I've been asked by the guys about the details of the Hang Gliding Experience so I'm going to deliver
I had already gone jet boating on a 540hp speed boat and wanted to choose my next adventure activity and had to decide between parasailing, sky diving, and hang gliding. I chose Hang Gliding as I wanted to save Hang Gliding for Vancouver where I could jump with a group. Sky Diving would be faster and provide a more thrilling experience than floating with parasailing. Besides the author in Lonely plant suggested it so and I heard good things from the locals. I decided to try it.
They provide scenic flights as well as instructional flights from both Coronet Peak and The Remarkables mountains which are located just 20 minutes drive from Queenstown.
Launch areas ranging between 3000 feet to 3800 feet high.
I got to put on the blue suit and after watching Iron Man 1 the night before I was stoked for the flight. The instruction was fairly brief and straightforward. They took 10 minutes or so to set up the Hang Glider while I took some pictures. Dave, the pilot called me up. It was time.
I wasn't that nervous. I had imagined it to be more dramatic like in Harold and Kumar where they taking a running start off a cliff. The take off was smooth with several running steps downhill before the Hang Glide just seems to start flying through the air.
The beginning was so exciting. I had always dreamed of flying, but more like the kid on my secret identity. This was better. It didn't seem too fast, but I was in awe and just soaking in the beautiful view. We were going at a reasonable speed just enjoying it. Its not a roller coaster type of adrenaline rush. Mine was a more controlled flight. They have a camera built into the Hang Glider. Normally you have to hang onto a handle on the pilots suit, but Dave was cool with me doing the superman and just letting my arms free. Finally it was time to descend into the field. This was the part where we started picking up speed as we were going downhill. The landing was interesting we landed horizontally onto the field and lost our speed on the field with my shoes getting a wet grass wash.
The two hundred dollar question. Would I recommend it? Hell yea its going to go down as one of those memorable activities that I'm probably only going to do a handful of times and it's a lot of fun if you enjoy flying, a thrill, and a view that cannot be described until you actually do it.
