Before I left for New Zealand, I wasn’t convinced I’d have what it took to do a bungee jump. Six weeks later, you’d be forgiven for thinking I was a bungee addict! I’d already tackled two and was about to embark on the highest – the Nevis Bungee.
FIRST BUNGEE
The silliness began in Auckland, when my sister – with the best intentions – booked us both in to leap off Auckland Harbour Bridge as a belated 30th birthday present. I was scared. Very scared. But somehow, I summed up the mental strength to jump.
SECOND BUNGEE
With the logic of ‘I did it once, I can do it again’, I chose to give the Ledge Bungy in Queenstown a go next. It was definitely a step up from Auckland. Despite the drop being almost the same distance, the Ledge is located on top of a 400-metre hill, so you feel pretty nauseous when you peer down over the edge.
WHY A THIRD?!
If you’re going to do something crazy and adventurous, you may as well go all out and if you tell people you’ve done a bungee in New Zealand, there’s one in particular that will impress. This jump blows any other out of the water in terms of the fear factor. In fact, it allows you to fall three times the distance of any other in the country. This is the best of the Queenstown activities….The Nevis Bungee.
LOCATION
Suspended over a canyon, the brief journey to the Nevis bungee pod is enough in itself to make you work up a sweat. They use a pulley system to bring you across in a small metal cage. As it lurches forward, swinging slightly in the breeze, you can see through the grid at your feet and the immensity of your upcoming leap hits you like a solid punch to the stomach.
THE WAITING POD
When you reach the pod, part of the floor is clear glass and the swaying is much more noticeable. I became quiet and withdrawn as I waited 20 minutes for my turn.
The heavier people go first, which generally means that girls have a longer wait. We saw a few people fail to pull the leg release and watched as they were lifted all the way back up while still dangling upside down. One or two had major freak outs too, and had to have pep talks to encourage the to jump. All of this just added to our nerves.
MY TURN
When my turn came, I went through the motions on autopilot. As they tied up my feet, I still wasn’t convinced I’d be able to do it. When I waddled towards the edge, I was gripping tightly onto the guy behind me and refusing to look down. And before I knew it, they were counting me down.
This was it! Either I jumped and got it over with, or I hung about on the edge of a swaying platform and talked myself out of it.
Did I go through with the Nevis bungee? I guess you’ll have to watch the video below to find out.
GETTING TO QUEENSTOWN
Intercity Buses provide services to Queenstown from the following popular destinations (rough times in brackets): Wanaka (1 hour 30 mins); Mt Cook (5 hours); Franz Josef (8 hours); Christchurch (8 hours 30 mins). Further transfers are available from these locations. Use the tool below to search for specific journeys or click through to their home page for more information about the different types of multi-journey pass. Intercity also arrange activities.
WHERE TO STAY
Finding accommodation in Queenstown can be tough. It’s the adventure capital of New Zealand and people flock there year round. In the ski season in July, hotels were filling up weeks in advance. I didn’t book ahead and it resulted in me having to stay in three different hostels in five different dorm rooms. If you don’t fancy checking out and in every morning, get your reservations in early. Of the three places I stayed, Haka Lodge was by far the best. It’s clean and sociable, with all the amenities you could need. There are outdoor decks and two kitchen areas as well as a large TV lounge, and all of the beds have curtains for added privacy.
–
I was offered a discounted jump by the AJ Hackett bungy team. They did not request that I write a favourable review and any opinions expressed here are my own.
You can follow my Kiwi adventures on Twitter via the hashtag #ScaredBritless or check out my Facebook updates here. For more information about travelling in New Zealand, visit 100% Pure New Zealand.
My stomach just dropped watching that! Although I’m sure if I was in the area, I would have given it a go.
Naomi recently posted..Valle de la Luna, Valle de la Muerte and Salt Caves
Yeah, I had a similar experience watching videos of it all over New Zealand! It almost put me off. Glad to hear you would do it too! #YOLO after all! :)
Wow, you’re mad! I couldn’t even do one bungee jump. Very impressive, especially the one over the canyon!
Andrea recently posted..Transnistria’s Wild Independence Day Celebrations
The canyon one was definitely the worst, or best, depending how you judge it!
I do think you’re a bungee addict now! I’m sure we’ll see you bungee jumping all over Australia now. Hmm, bungee expert perhaps?
Jennifer recently posted..A Picture of Russian Peasant Life #gAdvRussia
Perhaps! I don’t know if I’ll be in too much of a rush to do it again! I think it’s probably only worth putting myself through it again if I get the opportunity to do an even scarier one! Otherwise, who’s going to care?! :)
Arianwen! WOW – do you think you might be a liiiiitle bit addicted to bungee jumps? Or maybe just adrenaline-filled activities? Haha. That video is awesome – my stomach dropped just watching it but you must have felt amazing afterwards :-) Well done girl!
Beverley | Pack Your Passport recently posted..Facing My Fears: Black Water Rafting at Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Thanks! It’s funny how I ended up doing so many. They just got more challenging as I travelled through NZ and I didn’t want to leave until I’d done the best one! I felt good afterwards for about 10 minutes – and then I had to swing across another canyon! And that was surprisingly scary too!!! :)
I had a hard time just watching the video! I can’t believe you did it, that must have felt amazing :)
I think I’d be scared enough just visiting the hanging pod, let alone jumping off it!
Beth recently posted..Happy 1st Blogiversary!
I can’t remember what it felt like! I don’t think my brain could process what was happening to it… And yes, that pod is really scary. I couldn’t relax until I was back to firm ground.
love the action shots
Hogga recently posted..Seeing Montreal with Le St. Martin
Thanks! This was one activity I was definitely getting evidence of!
The photo of you over the water and peninsula simultaneously is top-notch. I’d be scared shiteless. It must be quite the rush though.
It certainly was a rush! That bungy is definitely very well positioned for good photos :)
Wow, you’ve definitely fully embraced the adrenaline sport bit of New Zealand! It’s pretty much my worst nightmare so this is as near as I’ll be getting, fab video though!
Lucy recently posted..Travel your way photo competition
Aw, thanks! I did go all out when I was over there! I’ve gone back to normal living again now! I sleep better…!
THAT VIDEO IS FRICKIN SWEET! I was holding my breath as you walked to the edge. What a fall! Might be the first thing I do when I get to NZ!
Shaun recently posted..Traveling Back In Time – Edinburgh Castle
Yes, do it!! You can’t go to NZ and not throw yourself into a 134-m freefall! I want to hear about it when you do!
I think bungee jumping is something that i will never do in my life:) You have got a nice jump there:)
Simon
Simon Lee recently posted..4D3N in Sabah’s Heavenly Beautiful Islands (Trip Report)
Thanks! I always said that too, so you never know! :)
Haha, will consider next time, when i am ready:)
Simon Lee
Simon Lee recently posted..4D3N in Sabah’s Heavenly Beautiful Islands (Trip Report)
So how many bungee jumps have you done in total now? 4? Crazy, I am not sure I could even do one.
TammyOnTheMove recently posted..Flashback Friday: The Galapagos islands in photos
Technically 3, and one had me tied by the waist rather than the feet. The others were a swing and a controlled base jump from a tower! You’d think I’d have gotten over my fear. Maybe I’m moderately more confident…
I don’t know how you got up the courage, Arianwen. It will be something to retell and show for the rest of your life, though!
Andrew Graeme Gould recently posted..Lima, Peru, 2012: Street parade
I re-watch that video and don’t know how I did it either. I think it was the fact I knew I’d be writing about it that motivated me. I didn’t want my readers thinking I was a wuss!