River Valley

This was the most remote location on our Kiwi tour. We walked down a valley along a ragged path to which our bus could not follow. As we sank lower the land massed on either side continued to rise and tower over us. Next to the sleepy river responsible for sculpting this gorge was a small timber retreat, within it's walls were roaring log fires, long pine tables, a bar and a glum looking stag mounted above the stairs. Our group stayed in what is affectionately known as 'the orgy room' basically two shelves of anthropological proportions where about 40 of us could snuggle up over two tiers.

It also happened to be Flea's birthday so as soon as we had eaten, Spencer the barman invented a imaginative blend of shots. He was the perfect barman who drank as much as he served with a strict one for you one for me mentality. All throughout the night every drink I consumed was on the house (or on Spencer once his manager found out). Whilst pitchers emptied we danced about with Flea, climbed the rafters of the orgy room and got doused with Coco Cola, courtesy of Spencer who was now more steaming than any of his patrons.

I awoke shivering in my boxers and tried to wrestle some cover from my french neighbor but she was having none of it. I revived myself with a cold shower and decided to explore the great outdoors with Andy, German Katie and Austrian Christina. In order to follow the trail you must cross the river via an seasoned suspended pulley system. The river is calm and wide and also a hero as these same waters helped Frodo and Sam escape from the hoard of Uruk-hai that ultimately led to the destruction of the one ring of power and defeating the dark lord Sauron. Once across and humming the theme tune we pushed on up the steep valley over waterfalls and avoiding tumbling rocks. It is really beautiful here and we would have continued further into the forest but a sign warned us we were now entering hunting grounds and I didn't want to be mistaken for a stag.