If you’re a thrill-seeking adventurer that can’t get enough of that feeling of your heart pounding out of your chest, then you know New Zealand is the place to be. From zip-lines to human catapults, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had. Queenstown is often called the epicentre of adventure, but it’s not just Queenstown that hosts these dare-devil escapes – the whole country is filled with them!
We caught up with Alex Mioni, a true adrenaline junkie from the neighbouring land down under (Australia, that is), to chat about his exhilarating adventure getaway with Contiki. Looking for your next heart-stopping destination? Check out the diary of this adrenaline junkie for inspiration.
Hey Alex! First things first, New Zealand is often called an adventurers paradise – do you agree?
“100% – I couldn’t agree more, it is THE adrenaline junkie’s paradise. There are endless activities which range from super adrenaline based to more mellow for those that want to build that adventurous spirit up. There really is something for all different abilities in New Zealand, and the best thing to do is to come explore and check it out for yourself.”
Image source:Contiki
When you travelled with Contiki, which adventure activities did you do on trip? Had you done any before? Which was your favourite?
“There were so many to choose from on the trip, especially when we were in Queenstown. The group and I were truly spoiled for choice! I did as many activities as I could take without turning my stomach inside out.”
“I chose to jump out of a plane over Queenstown because the mountains are so tall and it was just so incredible to be diving back down to the surface, being above the highest peaks. You can’t really do that anywhere else in the world so it was such a beautiful experience. I also jumped off New Zealand’s highest bungee jump over the Nevis river, and I did the swing as well that same day. That gave me such a rush of adrenaline and I definitely won’t be forgetting the feeling anytime soon.”
“I also did the luge which is more friends and social-based, so we all got to do that together and get that rush as a team. The canyon swing was new to me, and it quickly became my favourite activity of the bunch! It had been high on my bucket list and I was quite nervous to do it before, but it gave me a pure hit of life.”
Can you describe the feeling of bungee jumping?
“Great question! I’ve tried to describe the feeling of bungee jumping to people who haven’t done it before, but I can never find the right words. You honestly can’t explain it, it’s something that you have to do yourself to find out, so hop on the Active New Zealand trip and go at it!”
“You’ll be scared before you do it – jumping off of things is unnatural and your brain will keep telling you that. But once you’re free falling, there’s nothing like it. You’ll never feel more alive than in that moment.”
Image source:Contiki
Is it better to prepare or just go for it when skydiving?
“I personally try not to think about it at all on the day of – I like to go into it with as clear a mind as possible. But once you’re on that plane and going up, up, up into the sky, well above the New Zealand ground, it’ll start to play in your mind. The views, though, are stunning, and they do distract you from thinking about your dive into the sky. So focus on that!”
On a scale of 1-10, how beautiful is New Zealand?
“It’s seriously a 9 or a 10 – New Zealand views are unbeatable. It’s beautiful to be able to explore the whole country, from the mountains to the waterfalls, from the lakes to the landscapes. It’s incredible.”
“I didn’t know when I travelled from Australia that I’d be landing in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s kind of like Switzerland, with the peaks and snow and greenery and lakes. It’s mind-blowing, and the best way to view it all, for an adrenaline-chaser like me, is from above, having freshly jumped out of a plane or off a platform, falling.”
Image source:Contiki
