It was back in 2007 when I last jumped off a perfectly sound building. Flash forward a dozen or so years and here I am back on top of the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand.
It was a rather misty day in Auckland. I was super pumped to jump again but the low clouds had me nervous.
Once again, I made my way up to the tippy top of the Tower via elevator and looked out over downtown Auckland.
There were five of us jumping that morning and when asked who wanted to jump first, I hesitated. In that moment of hesitation one of the other people in my group shot their hand up and volunteered. That started a domino effect of every one else going ahead of me.
The waiting was the worst part.
I watched as everyone else jumped until it was just me on the platform.
As I was getting clipped in the guys manning the equipment asked me a few questions and told me to wave at the camera above me. They were excited to hear that I came back to do this jump again.
I told them how that first jump went and they said “oh yeah, we don’t do it that way anymore.” I explained how, on my first jump, they stopped me ten feet after jumping and had me look up for a photo. Not this time. They strapped a GoPro to my hand and walked me out to the ledge.
Back to the weather. It was misting. I was nervous that I was going to slip and fall and flail all the way down to downtown. They counted me down and I didn’t jump when they reached zero. A second or two later I pushed off and plummeted to the ground.
It was exhilarating.
The wind in my hair. Tiny raindrops splattering on me. And the ground – getting closer.
I made a point to look around at the surrounding buildings – as well as scream for joy – because it’s such a unique view and experienced. To jump off of a building in a busy downtown is not something one sees every day. The Kiwi’s are crazy like that. And I mean that in the best way possible.
After landing safely and finding my partner waiting for me, I was ready to do it again. I was so amped up! Alas, we had a flight to catch so this was the one and only time I could jump.
I was unclipped from my harness and free to walk about the Earth and the city once more. I will say this to anyone out there who is hesitant about doing a jump like this: don’t hesitate. Just jump. It’s an amazing experience that you won’t regret.
The entire point of this trip to New Zealand was to see some world class soccer (or football, depending on where you’re from). I think it’s time for me to revisit the second match we saw while in Auckland.
I’ll quickly recap the first game day experience (or you can click here) and then we’ll get going. We saw Japan vs Sweden play each other. Sweden jumped out to an early lead and built on it. Japan tried to come back and very nearly did. Ultimately the Japanese fell short even though they looked to be the class of the tournament. Sweden prevailed and set up a date against Spain.
Seeing Sweden beat not only the USA but also my second adopted team, Japan, made me want to see them lose even more. Funnily enough, we discovered that Sweden was also staying in our hotel. Did I walk around in my Spain jersey the day of the game hoping that one of the players might catch a glimpse? Maybe. I may be a little bit petty.
After the bao bun blunder of the first game, we decided to eat before we headed to the stadium. If you’re wondering what happened with the bao buns, I encourage you to read my previous post linked above.
It was a very easy trip to make, again, thanks to Auckland Transport. We decided to arrive earlier this time around because we wanted to see what sort of merchandise we could get and to see if we could get our faces painted.
It was a “No” to both.
We had seen most of the merchandise at the Fan Zone in downtown Auckland, so the items at the stadium were the same. The face painting stations were already full and had decent lines, so that was a nonstarter as well. Zero for two.
Eden Park was a welcoming and pretty as ever though.
The staff as we entered the stadium were excited and pleasant. The people working the concessions were equally as happy. Maybe they were excited because it was the final game to be played in New Zealand and after this, they’d be able to relax? Who can say?
Speaking of the final game, yes, this was in fact the World Cup Semifinal. This game would decide who would make it to the World Cup Final in Sydney. The loser would play in the third place game in Brisbane (my favorite Australian city).
Yes, that is a Spain jersey circa the 2008 Euro’s.
Having seen the Swedes beat our beloved USA we knew we would be supporting whoever would be going up against them. It was Japan the first time (which didn’t work out) and now our affection and support moved to the Iberian Peninsula and Spain.
Pregame introductions and anthems
I mentioned in the first New Zealand post that I had been to a couple of World Cups before this one. I had been to 2014 in Brazil and I was at the 1999 Final at the Rose Bowl. I hadn’t realized until this game that I had been to three group stage matches, a quarterfinal, a semifinal, and a World Cup Final. This leaves only the Round of 16 for me to see and I would have been to each round of a FIFA World Cup. *Makes note for 2026*
The first half was incredibly tense. Both teams had decent chances but lacked that final touch to get the ball over the line. Both teams looked reticent to concede the first goal and held shape defensively.
Then the second half started.
It was fast-paced. The teams were chasing each other up and down the pitch. Chances were had. Goalies made fantastic saves. Then, when it looked like we would be heading to a scoreless draw and extra time, Salma Paralluelo took a clean crack at goal after a deflection and sent the ball into the back of the net and the stadium ERUPTED.
Reaction after the first goal
Sweden would not go down without a fight, naturally. They struck back in the 88th minute and leveled the score at 1-1. The crowd was less enthused about Sweden scoring. It was a pro-Spain crowd that night. But then, a funny thing happened, Spain got a corner in the 89th minute. The ball was quickly put back in play and Olga Carmona took one touch to settle the ball and then fired it in. The ball careened off the bottom of the top post and into the back of the goal. I’m getting goosebumps remembering the goal. The moment. The goal. The crowd. They were all incredible.
Postgame scenes on the pitch
Spain would hold off Sweden and move on to the final. I am not going to lie, I enjoyed seeing the Swedish players heartbroken. There’s some schadenfreude involved because of how they knocked out my USA. Also, the couple sitting in front of us, wearing Minnesota Vikings(???) gear were exceptionally annoying cheering for Sweden and seeing them sad made me happy.
Spain would defeat England 1-0 to become just the 5th country to hoist the trophy since its inception in 1991. Watching Spain celebrate winning the entire tournament gave me another fun fact about myself: At each World Cup I have been to, I have seen the winner play. In 1999, it was the Final and I saw Brandi Chastain seal the deal against China at the Rose Bowl. In 2014, it was seeing Germany defeat my USA 1-0 in Recife. I think that’s pretty cool.
After the game was over, we slowly made our way through the crowd back to the train and then to our hotel. Like after the Sweden-Japan game, the Sky Tower was lit up in the colors of the winning team.
Auckland Sky Tower in Spanish Red and Yellow
The next morning, we woke up and looked out of our hotel window and saw something we didn’t expect to see: the Swedish team bus. We saw them wandering around the car park, as a team, and into the lobby of the hotel. They were getting ready to fly to Brisbane for the 3rd Place match. That’s something about a semifinal they tend to forget: the loser still has another match to play. It’s not the game they wanted to be in but they have it nonetheless.
Sweden would rebound after their loss to Spain. They beat Australia 2-0 to claim 3rd place for the FOURTH time! They now hold the record for most 3rd place finishes at a Women’s World Cup. They are nothing if not consistent. I used to say that about the US Women but this tournament really humbled them and us fans.
Having said all of that, it was an incredible semifinal with the top two ranked teams (according to FIFA) in the world. It was a fantastic game to witness live and I was excited to share another moment with my partner that we will remember forever.
Last week I took you to Huka Falls. This week, I am taking you literally across the street, or road, or highway or whatever you wanna call it.
While we were at Huka Falls we were doing some research as to where to head next. I saw this next place’s name nearby and said “The name alone makes a visit necessary.” Ok, maybe I didn’t say that word-for-word but I am pretty sure I was excited about the next stop.
That place is the Craters of the Moon.
I love the way that rolls off the tongue. It sounds so, well, ethereal. That makes sense given that its name inspires thoughts of parts beyond our own atmosphere. And it does deliver just that.
Enter through the gift shop, take that Banksy, and you’ll come out to a covered platform that looks out over the grounds. As I mentioned, you will feel like you’re in a different place than before. You look around the park and see rolling hills of green and shrubs and trees and then BOOM there’s where you are. Steam rises from the ground creating pockets of warmth where various flora exist and thrive due to these special conditions.
You won’t find these plants surviving in just any old place. They exist here because of the geothermal activity beneath the Earth in this very spot. I was totally unprepared to be as wowed as I was. It’s an easy walk to make thanks to a well-maintained walkway.
I have only seen steam like that coming up from city streets, volcanoes, or fog machines. To see the steam rising naturally from the Earth was very cool stuff.
The walkway has numerous short branches from the main path to provide you with a better look at the grounds. Take the time to look at it all. It’s well worth it.
I know that this may not look like much but it’s cool as hell. The vents have created a completely different ecosystem from what is across the road. Mere meters separate you from one type of topography to another. I know I must sound like a yokel being amazed by nature, but it’s true! It’s a fascinating place and amazing to behold.
I brought my jacket with me, given that it was the middle of Winter (August, Southern Hemisphere, reversed seasons, etc.). But, I did not need it. It was quite warm on the walk thanks to the vents and our constant movement.
Towards the end of the walk, there’s a part of the path that goes up. You’ll have to double back but, whatever, get yourself up the trail. It’s a tad steep but worth the trip. Once you’re up there you’ll be treated to a hilltop view of the park and the various vents that populate it.
Double Selfie! Ussie???
After you’re back down to the main trail, you’ll exit through the gift shop (mutters an apology to Bansky) and head off on your next adventure.
I love doing adventurous things. Hell, it’s in my tagline right up there beneath the title of my site! I might be a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Who can say?
If there’s a building, bridge, platform etc. that I can jump off, I’m going to do it. You can clearly see my header image is of me jumping off a structure. That’s Bloukrans Bungy in South Africa. I wrote about it here.
As far as my partner goes for these sorts of things…not so much.
She’s grounded. Grounded in the sense that she likes her two feet on the ground whenever possible. She does a great job at being ground support. We love her folks, don’t we? Yes.
Back in 2007, when I first went to New Zealand, I jumped off of the Sky Tower and Auckland Harbour Bridge. I knew way back then that New Zealand was an extreme sport capital. Sixteen years later, I still know it. This time I went to a new bungy location: Lake Taupo.
Lake Taupo view from Hilton Lake Taupo
To start it off, Lake Taupo is gorgeous. The town is lovely and the views are spectacular. In the summer, it’s a truly happening spot. In the winter, it’s still happening but not as much. BUT! They have bungy (among other things) and that is year round.
Let’s start with the walk out. The fine folks at AJ Hackett have the utmost respect for you and your safety. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t still be letting people jump off of buildings and structures after all of these years now would they?
They strapped me in. Made sure I was as snug as a bug in a rug in my harness and let me walk out to the bridge. Ok, it was more of a waddle since the harness is a bit snug in some of the more sensitive areas of the body. Let me tell you all this right now, Tom Petty was right, the waiting is the hardest part.
Feeling good, anxious, but good
I stood looking out over the river/gorge/water & land below waiting for what felt like an eternity. I saw two people jump ahead of me and then anticipation was killing me. I waved at my partner who would have her two feet firmly on the ground for the entirety of my jump as I continued to wait.
Then it became my turn.
I sat down and they hooked me in to the bungy apparatus. This is their job so the guys there were as cool as could be. If you’re still super nervous at this point just talk to them. Talking makes it easier. The tension will release and you’ll forget all about your nerves. As someone who has done a bungy or two here and there I was still nervous. It had been 10 years since my last jump. Talking to the workers strapping me in calmed me down and, for lack of a better term, grounded me.
Bye mom!
After that was all taken care of I shuffled my way to the very edge of the platform. The tips of my shoes were on the edge. Pro tip here: don’t look down now if you’re still nervous. Pick a spot on the horizon and look at it. I looked up, waved at a camera, and then turned my attention to the empty space beneath me. Maybe I should have followed my tip above because for a fleeting moment I felt the nerves again.
The guys behind me counted down from three. After they said the word “BUNGY!” I jumped. Gravity took care of the rest.
Only one way to go now
With the wind whipping my face and the blood rushing to my head I felt truly alive. The water came at me fast but I kept my form and my wits about me. Unlike the Auckland Harbour jump I did before, I did not get wet. I stayed dry. Except for my eyes. They were watering because the rush of blood to my head was so intense! I forgot all about that part of it. I bobbed for a bit and realized that I just jumped again. Woohoo!
The lads below me in a dingy floated over and reeled me in. After they unhooked me from the bungy and had me take off the harness that was it. I walked back on solid ground up to my partner who had both looks of fear and excitement in her eyes. I was still buzzing from the jump and wanted to get my photos and video. I did just that and then went about my day as if I hadn’t just done something extreme. Just a normal day for me in New Zealand.
Thanks for visiting. Make it a great week and I will see you later!
It’s been well over a year since I last posted anything. It’s been even longer since I put words to this webpage and made a complete sentence. The short version is that I life got in the way. The long version involves me not having been anywhere noteworthy in a long long time. Sure, my job takes me to some intriguing and interesting places, but I wanted something more to share here.
Rewind to December 2022. I’ll set the scene: My partner and I were watching the Men’s World Cup Final.
After the thrilling match ended we looked at each other and she suggested that we go to New Zealand for the Women’s World Cup in August of 2023. I have been to a Men’s World Cup before and the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl. My partner hadn’t been to either and she was, to say the least, jealous. We both love the sport of soccer (or football depending on your part of the world) and knew this would be a trek worth taking. We were also extremely interested in seeing more of New Zealand since both of us had been there before.
I had mentioned that I had been to New Zealand before. To make it easier, you should click here, here, and here. Clicking those links will show you what I did in New Zealand some, oof, 16(!?) years ago! I was but a 20-something-year-old university student at the time and the things I did then…well, they’re quite similar to what I did this year! But, I was able to do more and share it with someone this time around.
Anyway, if you’ve made it this far you’re probably wanting to see what it’s all about. So, I have some shots for you to whet your appetite.
The Sky Tower and Auckland skyline from Viaduct Harbour
There she is. Auckland, New Zealand. Sometimes referred to as “The City of Sails” given the large number or ships populating the waterfront? I guess so, I only know this because it’s on the virtual run I do sometimes on the treadmill. But yeah, there are a lot of ships!
We came to find out fairly quickly that Auckland is a fairly walkable city. Mind you, there are an ass load of hills you have to walk up and down but, hey, it’s walkable! (There are also an abundance of scooters for hire around the city as well) You can go from one park, the University of Auckland (clocktower seen below), or a museum to the waterfront fairly easily and quickly too.
University of Auckland clocktower looking suspiciously like Sauron
Albert Park, adjacent to the University and the Auckland Art Gallery
The posts that will be coming will be about our trip to New Zealand and what we did/ate and where we did it. This initial post is to get me back in the habit of writing and sharing with all of you. Thanks for reading and make it a great week!
John Kidde Writes 