As we awoke this morning two of us thought it might be the last nights sleep we would ever get. Today it was time for Conor and I for the daunting task of leaping off the Skytower and plummeting 192m (630ft) to small target on the floor below.
We scoffed down breakfast and made our way on the Link to the ominous structure of the Skytower. Skytower was opened in 1997, cost 85 million to build and just pips the Eiffel Tower in height. We descended into the mission control below the tower where we booked our launch time which would be in just 20 minutes. The Skyjump team walked us through the procedure of the jump and suited us up in our jumpsuits and harnesses. There was time for a few quick photos before Conor and I made our way to the jump zone. There was 3 people in front of us. One of which was very nervous. A team of two checked our harnesses and footwear and various other security checks before we were informed again of what happen when we went out the edge of the tower. The view from the top was amazing. You could see a range of the attractions Auckland offered such as the Auckland Museum and Harbour Bridge. Conor was the first to jump as he had earlier won a game of rock, paper and scissors to see who would get to go first. We had both though it would be much better going first and not witnessing the other jump off. I gave Conor the thumbs up as he posed for a photo with the crew before his jump. It was the first time either of us has done anything like this and now it was time for his jump. It was a very weird feeling seeing him jump off and disappear from my sight. The feeling must have been incredible.
Now it was my turn. Walking out onto the edge was an unnerving feeling. Knowing only two bits of rope and a harness supported you but I wasn’t feeling as nervous as I though I was. I uttered the words “and here we go” and I leaped gracefully off the top. 10 metres down they stopped me as I had to pose for a photo and then I had a 175m freefall to the bottom. It was an exhilarating experience and one that neither of will forget for a long, long time. As the brochure said “the view is unbelievable, the thrill unbeatable and the experience unforgettable”. What a way to start the day!
After collecting our photos and DVD of the jump it was time to hop on the Auckland Explorer and head to the Bastion Point Lookout. This park had very picturesque views from the coast and large greens which we walked through. We then strolled on the gorgeous Mission Bay Beach before heading back to get the bus to our next destination.
Our next stop was Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctica Encounter and Underwater World Museum (opened in 1985) where we got to get up close and personal with stingrays, sharks, tortoises and penguins along with hundreds of different types of fish. There was even a fake Free Willy! The museum pioneered the walk-through acrylic tunnels that have now become common in aquariums. There was even the option to scuba dive with sharks or stingrays. We then rode the Snowcat through the largest underground colony of the sub-Antarctic penguins in the world.
The Antarctica Encounter provided us with knowledge of Antarctica’s history and detailed famous explorers such as Robert Falcon Scott and Shackleton. It was well worth the visit and probably the best Aquarium we’ve ever been in.
Now it was time to visit the Cathedral Church of St. Mary but unfortunately there was a funeral on when we arrived so we moved straight onto the Auckland Museum which is on the highest point of the beautiful park, The Domain. The museum itself was built as a World War I memorial in 1929 and the names of World War II battles were added around the outer walls of the museum. The contents of Auckland’s original city museum were moved here and it became one of the world finest collections of Maori and Pacific art and craft. It was expanded again in 2006.
There was even an volcano eruption simulation room (which we didn’t know when we entered). There was a large T.V in the corner in which a news channel team discussed how the eruption would affect Auckland and a large window showing a view of the ocean. We all (particularly Tom) got a big shock when the whole room shook and the lights flickered. It was very well done and made us feel like we were the only ones left in the Auckland. Everyone outside didn’t know what was going on as we dramatised the situation. We explored the museum further and were amazed by the vast amount of artefacts and Maori houses, boats and different sections that were on display.
After this it was time to head back to the hostel and prepare for a dinner. We walked along the street and were pulled into a nice little restaurant that probably because of its location will have to close soon. We all ate nice meals and headed back the hostel. An early night was had by all! Jumping out of a building really takes it out of you.
Be good,
Mike
We scoffed down breakfast and made our way on the Link to the ominous structure of the Skytower. Skytower was opened in 1997, cost 85 million to build and just pips the Eiffel Tower in height. We descended into the mission control below the tower where we booked our launch time which would be in just 20 minutes. The Skyjump team walked us through the procedure of the jump and suited us up in our jumpsuits and harnesses. There was time for a few quick photos before Conor and I made our way to the jump zone. There was 3 people in front of us. One of which was very nervous. A team of two checked our harnesses and footwear and various other security checks before we were informed again of what happen when we went out the edge of the tower. The view from the top was amazing. You could see a range of the attractions Auckland offered such as the Auckland Museum and Harbour Bridge. Conor was the first to jump as he had earlier won a game of rock, paper and scissors to see who would get to go first. We had both though it would be much better going first and not witnessing the other jump off. I gave Conor the thumbs up as he posed for a photo with the crew before his jump. It was the first time either of us has done anything like this and now it was time for his jump. It was a very weird feeling seeing him jump off and disappear from my sight. The feeling must have been incredible.
Now it was my turn. Walking out onto the edge was an unnerving feeling. Knowing only two bits of rope and a harness supported you but I wasn’t feeling as nervous as I though I was. I uttered the words “and here we go” and I leaped gracefully off the top. 10 metres down they stopped me as I had to pose for a photo and then I had a 175m freefall to the bottom. It was an exhilarating experience and one that neither of will forget for a long, long time. As the brochure said “the view is unbelievable, the thrill unbeatable and the experience unforgettable”. What a way to start the day!
After collecting our photos and DVD of the jump it was time to hop on the Auckland Explorer and head to the Bastion Point Lookout. This park had very picturesque views from the coast and large greens which we walked through. We then strolled on the gorgeous Mission Bay Beach before heading back to get the bus to our next destination.
Our next stop was Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctica Encounter and Underwater World Museum (opened in 1985) where we got to get up close and personal with stingrays, sharks, tortoises and penguins along with hundreds of different types of fish. There was even a fake Free Willy! The museum pioneered the walk-through acrylic tunnels that have now become common in aquariums. There was even the option to scuba dive with sharks or stingrays. We then rode the Snowcat through the largest underground colony of the sub-Antarctic penguins in the world.
The Antarctica Encounter provided us with knowledge of Antarctica’s history and detailed famous explorers such as Robert Falcon Scott and Shackleton. It was well worth the visit and probably the best Aquarium we’ve ever been in.
Now it was time to visit the Cathedral Church of St. Mary but unfortunately there was a funeral on when we arrived so we moved straight onto the Auckland Museum which is on the highest point of the beautiful park, The Domain. The museum itself was built as a World War I memorial in 1929 and the names of World War II battles were added around the outer walls of the museum. The contents of Auckland’s original city museum were moved here and it became one of the world finest collections of Maori and Pacific art and craft. It was expanded again in 2006.
There was even an volcano eruption simulation room (which we didn’t know when we entered). There was a large T.V in the corner in which a news channel team discussed how the eruption would affect Auckland and a large window showing a view of the ocean. We all (particularly Tom) got a big shock when the whole room shook and the lights flickered. It was very well done and made us feel like we were the only ones left in the Auckland. Everyone outside didn’t know what was going on as we dramatised the situation. We explored the museum further and were amazed by the vast amount of artefacts and Maori houses, boats and different sections that were on display.
After this it was time to head back to the hostel and prepare for a dinner. We walked along the street and were pulled into a nice little restaurant that probably because of its location will have to close soon. We all ate nice meals and headed back the hostel. An early night was had by all! Jumping out of a building really takes it out of you.
Be good,
Mike
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