We didn’t really have a plan set out for the day so after consulting the receptionist and the various brochures Mike and I decided we fancied the Kawarau Bridge Bungy jump, the first Bungy jump site in the world and celebrating its 20th anniversary this week. It is a 43 metre jump off a bridge with the option of being dunked in the water at the bottom. Mike and I decided that sounded good! Gary & Conor decided it wasn’t for them.
Mike and I departed Queenstown from the AJ Hackett jump centre on their bus to make the half hour journey to the bridge. 5 other jumpers were on the bus. When we arrived we checked in, got weighed and went to the viewing platform to see what lay ahead of us. To say it was a daunting task would be an understatement, it was pretty terrifying that in a few minutes we would be jumping of a bridge with a bit of rope tied around our ankles! Mike and I did the customary thing all of us have done all trip to decide any 50:50 decisions such as who would jump 1st – Rock, Paper, Scissors - I won and decided it would be easier to jump 1st so I didn’t have to see Mike go through it. I made my way to the jumping area, got my harness and waited for the call. Nerves were building but I was mostly looking forward to it. I didn’t let the notion of backing down enter my mind. I wanted to be a champion not a chicken of the Bungy. So I met me jump instructor Ren who guided me through the procedure, tied me up and counted my jump down. 3 …2 ….. 1 BUNGY… I jumped off the ledge and freefalled head first towards the river. I was dunked into water up to waist level upside down and than bounced back towards the bridge before eventually coming to a gentle swing from which I was hauled onto a raft that was in the water, untied and brought to shore. UNBELIEVABLE! Great buzz and an experience and sensation I will never forget.
Mike watched the whole thing from the viewing platform and he went up next to the jumping zone. His dive was both graceful and majestic, Olympic diving style he dropped like a needle and bounced up just before touching the water as he didn’t want to be dunked. Mike was similarly impressed by the whole experience and can’t wait to do his next one! Rumours have it he is set to jump off the highest Bungi in the world in Hong Kong a 230 metre drop in the near future. I think I will give that one a miss. 43 metres is enough for me! We collected our photos, DVD and postcards which will be arriving at a town near you soon! Very impressed and satisfied with the whole experience we got on the bus and were shipped back to town.
Back in Queenstown the lads were waiting to hear about our adventure and we told them all about it seating by the lake soaking in the sun. Another gorgeous day in Queenstown, 28 - 31 degrees. We mossied around town for a while, Conor went for a swim in the lake which he said was freezing. We ventured to the indoor crazy golf which I had noticed the day before. It was surprisingly advanced and very crazy! It had themed holes such as Space Station, Ski Lift and Candy Shop. Mike won. It was a jolly good round of golf and we each got a lollypop for our efforts on the last hole, you can grow up but you can never grow old!
That evening the destination was Global Gossip, our link to the rest of the world, ala the internet. I was surfing away when Mike shouts “Lads that’s Heather!” (A woman on the GAP tour with us for 18 days in South America) I run down the street to catch her and call her name she turns and we shared a hug and a laugh at the fact we are meeting again randomly in Queenstown, New Zealand a month later! The lads followed and we chatted for a while. It’s a cliché but true, its a small world! We returned to Global Gossip and shared our news with our fellow GAP tour groupies.
After our surfing we went to the Ice Bar, Minus 5. This is a bar in centre of Queenstown with an interior made completely of ice, even the glasses! It is -7 degrees in there and we were clothed up in big jackets and uggs! I now understand women’s fascination with uggs, they are quite toasty! We enjoyed a cocktail in the bar and took a few pics with the many ice sculptures. It was freezing inside and you are only allowed spend 30mins in there. It was a bbbrrrrrrrrilliant experience!
Mike and I departed Queenstown from the AJ Hackett jump centre on their bus to make the half hour journey to the bridge. 5 other jumpers were on the bus. When we arrived we checked in, got weighed and went to the viewing platform to see what lay ahead of us. To say it was a daunting task would be an understatement, it was pretty terrifying that in a few minutes we would be jumping of a bridge with a bit of rope tied around our ankles! Mike and I did the customary thing all of us have done all trip to decide any 50:50 decisions such as who would jump 1st – Rock, Paper, Scissors - I won and decided it would be easier to jump 1st so I didn’t have to see Mike go through it. I made my way to the jumping area, got my harness and waited for the call. Nerves were building but I was mostly looking forward to it. I didn’t let the notion of backing down enter my mind. I wanted to be a champion not a chicken of the Bungy. So I met me jump instructor Ren who guided me through the procedure, tied me up and counted my jump down. 3 …2 ….. 1 BUNGY… I jumped off the ledge and freefalled head first towards the river. I was dunked into water up to waist level upside down and than bounced back towards the bridge before eventually coming to a gentle swing from which I was hauled onto a raft that was in the water, untied and brought to shore. UNBELIEVABLE! Great buzz and an experience and sensation I will never forget.
Mike watched the whole thing from the viewing platform and he went up next to the jumping zone. His dive was both graceful and majestic, Olympic diving style he dropped like a needle and bounced up just before touching the water as he didn’t want to be dunked. Mike was similarly impressed by the whole experience and can’t wait to do his next one! Rumours have it he is set to jump off the highest Bungi in the world in Hong Kong a 230 metre drop in the near future. I think I will give that one a miss. 43 metres is enough for me! We collected our photos, DVD and postcards which will be arriving at a town near you soon! Very impressed and satisfied with the whole experience we got on the bus and were shipped back to town.
Back in Queenstown the lads were waiting to hear about our adventure and we told them all about it seating by the lake soaking in the sun. Another gorgeous day in Queenstown, 28 - 31 degrees. We mossied around town for a while, Conor went for a swim in the lake which he said was freezing. We ventured to the indoor crazy golf which I had noticed the day before. It was surprisingly advanced and very crazy! It had themed holes such as Space Station, Ski Lift and Candy Shop. Mike won. It was a jolly good round of golf and we each got a lollypop for our efforts on the last hole, you can grow up but you can never grow old!
That evening the destination was Global Gossip, our link to the rest of the world, ala the internet. I was surfing away when Mike shouts “Lads that’s Heather!” (A woman on the GAP tour with us for 18 days in South America) I run down the street to catch her and call her name she turns and we shared a hug and a laugh at the fact we are meeting again randomly in Queenstown, New Zealand a month later! The lads followed and we chatted for a while. It’s a cliché but true, its a small world! We returned to Global Gossip and shared our news with our fellow GAP tour groupies.
After our surfing we went to the Ice Bar, Minus 5. This is a bar in centre of Queenstown with an interior made completely of ice, even the glasses! It is -7 degrees in there and we were clothed up in big jackets and uggs! I now understand women’s fascination with uggs, they are quite toasty! We enjoyed a cocktail in the bar and took a few pics with the many ice sculptures. It was freezing inside and you are only allowed spend 30mins in there. It was a bbbrrrrrrrrilliant experience!
Over and Out,
Tom
Tom
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