Experiencing an Earthquake in New Zealand (2007)

On 15th October 2007 at 12.29pm an earthquake measuring 6.8 hit the south island of New Zealand 60 miles north west of Queenstown. At this time I must have been traveling by coach south towards Queenstown from Franz Josef glacier which I had climbed the previous day. Remarkably I did not feel the initial quake perhaps because I was on a coach but I did feel the after shock.

It must have been the early hours of the morning when I woke up in my bunk bed to find the entire room shaking. The bed frame was vibrating and swaying from side to side and the light fitting was rattling hard. Being from the UK where earthquakes are rarely even felt, I could not understand what was going on. I initially thought I was on a boat and the engine was running despite not having been anywhere near a boat in quite sometime. It took a couple of moments for me to come to and rule that out before an after shock crossed my mind. The rumbling lasted for a good minute before it stopped but not at any point did I think “oh my god it is an after shock, I’d better get out of bed”. I laugh at that now as I am sure New Zealanders are trained from an early age to run to the door frame.

The earthquake did inconvenience me slightly as it caused an avalanche on the road down to Milford Sounds but it could have been a lot worse. I am very pleased now that it did not hit when I was climbing along a crevasse on the Franz Josef glacier because if the ice had shifted then, I may not be here to tell the tale.

If you have experienced and earthquake or even the one last year in New Zealand, leave me a comment and let me know.

Whale Watching at Kaikoura, New Zealand

The best place to go whale watching in New Zealand is Kaikoura on the south island which boasts a 95% chance of seeing a whale. The company Whale Watch that runs the tours is based on the sea front at Kaikoura and actually offers an 80% discount on their tours if you do not see a whale. They have very modern boats that are extremely comfortable. On the way out to the spotting site they play a video on a big screen which also gives you stats on the depth of the water below.

The most common whales to sight in the waters around Kaikoura are sperm whales which dive to tremendous depths to feed and then resurface every 15 minutes or so. The boats on the tour track the whale’s movements and time their decent to ensure you will get a good viewing. As many whales are migratory creatures, you may see different whales depending on the

time of year you visit. Humpback whales and pods of orca can sometimes be spotted in the months of June and July and occasionally a blue whale. You may get to see playful dusky and hectors dolphins or perhaps a wandering albatross.

The tour lasts about 3.5 hours and will cost $145 NZD for adults and $60 for kids. The tours operate weather permitting but always show up to check. When I went there were quite large swells until we got out to the drop off but then became calmer. If you do suffer from sea sickness then I would recommend taking a tablet prior to your tour. You may be lucky enough to see whales and dolphins on the inter island ferry which runs between the north and south islands but for the best chance Kaikoura is the best bet and highly recommended.

White Water Rafting In Rotorua, New Zealand

I always wanted to try white water rafting on my round the world trip and was told Rotorua was the best place to do it. The rapids are located just outside the main town which is relatively large compared to other towns in New Zealand. I was picked up as part of a group and taken out to the river where we had basic training and got kitted up in wet suits and helmets. We were all given our own oar too so you can get actively involved in the rowing; you are not merely a spectator.

I thought the course at Rotorua was incredible although admittedly I did not have anything to compare it to. The surroundings were lush and green and the water crystal clear and fresh. The leader of our boat explained there were 14 sets of rapids and 3 waterfalls ranging in height from 3 - 7 meters. Initially I could not imagine how we were going to descend down a 7 meter drop in the raft but found out it was just about possible if you held on tightly and take a deep breath. It can be hard work to stay inside the boat as you need to wedge yourself in the raft, keep your head down and hold onto your oar all while taking the drop so the fitter you are, the easier you will find it.

The leaders were definitely into white water rafting and always up for a good time. They let us get out the raft and float along in the rapids and provide excellent shots of you rafting and descending the falls. You are in the water for roughly 30 minutes and it is definitely action packed from the word go. Also, just to add extra drama, you disembark at the 'point of no return' as if you miss it you are heading for a 20 meter drop.

White water rafting in New Zealand has really got me into the sport and I would love to raft in other locations around the world. I hear there are some good opportunities in Canada and on the Colorado River.