Rotorua Sports Travel Tips by M0B1US

Theme: Extreme Sports

Zorbing is a phenomenon sweeping the World like wildfire (Uh, yeah right!)! So why not try it out at the original Zorb site in the World at Rotorua!?

Where else are you going to find yourself inside a giant plastic ball that looks like some kind of US military experiment on bubblewrap gone horribly wrong, rolling down a steep grassy hill for 250m?

I guarantee this will be like nothing you've ever done before. You have the option of being strapped in for the 'dry' mode - or you can find out just what it is to be like your clothes when you put them in the washing machine, as you tumble and slosh about in the 'wet' mode...

Prices are NZ$40 for one ride, or one of each NZ$65. Children can try the mini-zorb on flat terrain for around NZ$15.

After you've done a Zorb or two, why not check out the Agrodome for a sheep talent show/beauty pageant (only in NZ!)??? Tip coming soon! ;-)

And yes, you can buy the T-Shirt too!

Word of warning: don't try this on a full stomach - I did this just after breakfast and felt a bit queasy for about an hour afterwards, though that could have been from getting up so early!

Equipment: Mandatory: One Giant Inflatable Plastic Bubble.

Optional: Two Buckets of Cold Water (Warm in Winter!)

Change of clothes (maybe underwear?) and a towel if doing the 'wet one'!

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Phone: (07) 357-5100
Address: Agrodome Adventure Park, Western Road, Ngongotaha
Directions: 10 mins north of Rotorua, well signposted just off Hwy 1 with the Agrodome
Website: www.zorb.com

Theme: Extreme Sports

Many eons ago when I lived in New Zealand, I organised for a group of about 12 of us and we convoyed up to Rotorua for a group package weekend extravaganza of white water rafting with River Rats in April '94...

Our package included a whole day out on the Rangitaiki River (Grade 3-4) and the Kaituna River (Grade 5!) the next day, as well as hostel accommodation for two nights at a hostel I can't quite remember the name of except that it was memorable by having a bar serving its own large thermal pool - all this for a crazy price of NZ$135 back at a time when the pound was worth 3.5 NZD!

Although the packages aren't the same, the rides seem to be...

The two rivers we rafted are very different affairs:

The Rangitaiki is a long and fairly placid affair and excellent for those new to white water rafting. We had tried for the Wairoa, but this is only open for 26 days of the year - so make sure you plan far ahead as this is supposed to be a real cracker and we were disappointed not to go on it!

The other thing about the Rangitaiki is that it can get cold if you choose the equivalent of late autumn as for long periods you are just floating along admiring the scenery...

The Kaituna however was a very different animal! When we went this was rated 5+ out of 5 and It is a fast and furious foam filled 45 min rollercoaster ride including the infamous 'taco', which squashes the ends of the raft together and culminating in plunging over the awesome drop of what is reputedly the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world at 7 metres!!!

Apparently only 1 in 4 rafts make it over OK, we went and clipped the rocks as we went over - tipping us out like so much flotsam and jetsom! Our next boat was successful by submerging from the force of the impact and resurfacing the right way up!

WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO, YEAH BABY!!!

I'm having an adrenaline rush just writing this as the memories come flooding back, so to speak!!! :-)))

Equipment: INCLUDES:

Helmets
Lifejackets
Wetsuits
*Polar Fleece Tops
*Sprayjackets
Wetsuit Booties

YOU BRING:

Swimsuit
Towel
A good dose of Courage! :-D

Items marked with * are optional dependant on conditions

Check out their amazing specials on the website!

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Phone: +64 7 345 6543
Address: Located on Highway 33 across Kaituna River
Directions: Meet at base at Lake Rotoiti Lakeside Holiday Park or arrange for shuttle to pick you up from your central Rotorua accommodation
Website: http://www.riverrats.co.nz/kaituna.htm