Highlights of the Day
Queenstown truly lives up to its reputation as the adventure capital of the world. Since I’m not a fan of bungee jumping, I opted for paragliding with Skytrek. After a shuttle ride to the 1,000-meter-high launch site, my experienced pilot reassured me with humor. Running downhill toward the valley was thrilling, and soon, I was soaring through the sky, taking in breathtaking views. Later, we took the Gondola up the mountain for panoramic sights of Lake Wakatipu. The day ended with a relaxing lakeside drink, watching the sunset over the water—a perfect conclusion to an unforgettable experience.
Logistics
Accommodation: HIGHVIEW APARTMENTS QUEENSTOWN (highly recommended)
Transportation: Rental Car
First Paragliding Experience in Queenstown
Before arriving in Queenstown, I thought it was just a lively town. Now, I realize it could be called the adventure capital of the world. It’s the birthplace of bungee jumping and offers skydiving, paragliding, and other extreme sports. Since I don’t enjoy the weightless feeling of bungee jumping, I decided to try paragliding instead.
Paragliding with Skytrek
I booked with Skytrek, and their shuttle took us from the base to the mountaintop, which has a 1,000-meter altitude difference from the landing site. The view from the top was stunning.
At the launch site, I met my pilot. He gave me a quick rundown of the takeoff process, and we started chatting. I asked him a silly question: “Is this sport safe?” He laughed and said, “Didn’t you sign the waiver?” I had no comeback for that. 😆
Curious, I asked how long the company had been around. He said over 30 years. Then, he turned to an older instructor and asked how long he had worked there. “33 years,” the man replied—he must really love this sport!
My pilot had been flying for over a decade and even paraglides for fun. His record? Seven hours in the air, covering 220 km. I asked how that was possible. He explained that he finds warm air pockets, rises with them, and then glides until he finds another. It sounded like magic.
Finally, it was my turn. Following his instructions, I walked forward against the wind toward the cliff’s edge. Then, we had to run downhill, straight toward the valley. This part is supposedly the scariest, but to me, it was the most exciting.
With just a few steps, my feet lifted off the ground, and I floated into the air. The feeling was surreal—absolutely unforgettable.
For the next 30 minutes, we soared through the sky, drifting in different directions while taking photos. My pilot pointed out lakes, mountains, and lush green plains below. The view was breathtaking. The only downside? A bit of dizziness from the occasional turbulence.
After landing, we took the Gondola up the mountain. While waiting, we saw a group of young people carrying mountain bikes onto the gondola. Curious, we asked a staff member, who explained that they ride down the mountain, take the gondola back up, and repeat the process. Their energy was impressive.
At the top, the view was spectacular. Lake Wakatipu, the third-largest lake in New Zealand, stretched far into the distance. Two peninsulas stood out—Kingston Gardens and a golf club. We planned to visit the gardens in the afternoon.
We had booked a gondola + lunch combo but later realized there were many great dining options with scenic views. Since we arrived early, we had to wait for our time slot. The buffet was decent, but nothing special.
In the afternoon, we explored the gardens and wharf area. The lakeside buzzed with activity—restaurants, bars, and street vendors selling everything from Thai stir-fry to Chinese dumplings.
We found a lakeside spot, ordered a bottle of rose sangria, and watched the world go by. As the sun set over Lake Wakatipu, the day ended in pure perfection.
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