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DAY 6, KIWI EXPERIENCE

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK

Enroute to River Valley we stopped of at Tongariro NP for a 2 hour walk and some lunch at Taranaki Waterfall. The Kiwi Experience has this habit of finding this balance between, physical activities, cultural experiences and “letting loose.”

 

RIVER VALLEY

River Valley is amazing, it’s a hostel/cabin at the bottom of the most stunning valley you will see. We got the option of horse trekking for the day or white water rafting but both were on tomorrow. It’s Millie’s birthday today so she wants to do horse riding so we managed to get them to sort a shorter horse trek today so we could do the white water rafting tomorrow as well. Both are run by the hostel.

 

White Water Rafting at River Valley

HORSE RIDING

Horse riding was a bit different but something I’ve wanted to do seeing as there’s a passion for Horse Racing in the family. Big different from race horses to what we were given though, saying that I was probably at my limit!! Laura and Millie were allowed to do a gallop as they’ve done it a few times but my horse didn’t want to miss out!

White Water Rafting at River Valley

We also signed up to stay in a 20 bed dorm where the bunk beds are all side by side so you can basically roll over into the person beside you. It’s nicknamed the orgy room.

Feeding the horse

THE HOSTEL

Game night tonight in the hostel. You had to stand on the main table (it’s huge) at the bar and get under and over it without touching the floor. There’s no trick involved and after almost everyone else had a turn John Tuff (top gent) started egging me on so everyone else joined in so I couldn’t say no. I ended up doing it to shut everyone up as They seemed pretty sure I could do it but thats called a false sense of security!

Like most I fell after about 3 seconds on my first go and came so close just after, everyone was screaming as they wanted at least 1 person to get it so we don’t get the stick from the other buses. Managed to do it on my 3rd go, some buzz If you are ever there you’ll see the name on the wall, folklore!!

The winners of the table challenge in NZ. White water rafting and games at River valley
List of people to make it under the table. White Water Rafting at River Valley

DID YOU KNOW….?

  • Whale sharks are ……
  • Thailand is known for …..
  • Scuba diving originated from…..

THE BOTTLE GAME

The next game was a team game – of two people per team. There was a line drawn on the floor which you can’t cross and you had to place a beer bottle as far as you could using any technique between the pair of you. Luckily we could choose our team and Ed (top guy) had thought we would do well, and he wasn’t wrong!

It was hilarious as there were myself and Ed against John and chief vying it out for a good while, each placing it only a few mm or so beyond the others every go. Everyone else had overthought it by this stage, there were some strange techniques. It got more and more tense but with the help of ed who is about 25ft and me being a light 6fter we just tipped the other pair. Great night!

WHITE WATER RAFTING IN RIVER VALLEY

White water rafting was fun, a little less Rapids than I would have liked but was good for a first time. There was one  in Rotorua that has a 7metre waterfall on it. Had a good boat which helped with the Danish girls (Laura and Millie), chief and big rig (our bus driver). Our guide was pretty good as well.

At the start we all had to stand but Millie and Tommy fell straight in, so that didn’t fill the guide with much confidence. Between some of the Rapids there was quite a bit of slow water so you could jump in and float down, and being a hot day some of us preferred it! At the start the girls said they wanted it ‘rough’ (shock) so the guide was able to take us sideways down the last Rapids which inevitably flipped us, I wasn’t expecting it too much!

FINAL THOUGHTS

A great place to do some activities but for me the best part of it was the social aspect, the games in the evening was another reason why I like the Kiwi Experience so much!

NEXT UP

Off to Wellington for a few days where we will be getting the boat to the south island. Click to read.

SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
25/229

This post is part of The New Zealand and Fiji Series, click to explore.

Question Time

  • Have you ever done white water rafting?
  • Where was it?
  • Would you do it again?

Let me know in the comments below . . .

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EATING EGGS AND PLAYING GOLF IN LAKE TAUPO
WELLINGTON & ABEL TASMAN

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