Cloudy start to the day, but no rain forecast, and a little bit of sun. Our first stop was the Skyline. We both bought Gondola tickets which gives you access to the site and restaurants at the top. I also bought five Luge tickets for the run back to the bottom of the chairlift. Unfortunately, the advanced run was close cos it was wet, but later we heard from another source that it had not been open all year. The leaves on that track backed this up.

My first run was on the beginners run, which I completed with no issues. My next two runs were on the intermediate which was faster and definitely more adrenaline raising. On that third run I even overtook someone who was no slouch.

I took a break and joined Rosemary for an iced coffee in the restaurant. Then I was back to complete my last two runs. The first was on the intermediate where I made a really good fast run down the track. The last run was on the beginners again, the intermediate was now closed for some strimming down the sides. But it was an enjoyable run as I had to weave in and out around slower riders. Nicely cut up one rider near the end.

Met Rosemary again for lunch, and then we went back down on the Gondola to do some supermarket shopping, where we discovered NZers use “trundles” not “trolleys”. We should now have three day’s food supplies.

Next up was Canopy Adventures which was a zip line adventure in the trees. It is run partly to raise money to look after the ancient forest by trapping and exterminating the possums, rats, stoats etc. They used a neat carbon dioxide powered gun, triggered when the possum or rat stuck its head in after some bait. A bolt went into its head. The animal would drop out, and the trap was ready to kill again. It could kill 24 rats, or 12 possums, before needing to be re-loaded. The project had increased the numbers of birds significantly.

Our group of 10 consisted of a party of Indians who were on their second day in New Zealand from India. The other two members were from Napier. It was fun, and I think Rosemary, who had said zip wires high in the trees and rope bridges were her nightmares, overcame those initial misgivings to enjoy the trip. No Kiwi birds live around here, but we saw several other bird species as well as several ferns, including the acclaimed Silver Fern. There was even an impossibly blue mushroom.

Tonight I used the campsite’s gas-fired BBQ. R used the laundry facilities.