Stunning drive to Whistlewind

Now for the big birthday activity, and an activity that so many locals in Methven have said we have to try, we are going to make like Robin Hood and sling some arrows in the woods! With a campervan still full of balloons, we drive along the milky grey waters of the Rakaia Gorge and gain some height and an amazing perspective over the Canterbury Plains on the way up to the Terrace Downs Resort at a place called Windwhistle.

At first, we’re a little ashamed to bring a huge old campervan to such an impeccable-looking resort surrounded by a golf course, but thankfully, the wind is making the place live well and truly up to its name so there’s not a single golfer to judge us!

Archery in the woods

Thankfully, our archery experience with Newzengland, is sheltered in the woods, so any stray arrows can only be blamed on us! Our host, Neil, comes and collects us from the grand building of the Terrace Downs reception, along with his dog, Ted, and takes us into a small area of pine forest. Yep, this is EXACTLY like Robin Hood!

A walkway decorated in most awesome authentic-looking way, with large ropes tied between tree trunks, leads us to a small shack looking out toward two targets.

The game is on!

That awesome feeling of holding a bow (and actually hitting the target)

Neil gives us the rundown on how to load a bow, aim and fire. While all this is going on, we are doing our best to concentrate rather than let our minds be filled with: “Oh my God, I’m holding a bow. This is so cool!”

The first couple of shots are a little all over the place as we get used to the idea of releasing a bow string so close to our faces, but that is soon forgotten as we start feeling the pure joy of hitting the target!

Rounds and rounds of fun

As soon as the last of our six arrows each hits the target we are super keen to get them back and go again! Archery is so addictively fun!

Neil gives us tips along the way, getting us to reach a better place on the target just by getting us the adjust the tiniest thing. Then we graduate to the next level: doing some archery challenges.