Day 4

On the agenda for today was just one thing: Adrenaline.

I was excited and anxious for this day to arrive, because we were going to get one of those items checked off the bucket list: bungee-jumping! And not just any bungee jump – we were going to do the highest bungee (or bungy, as how the kiwis spell it) in New Zealand, at the Nevis Canyon.

Getting to the platform was exciting in itself. We had to get in a gondola which could fit 6 people at a time, and the gondola took us over the canyon, to the platform suspended in the middle of it.

Before the jump, we got into a “dentist’s chair” to attach us to the bungee cord. I was feeling so anxious, thinking about the impending jump, that I got a shock when the chair tilted back as I got in.

Naz jumped first, and he actually ruptured a blood vessel in his right eye doing it. Not to worry, it’s nothing serious. A few people jumped after him, and then it was my turn. Ankles bound together, I inched to the edge of the platform, like a prisoner on a pirate ship walking the plank. The staff asked me to pose for a few cameras, and I did as was told, but it felt like I was somewhere else, not really paying attention.

He counted me down…5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

I was too terrified to actually jump off headfirst, which was how I pictured myself to do it. The freefall was incredible. No rollercoaster or “freefall” rides could compare to the sensation from bungee-jumping.

We barely recovered from our jumps, when we went to the other platform to conquer the World’s Biggest Swing. We did the tandem swing, of course! And there I was thinking the swing would be a cake walk but the first few seconds of free fall before the actual swinging motion had us screaming our heads off.

Back in Queenstown, we had lunch at McDonald’s, and took the Skyline Gondola up to Bob’s Peak. We had a gorgeous view of Queenstown from up there, and I dare say that Queenstown might be the most photogenic town/city I’ve laid eyes on.

But we weren’t here just for the view – our adrenaline-filled day wasn’t over yet! On the ski lift we went to our next activity – the luge!

We’ve done the luge before in Sentosa, and had a blast. So, we knew what to expect. But the luge here was just on another level. Just look at that view!

And for once, the competitive me wasn’t really up for a race because I preferred to go slower on the track to take in the view. Also, once you get over the view (if you could even do that!), the Red Track really had the adrenaline going. Tight turns from the get go, and a few steep drops… no wonder kids aren’t allowed to ride with an adult on this track.

Back on ground level, we headed to Cookie Time Cookie Bar. Cookie Time is a brand created in New Zealand and their pre-packaged cookies are popular as souvenirs. The cookie bar is the only one in New Zealand and served fresh cookies, milshakes and other desserts! Nothing like sugar to calm us down after all that adrenaline…