Youth Hostels, a blossoming bromance and black water rafting

Youth Hostels, a blossoming bromance and black water rafting

 
Rich and I left Auckland on the Saturday morning and were heading for the town of Rotarua. The drive took about three hours. Driving in New Zealand reminds me a bit of driving in Wales. There isn't really a motorway network here, it's mostly long, winding A-roads - reminiscent of my trips to and from Aberystwyth as a student - minus the obligatory McDonald's stop in Newtown of course.
 
It was on that journey I began the process of reconnecting with Rich. Despite having rarely seen each other for a decade, things with Rich never change.

Dr Richard William Naylor PhD...
brain of Einstein, humour maturity of a toilet duck

I said many years ago that Rich was the most likely of my friends to marry a supermodel and find the cure for cancer...then lose it. I still stand by this. Whilst I have settled for the more modest surroundings of Lanesfield then Gornal, Rich's work has seen him travel the world. He has a PhD yet this a man for whom word 'poo' still illicits childish giggles - as indeed do the names of several local towns in New Zealand.

The mention of Wai Pu (Why-poo), Uretiti (You're a titty), Whakepapa (F**k-a-papa) - and my personal favourite - Waikikamukau (Why-kick-a-moo-cow) sees the smartest man I know regress to a toddler. He also could barely contain his excitement as he told me of a town in Ireland called 'Muff'.
 

We laughed a lot on that journey - although it was tempered somewhat on our arrival at Rotarua. We'd made our way to the Waiotapu thermal pools which, in fairness, are spectacular. The bubbling mud pools are an incredible sight and the heat the omit is incredible - the only downside is the gases which emanate from them absolutely honk. The entire town has a sulphuric, egg-like whiff - a bit like a teenagers' bedroom the morning after a night of lager and a 2am Balti.
 
It was a great day though with plenty of laughter - typified by our evening dining experience. We sat outside a restaurant enjoying a well deserved beer when we were serenaded by a street band who's lead singer was a Maori in a mobility scooter who sang one Sam Cooke number then simply left leaving the rest of the band to finish the set. He simply wheeled off down the road. You couldn't make it up.
 
We stayed in our first youth hostel that evening - it was a cosy affair. Suffice to say there was a touch of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street about us as we snuggled up in the final room the hostel had available...a double.

The following day we made our way to the nearby Waikite Valley to take in a rather bro-mantic thermal pool spa. It was a secluded, private spa, overlooking an almost rainforest-like terrain. Now the thermal spring water running out of the hot taps here come out a ferocious 70 degrees - so although the gesture of the pool attendant to top the hot water up for us was appreciated, the third degree burns our feet received as we attempted to get in the pool was somewhat reminiscent of a scene from the film Dante's Peak. I'd like to point out that Rich and I were not in a thermal pool for the same reason as the couple in that film!
 
Our next stop was at Lake Taupo - on St Patrick's Night. It was a fairly lively night and I can safely say we met one or two local characters who were clearly as p****d as a lephrecaun's fart that evening. But we weren't really in a party-mood. Our hike across the famous Tongariro crossing had been scuppered because the weather had nose-dived. I know Rich really wanted to do that hike too so I felt bad for him.

But unpeturbed - Rich and I made our way the following morning to Mt Ruapeho. Well, Rich told me the mountain was there - the mist was so bad we could barely see ten yards in front of ourselves. Still, we went on a lower level walk and stumbled upon the spectacular and most magnificent Taranaki Falls (right). It's the first time I've seen a waterfall - I was quite awestruck.
 
We were then back to Lake Taupo for our second night in our hostel. This hostel was a little different to the one in Rotarua - we were sharing with two others. On the first night it was with two Germans - Max and Rafael. They were nice guys to be fair - on the second night we weren't quite so fortunate. We were shacked up with another German, and a Dutch guy who's personal hygiene issues made Rich gag. All of a sudden the double bed 'spooning' in Rotarua seemed somewhat more appealing. Needless to say we were grateful for our 6.30am alarm call to escape the 'Dutch Oven'.

We then set off on our way to see the famous glow worm caves of Waitomo...and to take in some black water rafting!

The caves were really impressive and it was interesting to know that it's actually a big PR stunt. The worms are actually maggots and the light actually comes from their poo (cue Rich chuckling). But as Rich pointed out, 'come and see luminous maggot s**t' is quite a tough sell for the local tourist board.

Black water rafting - think wetsuit, helmet, a huge rubber ring, hypothermia-inducing water and caves 65 feet underground. Individually; 'water', 'rocks' and 'underground' are normally things I'd avoid at all costs - but together as one collective...my comfort zone was obliterated.

I think Rich sensed my hesitance so when the instructor asked for any volunteers to jump backwards of a ledge into the freezing cold water on their rubber rings, Rich did what all good mates do - he stepped up to the plate...and said 'he'll do it'; as he pointed at me and grinned. So, away I went. Not going to lie - a faceful of ice cold water whilst being dressed as an extra from 'Hole in the Wall' wasn't necessarily my idea of fun...but it's something I would never have even entertained doing just a few months ago. Another new experience - and that's what this trip was all about.

Next time...Wellington, the South Island and onwards to the US of A...

In the meantime - I don't think words could really do justice to the wonderment and beauty of the Taranaki Falls - and neither can this song to be honest. It's just the only song I could think of that bared any resemblance...