Confessions of a Junkie – The Kawarau Bridge Bungy

I’ve been skydiving, paragliding, cliff jumping… you name it and I’ve ‘jumped’ it. For the most part, nothing phases me. It takes a lot to get my heart racing, but I do what I can to test my limits looking for that next rush… hoping it will be better than the last. You know what they say: “The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem...”

Hello, my name is Andrea, and I am an adrenaline junkie. It’s been 48 hours since my last rush, and all I can think about is where I might be able to find my next big fix. What’s worse? I have no intention of slowing down.

Kawarau Bridge Bungy Queenstown, New Zealand

Many people tell me they have a fear of death when they consider jumping from a perfectly good airplane or bridge… and this fear evokes anxiety to even test their limits. Unfortunately for my husband (who finds my antics stressful), I don’t have a fear of death. Pushing my limits makes me feel alive… the feeling of adrenaline coursing through my veins is extremely addictive.

Kawarau Bridge Bungee Queenstown, New Zealand

Calling me an adrenaline junkie is an understatement. I genuinely feel I’m a bit of a freak – that’s a more apt description. It had been a while since I felt a really good adrenaline rush… that feeling of excitement that swells up, leaving you giddy, grinning and giggling. Skydiving doesn’t really do it. Paragliding doesn’t even come close… so what is it about bungee jumping that gave me exactly what I was looking for? I can’t really put my finger on it. Maybe it’s because you are on your own, and I should work towards solo dives and glides instead of settling for a tandem jump. Maybe it’s because when you jump from a plane, you’re so high up it’s almost too surreal and feels more like you’re flying than falling. I can assure you this, when I crept my toes to the edge of the bridge for my first bungee jump, my heart started pounding. When I jumped from the bridge, eyes wide, watching as I gained speed towards the river below, I felt the best rush of my life.

Kawarau Bridge Bungy Queenstown, New Zealand

The Kawarau Bridge Bungy (‘bungy’ is Kiwi for ‘bungee’) is the world’s first bungee! At 43 meters high, you jump off a historic bridge connecting dramatic cliffs that plummet into a florescent blue river below. This is one of the most beautiful and famous jumps in the world. Adrenaline junkie or not, it’s something that you can’t miss while visiting New Zealand. You only have to be brave for the first second, and I can promise the experience will be nothing short of invigorating.

Here’s a video of my first bungee jump. I assure you it won’t be my last!

Scared? Why do it then? Because usually the things that you’re scared of are actually the most rewarding 🙂

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