Queenstown reigns as the Global Adventure Capital

In what city in the world can you sky dive, bungy jump, hang glide, paraglide, jet boat, white-water raft, mountain bike, ski, ride horses, fish, and hunt almost year-round? Where else but Queenstown, New Zealand?

If anyone else knows of another city where such opportunities exist, please post in the comments. I certainly have never encountered such a Disneyland version of mind-blowing adventure activities to this extent.

For good reason, Queenstown claims the title of the Global Adventure Capital with flying colors. And did I mention all these activities are set against the backdrop of the Remarkables mountain peaks, Lake Wakatipu’s expansive shores, and the Kawarau and Lower Shotover Rivers winding coves? Sorry, that must have slipped my mind.

Actually, I will never forget the backdrop thanks to my bird’s-eye view of the land during my tandem SkyTrek hang gliding flight. At 8 a.m., I harnessed in with my Argentinean pilot Girardo in preparation for a 10-minute soar on the air thermals.

“One, two, three…Step, step, GO,” commanded Girardo as we literally ran off the side of the Remarkables. To my amazement, the air lifted us immediately and weightlessly into the sky. My eyes watered and my nose ran as the wind swept past us.

As Girardo guided our hang glider, I looked around at the amazing scenery. Above us the jagged Remarkables almost pierced the high clouds. Below us on the mountain’s slope, I spotted herds of red stags in velvet. Down on the grassy fields aside Lake Wakatip (as the locals call it), I watched two hang gliders land ahead of us.

“Want to do some tricks?” Girado asked, as we descended toward the landing field.

“Absolutely!” I enthusiastically replied.

“Hold on then” said Girardo, just before sending us into twisting spirals. Our hang glider would plunge downward then bank sharply in one direction before Girardo took us horizontal again. Basically an airborne roller coaster of sorts.

After starting a day with that, not much else could compete. But my new friend Sara and I opted for a jet boat ride nonetheless. Switching from air to water, the tricks continued.

Our Kawarau Jet driver sped down the Kawarau River at up to 85 kilometers per hour, turning the jet boat in thrilling 360-degree spins. While Sara and I couldn’t stop cheering, the Asian girls in front of us screamed at the tops of their lungs.

Diverting off the Kawarau, we skimmed across the Lower Shotover in merely 4 inches of water. Yes, 4 inches! Every wee (meaning “little”) bit, rocks would scrape against the boat’s hull slightly. On one rocky bank, a dirt bike rider awaited our approach then raced us down the river’s shore till we left him behind, desiring our speed.

Before the ride, Sara and I were comfortably dry. Afterward, we looked like drowning survivors. One hundred percent worth the douse to experience more of Queenstown’s adventurous side.

Pictured: Top: Girardo and me practicing before our hang gliding take-off. Bottom: View of the Remarkables from the Kawarau River during the jet boat ride.