Better known as Queenstown adventure day! This morning started with trip out to the Nevis Arc site at 8:40am. Dad and I swung on the world’s highest swing! I went backwards and he went forwards (gives you more of the ground rush feeling but since I had plenty of that on my skydive in Taupo I decided to see what it was like to fall backwards). There was a 70m drop and then a 300m swing out across the canyon, still pretty high up from the river at the bottom. After a few back-and-forths you just hang there for a little before they start to bring you back up to the platform slowly. We were proud of Mom for even walking across the suspension bridge that went out to the launching platform. Though she couldn’t get too close to the edge and the railing...but she did well to get some good pictures of us! We also had the option for a countdown release or a surprise, we both went with a surprise, which gave you just a little more or a thrill. One guy that went before us was still terrified when he came back up again, couldn’t wait to get his feet back on the ground! The bus ride back down the hill was probably the scariest part, one way road up the cliff with drop-offs on both sides! Then it was a 40 min ride back into town and we passed by the Kawarau bridge which we’d be jumping off of later in the afternoon! We had a couple of hours to spare in Queenstown for lunch and it was an absolutely gorgeous day! Nice warm sunshine and clear skies! We had some lunch outside and then some ice cream and sat around down by the water watching the jet boats come and go.
At 2:40 we boarded our next bus back out to the Kawarau bridge and got weighed and sent right up the bridge. There’s really no time to get worried or change your mind, we got to watch 1 or 2 people go before us before getting harnessed up ourselves. On the platform they take a few pictures and then it’s 3-2-1 go, 43m to the river. I asked to touch the water, but not get my shoes wet. I just dove off the bungy platform like I was diving into a pool and went to about waist deep in the water. Then you bounce back up and drop about 2 more major times before 2 people in a boat come and collect you. They have you grab the pole and then bring you down and unclip you and take you to shore. I liked that system better than if we had done the Nevis Bungy which was 134m and above the same canyon we did the swing over. There you just dangle and they have to raise you back up into the jumping pad because you’re still miles away from the water even after jumping 134m, crazy! I have the photos and video from both adrenaline-filled activities, which I will try to post when I get the chance, and internet to do it!
Upon returning to Queenstown from the bungy, we began our journey north up the west coast to Fox Glacier. On the way, we managed to get to the Tasman Sea coastline at the perfect time to see the most beautiful sunset ever! We stopped in one place, and took a few photos and discovered some KILLER mini flies that just started to attack. We hadn’t really had a bug problem at all until reaching the west coast and they were ferocious! We could only take so many photos cause Dad was getting attacked holding Mom up on the back bumper of the campervan to see over the bush. It was then like a race against the setting sun to find a better lookout spot before it went down. This one car found the perfect place, but were taking really the only space to pull off onto (seeing as all of the roads are winding and skinny)! Luckily we came to a public lookout/car park with a gorgeous view of the cliffs and the sea. We couldn’t believe at 9:45pm we were still taking sunset pictures! With the clouds the sky turned all shades or orange and pink and even red as we continued to drive on! There was another car there, a guy who lives in the area came out to take some photos, so it must have been an extra special one!
We continued on our drive, crossing about 100 one-lane bridges, and counting 38 possums (alive this time) and a rabbit and a hedgehog! Actually, I’m pretty sure we squished one by accident...they were all just hanging out in the road or right next to it, now I see why Sophie and I counted so many dead ones! Finally we arrived at Fox Glacier at about 11pm, found ourselves a space to park in the holiday park (as they directed us to since we tend to arrive after reception closes), showered and went to sleep.
waiting in line to check in and get weighed
bus didn't quite make the corner while we were waiting in line a the bungy place..
No comments:
Post a Comment