Jumping 134 meters down • The Nevis Bungy

Tessa
Apr 24, 2018
3 min read

Updated: Dec 9, 2018

Your Adrenaline level is pumping, breathing increases. Hearing the screams of the ones jumping before you. You are filling thoughts with motivation speeches. Breath in. Breath out. One footstep at a time. Looking down 134 meters over the edge. Dying does cross your mind.

Would you dare to make the jump?

When we walked into the A.J. Hackett bungy office in Queenstown the first thing you see is the slogan painted on the wall. Crazy if you do! Crazy if you don't! Bungy jumping had been on our bucket lists for quite some time so we decided to go for it.

The staff was very helpful and gave us the choice between three different jumps or doing a swing. We choose for the Nevis Bungy. A 134 meter jump that gives you a 8.5 second free fall. The next morning we were expected at 10 am for preparation and the bus transfer. With loads of butterflies in my stomach we reached our destination 45 minutes later.

The jumping pod hangs between two mountains above the Nevis river. You reach this pod after a small ride in a cable car that gives you stunning views of the valley around you. There is no doubt that the safety precautions are on point. The staff is professional, friendly and know what they're doing. When it's your turn they strap on your gear in a wobbly chair, lead you to the small steel jumping platform, and count 3, 2, 1. That's the moment you're supposed to jump. If you don't, they handle it very calmly and let you try one more time.

Facing your fear by standing on the edge might be the greatest personal challenge I ever had.

Your entire body screams NO! DON'T JUMP YOU FOOL!! And I am not ashamed to say that I chickened out the first time. But, I can also say without a doubt that this was the most excited thing we ever did.

Questions we got from friends and family:

Does it hurt? Do you feel the pulse from the cable?

No it doesn't hurt! The only thing you do feel is your hart exploding in your chest from the thrill while rushing down. Right after the Bungy cord stretches for the first time, you feel weightless for a couple of seconds.

How much did it cost?

For one person the price is $275 for the jump and the transfer. That's approximately 33$ per second. A crazy amount, we know. But you will remember those seconds for the rest of your life if you don't pass out! You can purchase photo's and video's of your jump afterwards and book another jump/swing if one wasn't enough. (our tip: do this in advance! We wanted to do the swing but it was fully booked)

What if the weather is bad?

This doesn't matter! Gravity works just fine even when it is raining or snowing. The Nevis Bungy is open all year round and we jumped in the pouring rain.

Any tips?

If you do have a real fear of heights, the swing might be a better option for you. It's also an insane experience but you don't have to take the jump yourself.

In high season, it is definitely recommended to book a few days in advance.

Worth it?

Bungee-jumping was the scariest, most mind-blowing thing we had ever done. It doesn't matter if you have a fear of heights or not, you are going to scream your lungs out the first time. For us, it was a very satisfying feeling to have pushed our limits and will certainly do it again when we get the chance!