Being distantly related to a bunch of gypsies bodes well occasionally when blagging a good deal, so we opted for a 'combo' package which was called the Shotover Free Fall. The clue for at least 2 parts of the day are in the title but I'll give you a low down on the rest:
- Up again at silly O'clock (Bah!) to go on the Shotover Jet. Another crazy paced jet boat that hurtles down a river in the bottom of a canyon narrowly avoiding various obstacles along the way including rocks at head height & semi submerged trees, branches and more rocks for good measure
- Next up: White Water Rafting. This was to take place at the top of one of the nearby canyons and would normally take 45 minutes to drive to it. Our package however included the Helicopter trip to it. Nice.
Now, the helicopter only took 4 people at a time and the helipad was a ten minute drive up the mountain road. Regaled in full wetsuits and carrying hard hats & life jackets in the blazing sun, we looked a right bunch of Muppets sat on a log alone in the middle of a field next to the main road waiting for the helicopter to return from its first drop off. Anyone passing must've thought we were bananas. I'm not sure what I prayed for more - not to crash while we were in it, or not to crash on the first run thereby leaving us to die on a hillside looking like penguins.
Fortunately the helicopter ride was awesome and the pilot, who was either some kind of part-time stuntman, or Mad Murdoch from the A-Team swooped round, up and down the canyons seemingly beheading anything living on the ground below us. I love it when a plan comes together. - Joining 5 other people in a rubber dinghy (including the guide) with nothing but a wooden oar and a limited set of instructions and being launched down grade 4 rapids can feel a little daunting at first but was nonetheless very enjoyable - until we found ourselves dragging people from another up-turned raft into ours who, without our help, would have just sailed off down the rapids. Good fun though. Honest!
- The cherry on the cake... The absolute highlight of all days... SKYDIVING FROM 12,000 FEET!!
Oh yes, you heard that right Brothers and Sisters, Lou and I embarked on a trip that we'll remember forever. I won't lie to you readers, every emotion filled our heads and very nearly our pants in the run up to the jump, but once briefed and kitted out, we were bundled into a plane, taken up to 12,000 feet above Queenstown and in what seemed no time at all, were free-falling towards the ground at over 200KPH. This lasted for about 45 seconds before the canopy opened. If you've ever done it, you'll know how it feels. If you haven't, do it. It's awesome. I've never felt so alive.
Today was spent chilling out and taking a trip up the mountain in some cable cars and having a go on the Luges but after yesterdays excitement, it all seemed a bit tame!
Check out the pictures, we've posted the ones from the Caving and Agrodome up too.
We'll be heading off tomorrow to pastures more calm and serene!
Darren
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