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Crazy Queenstown Activities, February/March 2009

Queenstown is known as an adventure/outdoors hub in New Zealand. You can do all kinds of crazy activities! It's a great place to visit and pack in as much excitment as you can, plus just take in the incredible natural beauty that the area has to offer! We tandem paraglided from the Coronet Peak Ski Field (after a near mishap on a failed take-off attempt where I slightly sprained my foot!), white water rafted the Shotover River, and Tandem Bungy Jumped from the Kawarau Bridge (the world's first commercial bungy site). Other "tamer" Queenstown activities are on a different page - this page is just the crazy stuff! ;)

Mike getting into his paragliding gear.

The view as we set up the paragliding equipment.

Mike looking as my paraglider is set up.

Me getting ready to paraglide.

Mike paragliding below me.

Mike paragliding below me.

Me paragliding.

Me paragliding.

Me paragliding.

Me paragliding.

Me paragliding - picture taken by Mike in his paraglider.

Mike paragliding.

Mike paragliding.

Mike paragliding.

Mike paragliding.

Mike paragliding.

The landing field comes into view - a happy place! :)

Me landing (picture taken by Mike in his paraglider).

Safely on the ground again!

Mike coming in to land.

Gathering up Mike's paraglider.

Getting the white water rafting briefing before tackling the Shotover River.

Mike and our guide (a crazy ultra-runner from the UK) as we put our raft in the water.

Our raft as we start our journey down the Shotover River.

Mike and the view down the river as we head out.

Mike and the view down the river as we head out.

Mike and the view down the river as we head out.

Mike taking a "swim break"!

Back in the raft!

Me in the raft.

Another raft coming over a small drop as we cover safety in an eddy just below.

More rafts coming down the river.

Mike in the raft.

We continue down the river.

Mike and the surrounding canyon walls.

Me as we drift along.

A raft coming over a small drop.

Mike with a raft tackling the rapids behind him.

Me - happy to have not capsized!

Approaching the rock tunnel that we passed through.

Our raft going through the rapid the other side of the tunnel.

Our raft going through the rapid the other side of the tunnel. Note that I'm not visible (I'm at the back) because I'm following instructions: "Get down, hold on!!!"

Safely on shore!

View from the Kawarau Bridge - site of the AJ Hackett Bungy Jump!

Looking down from the bridge at some poor soul who jumped!

Who are those crazy nuts????

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Mike throwing me off the bridge.

Ahhhhhhh!!!!! What was I thinking???? Apparently I wasn't!!!

Back on solid ground after our "plunge"!

Me on the perfectly good bridge I just jumped off of!

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