NzAtAGlance

A couple of years ago, my wife and I did a pretty good tour of New Zealand. We spent about a week with my family and the other three weeks doing as much as we could. we travelled the North Island first. The we flew from Rotorua to Christchurch, which is where we started our South Island tour.

I had a little laugh to myself when the American tourist asked a flight attendant what the time difference was when we landed, she said,”Well, we took off at 12 o clock, it was about a 1 hour flight, so the time now is 1 o clock.”(There is no time difference in New Zealand).

We went straight from the airport to the rental car place, and drove for, (I think, about 2 1/2hrs), to the adrenaline capital of the country, Queenstown. Gees, talk about outdoor adventure activity in New Zealand. There is so much to do in this town, you could probably spend a couple of weeks here, do something every day and still not cover half of it. It can be pretty expensive though. My wife and I only had three days there so we had to decide what it was we wanted to do the most. Bungee jumping and jet boating were the two selections.

We got a package deal for the two (which was about $300 each I think). We decided that if we were going to do a bungee, we were going to do the biggest one, The Nevis. So the next morning we met the other idiots who had chosen to do the Nevis as well, got into a small van and off we went. The goat track we took to get to the actual bungee site was the scariest ride I’d ever been on. The loose metal road that was almost vertical and as straight as pubic hair, had a bank on one side and I’m sure the two tires on the other side were half on, and half off the track.

We finally got to the  top, and the guides suggested to everyone, that they go to the toilet before they jump, which proved to be good advice. Then they weigh all the jumpers, the lightest go first. to look at the actual jumping sight, you see a shed type platform suspended over a huge canyon, and about 350 feet above a small stream. To get to the platform, you take a shaky little cable car ride from the safety of the ground across to the platform.

I was the second heaviest person in the group, so I watched everyone go first, including my wife. There was so many different expressions as they were all winched pack up, there was the look of terror, amazement, fun, and there was also one very upset girl, (who I don’t think will ever do it again). Then it was my turn, it’s like waiting to go to the dental nurse, they call your name, you don’t really want to go, but you know it will be over soon. After they strap you up, they help you walk onto a small platform, (about 12″ x 12″). They hold your harness from behind so you don’t loose your balance, then everyone yells, 3,2,1,BUNGEE. Then you have to jump. Travelling about 60mph for 7 seconds and wondering if that bloody cord is gonna work, is quite an adrenaline rush. Anyway I survived, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about bungee jumping in New Zealand.

That is the ultimate in outdoor adventure activity in New Zealand.