Lee and Karen Duquette took a one day airplane trip from Sydney, Australia to Rotorua, New Zealand, then back to Australia because they wanted to do Zorbing. It was a 12 passenger plane.

Zorbing originated in New Zealand in the 1990's as a novel invention by two Kiwis looking for a new adventure challenge.

So Karen and Lee Duquette went to ZORB Rotorua, an adventure attraction where they rolled down hills inside a giant inflatable ball. There were two options, the zig-zag Sidewinder and the fast Straight Track WITH WATER INSIDE the zorbing ball. They got to ride a bus to the top of the hill. Once there, they each had to take a flying leap into the small opening, trying to land in the middle of the ball which had water in it. That was not easy. Lee and Karen rode together on the Straight Track several times and then Karen rode several times separately When they were together, they kept slipping and sliding into each other, and they were laughing the entire time.

Below: Time for Lee and Karen Duquette to roll down the hill. They are in the ball on the right side of the fence. Balls on the left side of the fence are returning to the top of the hill so they would be available for other rides.

Below: Lee and Karen Duquette got tucked inside the giant, inflatable transparent ball, called a ZORB. To get in, they had to jump inside the red opening in the zorbing ball. It was filled with water, offering a thrilling, slippery ride which was invented here. As Lee and Karen Duquette rolled down the hill, they were sloshing around and banging into each other as the zorbing ball rolled down the hill. They were laughing and having a wonderful time.

As of this date in 2005, it wa the only place in New Zealand to experience this activity. It features four different tracks like the zig-zag Sidewinder and the steep MEGA Track. Costs were about $29 per person on this date, always subject to change as time passes.

Below: After rolling down the hill and being tossed all around inside the zorbing ball that was full of water, the soaking wet Lee and Karen Duquette, exited the zorbing ball at the bottom of the hill. Then it was time to do even more zorbing.

Karen and Lee also did the dry ball Zig-Zag Sidewinder as well. Lee Duquette took some photos, but this page was not posted until 2026, so most of those photos were lost. If found, they will be added here.

NOTE: Lee and Karen Duquette also did Zorbing at Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in The United States in 2020. For that experience, CLICK HERE, but then be sure to return here to finish this page with the link at the bottom of the 2020 page. Each experience was different. One of the workers in Tennessee actually came from this Zorbing place in New Zealand.)

Below: Lee and Karen Duquette near a giant sheep statue in New Zealand. Immediately after these photos were taken, a heavy downpour of rain began. They did not have an umbrella with them and the only shelter available was under this Bighorn Ram Sheep statue that was alongside the road in Rotorua. So Lee and Karen Duquette curled up under the Bighorn Ram Sheep until the rain stopped, all the while laughing hysterically. You know the old saying, "any port in a storm".

Below: Next, Karen and Lee Duquette visited the Kiwi Encounter, a working hatchery and nursery for kiwis. A Kiwi bird is a very unique, flightless bird native to New Zealand that may become extinct as time passes. It has no wings nor tail and is the only known bird to have external nostrils at the end of its beak. they are known for their shaggy, hair-like feathers, long beak with nostrils at the tip, and nocturnal habits, making it an honorary mammal. It uses its strong sense of smell and sensory pits on its beak to forage for insects and worms. It lays the largest egg in proportion to its body size. the eggs are about 9 times the size of its body.

The Kiwi is New Zealand's National Symbol, and New Zealanders are colloquially called "Kiwis". they often mate for life and can be grumpy and deliver powerful kicks to defend its space. So do NOT get too close to a Kiwi bird. It life span is 25 to 50 years and they ar 1.5 to 2 feet tall.

Photos were taken inside here too, but those are in Karen's photo books and not posted here.

THE EMU

Below: Emus are large, flightless Australian birds, the world's second largest species, known for their 30 mph running speed, 10 - 20 year life span (or up to 35 years in captivity). Their diet is plants, insects and seeds. They live live in habitats from arid plains to woodlands. Their predators are dingoes, eagles, foxes, snakes and feral pigs. They stand up to 6-feet tall.

Below: Two Emus - in the first photo below, they looks strange because one emu is behind the other emu.

They also went to Luge Rotorua and rode on a Ski Chair Lift and rode the Advanced Luge. The photos are in Karen's photo album, but she did not copy them to post here.

Karen Duquette wished they could have stayed in Rotorua longer than a partial day because she saw a hot springs area that she would have liked to spend time in.

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