This post is part of my Blog4NZ series. Blog4NZ, running March 21-23, is an initiative by travel bloggers to share memories, photos and stories from New Zealand in order to bring awareness to the fact that, despite the Feb. 22 Christchurch earthquake, the country is still very much open for business.
It’s a fairly well-known fact that New Zealanders are an adventurous bunch.
They roll down hills in plastic balls, jump out of perfectly good airplanes, do stunts in jetboats, and, of course, fling themselves off bridges and cliffs with a giant elastic band tied around their ankles.
Yes, bungy jumping is possibly the most popular of New Zealand’s adventure sports.
Bungy jumping has actually been around for ages (apparently the Aztecs were also an adventurous bunch?), but it wasn’t until A.J. Hackett (a New Zealander, of course) tried it out in the 1980s that it blossomed into a commercial activity.
Hackett opened up the first commercial bungy site at the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, and the rest, as they say, is history.
During my first trip to New Zealand in 2005, I had been expressly banned from jumping off anything higher than my bed by my mother, who hates heights and gets scared even driving over narrow bridges. But, as our trip progressed and I didn’t die while doing the Flying Fox at Gravity Canyon, I began begging every night for the chance to fling myself off a Queenstown bridge.
Eventually, my mom caved, and I did my very first bungy jump off the infamous Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown.
The adrenaline rush involved during those brief seconds of free-fall when you realize there’s no turning back cannot possibly be matched.
I loved it.
When I returned to New Zealand in 2008, I wasn’t necessarily hell-bent on bungy jumping again since I’d already crossed it off my bucket list, but I decided I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to giving it another go if one of my friends wanted to do it.
In Taupo, my friend Jamie decided she wanted to face her fears and jump off a cliff. She happened to have a connection at Taupo Bungy, and we ended up getting our jumps at half-price.
I was halfway expecting my second bungy jump to be less exhilarating somehow.
But it was just as heart-poundingly awesome.
Shuffling my feet to the end of that ledge and looking down at the blue-green Waikato River from 47 meters up, the butterflies took flight and the adrenaline started pumping as if it was my first jump.
And when I took a swan-dive off the platform, it really did feel like I was flying.
I’ll admit it — New Zealand turned me into a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Have you ever been bungy jumping? If not, would you ever try it?
When I went Bungee Jumping in NZ, I also asked to get the 4D (dipped in the water) effect… but the dude didn’t make the line slack enough, and I missed it by a few inches
…still an amazing experience. Just means I need to go again to get wet.
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Ahh, too bad! Though I gather that it’s tough to get everything just right for the water touches. I asked for it in Taupo, as did the 3 people who jumped before me. Mine was the first jump that they got right! (Not to say they’re bad at what they do, because they’re fantastic!)
But yes, I suppose you’ll just need to go back and do it again!
Great post – especially for all you adrenaline junkies out there!!! I’m sure my kids would be into Bungee Jumping but I’m afraid I’m just getting too old!
Thanks, John! And I don’t think you can ever be too old for bungy jumping, can you?
I’ve heard of old men doing it! But you do need to have a bit of a daring side to you, otherwise you’ll never dive off that platform!
I really want to do the Taupo Bungy and get dunked in the river, it looks like so much fun and I’ve seen a few people that have done it.
Now that I’ve done the Nevis I feel like I can do anything, well almost, skydiving from an obscene height still makes my stomach jump at the thought! I guess there’s a first time for everything!
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The water touch was definitely cool! I think you can also do it at a couple of other bungy sites in New Zealand (a guy at the Kawarau Bridge got completely dunked when I was there), but Taupo has the highest water touch in the country (47 meters).
I’m still really impressed you did the Nevis! Just thinking about that one makes me nervous… but I’d still love to try it out someday!
Your images are just awesome – really convey the excitement and adventure of it all.
No – I’ve never done it and I doubt that I will. I did a solo parachute jump and that used up any need I had to scare myself silly!
Thank you, Dawn! It certainly was one of the most adventurous things I’ve ever done!
A solo parachute jump? Now THAT sounds terrifying to me!
Oh, my gosh. No, no, no. No way could I ever jump like that. I sometimes jump off a little one-story-high bridge into a bay on Martha’s Vineyard, but bungee jumping is an entirely different animal. Especially when you end up actually going into the water at the end! You look so happy while doing this. That’s amazing. And the photos are absolutely great. More power to you.
Haha, I know it’s not something everyone can do. My mom was freaking out that first time – she refused to even watch! I decided not to even tell her about the second time until after the fact. I figured I would spare her nerves.
I was much more nervous than these photos let on, but I really love the adrenaline rush that comes along with activities like this. Bring it on!
I’m typically not one to comment on random blogs, but I felt compelled to for this. I am privileged enough to be leaving for a 2 week trip to NZ in just over 48 hours. I will be skydiving, jet boating, zorbing (ball down a hill), helicopter riding, and of course bungy jumping while I am there and I couldn’t be more excited! The Bungy Jump I’m doing is off of the Harbour Bridge in Auckland. I plan on doing a water dunk. Go big or go home right?
Great pictures!
Well thanks for commenting on my blog! It sounds like you’ll be packing a lot of great stuff into your NZ trip. You’ll love it!! I’ve done all the things you’ve mentioned except for skydiving. NZ sure is a great spot for adrenaline junkies! Have fun!