Last year I visited the birthplace of adventure tourism in
New Zealand – the AJ Hackett Bungy Jump at Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown. It was first opened at the end of 1988 and
now attracts more than 500,000 people every year.
There is an excellent viewing platform where the
not-so-brave (or should that read the not-so-foolish) can watch all the action
take place.
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| The viewing platform |
It takes a while to organize a person for a jump. They have to be properly harnessed and appear
to receive a pep talk along with instructions.
The time arrives to stand on the very edge of the platform and look down
a long distance to the river far below.
A countdown and a gentle nudge and they are swinging through the air
upside down, tied by their feet to a rope that allows them to bounce up and
down upside down and sometimes dip their head into the water.
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| Looking down at the Kawarau River |
I missed seeing the first person jump but I heard all the
gasps from his bus load of friends and watched as the crew rescued him from the
water. He lay flat on his back in the
boat, gazing up at his friends and waving weakly. After being dropped off back at shore he then
had to walk up the steep steps to where we all were, arriving to a great cheer
from his buddies.
I was all set with my camera when the next person was ready
to jump, but as he did so my heart jumped right into my mouth and I totally
forgot to click the shutter!
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| Preparing to jump off the bridge |
That was enough adventure for me. I obviously don’t have that desire for
thrills flowing through my system. I returned
to my car and continued on my drive from Queenstown to Alexandra.
Have a great day!
Margaret.
Oh my goodness. I would never want to bungee jump. WAAAYYY too scary for me.
ReplyDeleteYou must be on another road trip. I must check your last post to see if you mention that.
I realize now that you are referring to last year. Sorry. I missed that part .
ReplyDeleteLol Margaret- the first thing my mother said when she heard about the bungee jump craze was.....fools and their money soon part company!
ReplyDeleteI know it's not what she actually meant but I wonder how many wallets end up in the water??
In my wildest younger days, in the moments when I was a participant in the tomfoolery of youth, when I might have done things with a swagger to impress a girl, when false bravado was a required element in life, you still couldn't have induced to bungee jump!
ReplyDeleteI visited that bridge in May of 1999. I didn’t do the jump either but it was fun to watch other face their fears and go for it. I missed out on the gene for thrill seeking too. Thankfully!
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to watch, but I would NEVER jump!!
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, I just don't feel the need for that adrenaline rush, besides being scared of heights I prefer my feet on the ground with the camera.
ReplyDeleteYou and me, both. Not even something I would particularly want to watch.
ReplyDelete