms and beautiful countryside. When we reached Huka Falls in the early afternoon, I was immediately reminded of the bubbly-turquoise blue waters of the Petrohue River that Elizabeth & I rafted in Chile years ago… the longest river in New Zealand (the Waikoto) feeds into a very narrow chasm before making a 10m (30+ feet) plunge of extreme force into the perfectly light-turquoise waters below… the power can be felt as you stand beside. I was sooooooooooo wanting my mountain bike in this moment, as far too many trails extend deep into the forest from beside this waterfall… definitely next time!!! (oh yes, there will be a next time!!)
When I sat down on the bus earlier this same morning the driver, Eric, asked me what my plans were – I told him that I had been considering skydiving in Taupo tomorrow, and may stay two nights to do so… but that my dorm-mate had just jumped in Franz Josef, and I was now curious as to whether I should wait until I’m further south. Moments later he tossed the clipboard (to sign-up) in my lap and said you have a perfect day and you can go at 1:45pm… a 7+ year dream (specifically, to skydive in New Zealand) had culminated into a momentary decision… A guy from Taupo Tandem Skydive picked me up from Huka Falls and I was off to the land of jump-suits, handy-cams, propellers, parachutes and natural highs! A few minutes into the race around of trying to add an extra layer of clothing to my body, I met Kane, my tandem master.
I kept waiting for the moment when terrifying fright would consume my body – whether it be on the ground or in the sky above… it never did. Kane is tall, attractive, and of positive, happy-energy (which certainly added to the wonderful experience, and left me in an extreme state of contentment if this were to be the final moments before setting my spirit free! ;) )
We walked side-by-side to the plane – sort of like when you see the astronauts heading out to the space shuttle – waving bye to those staying below and focusing on what was ahead! There were 12 of us jumping – 5 tandems and 2 videographers… we crammed ourselves into the blue straddle benches within our tiny, bright yellow plane… oxygen lines dangling beside us… flying backwards – 360degrees of beautiful landscape below – “Load 007” (ironic!) – 15,000 ft jump – -16degrees Celcius (that’s a negative sign there!... c-c-c-cold!) -1:05mins freefall to 5-4,000 ft (the span for chute opening)… Kane and I were the last to exit the plane, after we dropped the 1st 3 tandems at 12,000ft and then cruised up to 15…
We sat on the edge of the doorway for a brief second, tucked our feet under the edge of the plane and then rolled into what felt like a weightless tumble… pure bliss! And it got better from there as he tapped me on my shoulder about 1-2000ft down and I was able to ‘spread my wings’ and FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For a brief moment in my life, I got to be a bird (high-altitude bird, that is!)… PHENOMENAL!!!!!! And when the chute opened – pure silence arrived… WOW! We were floating above… chatting… taking in the scenery… filling ourselves with the chill of the fresh air and the feeling of being above the world… fully in the moment… incredible!
Kane directed our parachute to send us in all sorts of crazy spins that gained speed… this left me a tad dizzy and nauseated, but was fun none-the-less! Our landing was so much simpler than I had ever anticipated (I love taking off in things/going up things… I’m not much for landing/coming down from above)… we literally were able to stand up at contact with the ground… and then it took me a second or two to find my feet… ABSOLUTELY EXHILIRATING!!!!!
For the sole reason of wanting to freefall above absolute beauty, I waited too many years to skydive for my 1st time… and sooooooooooooo glad I did! TAUPO, in center of the N. Island – is a remnant volcanic crater highlighted by New Zealand’s largest lake, longest river and 3 active volcanoes…. A place where ‘heaven’ can be seen below! With active geothermal fields spread throughout the region, this area is soooooooooo alive that it is hard to describe merely by words – you have to feel it!
For something that I just couldn’t stomach paying for year after year, it was a priceless experience – something that I would most certainly recommend as at least a 1-time ‘must-do’ (regardless of the cost) for anyone who entertains the idea of exiting a perfectly good plane!
Now I am left wanting to jump again… today (with Kane, of course!) …ahhhhhhh, someday when I can re-stock the funds!!! There are other dreams coming up a little further along the South Island of my New Zealand journey… any guesses as to what those may be??!!!!!! ;)
DREAM…even if it takes 7 years and getting to NZ to reach it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our road trip took us past huge pine tree farms and beautiful countryside. When we reached Huka Falls in the early afternoon, I was immediately reminded of the bubbly-turquoise blue waters of the Petrohue River that Elizabeth & I rafted in Chile years ago… the longest river in New Zealand (the Waikoto) feeds into a very narrow chasm before making a 10m (30+ feet) plunge of extreme force into the perfectly light-turquoise waters below… the power can be felt as you stand beside. I was sooooooooooo wanting my mountain bike in this moment, as far too many trails extend deep into the forest from beside this waterfall… definitely next time!!! (oh yes, there will be a next time!!)
When I sat down on the bus earlier this same morning the driver, Eric, asked me what my plans were – I told him that I had been considering skydiving in Taupo tomorrow, and may stay two nights to do so… but that my dorm-mate had just jumped in Franz Josef, and I was now curious as to whether I should wait until I’m further south. Moments later he tossed the clipboard (to sign-up) in my lap and said you have a perfect day and you can go at 1:45pm… a 7+ year dream (specifically, to skydive in New Zealand) had culminated into a momentary decision… A guy from Taupo Tandem Skydive picked me up from Huka Falls and I was off to the land of jump-suits, handy-cams, propellers, parachutes and natural highs! A few minutes into the race around of trying to add an extra layer of clothing to my body, I met Kane, my tandem master.
I kept waiting for the moment when terrifying fright would consume my body – whether it be on the ground or in the sky above… it never did. Kane is tall, attractive, and of positive, happy-energy (which certainly added to the wonderful experience, and left me in an extreme state of contentment if this were to be the final moments before setting my spirit free! ;) )
We walked side-by-side to the plane – sort of like when you see the astronauts heading out to the space shuttle – waving bye to those staying below and focusing on what was ahead! There were 12 of us jumping – 5 tandems and 2 videographers… we crammed ourselves into the blue straddle benches within our tiny, bright yellow plane… oxygen lines dangling beside us… flying backwards – 360degrees of beautiful landscape below – “Load 007” (ironic!) – 15,000 ft jump – -16degrees Celcius (that’s a negative sign there!... c-c-c-cold!) -1:05mins freefall to 5-4,000 ft (the span for chute opening)… Kane and I were the last to exit the plane, after we dropped the 1st 3 tandems at 12,000ft and then cruised up to 15…
We sat on the edge of the doorway for a brief second, tucked our feet under the edge of the plane and then rolled into what felt like a weightless tumble… pure bliss! And it got better from there as he tapped me on my shoulder about 1-2000ft down and I was able to ‘spread my wings’ and FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For a brief moment in my life, I got to be a bird (high-altitude bird, that is!)… PHENOMENAL!!!!!! And when the chute opened – pure silence arrived… WOW! We were floating above… chatting… taking in the scenery… filling ourselves with the chill of the fresh air and the feeling of being above the world… fully in the moment… incredible!
Kane directed our parachute to send us in all sorts of crazy spins that gained speed… this left me a tad dizzy and nauseated, but was fun none-the-less! Our landing was so much simpler than I had ever anticipated (I love taking off in things/going up things… I’m not much for landing/coming down from above)… we literally were able to stand up at contact with the ground… and then it took me a second or two to find my feet… ABSOLUTELY EXHILIRATING!!!!!
For the sole reason of wanting to freefall above absolute beauty, I waited too many years to skydive for my 1st time… and sooooooooooooo glad I did! TAUPO, in center of the N. Island – is a remnant volcanic crater highlighted by New Zealand’s largest lake, longest river and 3 active volcanoes…. A place where ‘heaven’ can be seen below! With active geothermal fields spread throughout the region, this area is soooooooooo alive that it is hard to describe merely by words – you have to feel it!
For something that I just couldn’t stomach paying for year after year, it was a priceless experience – something that I would most certainly recommend as at least a 1-time ‘must-do’ (regardless of the cost) for anyone who entertains the idea of exiting a perfectly good plane!
Now I am left wanting to jump again… today (with Kane, of course!) …ahhhhhhh, someday when I can re-stock the funds!!! There are other dreams coming up a little further along the South Island of my New Zealand journey… any guesses as to what those may be??!!!!!! ;)
DREAM…even if it takes 7 years and getting to NZ to reach it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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