New Zealand seems to have it all!
Only four days had passed since I had arrived. I had already hiked to the top Rangitoto, a volcano off the coast of Auckland, climbed to the top of Kitekite Falls. Went scuba diving off the coromandel peninsula and then ran to the top of Mount Maunganui in Tauranga. It had been an action packed trip so far but everything I had done had been relatively inexpensive (except the scuba dive).
Welcome to Rotorua,
As I drove inland towards Rotorua, I knew I would soon be faced with many tourist attractions. From the little research I had done, I quickly came to the conclusion that Rotorua was one of the towns that offered anything and everything. As long as you were willing to pay. They had zip-lining, mountain bike rentals, geo-thermal springs, food and wine tours, gondola rides, Maori cultural experiences and much more. None of which got me too excited though. I had planned to grab some food and walk around town before heading on to Lake Taupo, where I would be staying the night.
That all changed when I came cruising into town and couldn’t help but notice the bright green hill right off the highway. It wasn’t the bright shade of green that caught my attention (everything is green in NZ). It was the huge inflatable balls that were bouncing down the mountain that really caught my eye.
"OGO Home of Zorbing"
I had seen an episode of “Departures” where they went Zorbing and remembered them saying New Zealand was where it was invented and one of the only few places in the world where you could do it. However, I assumed it was likely out of my budget (especially after discovering how much beers cost). So, I continued into town in search of food.
Moments later, I decided against getting food. I had already bought groceries to snack on so I settled for an apple and a granola bar; and turned the car around.
“You’re 8000 miles from home, on your first solo trip, quit being a complete cheap ass and go zorbing!” I told myself as I pulled into the parking lot.
They presented me with two options, the regular course (strait and fast), or the sidewinder course (not as fast but a wilder ride). Since I was already there, I opted to do both for $80 NZD ($52 USD). They also told me the “dry” option was not available due to high winds so they would be filling the Zorb with water to keep it from blowing away. Presumably right down onto the highway at the bottom of the hill.
I took a quick ride up the hill and soon realized just how windy it was. Thankfully they had a few heated stalls to wait in while they filled the ball with water.
“You’re up mate, time to Zorb!”
I crawled inside…“Damn bro, this water is hotter than hell” trying to position my feet on the sides of the ball to avoid it.
Sure, it was cold outside but not cold enough for me to feel like bouncing down a hill, inside of a ball filled with boiling water. Needless to say, the Kiwi agreed and added cooler water.
He then told me to GO and start running. At first, I felt like a hamster in one of those plastic balls but then I quickly gained momentum and was tossed all over the place. It became increasingly hard to keep my balance but I could see the outline of two guys approaching. Their only job was to prevent the Zorb from continuing onto the highway. Lucky for me they did their job that day. As so came to a stop a girl popped her head inside with a camera and took my picture (in hopes they could sell it to me afterwards).
What a ride!
As soon as I crawled out I was ready to see what the sidewinder course was all about. I had a feeling it would be more fun. Sadly, I was told the wind had picked up and I would have to wait for it to die down. They had a hot tub which made the wait much more enjoyable than standing out in the wind being soaking wet. I found it laughable that they had towels available to “rent” for $20 USD, a price I would not have paid regardless of how cold and wet I was.
Hot tub with a view!
After waiting for twenty minutes the employees seemed pessimistic that the wind would die down. They told me I could come back tomorrow but I’d be long gone by then so I opted for a refund.
On the walk to the car I couldn’t help but smile at the timing of the experience. If I would have got food like I originally planned and then decided to try the Zorb afterwards, it would have been too windy and would have been a complete bust.
Always choose adventure…
Sure, I like food just as much as the next guy. But what you have for lunch is not going to be something you remember when you’re old. So next time you are second guessing doing something or have doubts about the cost. Ask yourself if you will remember the experience in 10 or 20 years? If the answer is yes. Go for it! I promise you wont regret it!
Have you been zorbing? Share your experience below!
If you want to learn more about New Zealand be sure to check out the post on the North and South Island!
I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this site. Thanks, I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?