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Published: January 14th 2009
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Wanaka was the next port of call for us and our Nissan Pulsar. The township sits right on Lake Wanaka, allowing amazing views of Mount Aspiring National Park in the background with the beautiful lake in the foreground. Having the car made it all the better. We explored right around the edge of the lake and found ourselves a quiet little beach. It was so secluded it felt like our own private space. More exploring around the lake brought us upon many little coves, which the locals use as slipways to launch their small boats and jet skis.
Another attraction in the area is Puzzling World. Having started out as just a maze in 1973, it has grown now to accommodate a "puzzling café" where guests could try out several puzzles, rooms with optical illusions, the Leaning Tower of Wanaka (which has a backwards clock that was started on the eve of the new millennium) and other things puzzling and mind boggling. Being such an amazingly sunny and warm day when we arrived we spent most of our time in the outdoor maze.
Our hostel was great, nice and small with great staff. Honestly, Steve, the owner, was some
man for the chatting. Even his staff gave out to him when he’d be stopped having a natter with one or both of us. We felt at home straight away! We felt so comfortable in our surroundings that we thought maybe it was time to leap out of a plane…….
We had been thinking of doing a skydive for quite a while by then, passing by opportunities in various other places because we had our eye on Wanaka. We were told it was a beautiful part of the country and that the skydive in the area would provide breathtaking views. So we bundled up the courage and booked it.
The wait was the worst thing about it… Waiting for the bus to come pick us up outside the hostel was where the nerves started to kick in hard… On the way in the van we watched our briefing DVD, happy that it would speed up the process and not have us hanging about at the airport. After we filled out the forms and handed our money over it was time to get suited up. The jump suits looked like clown suits, that’s the best way to describe them
really. But they weren’t too uncomfortable. After a quick harnessing up and introductions to our tandem jumpmasters and cameramen, it was into the little plane and off climbing to 15000 feet before you could say “INSERT FUNNY THING HERE”. The views from the plane were, as promised, absolutely stunning. From the air we could see Lake Wanaka (obviously), Lake Hawea, The Clutha River (longest river on the South Island) as well as Mount Aspiring and various other mountain tops from the National Park.
There were 3 jumpers in the plane. Myself, Lynsey and another Paddy, a guy from Dublin, along with our tandem jumpers and 3 cameramen. It was quite packed in there but was plenty of space when the other guy jumped first at 12000 feet. Then after a short climb to the desired 15000 feet for us, it was go time. The Guys didn’t hang about really, which was good it meant we couldn’t get nervous. As soon as it was time the door slid open and we were told to scooch to the door, all the while strapped to our tandem jumpmaster. It was a quick smile for the camera and a 3, 2, 1 count
before we dropped off the edge… Such exhilaration!! It wasn’t quite as scary as we had been expecting for a couple of reasons… Firstly, we didn’t have to actually jump ourselves. This meant part of the fear was taken away. Secondly it was so high up; our sense of perspective was knocked. We knew how high we were and what we were doing, but it was so surreal and the ground below was so far away it seemed almost like it wasn’t real.
The first few seconds were all a bit chaotic as we exited the plane and did a double somersault before we stabilised and started to drop, picking up speed heading toward the 200kph we were told we’d hit. More smiles for the camera as we dropped and some spins made it so much fun. Lynsey even danced her way halfway through the freefall!! The freefall again fell into the surrealism of it all. It didn’t have the same kind of falling felling as you would have expected and as we had when we leapt of the Sky Tower in Auckland.
But even though it was a 60 second freefall, it passed so quickly. Before we knew
it, the parachute was pulled and we were jerked back up into the sky as the wind caught it. We floated down the last 5000 feet drifting from side to side and round in circles, all the while taking in the scenery as we realised it was all nearing an end. After 2 safe landings, it was hugs and handshakes all round before we were SEVERLY temped to go straight back up and do it all over again. We settled on buying a t-shirt each to go with our souvenir DVD’s.
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Elvira
non-member comment
WOW!
You are so brave!!! I don't think I would dare even thinking of jumping off a plane! And if I had to do it I would be crying and with my eyes closed all the way! hahaha I love your entries guys! really appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences and all those pics! I bet you love making us soooooooo jelous! Keep on discovering amazing places and showing us all! Kisses, Elvira