Zorbing – the number one reason to come to New Zealand.

September 13, 2009 by
Filed under: Only in New Zealand, Things to do 

While surfing the net (as you do when trying desperately to avoid having to clean the bathroom) – I came across this wonderful comic strip from xkcd.com

If you hover over the “Hamster Ball” it asks where you can get one these from.

Well, from New Zealand of course.

The “Zorb” is basically a double skinned giant ball, which you can fit inside and go hurtling down a hill in. What more could you ask for in life indeed!

This was on my “List of things I have to do” when we first came here on our honeymoon, and I highly recommend it. Its not scary, unlike Bungy Jumping or the Skyjump – (Unless you happen to suffer from Claustrophobia – and then perhaps its not gonna be too much fun). Its just wild and whacky and hysterically funny.

There are three option for chucking yourself down a hill in a giant rubber ball:

Zorbit: You ride single, and are strapped into a harness and as the Zorbanauts say ” you are sent on your trip down the hill rolling head over heels, heels over head as the ground and sky go whizzing past in a beautiful mosaic of blue… green … blue … green … blu … gree … blu … gre…bl…gr…b…g…bgbgbg…while your body is subjected to the soft and relaxing feeling of weightlessness and g-force.”

Zydro: You ride with upto two friends, and a bucket of water and get chucked down the hill. Its like being in a huge washing machine. You start off standing up – and attempt to stay that way as you run down the hill – with hilarious (and wet) results. Recommended!

Zig Zag Zydro: A lone ride, just you and a bucket of water, on a specially built zig-zag track. They don’t even start you off standing up – because there is just no point. Highly recommended.

Either way – its fun, its safe and only a Kiwi could have come up with the idea of asking people to part with money to roll down a hill in a giant hamster ball.

Like what Avalon has to say?

Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book

Related posts:

  1. Just one more reason to emigrate to New Zealand.
  2. Are New Zealand Beaches safe?
  3. Move to New Zealand – and get a Swimming Pool.
«
»

Tags:

Comments

7 Comments on Zorbing – the number one reason to come to New Zealand.

  1. Moon over Martinborough on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 7:47 pm

    2. I haven’t been ‘zorbing’ yet, but when my sister and brother-in-law came to visit last year from the States with my two nieces, the entire family went zorbing and they LOVED it. My nieces still talk about it. I can only hope that when they say they want to come back to visit again, I am the number one reason for returning, and not the zorb!

  2. Sarah on Sun, 13th Sep 2009 11:18 pm

    3. I’ve never done it either, but one of these days I sure will! Looks like awesome, crazy fun.

  3. Avalon on Mon, 14th Sep 2009 11:00 am

    4. Its also very gentle – possible a surprise :) The Zorbit ride is the bit that requires a cast iron stomach – but the wet rides are actually quite gentle – unless you bust a seam becuase you are laughing so hard of course :)

  4. Peter on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 9:58 pm

    5. Brilliant, love the cartoon. Was looking around the web for zorbing ideas and found your site, I’ve tried zorbing afew times in the UK, it was alot of fun.

  5. Avalon on Thu, 8th Oct 2009 10:49 pm

    6. Cheers Peter – youa re very welcome :)

    Come to NZ one day and try it out with the nutters who created. They have a contest to see who can run down the hill in one without falling over.

  6. Jim on Fri, 9th Oct 2009 3:34 am

    7. Great post I did not know they come up with a name for the Hydro Zorb, Zydro, sounds really fun to the ear!

  7. zorb ball on Wed, 14th Jul 2010 8:57 pm

    8. http://waterball.yalujj.com
    I’ve never done it either, but one of these days I sure will! Looks like awesome, crazy fun.

    (Comment from a Factory that makes the Balls ;) – Avalon)

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!