If you’re an adrenaline junkie, this is definitely for you!
Imagine being catapulted 150m into the air, at a speed of 100kms per hour, against 3Gs of force in 1.5 seconds.
Welcome to the ‘The Nevis Catapult’ aka the human slingshot. This thrill-seekers ride is found in the remote Nevis Valley near Queenstown, New Zealand – and promises a mix of adrenaline, nerves, excitement and the ‘I wish I’d never tried this’ feeling.
The first commercial bungy-jump was launched 32 years ago by New Zealanders AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch – Hackett remains one of the world’s largest bungy-operators. Last week, Asch launched a new extreme ride from AJ Hackett’s base in the Nevis Valley, it has been hailed the world’s biggest catapult.
Asch’s idea to create the ride began 30 years ago to build on to Queenstown’s reputation of being the adventure capital of the world. He took his time to refine the concept and The Nevis Catapult was born from this.
“I played around with the idea by riding my mountain bike with a Bungy cord attached, off bridges. It may have been legal. In 1988 we took Bungy to the world, and put New Zealand on the world adventure tourism map. Thirty years on it’s wonderful to still be pushing the boundaries globally,” said Asch.
Asked about what the ride feels like, he said, “It’s a pretty unique feeling, surprising even. There’s nothing else quite like it,” he says.
You are harnessed into the ride, then shot out 150m across a ravine before dropping suddenly towards the valley floor. The experience ends with a series of stomach-churning bounces.
The ride will set you back R2,140 ($225NZ) and is open to people over the age of 13, who weigh a minimum of 27kgs.
If you’re looking for extreme adventure, a holiday in Queenstown is a must, other activities include wire-climbing across a waterfall, jet boating, canyoning, and OGO (an inflatable ball you can climb into and roll around the countryside).
Pictures/video: Instagram
