Something I’ve wanted to do ever since I heard about it was Tree Adventures.

The high ropes/obstacle course located in the Woodhill Forest out Kumeu way was partially completed, if not totally mastered, by moi about a month ago with the plus one.

When going to Tree Adventures, you can choose to do the beginner courses 1-4, the intermediate 5-8, or the high intensity course 9 – or all of them. We chose to go for courses 1-8 and planned about three hours to complete them.

I lasted through till course 4, all because I got cocky. You see, at the beginning they teach you how to keep yourself attached (thus preventing a huge giant ouch) as well as how to use the optional zip line thingee that flys into a cargo net. They say it’s quite tricky, so the two times this obstacle comes up on the course, there is an alternate route.

The first time it pops up is on course 4. I decide that while it looks hard, it will be a nice challenge. Just what I need on a Saturday afternoon. Attaching myself to the zip line is no trouble. Flying into the cargo net is no problem. The problem came when trying to climb up the cargo net. Turns out that’s hard. I eventually managed to hook myself on to the line above me and inch over to the platform, but that used up pretty much every single bit of energy that was in me.

Strangest experience ever – at this point my hearing felt like it got turned down to about 50%, my eyesight went blurry and I got the good old cold sweats. The plus one came to the rescue and convinced me that lying down on the platform wasn’t the smartest idea, and then came the fun – getting the Tree Adventures staff member to climb up, hook me up to the abseil and lower me down. All the while a group of 5 year olds going “is it my turn yet? What’s wrong with that lady?”. Shame, anyone?

That was the end of my day, but I’m determined to go back and finish courses 5-8 (maybe not 9, that looks rather high and energy sapping). In the meantime though I have been back to Kumeu - albeit to visit a vineyard for a rather decandent lunch. Soljans = win.

Don’t let my experience deter you, it’s loads of fun (just avoid the cargo net!)

This is the last blog for the year – have a fantastic drinking season and see you in 2011, for hopefully fewer embarrassing moments!