Auckland Skytower Skyjump

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ok, now I got that out of my system, let me tell you about the Skytower Skyjump.

Free Fall Base Jumping from 192 metres is not your usual way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and this morning it was not the way I had planned to spend it.

However, this was something I had wanted to do since we got to Auckland, I had a voucher, it was going to expire soon, and the the time.. so it seemed.. was now!

When I arrived, they told me I was going to jump a little earlier than planned as I had arrived so early, this got my nerves going and I spent the next 10 minutes wriggling, shaking and entirely failing to sit still. When I realised that it was going to be a little longer I calmed down.

The guy who got us ready was calm, happy and helpful - gave the little group I was in a tonne of confidence. We suited up, got the harnesses on, then headed to the top of the tower.

At the top I offered for the other girl to go first and observed what she did. When it was my turn I knew they would be stopping me 10m down for a photo and felt good about the checks they did of the harness and gear.

My turn came very quickly. I've been up the tower before, more than once, and even jumped on the glass platforms looking down to the ground, feeling completely safe. Standing on the OUTSIDE of the glass with the wind hitting you and walking along a skinny platform is a completely different experience.

When I got to the end of the platform, I glanced down briefly and instantly felt uncomfortable, so I decided not to do that again. The wind chill factor was -6degrees Celsius, and every time I grabbed the railing for stability, my fingers froze. Oh yeah I knew I was alive!

Then my harness got attached to the rigging, I got told to step forward until my feet were on the edge... oh how everything in my body was yelling at me about how wrong that was to do... and then... on the count of three... Let Go!

Getting off the top was the hardest part. Then, for the next 11 seconds I took in the view, the ground that was coming ever closer and as I neared the large red target I knew... YEAH I've done it.

Exhilarating!

 

 

 

 

Northland: Whangarei Museum and Kiwi House

Since arriving in New Zealand a year ago, seeing a real live Kiwi was high on the list on priorities, but we hadn't had the opportunity until recently.

Oh wait... yes we see Kiwi's every day, I mean the bird ;)

We found the Kiwi house and Museum and decided to drop on in. It's not expensive, and kind of small, but very well done. The Kiwi house has a few Kiwi's in a nocturnal environment with low lighting and a bush style setting.

There are places for the Kiwi's to go for safety, but this sadly also keeps them out of our view. While we were there one decided they were hungry, so ran out of the nest, across the 'landscape' and to the feeding trough. I was surprised by how fast they move, and by the colour of it's beak - such a bright yellow!... or at least it seemed it in the dim lighting.

We went around the rest of the buildings in the grounds, seeing the display of the other birds, the engines, the mini train wasn't running that day - it was too wet, and then to the Museum. The Whangarei Museum is actually built inside an old airplane hanger (by the looks) and has a few well appointed small displays.

I was fascinated with the video of the Moari winter solstice, and loved the collection of 1900's+ paraphernalia. I saw old Cameras, typewrites, scales and a manual printing press from 1851 that still works today!

A real piece of nostalgia was the dining room they had set up, with the doilies on the arms and backs of the chairs, and the dining table laid out with the delicate China. It reminded me so much of my Great Aunt's house when I was growing up, so I had a lovely walk down a personal memory lane, as well as discovering history of this land.

It's not the biggest, nor does it have many displays, but for a piece of history not far North of Auckland, you just might enjoy a visit to Whangarei.

 

 

 

 

Northland: Whangarei Waterfall

Not far from Auckland, on a stunning scenic drive lies Northland. A place kind of untouched compared to the bustle of the big city, and a beautiful way to get back in touch with nature.

Whangarei (Pronounced with a 'F' for the 'Wh' - Fangarei) is a great township with a huge harbour, rolling hillsides and great beaches nearby.

When we were there, we saw the sign for the local waterfall and quickly decided to drop in on our way further north. Little did we know what a treat we were in for.

Less than 100m from the roadside, was a smallish river, with a bridge to cross over the causeway, and as we walked to it the sound increased dramatically, then we saw the actual waterfall and were astounded that it was 'just' there.

No walk for 1km, no hillsides to climb, it was within easy reach from the carparking facilities.

We crossed the bridge, went around the other side, down the gully and to the bottom of the falls. Stopped in the water spray, and then climbed back out of the gully.

So close to nature, so easily, and such raw power, a real spectacle that we all enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Well, I thought Craters of the Moon was astounding - and it is! but Wai-O-Tapu - WooooooW!

Instead of walking in the belly of a mountain, you are walking through tracks in the forest, around the edges of thermal pools and waterfalls, which have been there for thousands of years.

The tracks are unobtrusive in many places, more a few guide rails to help you along the journey, and the walk is not overly difficult, and well worth going the full length of the tracks.

The most astounding part here was the colours! Each pool was different depending on the minerals in the area, from yellows to rich oranges to a green so unreal I kept on saying "this looks like it's Photoshopped, I can't believe it's here in real life!"

This is more expensive than the craters, but so very worth it! If you arrive in the morning you can also see the geyser in action, which is another fantastic experience.

 

 

Driving in Auckland

We've been here getting close to a year now... and I'm finding myself driving like the locals.

At first I found the right-hand turning rule confusing... but have almost gotten used to that now.

I've had a friend here describe it as having manners for the other person, but I simply found it odd.

We both want to turn into the same street, from opposite directions. The person who is the in the lane closest has to give way to the person in the further lane... In this case, blue car gives way to red car.

So the person who 'can' turn easily, waits for the person who can't turn in as easily... however, if a car is traveling straight through the intersection behind the blue car, then the blue car can go and doesn't have to give way.



No I haven't had an accident... yet, but my brain has taken a long while to switch over.

The other thing I find most odd?
Freeway Driving in Auckland.

On the Freeways around Auckland, the speed is 100km/hour. Most times I am on the freeway, (which are generally 2 lanes) the people in the right lane are going 100, the speed they are allowed to go... and people in the left lane go anywhere from 70km-90km/hour... and sometimes slower.

The road is the same both lanes, the speed is the same, and yet there is a 30km discrepancy... today I found myself doing it as well... left lane, slow down by 20km... I think I may have been here too long ;)

Magic Broomsticks Devonport Segway Tour - Video

Here's a video I did of the Segway Tour. So very much fun, even if you don't have a special occasion, just go for the heck of it! They get some real speed up, it's really quite a thrill :)

Magic Broomsticks Devonport Segway Tour!

ok, this is a MUST!!

Magic Broomsticks do a fantastic tourist experience with the Devonport Segway Tour. They are remarkably easy to ride, it's a real in the moment experience, rather than sitting in a bus and looking out the window, and you get training prior to going out!

I saw them once we were visiting North Head as a family, and took a quick photo from the car window. I was inspired!

Now just to find an occasion to warrant such a treat. Luckily my Mum was coming over to New Zealand... and it happened to be her birthday while she was here. So, I had a plan, an event, and made a booking!

We were in a group of 5 people, and while out on the tour, we had people pointing, staring and taking photos, we 'were' the tourist attraction for the day, which just added to the fun! A few people fell over, but not many, and we had fun racing around a park for a while between North Head and Mount Victoria.

Brilliant day out, we all left with the Segway smile!