Choose another map, showing:

• New Zealand (North Island)
• New Zealand
• Oceania
• Eurasia, Africa & Pacific
• The World

Other entries in Taupo

Its a long way down from 15,000 feet

Well unknown to any members of my family I had a sky dive booked for the following day after we arrived in Taupo. Before I even arrived in New Zealand I told myself I was going to do a sky dive.

Charlotte and I both did the sky dive. It was booked for midday the next day. It was at Taupo airport so we made our way there. As soon as I got into the airfield I got butterflies in my stomach. I had booked a tandem skydive from 15,000 feet. We watched people loading into the very small planes and then coming down in their parachutes half an hour later. I kept telling myself that it would be fun and tried to ignore the nervous feeling in my stomach.

It was soon our turn and we got kitted out in our jump suits, met our instructor who we would be strapped to and watched the safety video. I had paid for a package to get photos and a dvd so I had a camera man jumping out of the plane with us at the same time to record the dvd and take photos. We were originally going to be put in the plane where on exit we would be sitting down before we jumped out but we were informed that we would not be in that plane. We were going up in the plane where we would have to stand and lean out of the plane on exit. How nice of them to change plans for us. I suddenly said to myself "I must be crazy".

We all loaded into the plane and went on our way. We were alrady up a great height and we were only at 5,000 feet. It took us 30 minutes to reach 15,000 feet and very quickly one of the camera men opened the door. I looked out of the plane door and my stomch flipped. I have never felt so much fear in my entire life. I was second to jump and I very quickly saw the first girl jump out. My instructor then said it was our turn. I had so shuffle to the end of the plane. In order for us to jump out of the plane I had to curl my feet up backwards against the instructor, hold onto my harness on my jump suit and hold my head back. At this point I was hanging out of the plane. This was the most terryfing part. I had not even time to think about what was happening next as all of a sudden we were no longer in the plane but we were free falling through the air at about 140mph for 10,000 feet. I apologise if anyone reading this is afraid of heights. Free falling was very scary as we were going at such a speed. I did find it very hard to breathe as I had a cold at the time so I did panic a bit.

Then to my relief the parachute went up and we both went shooting up into the air. Once the parachute was up it was so peaceful. This was the part I was looking forward to as we could glide through the air for 5,000 feet. I cannot describe how fantastic the views were from this great height. We had views of Lake Taupo, the mountains covered in snow and the countryside below. Ther first part of the sky dive will probably be the most scary thing I have and ever will do but once the parachute went up it was out of this world.

I have to say this was one of the best things I have ever done in my life and I would do it again in a second! I dont think I wll ever be afraid to do anything else in life as this could possibly be the hardest thing to ever do. I am very proud of myself though and think this is a great achievement however crazy it does sound!

Straight after we went to the pub for a stiff drink to calm the nerves and to celebrate!

Add to del.icio.us Add to reddit

Photos / videos of "Its a long way down from 15,000 feet":