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backpackingmatt December 28, 2009

Bungy Jumping in Queenstown – Nevis Highwire

New Zealand, Travel Photos, Travel Videos 18 Replies

Update as of August 11, 2014 the price of the Nevis Bungy has increased to $180. If you book through Planit NZ, I’ll take $10 off the price of the jump – just quote Backpacking Matt when booking!

A bungy jump is arguably one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do. To stand on the edge of a bridge and jump goes against everything that feels right. Every part of your body, your mind, your rational thinking conscience says, “no, absolutely not.” To overcome that voice in your head and make the leap of faith is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

The more you think about the jump, the harder it gets. The pre-jump experience with AJ Hackett’s Nevis Highwire Bungy gives you plenty of time to think – this makes for a truly epic experience.

After checking in for my Nevis jump in Queenstown’s city center, I boarded an AJ Hackett shuttle bus which took me and about 20 other jumpers outside of town. The first stop was Kawarau Bridge – home of the world’s first commercial bungy jump in 1988. At Kawarau Bridge, about 15 people left the bus leaving only five brave souls to make their way another 10 kms to the Nevis Jump site. Not much was said on the bus ride – I sensed that everyone was as nervous as I was about the upcoming jump.

After turning off the SH 6, a quick 10 minute ride up a dirt road left us at the base of a steep mountain. We got off the shuttle bus and were asked to board a smaller, 4WD vehicle which made its way up a steep and winding gravel road.

As we neared the top of this road, our driver pointed out the wide open canyon to our right. Suspended above the canyon on a cable was the jump pod where I’d soon make the leap. My heart skipped a couple beats and I began to get a feel for what was to come – a massive jump.

After reaching the top of the hill, myself and the other jumpers were fitted with a harness, our weight was checked again, and we were led to the cable car which would bring us out over the canyon to the jump pod. The jump pod itself features a glass floor which provides some stunning views of the river on the canyon floor.

When it was my turn to make the leap, I was positioned in a chair which appeared to either belong in a dentist’s office or a torture chamber. The bungy cord was strapped to my feet and I was given some last minute instructions for the jump. Of my biggest concern was the bit where I was to pull the cord to release my feet after the second bounce. This would allow me to be pulled back up to the pod in a seated position – as opposed to upside down. Seemed to be straight forward enough – unless perhaps you had just experienced 8.5 seconds of free fall!

After the instructions were clear, I ‘toed’ my way towards the jump point. A small, metal platform which juts off of the bungy pod. The cord was tossed over the edge leaving me again with the stomach turning feeling of what was to come. The jumpmaster counted down, “3, 2, 1, go Matt!” and I dove out, hands first, over the canyon below.

Words can’t begin to describe the feeling, the ground rush sensation you get as you plummet towards the canyon floor below you. I won’t even try. It’s a completely comfortable experience – no significant jerk as the bungy cord reaches it’s end. A smooth flow up, and again back down. The euphoric feeling is immediate, and lasts for hours after the jump. You’ll instantly begin thinking about when you can jump again.

The experience was a great one from start to finish. The team at AJ Hackett does a terrific job of both making you feel safe and comfortable. From the check in, to the harnessing up, to the jumpmaster who is your last contact before making the leap – everyone was professional yet fun. Both characteristics you want the day of your jump.

Thinking of taking the leap yourself? Here are some facts to get you started:

How high? 134 meters (440) – Australasia’s highest jump!

How long will you fall? 8.5 seconds

How much? The jump itself will cost you NZ$250 – all transport included. AJ Hackett also throws in a free shirt. If you want video and photographic proof, you’ll be out another $80. Not a cheap experience, but well worth it in my view.

Where? The check in for the jump is in Queenstown’s City Center at the Station Building. Allow about three – four hours from start to finish.

Is it worth it? Yes. It’s not a cheap experience, but well worth it in my mind. For $250, you’re getting a half day experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Taupo’s Bungy is pretty epic as well – but, you pay your $109, get your ticket, jump, and that’s you finished. AJ Hackett goes out of their way to make your jump an experience to remember.

backpackingmatt December 15, 2009

Experience Abel Tasman In a Day

New Zealand, Travel Photos 20 Replies

Each summer, thousands of backpackers and other budget travelers flock to New Zealand for a number of reasons – the sun, the beaches, the hiking, or the jaw-dropping landscapes that New Zealand provides. Many of these travelers come to New Zealand to hike a ‘Great Walk’ – one of several tramping tracks Beach on the Abel Tasman found around the North and Sound Islands. Be it the Milford Track on the South Island, or the Tongariro Circuit on the North Island, these tracks are inexpensive and rewarding ways to travel New Zealand.

One of these Great Walks is the Abel Tasman Coastal Track which is located only an hours drive away from Nelson in the Abel Tasman National Park. The track takes you through dense rain forests with views of beautiful blue bays and tropical islands, across white sandy beaches, and provides an excellent opportunity to take in some fine, New Zealand views. From end to end, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track stretches 51km and can be completed in anywhere from 3 to 5 days, depending on your motivation and level of fitness.

If you’re short of time, without a tent, or perhaps questioning your level of physical fitness, here’s how to experience the best of Abel Tasman in a day. Tidal pool

Marahau is a small, wee settlement at the Southern end of the track – a long hours drive north of Nelson. Water Taxis leave daily from Marahau to various points along the Abel Tasman Track. Your best bet is to spend the night in Marahau and catch an early ferry up the coast the next morning. Operating out of Marahau Beach Camp, Marahau Water taxis will take you north to Bark Bay for $36 one-way.

Approximately an hours boat ride north, your water taxi driver does an excellent job of filling you in on a number of interesting points about Abel Tasman National Abel Tasman View Park and its history. From Bark Bay, you have a beautiful, 21km walk back south to Marahau. A relatively flat, gravel path allow hikers of all ages and abilities to take in the park’s scenery.

Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen – many sections of the track are unprotected from the strong, New Zealand sun. Additionally, don’t let the potential swarms of sandflies ruin your walk. While I didn’t encounter many, I can only imagine one of the beaches is named ‘Sandfly Beach’ for a reason. Lastly, if you do hope to spend a couple nights in the bush, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance. The few DOC (Department of Conservation) Huts fill up quickly – you’ll want to bring your tent as a last resort.

A terrific, budget-friendly day trip, you can experience Abel Tasman in a day for less than $50. Finish your day at The Fat Tui, a small food trailer tucked under some New Zealand palm trees. This little joint serves up some outstanding fish and chips and may produce one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted. A well deserved meal after a beautiful days hike.

backpackingmatt November 21, 2008

paris. pictures.

Europe, Mainland Europe, Travel Photos Comments Off

Below you’ll find pictures from my whirlwind tour of Paris … I enjoyed Paris, but I don’t think I’ll rush back to the city. If you need a refresher on my time there, here is a link to my quick post about Paris.

arriving at the station.

unique building we came across while looking for a place to stay.

the place we found. cheap, but a wee bit dodgy. any time you’re quoted a certain price for a room, and an additional charge for the use of a shower, you know something isn’t right. Moreover, the ‘hotel’ didn’t have a toilet – anywhere. only the pictured bidet.

the saint michel fountain. the meeting place for parisians.

an English language bookstore in paris. traveling writers can stay upstairs in exchange for a couple of hours work each day. once a popular meeting place for hemingway.

notre dame de paris

my foot. directly in the center of the world … or france. france’s ‘kilometer zero,’ where the distances to all cities in france are measured from. old napoleon insisted it wasn’t the center of paris but the center of the world.

brian and i. look at his designer shades – he’s so european.

a picture of some windows at the louvre. a massive museum that dwarfs any i’ve seen. if you look closely at one of the panes on the left side window, you’ll notice a small, orange dot. these dots mark the rooms where the museum’s most prized works are housed. this way, in the unlikely and catastrophic event of a fire, the authorities know what rooms to tackle first. interesting piece of trivia gained from the walking tour.

some minimalistic work photographed through different colored window panes.

me, trying the typical ‘pinching the eiffel tower’ shot. photographer error.

better.

the eiffel tower, illuminated in blue. according to a man who spoke little english, it was lit up this way in anticipation for the us presidential elections. but, i’ve since heard, it had something to do with an EU event going on in town. either way, the eiffel tower, illuminated in blue.

pictured: the mona lisa. not pictured: the hundreds of tourists swarming the room trying to get pictures.

boarding the night train to munich (pictures coming soon).

backpackingmatt November 18, 2008

Amsterdam Pictures

Europe, Mainland Europe, Travel Photos 2 Replies

Perhaps a little bit late, but below you’ll find pictures from my three days spent in Amsterdam. The city was filled with canals and is dubbed the, ‘Venice of the North.’ After traveling the continent for a month, I’d quite easily say that Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve seen.

You might notice from this photo that the buildings are leaning in towards the street a wee bit. Many of Amsterdam’s flats were extremely skinny when viewed from the street – owners were taxed based on how wide their property was. With skinny buildings, sometimes not much wider than a door, you can imagine it is difficult to move furniture and the like into the flats. Sofas and other large household goods are hoisted up from the street. Considering the buildings lean in, there is more space when hoisting up goods. Not sure this makes sense, if only I could draw you a picture. Below, the red fronted flat is the skinniest property in Amsterdam.

street side public urinals.

Amsterdam is touted as being one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world. There are bicycles lanes and racks everywhere you go. In fact, Amsterdam has its own ‘bicycle parking garage’ to help accommodate the 456,000 bicycles in the city.

Brian at Febo. Febo is Amsterdam’s take on fast food. You walk into one of the many Febos in the city, enter one Euro into the machine, and walk out with a number of quick (albeit unhealthy) food options. Delicious.

For reasons you probably understand, the ladies working the Red Light District weren’t to fond on tourists taking pictures of them. On the left side of this picture, you can see one of the streets where the Red Light District begins. The whole concept can only be described as bizarre. You’ve got to see it to believe it.

backpackingmatt November 17, 2008

Chios, Greece

Europe, Mainland Europe, Travel Photos 3 Replies

17/11/2008

Brian, Peter, and I are on a ferry, en route to Cesme, Turkey. Peter is an American traveler I met while on the train from Patras to Athens. A recent graduate from Washington state, Peter decided to travel for six months before facing reality – not a bad idea. Brian ended up meeting up with us on Chios, where I’ve spent the last three nights.

Chios was described to me as an island that the unsuspecting tourist finds, falls in love with, and never leaves; after spending three nights there, I can see clearly how this is the case.

A dry, arid, and mountainous island, Chios is best known for the production of mastic. A dried, resin-like sap which comes from Mestic Trees – indigenous to the south of Chios. Villages on the south of the island form a co-operative and produce and distribute the product in a number of different forms – from gum, to cosmetic products, to foods. The three of us hired a car and spent one day exploring the island. It was fascinating to explore the Mastic villages – many of these medieval, enclosed towns of less than 1000 people.

As we wandered the streets of these villages, we saw a number of old women sitting outside of their homes, harvesting the raw mastic.

The highlight of my time in Chios oddly took place the morning I arrived from Athens. Peter and I arrived on the ferry at the ungodly hour of 4am. With no plans of where we were staying, we ended up killing time by drinking Greek coffees in the local bus station. As we were waiting for the town of Chios to wake up, I watched a beautiful sunrise over Turkey.