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After finding an advert online for a van that looked perfect, with the additions of a mini fridge and even a TV and play station in the back, we made our way to Wanaka, a small lakeside town about an hour east of Queenstown. On arrival, we took a look at the van, and although a bit bashed up on the outside, the inside had been kitted out great, with a bed in the back and plenty of kitchen storage areas. We decided to make an offer on the 1998 Toyota Townace named 'Barry' and that evening met up with his owners, Dave and Ruth to seal the deal over a pint.
The next day was pretty uneventful, spent watching Castaway on TV, eating another disappointing fish and chips and excitedly waiting for Barry to arrive that evening, much like a pet. The next day was spent 'moving in' to Barry, cleaning him out and organising all our stuff. That evening we set up camp at our first campsite and enjoyed the most star filled sky through the 'moon roof' of the van.
On the 11th February, we finally started to travel New Zealand and do something more than spend our days looking for a van! That afternoon we climbed 'Roy's Peak', a 1500 metre high mountain, which provided us with spectacular views of Wanaka and the lake, along with Rob Roy's Glacier in the distance. We were entertained on the descent when a couple of paragliders were using the side of the mountain to launch off and catch thermal air pockets to ascend hundreds of metres up over the mountains...we both discussed this as a possible future hobby.
Returning to Queenstown the next day in preparation to book a bungy jump, we stayed at a 'Department of Conservation' (DOC) cheap campground which had no showers, but did have a glacial lake. Cue a quick icy wash before hypothermia set in (washing in freezing cold lakes, rivers and streams has since become a regular requirement).
13th February; Trevor's 32nd birthday, and the day we booked the AJ Hackett Nevis bungy jump!! We decided to treat ourselves to a decent camper park for Trevor's birthday in nearby Arrowtown, and pulled up in scrubby old Barry, beside some very high end RV vans, which made us feel much like gypsies. That evening we ate ourselves into a coma, enjoying proper barbecued sausages for the first time since leaving home, burgers, and potato salad, along with giant chocolate muffins for dessert. Trevor then proceeded to wash the van in a failed attempt to make Barry look better. Trevor even got a surprise birthday kiss on his foot from a hedgehog wandering around in the dark that night!
14th February; Valentines Day, and the day we did the bungy jump!! That morning with the time difference back in England, Trevor skyped his mum and sister for his birthday and gave them the grand tour of Barry. After being weighed at the bungy shop we boarded a bus with nervous anticipation, passing the original first commercial bungy jump, the 'Kawarau Bridge', at 43 metres high. After winding around some pretty hairy roads that were scary enough, we approached our bungy jump, set 134 metres above the river, suspended from a metal cage on a wire line! After being fitted into our harnesses and our weight double checked and written for everyone to see on our hand, we were transported across the gorge in a small pod attached to a high-wire to reach the bungy cage. Jumping in weight order, heaviest to lightest, we both had to wait a while and watch people jump over the edge and return after being winched back up! The loud rock style music in the cage hoped to hype us up, but we were both too busy taking it upon ourselves to quadruple check our harness tightness to notice!
Trevor first, wanted to make sure he took a nice clean jump as far over the edge as he dared, arms spread out. The jump went without a hitch though he went down with his fists clenched the whole way before rebounding back up several times and being winched back up. Sophie was watching the whole time and on his return he said it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be apart from the initial acceleration to over 115kph which made his heart feel like it was about to burst out his chest! After waiting for everyone else to jump, Sophie finally took her turn. Having watched everyone jump the anticipation for what was to come had really risen, but getting her ankle cuffs, harness tightened, and bungy cord attached, the fear started to turn into more just nervous laughter. Waddling up to the jump platform and peering over the edge, a wide grin spread across her face, finally realising there was no backing out now and deciding to try and enjoy it. "3, 2, 1...bungyyyyy." Another wide armed jump away from the platform and Sophie too got a small glimpse of her surroundings before hurtling towards the floor at an astonishing rate, until the cord stretched and she was propelled back up. On the second bounce up, she was unfortunately unable to disconnect the foot cord to turn her upright for winching back up to the platform, and, like many of the other girls who hadn't had the strength to disconnect themselves, had to return upside down like some fish on a rod! On her return, Sophie also agreed that the jump itself hadn't been as scary as anticipated, but had been a real adrenaline rush and thrill. We both also agreed that if someone had offered there and then for us to do the jump again for free we would have accepted....if not just to try and take in some more of the surroundings in the short space of jump time, where it's difficult to take in anything other than the sheer G-Force on your face! Sophie decided the return pod journey across the wire over the open gorge was more scary that the jump itself, and with wobbly legs we went and collected our free cheesy t-shirt and certificate, purchased some photos and videos that we had previously promised we wouldn't do, and made our way back to Queenstown!
After scaring ourselves silly in Queenstown we set off towards Dunedin and 'The Catlins' region, to enjoy the open road with Bazza!
- comments
Bess Beats me how any-one can say bungy jumping is enjoyable ??,have been to rob roy glacier last year when tramping in Mt Aspiring Nat park,spectacular,take care
AndyS Good one dude nice one