One of the highest bungee jumps in the world in the place where it all started.134 meters, 8.5 seconds of free fall, a great team, a breathtaking view, a huge fear charge and finally an incredible euphoria. Nevis Bungy in Queenstown, New Zealand is simply the experience of a lifetime. I must try it!
Where did the idea come from?
Even when I was planning my long road trip to New Zealand, I knew that Queenstown was going to be for the long haul. For one thing, I've had posters at home for about 10 years of several places in and around the city that I needed to see live, but more importantly, it's the world's cradle of adrenaline. And I like adrenaline. This is where the world's first commercial bungee jumping was born. So where else to jump but here.
Why Nevis?
In Queenstown I had several bungee jumps to choose from.
- Either jump from 43 metres off the Kawarau Bridge, the home of bungee jumping. The advantage? You can touch the water as you jump, and that sounds like one hell of a thrill. I was thinking 43 metres is a bit weak though...
- The other option is Ledge Bungy from 47 metres with a great view of the city, the undeniable advantage is that you freestyle jump here. But 47 meters is still quite low...
- Then there's Nevis, a bungee from a glass platform at 134 metres in the middle of a canyon. For me, the obvious choice!
You have to jump on your head or you'll hurt yourself badly
In the morning, we went through the formalities at AJ Hackett Bungy headquarters. You know how it is. You have to be weighed, reweighed, weighed again and fill in that you're jumping at your own risk. Then we were off with a number on our arm. As the trip progressed, it turned out to be the first bungee jump for the vast majority of us, and straight up the highest. If anything, it's a proper one, right! You can't get to the platform by car, you need a small offroad bus to get there and the journey is an experience. We drove through beautiful countryside, enjoyed the views, but there was already a slight whiff of fear in the air.
On the spot, they put us in harnesses and took us up to the platform. It only fits about 6 people with instructors, so a nice intimate atmosphere. The instructions were clear, you have to jump on your head, otherwise the ropes will most likely cut you in half. I guess that's to keep us calm...
"Are you ready?" .... "No."
It was interesting that the rope is so long that two people have to hold it and gradually let it down after the jump, it wouldn't untangle itself. When the others were jumping, I was all in on the joke. After that, I was a little less laughing, because it was my turn. On the lounger, they attached the necessary ropes to my (slightly wobbly) legs, we took one last photo (just in case) and like a penguin I slowly made my way to the springboard.
After a few jokes for light relief, which I wasn't laughing too hard at anymore, the obligatory "Are you ready?" question followed. and the less obligatory "no." They're pros, so they don't address it, and my "no" was followed by a straight countdown
3...2....1....JUMP!
No one is pushing you here, you have to make that jump into the deep end yourself. And that's the second, that's the turning point, when my heart rate was about 400 and my heart was racing and I was wondering why I was doing this and I wanted to jump so badly at the same time.
I jumped. And what was it like? Breathtag, awesome, unreal... 8 and a half seconds of freefall ....that's a hell of a long time to manage to think about the fact that you've been falling for a really long time and still nothing's happening. But it's a beautiful, unforgettable moment. Your body is filled with adrenaline and endorphins, sheer euphoria.
And then two more swings up and down. You pull the rope to get into a seated position and suddenly you're back on the platform, grinning from ear to ear.
Something like this (or a longer version of the video with a red face :-) )
The Nevis bungy slogan is accurate - Live more. Fear less. So when you drive by, definitely jump in, it's a blast. Hey, what others are saying
