Jump over the 134 m high Nevis bungy, the highest in New Zealand

Jump over the 134 m high Nevis bungy, the highest in New Zealand

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

If you google "bungy jumping" together with the name of a news agency, it won't take long for you to get a creepy headline via a torn cable or a fatal misjudgment. It seems that journalists - and indeed their readers - are fascinated by extreme efforts and their sometimes bad consequences. We are relatively unimpressed by prosaic traffic events. Instead, we want to hear from the horrors when you jump from a cliff or a dizzying bridge.

Maybe that has something comforting; Something that says: "I am reasonable, so I can't be hurt. I would never do that, so the danger will never knock on my door." Maybe it reminds people that they are safe and warm and lively.

Of course, some of us represent the opposite view: we are looking for breathtaking thrills because we feel alive. We know that there is a joy to find fear, and that's why we first immerse our feet into all the things that put us to the test. With this feeling of Bombast I booked the 134 m high Nevis-Bungy jump, the highest in New Zealand.

alt = “The Nevis-Bungy gondola hovers over the abyss”> Ben Campell; Fair use The Nevis bungy gondola hovers over the abyss

New Zealand described Lonely Planet as one of the best countries for a visit to 2018 and offers a dizzying selection of adventure activities, most of which concentrate in Queenstown, the "adventure capital of the world".

The Nevis Bungy is one of the most extreme offers, so I joyfully booked our G Adventures tour on the South Island with three other guests. Interestingly, Peter retired in favor of the Queenstown via Ferrata. He jumped out of an aircraft and climbed two of the seven peaks, but he pulled the border in bungee jumping because he knew that this experience would be a ordeal.

It was an interesting result when you consider that I wrote beforehand that people assume that I like adventure just because my friend does it. The truth is of course that I love adrenaline.

alt = “The look into the gorge”> Atlas & Boots A look into the gorge

That shouldn't mean that the Nevis Bungy did not let me pause. I booked it at our Chief Experience Officer from G Adventures without researching beforehand, lured by the fact that it was the highest in New Zealand, the "home of the bungee jumping". Only later, when I saw that we would jump from a gondola that was hung in the sky and captured with cables, did I feel my first WTF boost.

The second pain came on the way to Nevis Bungy during the day. A jumper colleague told me I should roll my socks. He had done a bungy jump in Canada and said that there was a point where his socks and the bungy cable attached over it started to slip down his leg. He was always certain, but the feeling of the sliding cord was alarming.

We arrived at the jumping center and made ourselves ready with nervous laughter and a pinch of bravery. We put into the transfer and drove to the gondola. When I leaned over the edge, I felt how my stomach turned. We would jump on that.

In the gondola, we were told that we would jump in the order of the weights, the most difficult to the most. I was the only woman to be the lightest and would therefore jump the last one. I was not sure if that was good or bad. On the one hand, it gave me the opportunity to watch the others and to strengthen my nerves accordingly. On the other hand, I had the opportunity to watch the others and lose their nerves accordingly.

The first came Thomas, a strong Austrian who jumped happily with the parachute a few days ago. The Nevis Bungy team strapped him to the cord and led him to the Sims. The main leader told him that when the time has come, he should jump off and not simply "fall" because jumping leads to a better bow. With a few more information, the guide counted down: "Three, two, one, bungy".

Thomas stopped motionless and stared into the void. Later he told me that he was frightened because everything came so suddenly: we arrived at the gondola and minutes later he was told that he should jump off. In retrospect, I think it was worst to jump first.

The guide started the countdown again: "Three, two, one, bungy". This time Thomas jumped and I watched through the glass pane in the ground as he plunged into the valley. Eeeek.

alt = "on the dreaded edge"> Atlas & Boots on the dreaded edge

With a raging pulse, I watched the others sprang up one after the other. After a short time it was my turn. I strapped my Olympus Toughcam tightly around my wrist. Jumper may wear their own cameras with the restriction that fallen equipment cannot be restored.

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

alt = “A wave before the jump”> Atlas & Boots A wave before jumping

I carefully waved into the camera and listened to the countdown with a raised head: "Three, two, one, bungy". I jumped forward with a cry, my heart raced and my stomach contracted.

seconds later I noticed that my eyes were closed. I grabbed her. If I did that, I would be damn a lot of fun. I felt how I immersed deep into the valley and then stormed up again. I always thought I would hate the hopping feeling, but the Nevis Bungy was completely smooth. I fell back onto the floor and felt a vertebrae of unbelief. It was exciting, scary and absolutely intoxicating.

alt = "jump to the abyss"> atlas & boots jump into the abyss

I swung up again, then down again and finally stopped. When I had the opportunity to take stock, I realized how damn crazy that was actually. I hung upside down in the stomach of a gorge after jumping from a box 134 m, which was kept by cables in heaven. Again I asked: wtf?

I grabbed air and felt how I was pulled up again. I shook my head and didn't quite believe the view below. Back in the gondola, the team freed me from the leash and we celebrated in a mixture of adrenaline, laughter and hysteria. The energy and enthusiasm of the team were an essential part of the experience: encouraging, electrifying and absolutely contagious.

alt = “The 134 m high Nevis bungy is the highest in New Zealand”> Atlas & Boots The 134 m high Nevis Bungy is the highest in New Zealand

People ask me if the Nevis Bungy or the skydiving was more scary. It was undoubtedly the Nevis Bungy. Despite the much greater height, skydiving doesn't feel like a fall. The power of the air around them has a buoyancy effect. With the Nevis Bungy you really only fall.

Before I booked Nevis Bungy, I always thought that bungee jumping was one of these things that I would only do once-just to say that 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 as part of a 15-day South Island tour with G Adventures over the 134 m high Nevis Bungy in New Zealand.

Where: Accommodation on the tour comprises 14 nights in simple hotels and hostels, including a farmstay and one night in a former prison. Some accommodations had joint baths and bunk beds. If you are a couple, raise this when booking so that you have a double bed if possible.

When: The best time to travel for New Zealand is SEP-APR. Summer (December to February) offers excellent hiking weather and a variety of festivals and events. The temporary seasons autumn (March-Apr) and Spring (SEP-Nov) have nice weather, fewer crowds and lower prices.

like: We explored the South Island of New Zealand on a 15-day South Island tour with G Adventures, and costs the 15-day trip from Wellington to Wellington at a price of $ 2,149 GBP or $ 2,792 per person (depending on the date). The travel route leads, among other things, through the Abel Tasman National Park, Franz Josef and Queenstown.

The price includes a continuous chief experience officer (CEO), a simple breakfast and several meals as well as numerous activities such as hiking, kayaking and cycling. Optional activities include parachuting, bungy jumping, canyoning, via ferrata and glacier hikes. For more information or bookings, call 0344 272 2040 or visit gadvures.com.

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

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disclosure: We traveled to New Zealand with the support of Lonely Planet and G Adventures. All publications say that, but we really don't guarantee positive reporting. We say what we think - good and bad - so that you can make sound decisions with honest advice.

Lonely Planet New Zealand is a comprehensive travel guide for New Zealand, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights as well as to choose less busy roads.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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