Jumping over the 134m Nevis Bungy, the highest in New Zealand

Jumping over the 134m Nevis Bungy, the highest in New Zealand

We visit the adventure capital of the world and try one of its most extreme activities: the 134m high Nevis Bungy

If you Google "bungy jumping" along with the name of a news outlet, it won't be long before you get a scary headline about a broken cable or a fatal misjudgment. It seems that journalists - and indeed their readers - are fascinated by extreme pursuits and their sometimes dire consequences. We are relatively unimpressed by prosaic traffic incidents. Instead, we want to hear about the horrors of jumping off a cliff or a dizzying bridge.

Maybe there's something comforting about that; something that says, "I'm sensible, so I can't be hurt. I would never do that, so danger will never knock on my door." Maybe it reminds people that they are safe and warm and alive.

Of course, some of us take the opposite view: we seek mind-blowing thrills because they make us feel alive. We know that joy is found on the edge of fear, and that's why we dive feet first into all the things that test us. It was with this feeling of bombast that I booked the 134m Nevis bungy jump, the highest in New Zealand.

alt="The Nevis Bungy gondola floats over the abyss">Ben Campbell; Fair useThe Nevis Bungy gondola floats over the abyss

Named one of the best countries to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, New Zealand offers a dizzying array of adventure activities, most of which are centered in Queenstown, the “Adventure Capital of the World.”

The Nevis Bungy is one of the most extreme offerings, so I happily booked our G Adventures tour of the South Island along with three other guests. Interestingly, Peter dropped out in favor of the Queenstown Via Ferrata. He has jumped out of a plane and climbed two of the seven peaks, but he drew the line at bungee jumping because he knew the experience would be torture.

It was an interesting result, considering I've written before about how people assume I like adventure just because my boyfriend does. The truth, of course, is that I love adrenaline.

alt=“The view into the gorge”>Atlas & BootsThe view into the gorge

That's not to say the Nevis Bungy didn't give me pause. I booked it with our Chief Experience Officer at G Adventures without doing any research, lured by the fact that it was the highest in New Zealand, the “Home of Bungee Jumping”. It wasn't until later, when I saw that we were going to jump from a gondola suspended in the sky, held in place by cables, that I felt my first WTF jolt.

The second pain came on the day itself on the way to the Nevis Bungy. A fellow jumper told me to roll down my socks. He had done a bungy jump in Canada and said there was a point where his socks and the bungy cord attached to them started sliding down his leg. He was always safe, but the feeling of the slipping line was alarming to say the least.

We arrived at the jump center and got ready with nervous laughter and a dash of bravery. We packed into the transfer and headed to the gondola. As I leaned over the edge, I felt my stomach turn. We would jump on that.

In the gondola we were told that we would jump in order of weight, from heaviest to lightest. As the only woman, I was the lightest and would therefore be the last to jump. I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. On the one hand, it gave me the opportunity to observe the others and strengthen my nerves accordingly. On the other hand, I had the opportunity to observe the others and lose my nerve.

First came Thomas, a strong Austrian who had happily jumped with a parachute a few days ago. The Nevis Bungy team strapped him to the line and led him to the ledge. The lead guide told him that when the time came, he should jump off and not just "fall" because jumping resulted in a better arc. With a few more clues, the guide counted down: “Three, two, one, Bungy.”

Thomas stood motionless and stared into space. He later told me that he was put off because everything was so sudden: we arrived at the gondola and minutes later he was told to jump off. In hindsight, I think jumping first was the worst.

The guide started the countdown again: “Three, two, one, Bungy”. This time Thomas jumped and I watched through the glass in the ground as he fell into the valley. Eeeek.

alt="On the Dreaded Edge">Atlas & BootsOn the dreaded edge

With my pulse racing, I watched as the others jumped off one after the other. After a short while it was my turn. I strapped my Olympus Toughcam tightly around my wrist. Jumpers are allowed to carry their own cameras, with the caveat that dropped equipment cannot be recovered.

I was strapped to the cord and led to the ledge. I looked into the abyss and thought: Oh, Jesus. The absurdity of the situation hit me. I read that we humans are born with two fears: loud noises and falling. That certainly went against human nature.

alt="A wave before the leap">Atlas & BootsA wave before the jump

I waved carefully at the camera and listened to the countdown with my head held high: “Three, two, one, Bungy.” I jumped forward with a scream, my heart racing and my stomach clenching.

Seconds later I realized my eyes were closed. I snapped her up. If I did that, I would have a lot of fun. I felt myself diving deep into the valley and then rushing back up. I always thought I would hate the bouncy feeling, but the Nevis Bungy was completely smooth. I fell back to the ground and felt a whirlwind of disbelief. It was exciting, scary and absolutely exhilarating.

alt="Jump into the abyss">Atlas & BootsJump into the abyss

I swung back up, then down again, and finally stopped. When I had a chance to take stock, I realized how fucking crazy this actually was. I was hanging upside down in the belly of a ravine after jumping 450 feet from a box held up by cables in the sky. Again I asked: WTF?

I gasped and felt myself being pulled back up. I shook my head, not entirely believing the view below. Back in the gondola, the team released me from the leash and we celebrated in a mix of adrenaline, laughter and hysteria. The team's energy and enthusiasm were an integral part of the experience: encouraging, electrifying and completely infectious.

alt="The 134 m high Nevis Bungy is the highest in New Zealand">Atlas & BootsThe 134 m high Nevis Bungy is the highest in New Zealand

People ask me if the Nevis Bungy or skydiving was scarier. Undoubtedly it was the Nevis Bungy. Despite the much greater altitude, skydiving doesn't quite feel like a fall. The force of the air around you has a buoyancy effect. With the Nevis Bungy you really just fall.

Before I booked the Nevis Bungy, I always thought that bungee jumping was one of those things I would only do once - just to say I did it. To my surprise, it was one of the best things I've ever done and I would definitely do it again. Next stop Macau?

Nevis Bungy: the essentials

What: Jump over the 134m Nevis Bungy in New Zealand as part of a 15-day South Island tour with G Adventures.

Where: Accommodation on the tour includes 14 nights in basic hotels and hostels, including a farm stay and a night in a former prison. Some accommodations had shared bathrooms and bunk beds. If you are a couple, highlight this when booking so that you can have a double bed if possible.

When: The best time to travel to New Zealand is Sep-Apr. Summer (December to February) offers excellent hiking weather and a variety of festivals and events. The fall (Mar-Apr) and spring (Sep-Nov) shoulder seasons have nice weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices.

How: We explored New Zealand's South Island on a 15-day South Island tour with G Adventures, which costs 15 days from Wellington to Wellington, priced at £2,149 or $2,792 per person (depending on date). The itinerary takes you through the Abel Tasman National Park, Franz Josef and Queenstown, among other places.

The price includes a full-time Chief Experience Officer (CEO), a simple breakfast and several meals, and numerous activities such as hiking, kayaking and cycling. Optional activities include skydiving, bungy jumping, canyoning, via ferrata and glacier hiking. For more information or to book, call 0344 272 2040 or visit gadventures.com.

We flew from the UK to New Zealand via Singapore and Australia. Book flights at the best prices through Skyscanner.

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Disclosure: We traveled to New Zealand with support from Lonely Planet and G Adventures. All publications say this, but we really don't guarantee positive coverage. We say what we think – good and bad – so you can make informed decisions with honest advice.

Lonely Planet New Zealand is a comprehensive travel guide to New Zealand, ideal for those who want to both explore the main attractions and take the road less traveled.

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