Queenstown and Bungy

I love it here!  Queenstown is an adorable ski town set in the middle of the south islands mountains on a beautiful lake. There’s a gorgeous view in every direction you look. It’s also been deemed the adrenaline capital of New Zealand so there’s definitely no shortage of things to do. I had a short trip, just a weekend, so I planned on doing the bungy jumping.

Literally, the most terrified I have ever been in my life! 10 times as scared as I was before skydiving. Julie, my friend from Wellington, and I decided it was because there was a lot more build up and anticipation involved. We decided to jump through AJ Hackett Bungy (the founder of bungy jumping) and chose the Nevice Bungy. The highest bungy in New Zealand, jumping from 134 meters, or 440 feet. Not only am I jumping from 440 feet, but I'm jumping from a suspended cable car being held up by tension cables into a gorge with a river at the bottom.

 The fear definitely started to hit me when I saw the gorge I was about to jump into, but it really didn't hit me until I stepped onto the cable car in the middle of it all. Definitely the point of no return. Julie’s entire body was shaking by this time, to the point that her abs were sore the next day. They make sure your harness is tight, which I made them double check and then it was sitting and waiting till our names were called. Honestly, one of the things I was nervous for most was the instructions. Since it was so high up you had to dive off the platform, not just fall or jump feet first and second you had to release your feet after you have bounced once or twice by pulling a cord. If you forget or can’t pull it hard enough you end up having to get pulled up feet first, like a fish, instead of just getting to sit in your harness.

Then the moment arrives. They call your name. While giving the speal one more time, they strapped up your feet and you’re ready to go. With my feet tied together, and a guy holding on to my back harness, I waddled on to a tiny platform jutting off of the cable car. The worst part was, since you could only waddle, you were forced to look down to make sure you didn’t trip.  Now or Never! They count 1…2…3…and without thinking, looking straight out on the mountains, I just went. From there it was amazing! 8.5 seconds of free fall towards the river below, you feel the tension and you’re pulled back up. The next part I was worried about...after two bounces I found the pull tab by my ankle and pulled. The first try didn’t work but I finally released my feet. It turned from adrenaline pumping action to peaceful (not that I still wasn’t pee-in-my-pants scared) but I bounced a few more times till I felt myself slowly getting pulled back to the cable car. I could just sit back and take in the gorgeous mountains and river plus the awesome feeling of what I just did.  It was Julie’s turn soon after, and I honestly thought she might back out because she looked so scared. But despite my surprise, she flung herself off the platform. Overall, GREAT EXPERIENCE!  

After that, the rest of the weekend was chill. Just enjoying the gorgeous weather on the beach, walking around the lake, and enjoying a wonderful hotel room. Lani, one of the girls I went with, her dad was in town visiting her, so we stayed in an adjoined room from his. A definite upgrade from sleeping in our rental car, which was our original plan for our weekend accommodations. We definitely took advantage of the big beautiful hotel bed and walking up to a TV. Hands down it was the best night sleep I’ve had since being in New Zealand, especially after jumping of a cable car.