Nick’s world tour

p>Back to civilisation, and a major tourist spot. Queenstown is yet another lakeside town, named as it was deemed fit for Queen Vic herself. Though I’m unsure as to whether she would have been “amused” by the things you can do here….

It’s known as the home of adrenaline sports down here in NZ, and is the home of modern day bungy jumping, pioneered by local nutcase AJ Hackett.

In an attempt to limit the bank account damage, I’ve only given myself 2 days here! Staying on the esplanade overlooking the lake, you know, where all the five star hotels are? Well we’re just next to those in a slightly less swanky building.

So first up. As you may recall I did spend about a week white water rafting on the Ganges sometime last April or May. So “last year”, here you can go white water surfing, on just-rough-enough grade 3 Roaring Meg rapids.  A bunch of us use specially designed boards to ride the rapids, do a few turns, spins and squirts (where the board and you get sucked under for a few metres). Pretty crazy.

http://www.qrsurf.com/

Next up, well actually third, but slightly less crazy, than what I did second, is canyoning. I’ve always fancied this- where you swim, slide, jump and abseil down a canyon to the river. What I didn’t bank on was doing it on a cold, rainy day, when it had snowed the night before. Consequently, the water was about 6 degrees, and no amount of wetsuits, neoprene shorts, boots, socks was keeping me warm. I think 3 hours in the water was the closest I’ve yet come to hypothermia! That aside, it was great fun, and I have the bruises and cuts to show it. Luckily none of my extremities have gone black and dropped off, and most feeling has been restored.

http://www.gycanyoning.co.nz/index.html

Finally… you can’t come to the home of bungy and not do it. Anyone who says, “I would have but it’stoo expensive” is obviously a chicken.

http://www.ajhackett.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/29

And while you’re at it, you might as well do the big one. Originally a “coming of age” ceremony in Vanautau, it’s moved on from vines to elastic for the chord. The AJ Hackett “Nevis Highwire” is from a cradle high above a big rocky canyon. You get attached to a big elastic band (or a bundle of elastic bands as the chord is reassuringly made of), and on the shout “3-2-1-BUNGY” gracefully dive headfirst for a 134m, 8.5s freefall. Bounce twice, pull a ripchord which tips you the right way up for the last few bounces and the slow ride back up.

The views were great (both ways!) and I got a very sore throat from the 8 second long word I screamed on the way down… luckily the video doesn’t have sound on it. Insane fun, though as I am now a superlightweight I was 23rd to jump out of 25. Apparently I now only weigh 61 kg, or 9 stones 8 ounces. That’ll be over 1 stone lighter than when I left, and I’ve filled out a bit since arriving in Australia… must eat more pies

Click: http://www.rapidimage.net/media/searchAlbum.php?album_code=AJHN

and copy the following code in to see all the proof  ajhn701282037602

So, wits truly scared out me, tomorrow I think I shall head to Franz Josef, and climb the glacier the day after. Probably should have a day off soon…

This entry was posted on Monday, January 29th, 2007 at 2:23 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.