Bungy Jumping New Zealand

The Ledge Bungy, Queenstown

New Zealand is a well-known as a bungy (bungee) jumper's paradise .  Thrill-seekers can throw their body off of bridges, towers, cliffs, and even cable cars.  In Queenstown alone, there are three separate bungy jumping locations (all owned by AJ Hackett).  It is safe to say that bungy jumping is Queenstown's top activity.  Fresh from a successful skydive, I thought that bungy-jumping would be the next extreme sport to try.  Brimming with confidence, I headed to Queenstown to try my luck!

What to Expect
I examined the three bungee jumping options in Queenstown before making my decision on where to do my jump: The Kawarau Bridge, The Ledge, and the Nevis.  Each offered a slightly different take on bungy jumping.  

• "The Kawarau Bridge" is the world's first commercial bungy site.  It features a 43 meter fall with the option of being dunked head-first into the Kawarau River.  It is also the only place to in Queenstown where you can tandem-jump with a friend.  I passed on the Kawarau Bridge, because it seemed to "tame" for my tastes. 

• Next is "The Nevis," which is a 40 minute drive from Queenstown.  The Nevis Bungy is a 134 meter fall over the Nevis Gorge, making it New Zealand's highest bungy.  Jumpers make a leap from a cable car that is suspended between the gorge walls.  A fellow backpacker showed me a video that was shot of her making the leap.  It seemed as though her fall never ended.  Seeing the video made me realize I wasn't ready to test a jump so extreme! 

• The final option in Queenstown is "The Ledge" which is a platform built off the side of a mountain, 400 meters above Queensland.  With 47 meters of free-fall, it was slightly more extreme than the Kawarau Bridge without the excess of the Nevis.  It is also the only site where the bungy is secured around the waist instead of the feet, allowing for a running start to the free-fall. I like the idea of getting a running start, so I chose to jump at The Ledge.

To get to The Ledge, you must first ride to the top of the Skyline Gondola, which costs $25NZ ($20US).   The view of Queenstown and the surrounding mountains from the top is beautiful.   The Ledge platform is a short walk from the gondola.  

View from the top of the Gondola

Once I had paid and signed away my life, it took less that two minutes for the AJ Hackett employees to secure a harness and start the countdown for me to jump.  I tried to stall by asking them if everything was secure with my harness, to which one worker deadpanned "I hope so."  My plan was to jump calmly while holding my arms in triumph over my head.   I took a few steps, leaped....and my plan fell through.  I flapped my wings like a chicken and screamed like a baby.  My body was overwhelmed with a sinking-stomach feeling ten times stronger than that of a roller coaster.   It was a much scarier experience than skydiving.  Adrenaline junkies say it is the best feeling in the world. Bungee jumping is a New Zealand experience that should not be missed. 

The Ledge, Queenstown

Just the Basics

• Location: Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
• Cost: $180NZ ($138US)
  
• Website for AJ Hackett Bungy: http://www.bungy.co.nz/
• Advice: Purchase a video of your leap to show to your friends!