New Zealand

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.  We have been traveling here on the North Island in New Zealand.  We spent our first day (12/22) traveling to our accommodation in Owhango. On the 23rd we went to Whakapapa Village to do a little hiking.

Mt. Ngauruhoe (aka Mt. Doom) in the background

 

Mt. Ruapehu

Taranaki Falls (supposedly this was used in Lord of the Rings)

On Christmas eve we went white water rafting down the Tongariro.  Dad, Eric and I jumped off a cliff that was approximately 35 feet.  It took me a couple of tries to jump and even when I did our guide said there was a drag line on the ground from my foot saying, "No! This is a bad idea!!!". 

After Dad jumped. Our cliff was around the corner and much higher.

After I jumped. The water was freezing.

Christmas day we took a driving tour of the Forgotten Highway.  It is forgotten in the sense that they forgot to make the road big enough for 2 cars to drive down.

Before the super windy roads that made me want to yak.

Tallest waterfall on the North Island at 85 meters.

We also went to the coast to have a look at the Tasman Sea.

Black sand

Yesterday we started our drive back to Auckland.  On our way we stopped at the Waitomo Caves to see the glow worms.  You can't take pictures but trust us it was cool.

Next stop...Melbourne.