Amanda was the only traveler in her group to take the plunge off the Kawarau Bridge. Given the option on O.A.T.’s Pure New Zealand adventure, would you follow her lead?
By Amanda Brown, 18-time traveler from Hayward, CA
I try to live life to the fullest. I got that from my parents, who inspired me to love life—and also to travel. When I was younger, my parents were both teachers, and we traveled a lot within the U.S., except for Alaska and Hawaii. Then, when I got a job, they said, "Let’s do Europe. Now you can pay for it!" My first international trip on my own was to Peru with O.A.T.—and I said, "Wow. I can do this!" I haven’t stopped since. I’ve been on 18 trips with O.A.T. and traveled to 43 countries. Traveling has made me a better person.
Amanda before taking the plunge off the Kawarau Bridge in Arrowtown, New Zealand.
The joke about visiting both Australia and New Zealand in one trip is that Australia has so many things that can kill you—but in New Zealand, nothing kills you. There are more sheep than people. So why not try bungee jumping?
When my guide tried to get everyone to sign up to jump, we were still in Australia. I’m a fairly adventurous person—I don’t tell my parents some of the stuff I do—so I said, "Why not?" The Kawarau Bridge, in the Arrowtown area of New Zealand, was the first place to offer commercial bungee jumping, so I figured they had a good record. Once I gave my credit card, that was it. I was doing it. But no one else in my group signed up!
I had to wait three days after that—and they were a long three days. The day before the jump, my fellow travelers joked about whether they could have the book I was reading or the key to my hotel room, since I wouldn’t be needing them after tomorrow. I said, "You guys are evil!"
While her fellow travelers ribbed her leading up to the jump, the "chickens" were very supportive.
But on the day of the jump, they all cheered me on. I got off the bus and signed my life away, and they made sure that health-wise, I was all good. They called my number, and a man who had jumped before walked me up. He was like a big brother that day. In helping me, he had to fess up to his mother that he had jumped before—which was quite funny. (For my part, I did end up telling my parents. My dad said, "Whatever you do, don’t dunk your head in the water. That’s all I ask.")
"That’s it?"
Before the jump, I was excited, but quiet. A lady wrapped my legs, and I just looked at her afterwards and said, "That’s it? Okay!" I followed instructions and got close to the edge. The whole group was watching and cheering me on from a platform across the bridge. When the technician asked about them, I said, "Those are my chickens." They counted me down from five to one … and I didn’t hesitate. I threw my arms up and off I went.
And away she goes!
That rope? You can feel it—I felt it all the way from my ankles to my back! I bounced from one side to the other, back and forth. I felt like I’d gotten stretched back to the normal height on my driver’s license. It was so quick, but I really did enjoy myself. And they gave me a free t-shirt! I’ll do anything for a free t-shirt.
It was a great experience, and one of the highlights of a trip that was fantastic from start to finish. I would do it again—and dunk my head in the water next time. I didn’t have to buy another drink for the rest of the trip! My "chickens" showed me a lot of respect.
Proof that Amanda will do anything for a free t-shirt.
Travel has taught me not to take anything for granted. I’ve seen family members waiting to do things until after retirement, only to find their health changed. So it’s instilled in me to do these things now. My advice to fellow O.A.T. travelers: Just do it. Life’s too short and you’ll enjoy it (unless you’re afraid of heights). You’ll have one heck of a story when you get back to your friends—they’ll never believe you until they see the pictures.
Plus, you’ll get a t-shirt!
Earn the respect of your friends and fellow travelers—plus a free t-shirt and maybe free drinks—during Pure New Zealand.
