OffTrack
Issue #11
Queenstown, NZ
What’s happening {{first_name}}!
This week we’re going from throwing ourselves off a viral canyon in New Zealand, to discovering how badly things fall apart without electricity.
I’m breaking down the world famous Shotover Canyon Swing, sharing a simple hack to avoid getting your stuff stolen while travelling. We’re also taking a look into the experience where you can come face to face with an apex predator, but your the one in the cage, and the dolphin version of puff, puff, pass… enjoy!
The Adventure in Review
Shotover Canyon Swing
This was one of them things I wanted to do long before I decided to start travelling the world.
You’ve probably seen it without realising, the viral clip where the guy goes “let me tell you something…” before falling backwards on a chair into a deep canyon.
Yep.. that’s this place.
The Shotover Canyon Swing in Queenstown is an epic adrenaline rush of controlled fear. You get harnessed up on a platform hanging 109 metres above a canyon before being dropped into a swing across it at speed. It’s not a bungee, it’s worse. Because instead of just falling straight down and bouncing back up, this time you fall straight down but your brain has a moment of “wait why am I still falling, sideways?”.
Queenstown is already known as the adventure capital of the world (and one of my favourite places I might add), so it makes sense that this would be based here, with its insane landscapes mixed with people who clearly have a love for testing others limits.
The set up is unreal. You’re stood on a platform over this massive canyon, with views that would normally feel peaceful, if you weren’t about to launch yourself into it, and what makes this even better is the staff. They don’t just send you off, they mess with you.
Sarcasm. Fake countdowns. Acting like they’ve forgotten to clip you in properly (not working on me, I know your game). They’re just constantly trying to get a reaction out of you before you go.
Oh and even better you can choose how you go:
Classic swan dive
Spartan kick
Tricycle
The famous chair
Plus lots more. Naturally I ended up doing it twice. First time, just full sent it, ran, jumped and gracefully swung into the canyon in a beautiful 10 out of 10 swan dive (in my mind anyway. Don’t take this away from me). Second time, “let me tell you something” I obviously had to go with the famous chair. Sitting there like its all calm, and then you know that moment, when you fall backwards on your chair and your heart drops, well this is like that, except you don’t stop falling.
Honestly one of my favourite adrenaline activities I’ve ever done.
Quick Details:
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Company: Shotover Canyon Swing
Drop: 109m height, 60m freefall, 200m arc swing
Best For: Adrenaline lovers
Would I do it again?: Already did… instantly
If you want to see me falling through the air in majestic fashion check out the video below (tip skip to 5:16) 👇
Explorer’s Hack
The Bumbag (Yep…seriously)
Call it a bumbag. Call it a cross body. Call it a '“satchel” if it helps your ego.
Just wear one.
If you’ve travelled enough and it hasn’t happened to you, I can guarantee you know someone who’s been pickpocketed. Phones, wallets, passports, all can be gone in a split second, especially in busy cities or on public transport, and backpacks are the worst for it.
You can’t see them on your back, you can’t feel people opening them, and by the time you notice, it’s probably too late. Bumbags fix all that. It sits on your front, it’s in your line of sight, zipped, secured, and you can wear it under a hoodie or jacket. It’s simple, low effort, but very effective.
Also wear it across your body not around your waist, not only does it make you look a little better (a little), it also makes it harder to grab. And if anyone questions it just remember…
”It’s not a man purse, it’s a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one”
One for the List
Seeing Polar bears in the Wild
If you want to feel like you’re no longer top of the food chain, this could be one to add to the list.
In remote parts of Arctic Canada theres a place called Camp Nunavut which offers one of the wildest experiences you can have… coming face to face with polar bears in their natural habitat.
The twist? You're the one in the cage (sort of). Guests will stay in a protected compound while the polar bears roam freely outside, working out how to break in for a quick snack. It’s basically a reverse zoo. You’re warm, safe, and vary aware that the only thing separating you from a 600kg apex predator is some reinforced barriers.
But this is what makes it so good. You’re not looking at them though a glass in a city zoo, you’re in their world, their environment, in the middle of the frozen Arctic, surrounded by nothing but silence and snow.
Raw, remote, and probably one of the closest encounters you can have with a polar bear and still live to tell the tale.
Definitely on my list. How about you?
The Weird & Wild
Dolphins Get High on Pufferfish
Dolphins have been spotted intentionally playing with pufferfish, not to eat them, but to get high.
Pufferfish release a toxin that in small doses can have a narcotic effect. So dolphins will gently pass them around, taking turns (really gives some meaning behind the phrase “puff, puff, pass”).
Scientists obviously can’t 100% confirm what’s going on, but it very much looks like dolphins are out there recreationally getting high.
Which raises questions like…
Where can I get some.
Misadventures
12 Hours Without Power (Slowly losing my mind)
The location is Cusco Peru. It’s a Sunday morning with a chilled work day planned after returning the night before from a 4 day Amazon jungle trip. I’m in the shower and suddenly the power cuts, the hot waters gone and I’m now standing there in high altitude cold Cusco, covered in shampoo, getting hit with ice cold water. Great start to the day.
I get out, dry off, and realise it’s not just the shower, everything is dead. No electricity, no wifi, no data signal. Which in turn now means, no food delivery, no contact and no entertainment. And because it is Sunday everything nearby is closed.
Perfect.
I managed to get a tiny bit of temporary signal in one corner of the apartment in order to message the owner. He said someone would be round to fix it at about 3pm, it’s currently 10.
Cool. I’ll just wait.
So my laptop dies, my power bank dies and my phone battery is on its last legs. I revert to doing absolutely nothing, hungry, bored and slowly realising how useless I am without electricity. Hours pass, I’m now lying in the dark and still nothing, but I look across the courtyard and every other apartment has lights, so I finally message the owner again, turns out the electrician had already come and fixed it 2 hours ago, they just forgot to switch mine back on.
Nice.
Someone on site must then have flipped the tripped switch back on and the first thing I did is order a ridiculous amount of food, acting as if this was harder than being in the amazon for 4 days. Which to be fair in the modern world just might be.
Me realising the problem
Hmm… this might be the issue
This is my life now
Got a travel f*ck up or “why did I think that was a good idea?” moment? Reply to this email and the best ones might get featured in a future issue (anonymously if you'd prefer).
Wise words…
“Every bad decision starts with a small thought, ‘yeah… it should be fine’.”
I’d love to hear from you.
👉 What’s the weirdest, funniest or most ridiculous thing that’s ever happened to you whilst travelling? Or maybe you have your own trick, tip or favourite piece of gear to share?
Hit reply and share, I might even feature your story or advice in a future issue.
Until next time,
Chase the Adventure.
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