For adventure travelers, is Australia or New Zealand the more extreme down under experience? – Part 5

If your idea of an adrenalin rush is dodging poisonous snakes and spiders, crocodiles and flies the size of sparrows, then by all means, choose Australia for your extreme down under experience. However, if an eclectic mix of beautiful scenery, sparkling waters, mountain ranges and pulse racing adventure is more your style, New Zealand is the place to go. I strongly recommend all thrill seekers pack up their bags or back packs, take out life insurance and head for the land of the Great White Cloud. New Zealand, Aotearoa, or God’s Own as we like to call it, is where the action is, without the nasty critters.

We do have spiders but only one that can kill you and he’s a very shy and discerning wee fellow. The Katipo keeps a low profile, mainly hidden under driftwood in the sand hills of our beaches. Consequently, you’d need to send out a search party headed by David Attenborough to ever find him. New Zealand is snake free and our small reptiles are harmless. Aside from the common or garden Gecko, most, like our prehistoric living fossil, the Tuatara, can only be found at zoos or animal parks. The scariest creature lurking in our rivers and lakes would be the eel. These slimy creatures generally reside in the dark and murky depths, well out of reach, unless you’re actively trying to catch them. They worst they can do is nip your toes.

What we do have in plentiful supply is extreme sports and activities. Spoiled for choice, our mountains and alps provide mountaineering, abseiling and and rock climbing in the warner months, along with snow boarding, sledding and skiing in the winter. The majestic Mount Cook in the Southern Alps of the South Island, renown to climbers the world over, was the first mountain climbed by our favorite son, the late Sir Edmond Hilary, known to New Zealanders simply as Sir Ed. Sir Ed went on to be the first man to scale Mount Everest in 1953,a mammoth achievement, which in many ways signifies the love affair New Zealanders have always had with high adventure. In true understated Kiwi style, on his descent, he commented to a fellow team member; ” we knocked the bugger off”.

Not only are our mountains a haven for the adventurer but our lakes and rivers endow every possible water sport to those who like their thrills wet and wild. Water rafting, canoing, jet boating, you name it, New Zealand has it, what ever part of the country yo happen to be in. Both the South and North islands offer as much, or as little action you can

Hang gliding: Getting started

Queenstown, on the South Island of New Zealand, has the reputation for being the adventure capital of the world. You can bungee jump, skydive, white water raft and jet boat ride, to name only a few advenaline packed activities. Old and young alike put caution aside and go and do something they never would have dared in most other towns. The atmosphere of Queenstown just seems to carry you along with it. Do something wild today. Live dangerously.

It was here, against the magnificent backdrop of the Remarkable Mountains, that I threw caution to the wind and ran off the side of a cliff. I remember the day clearly. It was spring. The mountains were still dusted with snow, gleaming in the bright sunshine of that glorious morning. There was still a chill in the air as I made my way to the rendezvous point; the headquarters of a small hand gliding school who specialized in tandem flights for beginners and thrill seekers.

Before I knew it I was kitted out with a rather unattractive boiler suit, and with helmet in hand, I boarding the bus to drive up the side of the mountain. On reaching the take off point I was introduced to my instructor, who would be my tandem buddy for the flight. Brief instruction followed explaining how I would be harnessed to the glider, how steering worked, and perhaps most importantly, how I would eventually land, in the field that now seemed a million miles away.

Take off, I was assured, was simple; just run down the hill and don’t stop running. Before I had chance to change my mind, that is exactly what I was doing, and suddenly and almost effortlessly, I was flying.

Initially my instructor took complete control, as we began gliding slowly and gracefully down the mountain. I spent a few moments awe inspired by the amazing views and the feeling of weightlessness. It was then my turn to take charge of steering the glider, closely supervised by my buddy. For a moment I began to imagine how incredible it must be to be a bird, soaring high above trees, rivers and mountains. My instructor then took back control, and orchestrated a few dives and swoops designed to thrill; I was glad I had skipped breakfast at that point!

All too soon it was time to land. The field that had a short time ago seemed like a tiny square was now looming fast. I held on tight, not quite sure what to expect.

Hand gliding was my extreme sport that day. Getting started is relatively easy in Queenstown, with several companies offering tandem flights at a reasonable cost. This is an ideal way to be introduced to the sport, and gives you a real taste of whether hand gliding is something you are going to enjoy, before you embark on expensive lessons or purchase equipment. Obviously, it is important to ensure you go with a reputable company that ensures safety is of prime importance. It is also advisable to ensure your insurance will cover you for extreme sports, just in case. After all, if there wasn’t an element of risk, the thrill just wouldn’t be the same.

There are numerous locations around the world where you could try hand gliding in a similar manner. A quick google search for Hand Gliding companies in your area will provide you with contact details for your nearest, and the internet is a great place to read some reviews of the companies from previous customers.