I had been feeling weirdly calm up until this point. Everyone kept asking me if I was nervous. I would just laugh it off like being nervous was a ridiculous thought. Now all I could think was “what on earth was I thinking? I must be crazy”. But so many others before me had taken the leap…Time for bungee jumping in Taupo, New Zealand.
I started my day in Rotorua. Finally I managed to go to Hobbiton with Hobbiton tours, which was the entire reason I chose to explore the North Island. Since I had been told the previous day that my bungee jump would probably be cancelled due to maintenance, I wasn’t in such a rush. I slowly made my way through the light rain back to my hostel, the YHA Rotorua, and called Taupo bungee to find out whether or not my jump was actually cancelled. Turns out it wasn’t. Eek!
I rushed out to my Jucy rental car, hopped in, and off I went! I had less than an hour to get from Rotorua, find my hostel in Taupo to check in, and then find my way to the bungee jump. Basically I had no time to get nervous, I was too focused on how my GPS seemed to be taking my through someone’s farm on a dirt road, and how I was worried about getting arrested. Seriously GPS, why on earth did you pick that route?
Next up, a construction worker was stuck on the side of a mountain, so I was stuck waiting for him to be rescued. I spent the wait chatting with the other workers, telling them about my upcoming jump. They got excited for me and let me pass through so I wouldn’t miss it. Thanks guys!
Through the mud and rain I finally made it to my amazing hostel, Black Currants in Taupo, with time to spare. No idea how that happened…as I was being shown to my room I met my roommate. Christine was by far the best hostel mate I’ve had yet. We instantly clicked, and her and another girl from the hostel decided to come watch my jump and ended up taking tons of pictures for me!
They kept telling me I was crazy.
I should have listened.
The Bungee Jump
I walked into the building, checked in, was weighed, and told to make my way over to the platform. Leaving my new friends, I rushed over. I was bubbling over inside with excitement, yet on the outside you could hardly tell. There was such a calm expression on my face. The guys who were getting me ready for my jump kept asking if I was nervous. I just laughed at them.
“Not at all” I said.
And I wasn’t.
The guys kept trying to get me to touch the water when I jumped but I refused. I had no desire to get wet I told them, it was too cold! They joked how a Canadian should be fine getting wet in winter.
In reality the reason I didn’t want to touch the water was because I was worried I would dunk into the water and start choking on water. Such silly thoughts that had me worrying.
After what felt like forever of getting ready it was finally time.
I moved quickly over to the platform, so ready for this jump.
Then I looked down.
Bad idea Brooklyn!
One of the guys began to count down. I lifted my arms, and when he got to two I quickly put my arms down again. I made a small squeaky sound. They were going to have to force me down.
But wait. I had seen videos of them pushing people off when they got scared. If that happened there would be no way I would have even a slightly graceful jump. No, I was going to have to do this on my own.
He began the countdown once more. This time when he got to one I willed my body to jump. It wasn’t jumping. I leaned my body forward, hoping that would work. Nope. I somehow got the top half of my body going, yet the bottom half had no plans to follow. My feet were still on the platform while most of my body had begun the jump. Or should I say fall…
My feet finally followed when it wasn’t physically possible to stay on the platform any longer. I didn’t even feel myself fall. All I noticed was how my cheeks were flapping around. Then I felt myself falling again. Nope I did not enjoy this feeling. Falling and rising the first time was fine, but each time it happened again my stomach lurched a tad. Finally I was just hanging upside down waiting for the boat to come and get me down. My ankles hurt a little because the towel that was wrapped around them slipped off. When I was pulled into the boat I was weirdly calm again. The boat man told me how he was coming to Canada for a wedding soon. Next I spent ten minutes climbing a cliff to get back to the top where my new friends were waiting to hear how I felt. The whole climb up I wasn’t sure how I felt. That was fun, but shouldn’t I have experienced some life altering realization or something?
The Aftermath
All of a sudden, I felt euphoric! I did it! Just as I had been planning for years. Go me!
When I got to the top I began to do a Rocky inspired dance back to my new friends, who surprised me with all of the photos they took. I felt amazing!
While waiting for my video to upload we played with a cat that lived there, and then went back to the hostel to tell everyone about my adventure.
I can’t wait to bungee again.
What You Need To Know To Go Bungee Jumping In Taupo, New Zealand
Aj Hackett, Taupo website. You have a few choices when it comes to your jump. You can jump solo, or tandem with an employee jumping with you. Also, you can choose whether or not you want to touch the water while jumping.
Location – 202 spa road, Taupo, New Zealand.
Price – $185 NZD.
Height – 47 meters.
Minimum age requirement – 10 years old. Those under 14 require an adults consent.
Duration – approximately 1 hour from sign in.
Clothing – wear comfortable clothes and secure shoes.
Have you ever been Bungee Jumping?
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
65 Responses
Good for you, Brooklyn! Now? What next…?
Good question! And I have no clue haha.
This looks like such an awesome experience! I would be way scared before though! I hope I get to try it someday, thanks for sharing 🙂
I so hope you get to bungee jump someday!
Yeah right! This is crazy!!! I am definitely not brave enough to do this – I could barely manage zip lining. I almost spat my wine out at the cheeks flapping bit – I can sooo relate. It’s more expensive than I thought – but at least they’re looking after our well-being so that’s the trade off haha!!!
Yes I’d rather pay more money for a safe bungee jump than less money for one not so safe! Lol the cheeks flapping is something I will never forget!
You are so brave!! I couldn’t ever bungee jump, but I can imagine how thrilling it must have been. Thank you for sharing this fun experience.
Thanks Yara, it was so thrilling!
I was holding my breath just from reading this! I honestly don’t know how you willed yourself to jump (or gracefully fall) off that ledge. I think I would have been frozen on the spot and they’d probably have had to push me. Good on you for actually doing it yourself!
I couldn’t risk them pushing me off, so I had to force myself to jump haha.
Gah! Your post gave me butterflies just reading about your bungee experience!
Each time I think of standing on that platform I get butterflies all over again!
I have done this!! I swear omg! I can totally relate! Watching the video on he way is the worst. I was soooo scared but I jumped because like you said; didn’t wasn’t them to push me off! I also kept thinking about how expensive it was and I didn’t want to waste the money!! haha. It was a great experience but WOW I was scared! haha
Lol same! I’ve seen videos of them pushing people off and I wasn’t going to let that happen to me!
Wow, you’re so much braver than I am. I know others who’ve done this but I think it’s one thing I might have to just watch others do
It’s definitely not for everyone! The girls who came with me wouldn’t do it.
Wow Bungee jumping has fascinated me since long,haven’t tried yet but would love to.thanks for sharing
I hope you get to try it someday!
Wow, how brave of you! Haha, glad you posted this so I can live vicariously through you 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Haha thanks Jade!
You’re so brave! I got stuck into most activities in New Zealand but didn’t attempt the bungee. I didn’t fancy the feeling you describe as you bounce back up – or getting sore feet haha. I did sky dive though and LOVED it. Not sure I’d do it again mind you!
The bounce back wasn’t my favorite haha. But I think that my stomach would hate me more with skydiving!
Wow what an experience! I guess now you have to try sky diving 😀
Haha my thoughts exactly! I considered doing it in NZ after my jump but it rained the next day. I was sort of happy because the thought of skydiving is terrifying to me!
Such an experience! I was planning to do it in the UK but then the lockdown happened..
I hope you were able to reschedule!
Oh my god! This brought me back my memories. I bunjee jumped in Queenstown for my birthday. I agree with you the feeling after the fall is absolutely amazing. It was too much of adrenaline pumping in.
That’s an awesome thing to do on your birthday!
Eeeeekkks! I would never do that……You are more daring than I!! Ha ha! We lived in NZ and saw the Bungee jumping spots at Queenstown and never had the desire to even stop and watch. Good for you for challenging yourself!
Thanks! You lived in NZ, I wish! Such a great country.
Ahh! That looks so scary but fun too. I went skydiving but never bungee jumping. And while it is a bit expensive, I feel like New Zealand is the place for extreme sports. Great share!
Thank you! NZ is the perfect country for extreme sports. Skydiving sounds so scary!
This looks like a fantastic experience, New Zealand seems like a great place to try bungee jumping! I’ve always wanted to try it but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
If you’re in NZ and get the chance I vote you do it, it’s amazing!
So fun! Bungee Jumping was also on our bucket list for New Zealand, and we’re so glad we did it! We jumped at the first-ever bungee over the Kawarau Bridge (also with AJ Hackett). What a rush!
I’ve seen that jump and it’s so pretty! That’s one of the bonuses to jumping in NZ, the views we get while jumping!
Love how you can even put this experience into words! I’ve been skydiving & I always just have to tell people…. You just have to go, there’s no way to describe it!
Skydiving would be incredible!
I’m thinking to go Bungee Jumping for a long time. The thing is, I’m afraid of heights, but I feel like I have to try it. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience!
I’m not afraid of heights but as soon as I got on the platform I got so nervous! It was well worth it though.
Awww man, I couldn’t bring myself to do a bungee jump! I think it’s partly the whole up down up down movement lol. I’ve sky dived, and I can’t do a bungee! Hahaha. Good on you for braving it! 🙂
A lot of people tell me that they find bungee jumping scarier than skydiving but I think skydiving sounds terrifying! Hopefully I do it one day though haha.
SOOO glad you did it. I just wrote about my “Shitting my pants” bungee experience. and just like you I said NO for dunking in the water but I guess they were being playful and “Did” dip me in. I was so scared I thought it was sweat when I got off in the boat but my friend who was watching and laughing from the sidelines told me otherwise (So did my gopro video footage) haha what an experience.
I’m going to check out your post now! I think if I ever jump again I may allow myself to be dunked haha.
Oh my gosh, I’d love to go bungee jumping in NZ one day. I’ve heard it’s so much fun, but I feel like I’d be so scared!
It’s definitely a bit scary but so worth it!
This sounds like so much fun!! Saving it for when I go to NZ one day
It was so fun! I hope you get to go one day.
ahhh my knees are weak just r=from reading this! Wow looks amazing but don’t think I am brave enough to take the plunge haha!
I was so brave until I got on that platform, then my knees went weak also haha.
I really wanted to bungee jump when I was in NZ thirty years ago but didn’t. I regret that bucket list miss. Now I’m not sure at 65 if it makes sense but I’d still like to do it.
I read about a woman in her 80’s who still goes bungee jumping! I don’t know how she does it!
you are so much braver than me! I can’t muster up the confidence to bungee trip. I am so impressed that you would do it a 2nd time!!
I only did it once! But I would do it another time for sure!
It’s a bucket list item for me. I have done sky diving but not bungee jumping. Hesitant cuz of the impact on back but want to do it at least once in my life!
It was amazing! I hope you get to do it one day.
The only thing that would make me feel like I would jump is that there is water under me but I prob couldn’t do it lol. You are way more daring than me but it sounds like a lot of fun when I am not the one doing it!
Haha it’s definitely scary when you’re so high up looking down. The water down there was a comfort to see.
Wow you are brave! I would love to do something crazy like this on my travels, but heights are one of my worst fears. Maybe one day though! Ziplining 200m above a canyon has been my craziest experience so far haha
That sounds so fun! I’d love to go zip lining over a canyon!
Wow, this looks like such an incredible experience! I have always wanted to try bungee jumping, maybe when I travel to New Zealand I can also do this! 🙂
I highly recommend it if you get the chance!
You go girl! That is amazing. I need to do one of these crazy things one day … maybe sky diving while I am in Dubai!But can’t bring myself to it yet 😀
I’ve heard that skydiving in Dubai is so beautiful! That would be so fun to do while there.
The bungee jumping looks scary. Any other tips for a first timer?