Skydiving in Wanaka - suitable for all ages!!

Being a total snowboarder nut, about a year ago I headed to the South Island of New Zealand in search of the “endless winter” after a season of snowboarding in the French Alps. My destination was Wanaka and what I found was more than I could ever have imagined. New Zealand is a country that just breathes life and fun, with action packed adventures waiting at every corner. There are stunning views wherever you look and with that I made the decision to try my hardest and stay, to live and experience this wonderful country.

I am very lucky that my mum was able to come over and visit me just six months after I moved over.  I took this opportunity to take her out of her comfort zone and show her what New Zealand is all about!! I eased her in slowly with a road trip up the west coast taking in the incredible winding coastal road with its luscious rain forest and turquoise ocean. We headed to the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, up to Punakaiki and the aptly named Pancake Rocks, Kaikoura for whale watching, Akaroa where we swam with Hector Dolphins and back towards my new home, Wanaka. By the time her final week arrived she had even paraglided from the top of Treble Cone ski field, I was seriously impressed!

So having these new experiences under her belt one day she boldly said "Oh yeah I'd do a skydive, no problem!".  I was stunned! The lady who before wouldn't even step foot on a kids roller coaster or go for a dip in the swimming pool on holiday was now proclaiming she was happy to jump out of an aeroplane from 15,000ft... no drama! Well if there had been enough time before she left to go back home I would have booked her on a skydive then and there but alas she was heading home to the UK the next day.

Flight booked for her second visit this April, her Birthday and Mother's Day coming up I seized the moment and bought her a tandem skydive. In the mail she received her birthday postcard "Happy Birthday Mum, you're going skydiving!" the card read. Now she couldn't back out, she was booked in and there was no going back.

So there we were, two days after she landed in NZ (probably still jet lagged, disoriented and tired after a hike to Rob Roy Glacier on her first day) taking the short drive to Wanaka to jump out of a plane with "a beautiful stranger" from Skydive Wanaka. To give credit where credit is due she didn't seem nervous in the slightest! It was a beautiful day for it with the sun just rising up over the surrounding mountains and not a cloud in the sky. I was so excited to share the experience with her of one of my favourite adrenaline fuelled activities.

We checked in and put on the ever so fetching bright red jump suits, totally looking the part! Harnesses were fitted and safety checks complete. Mum’s skydive master introduced himself, he was so great with her, reassuring her about the jump and creating a real sense of fun. We walked over to the Skydive Wanaka plane, painted bright red which you can never miss when driving along State Highway 6.

Everyone got in the plane and sat between each other's legs and we were off! The skies were clear and we could see for miles!! Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea glistened in the autumn sun and Mt Cook stood tall in the distance, its presence imposing on the surrounding mountains, puny in comparison.  The snow capped mountains of Black Peak, Mt Aspiring and Treble Cone were even more spectacular from the plane as our skydive instructors chatted about the surrounding sights such as Mt Cook, the ski fields , mountains and lakes. I glanced at my Mum, still a smile on her face, perhaps a tiny but more nervous now?! I wasn't too sure!

Then we were at altitude and I was first up! Before her very eyes my mum watched her daughter plummeting from a plane at 15,000ft. She probably didn't even have time to register it as she was up next! Being the fifth skydive I've done I was well versed and took in the surrounding views of Wanaka.  It was breathtaking, literally!! The free fall lasted about a minute. Just pure adrenaline pumping through your body, there's no feeling like it! My skydive master released the parachute and suddenly we slowed down, circling the sky going round and round! In the distance I could just about see mum and I was so stoked for her having completed her first skydive!

We hurtled towards the ground and my instructor chose his target "I'm going to land at that cone there” he pointed and with that we zoomed towards the cone and landed just short of it with spot on precision! I watched mum land nearby and was pleased to see the smile on her face was still there! We got out of the harnesses... “How was it mum?!” I asked. “I want to do it again! When can we do it again?!”.

Well done mum! Now what's next for you?!