Thursday, 08 January 2009

• Action Sports Enthusiasts: Plan your next trip to New Zealand

  by Molly

  

  Are you one of those adrenaline junkies? Are you ready to find the playground of your dreams? If you answered yes to both questions, New Zealand should be next on your list of places to visit. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it is also home to some of the most extreme, guided action adventures in the world. Because it is the home to almost every type of ecosystem and climate type, you can find surfing in one town, sking/snowboarding, and some of the biggest bungie jump spots in the world right up the road. It appeals to every type of action sport enthusiast, and offers some pretty epic scenery along the way.

  On the South Island, you can find a little place called Queenstown, which is situated in between breathtaking snowtipped mountains and a gorgeous lake. In the middle of town, you can find the AJ Hackett shop. AJ Hackett is one of the premeire bungie companies in the world, and have made their mark in Queenstown with six different bungie jumps to choose from. They range from just 43 meters above ground to the 8.3 second, 124 meter freefall, called the Nevis. It is literally amazing.

  On the Nevis jump, the company drives you up out of Queenstwon (about a 30 minute ride), along a very narrow road. I thought about getting out and just walking along the hillside to avoid the panic attack that I was beginning to get. But, you soon realize that they have done that drive over 1,000 times, and are pretty weathered in the steep dropoffs on the side of the bus. Once you get up there, the guides take you to a cable car with a grated bottom (so you can see straight through and the ground gets increasingly further away), and tow you across the canyon to the larger cable car which is situated in the middle. This cable car has plexi glass panels on the floor, so you can see all the way down to the tiny river below. If your knees weren't already shaking from the bus ride in, they are sure to be paralyzed by this site!

  To make the experience even more memorable, the guides in the cable car play this death metal music to get you pumped up for your jump. I am not personally a fan of death metal, but somehow it just fits this environment, and makes you feel kind of invincible. As you approach your turn, they sit you down in this huge couch chair to put the harnesses around your waiste and ankels. They video you as this all takes place, and as you watch yourself afterwards, you notice the pale white color that your face has turned! Once you are all strapped in, they shuffle you up to a tiny platform hooked onto the edge of the cable car, which has handles to hold onto, and all you can see is the space ahead of you. This is absolutely the most difficult/terrifying part (or it was for me).....convincing yourself that it's a good idea to fling your body off of this tiny platform. Then, the countdown begins....3,2,1....GO!! And you jump. 8.5 seconds of freefall before the rope begins to tighten at all. It is literally the most incredible feeling. As the rope tightens and you feel yourself rebounding back up into the air, and getting ready for another few seconds of freefall, you start to relax and enjoy the ride. You have defied death and have the most incredible adrenaline rush. You could just pack up and go home now, but wait.....what about all the other death defying activities that the town has to offer!

  Aside from a bungie jump, you can skydive, jetboat, swing across a canyon, test out your whitewater rafting skills, ski or snowboard and paraglide. The list certainly goes on, but those options alone would keep any action sports enthusiast busy! And, the best part is that there is a relatively good nightlife in Queenstown, so after a big day on the slopes or falling from the sky, you can hit up the local pub for whatever it is that you may be craving.

  Has anyone been down to NZ or know of any other cool places to go for this sort of thing?

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