ZORBING

NZ is split into 2 islands:  North and South. The South Island is where most people go for all the major outdoor activities and the thrill seeking adventures.  We are spending  8 days in the South Island.  I would have been fine with spending the entire 10 days in the South Island but Adventure Steve wanted to do the following: ZORB.   Zorbing originated in NZ and it is only offered in Rotorua and in the Smoky Mountains.  Basically, you get inside a big plastic globe and roll down the hill.   I still remember when Steve and I first heard about Zorbing.  Jim told us about it during our honeymoon meeting, and Steve’s eyes lit up.    

We got to the Zorbing site and I was not intimidated by it.  The hill didn’t look too steep and it didn’t look like you’re rolling down the hill very fast.  SIGN ME UP FOR 3 ROLLS, PLEASE.  Steve signed up for the same package.  The only difference between my package and Steve’s package is that I did the Dry Zorb.  I was harnessed into the globe.  So I can’t move around in it.   I’ll still be turning over and over once the globe rolls down the hill but I won’t be thrown around inside.  Steve on the other hand, chose to do the Hydro-Zorb.  Yup, his globe had water in it so he’s going to be swishing around in the globe while he’s going down hill. 

There are 3 different types of hills you go down. 

1.    Gradual, Straight Decline

2.    Zig Zag Decline 

3.    Steep Decline, Free Fall Drop, Fastest Drop

The Dry Zorb only allows you to do the gradual, straight decline.  I was strapped in and ready to go.   OMG.  It was the most nauseating activity I have ever done.  I have never had to tumble so many times.  Probably 12-13 times of just tumbling.  I was in it by myself and started screaming, “Honey, I hate this!!! I Don’t want to do this anymore!  Get me out of here!! “   Even though the roll is only a minute long, it felt like 5 minutes.  I got to the bottom and the nice guy that works there, pulled me out of the globe.  I told him I didn’t want to do any more rolls even though I paid to do 3.  He said it was fine.  They refunded me for the 2 rolls. 

Once I was out of my globe, I watched Steve roll down his zig zag track.  This globe is uncontrollable so it’s rolling down and then bouncing off the track so fast that it looks like the globe is going to just pop off and roll down a different path.  Finally it comes to a stop at the end of the hill.  They open up the bottom of the globe to let all the water out. The water is 114 degrees so it kept Steve warm. Steve comes out after the water is emptied and he looks disoriented.   Poor guy was thrown around in there like he was in the washing machine.  Of course he was happy because it was fun but even he said it was crazy because he had no control over his body. Steve took the underwater camera that Keith let us borrow and taped the inside of the globe as he was rolling down --- video of him sliding all around and flipping upside down! 

We had the option to do a roll in the hydro globe together but I said I was done after the first one.  Steve did the hydro globe 2 more times on 2 different tracks….Free Fall and the Gradual Decline.  After his 3^rd roll, he was glad he experienced zorbing but glad it was over too.  Oh! Side note…. So when we were standing in line for zorbing, this British woman (who we never met) goes up to Steve and says, “You barely made the height requirement.”  Steve laughed it off and thought it was cool she could joke with him even though he was a stranger to her.  I love Brits and their charming accents!!  We left straight to the airport after zorbing.  Flying to the South Island!