There was a thick air of nervousness this morning when we got up. Maybe it was the smell of Paul’s shoes. But most likely it was the thought of stepping up to the biggest bungy jump in Australasia, known as the Nevis. This giant leap gives 8.5 seconds of free fall and is 440 feet high. 

Photo supplied by Nevis Bungy

    We were all so stressed that it was difficult to form complete sentences. Only Duncan had bungy jumped before and it was just a 140 foot drop. AJ Hackett’s Nevis is over 3 times that. 
    We showed up to the bungy pick up location, shaking and sweating while we signed our lives away. Once we were weighed and tagged, we got on a bus and drove for 45 minutes. The ride ended with one of the gnarliest roads you could ever imagine. It was a single lane road that was about 45 degrees steep, shear cliff one side and a huge mountain on the other.

Photo by Vanessa Chan

    Once we got out of the bus, we stepped into our harnesses and we got briefed with all the safety information.  They assured us that it was 100% safe and that they had been doing this for 20 years without any accidents. But we were still nervous.


Photo by Paul Lalonde


Photo by Vanessa Chan

    So I was the lucky one to go first. They sat me down in a chair that felt more like the green mile electric chair than anything bungy related. Duncan and Vanessa watched from a safe distance while I sat less than 3 feet from the edge of death. I just gripped the edges while they strapped my legs together.


Photo by Paul Lalonde

    Once it was my turn to jump, I waddled my way to the edge, just like a murderer on death row. I decided to strap a gopro to my arm so I could share the whole experience. Can’t wait for you guys to see it.


Photo by Vanessa Chan

    There’s no turning back now. The Jump Master counted down: 3, 2….1 jump. AAAAaaaaaaaaah!

Photo supplied by Nevis Bungy

    Duncan was next to jump. The Jump Master’s last words to Duncan were, “fly, fly away” and, coincidentally, when Duncan jumped, he flapped his arms like a kiwi trying to fly. It was so funny!


Photo supplied by Nevis Bungy

    Then Vanessa, who probably was the most nervous, had to jump last. Without any countdown, the Jump Master shouted jump and so she did. She jumped with near perfect form and with a death shriek, plummeted the entire 440 feet.

Photo supplied by Nevis Bungy

    It was such a rush. Thank you to everyone at the Nevis and AJ Hackett Bungy. It was such a great experience.