Day 84 Queensland (Bungy Jump)

As I approached Queenstown a bridge caught the corner of my eye. I'd stumbled on the world famous Hackett bungy at Kawarau . It all started here back in 1988 with bungy pioneers AJ Hackett and Henry Van Asch. Boing.......here are my pics

( "Scream....Scccccccotaland")

It all felt very safe to me as I waited in line but once the harness was on and I stood on the edge it was a world of dizzying heights. The first few seconds falling off your mind is trying to take in the illogical as you have just thrown yourself off a bridge. The blue water rushes towards you and you just want to scream. For a laugh I screamed out "Scccccccccccotland". I could hear the crowd whoop in delight. Then the bit I'd waited for hitting the water (I'd asked them to set the bungy for it) arrived and sploosh I was in and boing I was out and streeeeeetch I was back down again and boing I was back up again...boing, boing boing boing biggty boing.

(Bungy Pioneers Hackett and Asch)

The adrenaline pulsed through me as I was hauled onto the boat. I climbed back up the hill and was more alive than an alive thing in alive world. Cleverly you walk straight into the merchandice shop where in a state of euphoria you will buy everything including lucky white heather if they sold it (which they dont). I went for DVD, photos and a hat!! In return Mr Hackett gave me a free t shirt for going into the water.

AAs if the day was not fun enough I have to mention the fruity village of Cromwell on the way to Queenstown. I just had to stop of at a place whose village monument looks like this. They also do fruit ice creams where you pick yourfrozen fruits, a french lady puts them into a corkscrew with icecream or frozen yoghurt and hands you the cone encouraging you to "Enjoy". Capaldi's take note!

As I reached Queenstown the heaven's opened and in the absence of car parking amongst the droves of tourists I made my way to nearby Wanaka which the Lonely Planet rightly tipped as offering all the thrills its neighbour has. A night in the Matterhorn hostel dorm and tomorrow weather permitting I set up camp for a week at Lakeview campsite.