Bungee Jumping in New Zealand

You've been fitted for a harness and given safety instructions. You wait in a line of six or so people, as one by one, they disappear over the edge of a wooden platform. Slowly, you inch your way forward as your turn approaches. There's knots in your stomach, and it is very possible you might throw up. You're hooked to a cable and given a countdown: three, two, one. And you jump! You throw yourself into the air and free fall 154 feet before bouncing back up and bobbing around, taking in the view and enjoying the thrill of it all. Before you know it, you're back on the ledge, ready to go again!

Bungee jumping, while scary, is something everyone should try. The hardest part is forcing yourself to jump off the ledge, but afterward you get to experience adrenaline pumping through your veins and incredible sights. I decided to give it a try when I was in Queenstown, New Zealand. We had one day in the city, and it is the home of the first commercial bungee jumping site.

I chose AJ Hackett Bungy for a number of reasons. First of all, AJ Hackett himself began the first commercial bungee jumping facility after developing bungee cords in 1987 (he actually jumped off the Eiffel Tower to test it!). For more information on the history of bungee jumping, check out this website. As a history nerd, I find it super interesting.

Second, AJ Hackett Bungy has a lot of options. They offer three different jump sites, each offering a range of customizations, as well as two swing locations, one being the largest swing in the world.

My Queenstown jump!

Finally, AJ Hackett Bungy uses a harness. This was important to me because one of my biggest concerns was being jerked and flung around when I jumped. I had seen videos of friends bungee jumping on social media, usually with the cord attached to their feet. It always looked like they were being thrown around like rag dolls, and that concerned me. The jump I did used chest harnesses, and I asked the guys running the ledge how it would feel when I jumped. They told me it would be very smooth, and it was! It was a comfortable jump, and I didn't feel unsafe in any way.

I think the best part of bungee jumping was the view. The snow-capped mountains surrounding Lake Wakatipu glistened in the sun, and the lush green trees near the ledge framed my view beautifully. It was absolutely breathtaking, and pictures can never do it justice, but you can find some below!

This was one of the more expensive things I did on this trip, but I budgeted for it ahead of time. Here is a breakdown of the costs:

• Cost to bungee jump - $205 NZD or $132.04 USD

• Photo/video package - This will depend on whether you purchase the video and photo package or just one; I believe I paid about $50 USD for the photos and video

• Gondola ride - $39 NZD or $25.12 USD

I would absolutely recommend purchasing your photos and videos. I was able to download them from the internet and share them with friends and family and on social media immediately. The video and pictures were good quality and so much fun to look at and laugh about! I also thought the price of the jump itself was reasonable. I do wish it had included a gondola ticket, but we received a free T-shirt following our jump.

If you have been bungee jumping before or want to go, tell me in the comments! I'd love to hear about your experience or answer questions you may have about my own.