After spending three days walking the Routeburn Track Great Walk with Ashley and Rachel, we were back in Queenstown again. But this time, I had my mind set on doing a skydive once and for all. Ashley, Rachel, and I then hung out in Queenstown for a bit before heading our separate ways.
And this is what jumping off a moving plane and being plunged down by gravity from 15,000 ft feels like:
Skydiving in Queenstown with NZONE
I love the AQHostel so much that I stayed with them again for 2 nights. In the early morning, I went out and booked a skydiving activity with NZONE. It was cloudy, and I had zero expectations at that point.
I checked in with them again, and the staff coldly said it was canceled. I stared at her and did not register the answer for a full minute, and then she burst out laughing. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that she was joking. Of course, I laughed like I knew what happened, but in my mind, I was like "Don't play with me, woman!".
I bought the 12,000 ft plus videos and photos, which cost me around 600 NZD. The good thing about NZONE is that they have another cameraman with you if you buy the photos and videos package.
- Milford Sound Scenic Fly-Cruise-Fly departing Queenstown (4 hours 30 minutes)
- Milford Sound Coach & Cruise tour from Queenstown (12 hours)
- Lake Whakatipu Cruise & BBQ Buffet Lunch (3 hours 30 minutes)
The anticipation was real. As I was about to suit up, the girls I met said that they were here yesterday and they were suited up like this, but it was canceled right before they got on the plane.
But not this time, I said to myself, and then we were off. As the altitude climbed, I felt a little out of breath. As we reached 12,000 ft above the ground, the pilot announced that there was too much traffic at this altitude, so we went up to 15,000 ft. "A free upgrade! That is what I'm talking about", I shouted internally.
And then BOOM! We were off the plane. My skydive tandem partner did all the job, though.
I did feel a little scared when my legs were hanging down from the plane, but after my skydive partner took control, it was a breeze. Bungee jumping was definitely more nerve-wracking.
The cameraman asked me to do the coolest pose. This was my coolest pose in that situation.
Before we went up, I asked another girl to write "Fuck Yeah!" on my hands. This is how I entered the last half of my 20s, with a big bang!
And then they pulled the parachute, and all the excitement was over. I did learn about my partner during this slow period, though.
He is Swedish and has been doing this for 10 years now. To tell you the truth, I was a little jealous of his job. Who wouldn't?
I returned to the hostel and met up with the girls. They had decided to take that day off and rest. Who could blame them? We had just walked the Routeburn track the day before.
We went out to a Thai restaurant to celebrate our last day together, bought a few snacks, and watched movies until sunrise. It was a fitting celebration for a memorable time.
We said goodbye to each other, and then we went our separate ways. They stayed in Queenstown for one more night and headed back to Dunedin, whereas I hopped on a bus to Lake Tekapo and continued on. We would never meet again for a long time... or so we thought.
Next up, our journey continues upward to Lake Tekapo and then Mount Cook, where I would be reunited again with my good friends Viola and Megan, whom I met back in Franz Josef. We joined forces and tackled the Hooker Valley track together, so stay tuned.
More Queenstown Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- Milford Sound Scenic Fly-Cruise-Fly departing Queenstown (4 hours 30 minutes)
- Milford Sound Coach & Cruise tour from Queenstown (12 hours)
- Lake Whakatipu Cruise & BBQ Buffet Lunch (3 hours 30 minutes)
What to Pack for Queenstown, New Zealand?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Queenstown, New Zealand:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
I've spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand, from the North Island to the South Island, that might help you in your trip planning.
Here's a selection of articles about New Zealand:
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
- Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
- New Zealand has a special place in my heart. It is one of the most memorable trips I have ever done, and here are 10 things I love about New Zealand.
- If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
- Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
- Planning to travel across Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island? Here's How to Get From Wellington to Picton.
- Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
- Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand's Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here's The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
- Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? Better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
- Want to go hiking on a glacier in the Glacier Country of New Zealand? Here is the Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef.
- Wanaka is a must-visit lakeside town full of incredible nature and wonderful mountains waiting for you to explore. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.
- Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have them in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
- The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
- One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here’s The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
- Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook are some of the most photogenic places to visit in New Zealand, and it is best to visit them together. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.
- Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From the sight of the world's largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
- Not convinced by my words about New Zealand? Come follow me, and I’ll show you New Zealand in 70 photos.
- You can see all my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.
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