Day 9 - River Rats

20th December - White Water Rafting


Slept in today – only got up at 7.30. Breakfast great – still using Julie’s toasted home-made bread and muffins.

White Water Rafting (for Saga Louts and small children)

We take a leisurely ride through hilly, managed forest - pleasant scenery. Occasional puffs of steam are evidence we are still in a volcanic area. We are heading for the base camp of the River Rats white water rafting company based in  Murupara or “Rundownsville” as we later name it. The first signs are not good, peeling painted signs, poor clapperboard housing and runny nosed kids hanging around with runny nosed mothers outside a runny nosed shopping strip. It’s the first time we have come across deprivation where the indigenous, Maoris have been left for dead in a ghetto area. Not really for us to comment on this otherwise beautiful country and people. It looks like this was a logging community, which was left behind when the monster logging machines came and did the work of 50 men. The visitor centre is the best place in town.

After several abortive attempts to find the River Rats we enter what looks like a derelict holiday camp. It’s not quite peak season, so where is everyone. It looks like an old WW2 military base. The River Rats bus arrives with two families on board and we join them to be kitted out. Body suit, Boots, life jacket and a helmet turn ordinary decent holidaymakers into a cross between Michelin Men and Mr Blobby.

All aboard the battle bus as we struggle to sit comfortably in our waterproof garb for the 20 minute drive to the starting point.

Our raft starts near to a hydro-electric power station. We scramble down rocks and along a narrow path about 10 feet above the swirling water. The two inflatables have been launched above us and come swirling through a narrow channel and we jump aboard. No good the UK 'elf 'n safety people being here. We are in and away, swirling down the river with our bus driver as boat captain. He’s a very knowledgeable guy, serious with it, and very professional (probably had a humour bypass when he was a child). He runs through some safety stuff before we go too far. The other boat has launched and we both head off downstream. He makes sure we know the ropes and has a set phrase "team paddle....paddle team!", which we repeat throughout the holiday like children, whenever we have to do anything together. The river is not too rough and its raining (I knew we had the wet suits on for a reason). A lesson in fauna and flora follows and Pat, Chris and Coleen all go overboard to do white water floating. The water is freezing, so I decline. Getting the Mr Blobbies back into the boat proves a little difficult, but then we don't want them being flushed out into the Pacific Ocean.

Back To Base
Moored up we helped carry the rafts to the top of a ramp where the bus has parked up. Headed back to base still in our Mr Blobby suits. The rain has stopped but the camp didn’t look any better. It was good to see the Highlander still in one piece and not up on bricks (obviously no scousers staying at the camp). The changing rooms were basic and the showers like camping at West Wittering in the 60’s. Food was served and we were hungry. Simple fare. Spam, salad, white sliced for sarnies and pickles. Not much for Coleen to eat.

Sulphur City
Mid afternoon and we drive back to Rotorua where Coleen has a urgent need to top-up the Vodafone card, some gluten free biscuits, wine and a coffee. It is an amazing city with geysers and mud pools spewing out sulphur gases. We take a tour of the city. The lakeside area is my favourite place (after the luges).

BBQ And Bed
Another great BBQ eaten with another of Julie’s freshly baked loaves. I'll bet she also does 2 fishes to go with the loaves.