Canyon diving in Queenstown
Posted on Wednesday 28 July 2010
in Adventure, Queenstown
By Rory MacTavish
Travelers might frequently book flights to Queenstown, but only a few have booked flights in Queenstown. How is that possible? An adventure company has set up a platform on edge of a canyon just outside the city, and they're offering to send Kiwi travelers on a flight over the cliffs for a nominal fee.
Before travelers ask why anybody would agree to such a thing, they should know that the flights at Shotover Canyon Swing are actually controlled by a rope and harness system that can support the weight of four cars. And tourists are flocking to the attraction, with one American couple even taking the plunge 17 times, according to Stuff.co.nz.
The friendly but expertly trained staff frequently joke with visitors, but ensure that even the most timid of swingers has a good time. The company can string adventurers up in any of 10 different positions of varying intensity. First-timers might want to start off horizontally in a gliding configuration. The American couple recently tried "eyeballs down."
A recently installed camera system captures all the action, so travelers can see exactly how close they come to the cliff face when they jump off the 109 meter platform.
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