Queenstown! Completely insane, in a good way
I always get excited when we are on the move. Even if sometimes it is quite tough getting the explosion of clothes, laptops, phones and brochures back in to my back pack (challenge on its self). We got picked up at 9 am and we were not far away from our next destination Queenstown. We were spending the next week here researching the itinerary for the Queenstown Adrenaline Overload programme, what a week it was to become. New Zealand is stunning, but just when you think it cannot get any more beautiful you turn another corner an it proves you are wrong!
Queenstown loaded with adventure and adrenaline!
Queenstown is the extreme adrenaline Activity adventure capital of the south island, if not the world! Here you can jump, ride, jet and fly all you want, and you will scream!
Incidently Queenstown is also known for its Fergburger, a small shop with quality big fat juicy hamburgers that you have to try when you are there, which goes remarkably well with the nightlife.
Me being used to old fashion backpacking was shocked by the amount of high heel back packers in this town. Don’t worry; flip flops and a big smile still look better in places like this!
Beautiful Setting…
Queenstown is nestled on the shores of lake Wakatipu and surrounded by snowy mountain tops of the Remarkables mountain range. In winter this is a great base for a ski holiday, but we are here in the New Zealand spring time so no skiing or boarding for us.
We stayed in the flashiest backpacker place so far. Good crowd, good big lounge room with big leather couches and a big fire place and included breakfast. In Queenstown you spend al your money if you do not pay attention so it is better to have all the adrenaline stuff booked up front otherwise you spend it all in bars, but there is also a lot of free stuff to keep you entertained.
The hostel, well flashpackers is probably more accurate, we work is with out a doubt the best in Queenstown. We know this as we visted them all. Right in the heart of the action, modern, great facilities and more akin to a ski lodge than a hostel. You can start the day with a smile with has a free breakfast (simple toast, jam and milk with muesli, coffee and tea, but it will do) you can join in for a free dinner most nights or a cheap barbecue every now and then.
No money left, well there are some other free or cheaper things you can do.
There are free movie nights on big screen TV in the lounge and there is the Frisbee golf (don´t ask just do!)… You can also sit by the lake and read a book, go for walks in the jaw dropping countryside,head up the hill to the look out lots and lots..
As mentioned before the hostel arranges Frisbee Golf in the gardens of Queenstown, there are fabulous hikes. Sunbathing and swimming in (rather chilly) lake Wakatipu, hire a mountain bike and do some exploring around the lake.
Bring on the shit storm of terror!
We did the outstanding. On one day we did 4 jumps! I screamed, cried, shakes, sweared and laughed. My heart was pumping with adrenaline, fear and joy. What a day!
Early morning we started of with the Shot Over Canyon swing. There are many ways to jump of the edge into a 109 meter cliff and fall with a 150 k per hour from a cliff before you swing 200 meter over the big canyon facing the rocks. You can jump face forward, backwards, you can get thrown of with a chair, upside down or you can do the ‘gimp boys goes to Hollywood’.
Me being Dutch did not know what a gimp boy was and I did the jump together with oliver so I could look at him so he could comfort me, guess what a gimp mask is a leather bag with holes, sm style. It freaked me out rather than comforting me. The other thing is I have to warn you for before doing the gimp boy goes to Hollywood is not to wear short shorts. As I was hanging on the swing looking at my gimp boy I had to stick my feet in the air and as I did that I noticed a camera pointing at my rear end. Not charming… makes a funny video though. The best thing about this jump/swing over the other activities was the incredible funny staff. My friend wrote me” this is funnier than funniest home video. Be your own judge.
Oliver did also the solo jump, well he sat in a chair and after minutes of torture they threw him off….OMG scary S%#*!
As we were all pumped from this jump we filmed the others, had a chat with Claire the marketing manager, we talked to her about the Canyon swing. Claire was fantastic. Not scared of jumping in any form of the swing, but terrified of the camera.
Aj Hackett Bungees!
In the afternoon we had a meeting with Katie, marketing manager of AJ Hacket! AJ Hacket; Great since 88!
In 1988 AJ hacket and his buddy started up the first commercial Bungy jump. The 43 meter bungy over the Kawarau Bridge. It is now called their baby jump as the highest jump they momentarily have in Macau and is around 250 meters high.
Lots of people head to the bridge to watch jumpers testing thier limits, of all the visitors probably only 2% come to actuall jump, some back out but most make the death definying leap encouraged by other cheering and the staff at AJ Hackett. I know they have a 100% safety record on over 1 million jumps and I know they have the best standards, but lets be fair, it must feel like committing suicide. Looking over that edge freaks out many of us. I got off lightly today; I did not have to jump at Kawarau, instead I was off to do its monstrous big brother, the highest jump in Australasia.. The AJ Hacket Nevis Bungy which is the 134 meter Bungy!
The Nevis Bungy, 134 metres
Jumping over a huge scary looking Canyon. It is an amazing mix of sensations, terror, acheivement, adrenaline, excitement, self doubt, self belief. Everything goes through your head when in fact you want your mind completely blank. Some people are wired differently to others, and can just jump off, no worries others find it a tough achievment. For me, I was a little unprepared for it, what started of as a meeting with the AJ Hacket Marketing Manager Katie enjoying a perfectly prepared coffee ended up in two jumps that afternoon.
The Nevis Arc the worlds highest canyon swing.
Running an extreme sports and adventure company I need to experience it myself. Katie booked us on the bungy jump and we were ready to get on the bus. Looking back at the video I can still not believe it was me who jumped. So brave! And what a kick! I have never been that scared in my life, and I thought I will never do that again until 10 minutes later I was getting ready for the worlds biggest canyon swing also know as the Nevis Arc. Mammaaaaaaaa! A 300 metre Arch accoss the Canyon.
Find here the videos of the New Zealand Bungy and the New Zealand Nevis Arc.
I needed I good drink after all this! Everyone back at the hostel had there own experiences and adventures that day so it was great chatting in the lounge. Many hostels do not allow alcohol in the hostel but in Queenstown you can drink a beer or wine in the lounge until 9 pm. After that everyone got ready for a big night out.
Sky Diving with Nzone.
The following day more cool adrenaline activities in Queenstown awaited us – because Oliver did his second Skydive. This time with Nzone in Queenstown. These guys run one of the best jump zones in the world and they were particularly please about their new monstrous looking planes.
I love Nzone. They are a very cool operation one of the longest running in New Zealand and they certainly know how to get the most out of your jump.
They also have an Accelerated freefall course where you learn to jump on your own, the instructor for that Sasha has done in the region of 20,000 tandem jumps (and many many more solo jumps).
We met with the sales manager Derek from South Africa, who filled us in on Nzone as a company and what they have to offer. The bad thing is that Skydiving is weather dependent, that means no cloud cover, the good thing is that if you book upfront with Xtreme Gap you get first in line for the next possible skydive and when you cannot do it in Queenstown we can book you over to the jump in Rotorua on the North island(or the other way around when you start your New Zealand Adrenaline tour of in Auckland instead of Christchurch). If you can not complete your jump due to weather conditions, then you will get a refund, but you do have plenty of time to get up there!
Knowing a bit more what kind of kick to expect Oliver was totally up for his 15.000 ft jump in Queenstown. He had his superman pants on, so nothing could go wrong. His video is great!
Shot Over Jet Boat
As is that is not enough we also went jet boating through the Shot over Canyon. We have a fair bit of experience with jet boating already - jet boating in Sydney Australia, and we loved it, but the guys at Shotover jet are in a whole new league.
With the Shot Over Jet (video link), you shoot past rocks cliffs and waterfalls (the occasional sheep too). An absolute must do in Queenstown especially if you do not want to jump, but you do want to feel the adrenaline!
Canyoning and River Surfing
Not enough? Try out the Canyoning and river surfing. This is riding rapids with frog feet fins and a body board. Surprisingly this is considered to be one of the most fun activities you can do! And if you really want it all we also have the heli biking.
Onward Travel from Queenstown
You may just fly in and fly out of Queenstown for a mental week, but many travel through, the next logical step would be to visit Milford Sound – Visiting New Zealand’s South island without visiting Milford sound, is like going to Egypt and not seeing the pyramids. So if you have some extra time to spend book this trip. It is recently ranked as the worlds’ most beautiful place. Unfortunately we did not have the time (damn pesky work!), but spoke to many people who did go, they absolutely loved it!
You get picked up in the early morning, you stop of at the picturesque te Anau, go on a unforgettable 2 hour cruise including free food (stack up some extra bread and chicken for that evening, you are still a backpacker so make us proud). You might also choose to head to Wanaka as well which is another stunning town with another great drop Zone: Sky Dive Wanaka
- Don´t look down…Too late.
- Burger time
- Stunning QT
- Whaaaaaaaaaaa
- Not really ready
- Insane, signing my life away
- At speed in the jet boat
- Waiting to jump
- Superman
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