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Snazzy Jan 27th, 2005 09:44 PM

Adventure choices
 
Can you please help us pick two from the following choices?
hot air balloon ride...
Skytour... (virtual reality tour around AU)
shotover jets.... (One of our group doesn't swim...
Could they still go?)
Helicopter ride in NZ...
Ski plane ride in NZ...
Grand traverse flight...


Has anyone done any of these? Are they worth the money?

Thank you.

Judy_in_Calgary Jan 27th, 2005 09:52 PM

I've done none of the things you've asked about, so cannot answer your question.

Sorry to hijack your thread but, if you're going to the GBR, I found the flight over the GBR in a small plane to be magical. It wasn't exactly cheap but, even at that, it was more than worth the price.

Snazzy Jan 27th, 2005 10:00 PM

Thanks, Judy.

sharon815 Jan 29th, 2005 06:15 AM

Hi Snazzy.
We did the Dart River Safari in Queenstown and loved it. It combines 4 wheel drive, some hiking and jet boating. Swimming ability's not necessary. It was lots of fun and I'd highly recommend it.
If you're going to the glaciers, the climbs are fantastic. You can climb from the bottom (which we did) or helicopter up and higher and start your climb from there.
The luges that run from the skyline gondolas are also a lot of fun.
We didn't do any of the flights because they were very expensive and there was so much else to do. But we did meet a number of people who enjoyed them. But remember, they're totally weather dependent so you really won't know in advance whether you'll actually be able to fly or not.

Snazzy Jan 29th, 2005 08:18 AM

Thanks, Sharon.
We'll look into the Sarfari and luges.

wlzmatilida Jan 29th, 2005 06:29 PM

Snazzy,

re: Skytour - virtual reality...I prefer REAL reality! :)

Shotover jets, absolutely worth it and you don't need to swim (even if the boat overturned, you have a life vest on and you're only in a few feet of water for the most part). Have done both Dart and Shotover, and prefer Shotover.

Helicopter ride - absolutely awesome over Mt. Cook and worth every penny.

What? No bungey jump?

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

Snazzy Jan 29th, 2005 07:55 PM

Thanks, Melodie.
No, no bungy jumps. My neck bones pop and my stomach lurches just watching someone else do that.
So you think helicopter over the ski plane at Mt. Cook?
Any idea what the traverse flight might be? (We're getting together with the person who picked that activity next month so maybe I should just wait and ask them.) It went over both Mt. Cook and Westland World Heritage Nat'l Parks and a couple of glaciers. It lasts nearly an hour whereas the helicopter ride is only 30 min. and the ski plane is 40 min. The traverse flight is about ten dollars cheaper.

Thanks.

wlzmatilida Feb 1st, 2005 05:45 AM

Snazzy,

I'd say you can't go wrong either way!

Enjoy!

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist


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