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Published: September 13th 2007
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Queenstown
Canyon Swing We had big expectations before arriving in
Queenstown it had quite a reputation and didn't disappoint. The Stray Bus dropped us off, after some serious discussions and several viewings we decided
Southern Laughter was for us. Mark & Georgina had a double bed room I roughed it in an 8 person dorm. Our priorities where
adrenalin, football and partying. My dorm had a good mix of hard partying hard drinking travellers, that was one boxed ticked.
We started the adrenaline rushes off in style with the
Nevis Highwire. At
134m it is worlds 2nd highest bungy jump, that’s
8s of freefall a fucking long time! count it and consider you are plummeting towards the ground for that long! After signing your life away you take a basket out to the pod, a glass
box suspended between the canyon walls. Mark was up first since arriving at the Nevis site he had steadily got
quieter and a hell of alot
whiter. Once the bungy harness was on we couldn't get a word out of him. He jumped on queue (like a salmon!) and
shouted all the way down. It was a rush just watching him jump he came back up happy
Queenstown
The Nevis Highwire and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
I couldn’t wait for
my jump quick safety talk then shuffle into position, they tell you look straight ahead but everyone
looks down, couldn't actually see the ground it was that far...
3-2-1 against all my instincts I leapt. It’s a rush like no other the first second was a blur an exhilarating feeling of
freefall. The brain adjusts first thing you realise is the ground getting closer very fast! Still falling and can now start to make out the landscape.
Still falling and now wondering if the bungy rope is ever going to kick in!! I bounced around at the bottom, pulled the cord which spins you upright enjoyed the view and waited to be winched back to the pod. One hell of an experience!!!!
Check out the
videos of mine and Mark's jump (click the movie like images at the top of the page).
One of the highlights of Queenstown was the
nightlife, some of the places we had passed through during these winter months where a little pedestrian. It was nice to find a place with plenty of dedicated facilities for your weary traveller -
lots of bars. Our new friends from
Queenstown
The Nevis Highwire the hostel Lorna, Linzi, Ahdel and Ciara who where travelling NZ in the smallest car I’ve ever seen where excellent drinking companions. We spent a lot of time in the
Buffalo bar drinking Sambuca, Jager Bombs and dancing.
Mark and Georgina checked into the
4-star Millennium hotel, they’d had enough of hostel life and wanted a few days of luxury. To aid communication Mark bought a pair of walkie-talkie’s which proved a lot of fun.
Mark and myself liked
curry, Mark probably more than me he is still the only person I know who religiously carries
curry powder just in case. We where both quite pleased with the
quality in NZ and one day decided to try and get 3 in. We started well with a lovely korma for brunch then spent all afternoon drinking Guinness, had the 2nd around 7ish this was served in a small vase (very classy)
more drinking and try as we did couldn't bring ourselves to do the 3rd. Moral from this story is to drink less next time!
One of the more different events we saw in Queenstown was the annual Farmers
Dog barking competition. Sponsored by
Speight’s Larger the winner was
Queenstown
The Nevis Highwire a guy who’s dog wouldn’t bark. So the owner not wanting to disappoint the crowd took to the podium naked and on all 4’s and did a very
credible bark.
Jet Boating was possibly only the second activity during my travels I did not enjoy. This was not due to the quality of the jet boating but rather the late night/early morning that preceded it. The
first 5 minutes where fun, the
next 20 I spent hanging on. Trying to decide, if it came to it where should I be sick. Luckily and no thanks to Georgina and Mark’s constant mocking I made it through. I had to miss the next bus back to QT just needed some time on land, you’re best asking the other two whether it was fun or not.
Its not just the Nevis you can throw yourself off among the others is the
Canyon Swing. We wanted more bungy action and Georgina was keen for this one. Slightly different to a normal bungy you jump then fall and swing in an arc between the canyon walls.
Georgina was first up, she was quite nervous about it and the guys did a lot to
Queenstown
The Nevis Highwire help her out. To the point where it was a combination of Georgina
jumping and them pushing! This was way more relaxed than the Nevis. Watch and definitely a listen to Georgina’s video, its good.
For my first jump I decided to try going
backwards. The two guys had me standing on the ledge backwards they then got out the instruction manual clipped then unclipped various straps tied some tighter and loosened others moved me left and right to ensure
“I didn’t hit the canyon wall”. Apologising as they weren’t exactly sure of the right combination. I knew it was a wind up but after a while you really start to believe they didn’t know at all! At which point and without warning they pushed me off. This was only a
60m fall, but one hell of a rush. Falling backwards is very very good!! As your brain can’t workout where your heading you just don’t adjust and its an adrenaline rush all the way down!
Markus stepped up with a backward jump as well. For my 2nd jump I decided to try upside down, suspended about a metre from the ledge again without warning they just let me go!
Queenstown
The Nevis Highwire Queenstown was excellent fun and after nearly 2 weeks of
punishing our bodies with drink and
extreme sports it was time to move on.
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