More Ways to Risk Life and Limb in New Zealand…

by Brett Atkinson on

So New Zealand is well-known as the spiritual home of bungy jumping, but travellers to the globe’s most adventure packed country soon find out there are loads of other exciting ways to get the most value out of their travel insurance policy.

  1. The world’s most extreme flying fox. Tucked away in the middle of the North Island, the ride at Mokai Gravity Canyon (watch a video after the jump) launches at a height of 175 metres and gets up to speeds of 160 kph. Afterward there’s the North Island’s highest bungy jump (of course…)
  2. An underground flying fox. Only Kiwis would think of setting up a flying fox in a limestone cave. To reach the St Benedict’s Caverns at Waitomo you’ll first need to abseil. Having fun yet?
  3. We’ve showcased Zorbing (here)before but it’s crazy enough to deserve another mention. Strap yourself into a giant see-through ball and roll down the hill. Why didn’t someone think of it sooner?
  4. Ever wondered what would happen if you fell into a giant vacuum cleaner that was switched to “blow”? OK, it’s not a common fantasy but you can find out at Freefall Extreme. Recreate the feeling of skydiving but stay close to the ground.
  5. Most travelers experience bungy jumping at the South Island adventure hub Queenstown but you can also leap off the Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand’s biggest city. It may look like I’m jumping naked in the photo above, but I was wearing a weird coloured jumpsuit OK?

Mokai Gravity Canyon:

Freefall Extreme:

Auckland bridge Bungee:

Zorbing:

How Far Would You Go For a Beer?

by Brett Atkinson on

How about delivering a fully functioning pub all the way from New Zealand to London? By boat. That’s the sublime task currently being undertaken by a group of intrepid Kiwis.

In New Zealand Speights beer is immensely popular – so much so that it’s also a favourite of homesick New Zealanders living in London. Hence the decision to load a traditional ale house onto a boat and set sail for the Thames. The team has just left Samoa, and now face a three week journey across the Pacific to the Panama Canal. From there it’s a hop across the Atlantic, ideally getting in by early October. Why then you ask? The final stages of the Rugby World Cup are happening just across the Channel in France and New Zealand fans in London will need lots of liquid sustenance. You can follow the The Great Beer Delivery online with regular video updates. At the top of the page is where they’re headed in a few weeks. Negotiating the canal promises to be very thirsty work.

Crossing the “Ditch”

by Erik Olsen on

Ask any seasoned explorer and he/she will tell you that there are few “big firsts” left to do. Sure, the bottom of the ocean still holds a lot of promise since, as scientists say, some 70 percent of the deep ocean has never been explored. But up on the surface, there are few places man has not trod, and few big accomplishments he has not already made. Well apparently one of these firsts is crossing a stretch of nasty water known as The Ditch. The Ditch stretches between Australia and New Zealand, and according to this site, it has never been crossed in a two-man, human-propelled boat (aka kayak).

In late 2007, James Castrission and Justin Jones will kayak over 1000 miles across the Tasman Sea, from Australia to New Zealand. If they pull it off, it will be the first ever crossing and the longest two man kayak expedition ever undertaken. The pair have loaded up a finely-tuned, state-of-the-art two man kayak that looks more like a pace ship than a boat. They’ve got GPS and communication devices and have trained intensely for the effort. All the details of their prep can be seen here. Sounds like an amazing, perilous journey. We wish them well.

Where to Savor Wine

by Jamie Rhein on

A friend just sent me a link to A Fine Living Hub. I think it’s where people network about various topics. One topic forum that caught my attention was, “If you could drink a glass of wine anywhere…” Various people have offered up their favorite wine drinking spots. I’ve included their wine recommendations if they offered one.

Work for a Year in New Zealand

by Neil Woodburn on

Here is a great opportunity to live and work abroad in the wonderful country of New Zealand for up to 12 months!

It’s easy. If you are between the ages of 18 and 30, you’ve pretty much met the qualifications for a New Zealand Working Holiday.

Although the nice Kiwi government folks who are handing out the work visas have slightly different requirements for citizens from various foreign countries, they have made it as easy as possible for anyone interested.

The “Working Holiday Scheme” for job seekers from the United States, for example, has almost no requirements except that each candidate must have a return ticket and be in possession of at least NZ$4,200 (U.S. $3,300) to meet living costs while in the country (this is not a fee, just a guarantee that you can live in the country on your own if need be).

Things are a little tougher for more economically challenged countries, however. New Zealand only allows 100 work visas for Thailand per year, for example, and a much higher guarantee of funds: NZ$7000 (U.S. $5,500).

Whatever country you come from, however, please keep in mind that there is only a single profession in all of New Zealand: sheep farmer. Har har har…