While in New Zealand, we drove approximately an hour from where we were staying to take a jet boat ride down Waikato River to the base of 'Huka Falls'. According to their website, these falls are the country's most visited natural attraction.
Our driver/tour guide was a stunt driver and throughout the ride, he had our boat hurtling towards rock embankments - only to pull out at the very last millisecond... branches of overhanging trees missing us by mere inches!! I didn't mind that so much as the 360 degree turns he insisted on making - spraying and in some cases soaking us. At the speed we were travelling, we were dry just in time for another spin... It was a blast! After our 'adventure' was over, we walked to the lookouts above.
Can you spot me? Do I look 'thrilled', lol!!
We were able to get in quite close - sometimes that's not possible - it all depends on how much water they're letting through at the time. If interested, the link above delves into water volumes etc. I have to be honest with you - I am a feelings gal and get so caught up in the beauty and experience, that I rarely retain anything a tour guide is telling me! Thanks goodness for the internet.
I took over a dozen of these shots.
One of the rock embankments we narrowly missed...!
Making our way out of the park, this sign said it all.
Huka Falls is also famous for prawn fishing. JJ Hubby made a good point when he asked the obvious question: "How do you know when you've got a bite?" He he!
I had planned to share an intriguing little lizard with you today, but have decided to let the suspense build further... I'll announce the June recipient of the 'Whoo Loves Ya Baby!' award though.
Congratulations to Vicki/Jake from Just Call Me Jake - cause Mom wanted a boy! Vicki's off-the-wall humour always keeps me coming back for more... I'm just trying to figure her out! She is also a kind, thoughtful lady and that is always reflected in her posts. When you can, take a moment to visit and perhaps follow her fab blog.
Lastly, a fond farewell to the monthly caption contest - thanks WebDebris (Remembering the 70s) for your sole submission - I hereby declare you this month's winner, lol!
Hope you have a great weekend :)
Those shots looking down give me vertigo! It is very beautiful, and looks very dramatic.
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful header photo made me dizzy! This sounds exactly like the kind of trip I would have jumped at Jane. What a thrilling ride that must have been. I see Miss Emma is looking cuter than ever! Congrats to Vicki/Jake, I'll pop over now.
ReplyDeleteNot me!!! I'm just getting too old for that kind of thrill!!!
ReplyDeleteThose shots are spectacular, Jane. It looks so clean and untamed. A Canadian wilderness without grizzleys and snakes. (Do they have grizzleys and snakes?) And congrats to the blog winners. I'm thinking of following both of them but you know I'm getting to the limit of blogs I can read and really think about. It is a problem but a good one because there are so many interesting sites!
ReplyDeleteHi Francie, The really grat thing about New Zealand is that there are no predators to be afraid of - no large animals (like bears) or snakes. There are only a few small spiders that bite, but they live in beach grasses and driftwood - so you can easily avoid them. It's a camper's paradise. I know what you mean about reaching peak blog-following capacity :)
DeleteHa ha ha...love that "Thrilling? We told you so!" sign. Looks like someone has a great sense of humour. Oooooh...what a thrill that must have been. The more I see, the more I want to visit New Zealand...at the same time as I head down to see Australia. My younger daughter told me a couple of years ago (when she was only 12) that she wanted to move to New Zealand when she grows up. What an odd choice I thought, so I asked her 'Why New Zealand?'. She shrugged and said that it was an amazing place, so why not. Seems to me that she made a great choice. It's considered one of the best places in the world to live. I think it is, too.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that interesting about your daughter... who knows where life will take us! I certainly liked what I saw for the short time I was there.
DeleteGreat shots! That is one mean looking prawn.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs, pretty place. I am greeting
ReplyDeleteThe photos are breathtaking and the "boat ride" looks like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteYou don't look so 'thrilled' in the photo! lol! But these are great pictures and it must have been a very exciting ride!
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