HORSEBACK RIDING WITH DIDI
Now for one of my Top 10 travel experiences of all time. Treetops employs a man named Didi Rice. Didi is half Maori, with European blood, and is a real character. He's also a horse whisperer. When I signed up for this 2-hour ride I had no idea what I was in store for. Didi took me on an exciting, jaw-dropping tour of the Treetops property. Although my sister Carol has always had horses I've never felt entirely comfortable, especially going down steep hills and over rivers as Didi took me on. But the combination of Didi's knowledge and the sheer beauty of this property made the ride truly unforgettable. To make it even more exciting, we were riding during "elk in heat season." These guys were monsters, and would not stop howling! Didi explained how these elk were busy rounding up as many hinds (female red deer) as possible. It was like watching something out of National Geographic as they lined all their girls up, and chased all the horny loser stags away. If these elk could write a book it would be an instant bestseller. On the way back to the lodge a huge elk was blocking our trail home. Fortunately we were on horseback so they didn't charge us -- otherwise I would have became an instant cowboy. Yee haw! Along the way we rode by water buffalo, pheasants, peacocks, wild pigs, even trout.

TREETOPS LODGE
Treetops, 351 Kearoa Road, RD1, Horohoro, Rotorua, New Zealand; tel.:64-7-333-2066; email: info@treetops.co.nz. Rates begin at $490NZD ($308 USD) per person and include breakfast, dinner and cocktail hour. For more click HERE.