| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 04/09/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 40 |
| Copyright: Other |
Awesome foursome
Freefalling from a flight of fantasy
Facing up to his fears, Gareth Cosslett took part in New Zealand’s Awesome Foursome challenge, which included taking flight from the highest bungy jump in the country
Arriving in Queenstown, the extreme sports capital of New Zealand, it is impossible not to be swept up by the adrenaline buzz that pulsates through the city.Even buying a beer at the bar is a dangerous experience as drinkers flail their arms around wildly while recounting the day’s death-defying tales.
Everybody is in Queenstown to scare themselves and if you’re not up for it, then you’re in the wrong town. Only this ‘have-a-go’ frenzy can explain why I found myself shuffling up to a cable car ledge with 440ft of fresh New Zealand air between me and a trickling river at the bottom of the canyon below and only a bungy cord to save me from a messy death.
The Nevis Highwire bungy jump is the highest in New Zealand and one part of the Awesome Foursome package. The other three parts are, the fastest, scariest jet boat ride; the wildest helicopter ride; and the best white-water rafting in the area.
The bungy is the first activity and by far the scariest. Standing on the metal ledge of the cable car suspended between two sides of a canyon defies all sense of human survival (and logic, as you waive all life insurance rights before jumping). As the heaviest person in the group, I had to jump first, as well as suffer the shame of having my not inconsiderable weight in kilos scrawled on my hand for all to see.
The fear is difficult to describe. As I held on for dear life to the side of the cable car my brain was screaming “huge drop, save yourself”. I ignored my brain and dived forward.
And then my memory fails me. I think the experience of hurtling towards the ground causes such a cranial overload that there’s no room for recollection. All I know is that I emerged at the top whooping embarrassingly and giving people high-fives like one of the surf dudes in the Pepsi max ads.
We were then whisked over to the Shotover Jet ride, for the speedboat experience. The boats are powered by high-pressure jets of water blasting out of two holes at the back. This allows them to skim over ultra-shallow water, as well as scoot dangerously near to the wall faces of the river canyon. It seemed a little tame after the bungy, although the 360-degree spinning turns were a drenching, gut-churning highlight.
After lunch, a helicopter ride would take us through Skippers Canyon to the starting point for the white-water rafting. Four of us ran army-style under the thudding blades of the chopper holding onto hats/wigs before clambering into the tiny cabin.
After five minutes of looping, ducking and soaring in and out of the canyon, we emerged a little queasy and ready for a dip.
The first half of the rafting was mild, so we amused ourselves by throwing each other in. But after negotiating rapids with names such as Toilet, Jaws, Pinball and Sharks Fin, the adrenaline was pumping.
A fitting end to the Awesome Foursome was emerging from the fast-flowing, 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel before being pummelled by the washing machine-like Cascade Rapid at the finish.
After that day, nothing will ever seem scary again.
factfile
Operator prices
n Travel2 offers the Awesome Foursomepackage for £138 per person. For more details, tel: O870 606 3222.
n Gold Medal has a brochure price of £80 for the Shotover Triple Challenge (Shotover Jet, Rafting and Helicopter Ride). The operator can tailor individual packages, including the Awesome Foursome, for agents. Tel: 0870 606 3001.
n For further details on the Awesome Foursome, visit www.combos.co.nz. Some of Queenstown’s other bungy sites are detailed on www.ajhackett.com, and www.rafting.co.nz describes the region’s rafting tours. For details on the Shotover Jet, go to www.shotover.co.nz.
Get your thrills here:Queensland, the extreme sports capital of New Zealand
Tall order:the Nevis Hirewire bungy is the highest in New Zealand