New Zealand Adventure Information

TANDEM SKYDIVING

Call me crazy, but I didn't find skydiving all that scary, and nearly everyone I spoke with about this agreed. It's a great rush, sure, and definitely worth doing, but on the whole it isn't as frightening as people expect. Of course, most people expect a near–death experience, so the bar is set high. The experience starts by putting on a jumpsuit and learning how you'll exit the plane and land. The tandem master (the guy you'll be strapped to) leads you into a tiny plane, often with a few other jumpers. I think I was in denial the whole flight up, and it hardly occurred to me that I wasn't leaving the plane the same way I entered it. The only part of skydiving that truly made me question my sanity was the exact second that I realized it was time to jump. As we hit our jumping altitude of 12,000 feet, I slipped my goggles down, felt my heart leap into my throat, and allowed the tandem master to edge us to the "door" of the plane (in some planes, there's not even a door; in others, it's more of a sliding plastic sheet). The world was whizzing by, and we were going to jump into it.

It was at that point that I started to wonder how embarrassing it would be if I just stayed in the plane. But the comforting (or terrifying) part about tandem skydiving is you know the tandem master won't let you chicken out. Before I could think too long, I smiled for the camera perched on the wing, held onto my harness, tucked my legs and arms in, leaned my head back, felt the tandem master on my back let go of the plane, and then we were falling. No, not falling, more like flying. It wasn't the free–fall sensation I got from bungy jumping, but more of a feeling of whipping through the air. The free–fall was about 45 seconds from 12,000 feet, though it seemed much longer. The sound was almost deafening as the wind rushed past at 125 miles per hour. The ground still seemed so far away, as if I'd never reach it. When the chute finally opened, it was almost a disappointment. The rush was over and I felt a sharp tug as I abruptly slowed down. We gradually floated to the ground, taking in the astounding New Zealand countryside of lush greenery, mountains dusted with snow, and a glistening lake, with a true 360–degree angle.

Tandem Skydiving Info

TANDEM HANG GLIDING

So now maybe you've had the free–fall, and the bungy plunge, but how would you actually like to control what you're doing in the sky instead of just hurtling through the air with a wind–blown grin? Imagine soaring freely across a pure blue sky, looking down with a true bird's–eye view of the world below. Hang gliding might just be the best way to take a little control of your aerial adventures.

So now its time to experience some more thrills try this one.You drive with the hang gliding instructors to a take–off area high in "The Remarkables" ski area. You than suit up in extremely stylish jumpsuits, neck gaiters, helmets, and gloves. Even though its summer, it can be cold at that altitude . The instructors will tie you in and briefly go over what we'd be doing once we were in the air, They then tell you that you are going to run down the mountain to take off.

You take off at an altitude of about 2,000 feet and fly about 300 feet above the ground during the 15–minute flight. You Can see the whole of Queenstown: a spectacular view of the Remarkable mountain range, Lake Wakatipu, the Shotover River, and the Kawarau River. Since your body is parallel to the ground, it's even easier to enjoy the view because it's directly below you. You can enjoy the view in an entirely different way than during skydiving because you make use of air pockets to stay in the air for a long period of time. Hang gliding is the perfect activity to get a small dose of adrenaline and a giant helping of unforgettable scenery.

Tandem Hang Gliding Info

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