Wanaka - Queenstown

So we made our way down to Wanaka where it is very cold. Coldest it's been so far. Obviously I've turned into some sort of cold weather wimp and it's probably not half as cold here as it gets at home in winter but it does feel icey!!!

We didn't do much in Wanaka, just admired the lakes and the surrounding scenery, very beautiful. And went out for dinner and drank red wine

I wanted to do something extreme but didn't fancy the jet boating and I'm not ready to do a sky dive just yet so I thought I'd save it for Queenstown, the self titled extreme adventure capital.

A lot of Kiwi's don't seem that impressed with Queenstown. Whenever we told people we were heading there they said get in and get out as fast as you can. That it just robs you of your money!!

Well, it's a lovely town and yes, it is a little pricey!!

We arrived around 3pm and went into town for a look around. I had decided that I might do a bungy jump. I've been thinking about it for a while now and although the thought alone scares me to death, I think I'd be disappointed with myself if I didn't try it. Not sure why but I just feel that it's something I need to do.

So we went to bungy central and asked about the options. Just out of town is the world's first commercial bungy site. We had passed this on the way in and had stopped to have a look. It didn't look too high (about 41m) but it was over a river and I didn't fancy having my head dunked into a river in the middle of winter.

They have a few others, one is the Nevis High Wire which is a 134m drop (440 feet) which I felt was a little too high for a first timer! Then there is the Ledge Urban Bungy, which is described as:

"the only urban Bungy in Queenstown, it was clearly our duty to make it as crazy as possible. The Ledge Urban Bungy is like no other, in that it comes equipped with a 'runway' to launch you out 400 metres over Queenstown."

Yep, that's the one for me!!!

Emma had decided that she wasn't going to do a jump but would be a willing spectator and eagerly egged me on into booking a jump then and there. Thanks Em!

$140 and a half hour later and I was perched high above Queenstown watching the clock tick slowly towards 5.30pm, my jump time.

The rest is all a bit of a blur. I'm not sure how I actually managed it seeing as heights aren't my thing but I did it. I ran off the edge of the ledge and flung myself into the air and waited for the rope to do it's job and save my life. And I bought the photos and DVD to prove I did it. It's a bit weird watching it now and I do make the most awful death wail as I fall. And I didn't really fling myself either, more of a run and a fall off the edge... Oh well, I'll try and be cooler next time if I know it's being filmed!!

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It was an awesome experience. Truely frightening but something that I would consider doing again, I think!!!

We had a glass of wine to celebrate (so rock and roll!!)

Next stop Te Anua and Milford Sound