{"id":222,"date":"2023-10-05T11:41:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T10:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.wordpress.com\/?p=222"},"modified":"2024-12-09T05:15:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T05:15:32","slug":"soaring-above-christchurch-paragliding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/05\/soaring-above-christchurch-paragliding\/","title":{"rendered":"Soaring Above Christchurch (Paragliding!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Activity level: \ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83c\udf36\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modes of transportation: \ud83d\udc5f\ud83d\ude90\ud83e\ude82<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We pretty much decided to sleep in, though we didn&#8217;t totally have enough time to do that. By this point, the camper van was starting to smell a little (Eric takes full credit), so we opened up the windows while we got ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5396-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5396-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5396-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5396-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5396-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5396-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Skies were clear when we woke up and found ourselves in a beautiful campground. Sarah had nothing to worry about.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5400-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5400-1.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5400-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5400-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5400-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Skincare doesn\u2019t stop when you\u2019re camping.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We decided on a fairly short hike which boasted stunning views, the Kea Point trail, which we raced up. On the way up, Sarah saw and called out an actual avalanche. Eric saw the tail end, but we both quickly heard the booming that it caused throughout the valley. Hopefully nobody got hurt!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The top was gorgeous, with dazzling, glinting views of the Tuckett Glacier on the side of Mt. Sefton, with Mt. Cook in the distance. We could also see the river that led up to the Mueller Glacier, and the lake it formed below. We couldn&#8217;t stay long, so we snapped a few photos and ran back down the mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5411-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5411-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5411-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5411-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5411-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_5411-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We dashed off in our camper van and headed straight for Christchurch since we had a 4:30 appointment to go paragliding. After talking to our guide Ryan on the phone, he assured us that it would be calm\u2014we&#8217;d take off from the side of a hill and return to that hill after seeing some sights. We had our fingers crossed the whole drive since we knew how much wind can change in a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9289-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-904\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Another beautiful drive\u2014this was of Lake Pukaki.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We quickly stopped for lunch at a cute cafe with a beautiful garden (though we couldn&#8217;t stay long), and filled up the van with gas (the fuel kind) before pushing through on the four hour drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9293-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-905\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It was still cherry blossom season in New Zealand and The Verde Cafe Deli had beautiful garden to enjoy their food.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As we got closer to the paragliding spot, it got more and more obvious that &#8220;little hill&#8221; means something different over here. As we drove up and up the mountain, with views of the city below, we realized that this wasn&#8217;t going to be a rinky-dink paragliding excursion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_9298.mov\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_9300.mov\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We met up with Ryan who was extremely nice, and he told us that the winds were a little high, so we would have to wait it out to make sure it was safe. Luckily, the winds died down slightly and Eric was chosen to go first (Ryan&#8217;s partner couldn&#8217;t make it that day, so we&#8217;d go back to back instead of at the same time). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9303-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9303-1.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9303-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9303-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9303-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eric was starting to wonder why it was called \u201cTaylor\u2019s Mistake.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video aligncenter\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG_9322.mov\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Up he went!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After a quick up, Eric made his way over the ridge, out to sea with views of the Scarborough Cliffs in Christchurch. Words can&#8217;t even describe how surreal it was to be up 200 meters (2.18 football fields), looking down and seeing only legs and air and houses. After doing some tricks and floating around a little more, Eric came back down to Earth to a clapping Sarah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/g0059785.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-774\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eric enjoyed a leisurely view of the cliffs\u2014whereas Sarah got to enjoy them up close and personal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Queenstown Paragliding 2023\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zHJbPaGVBvM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9328-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9328-1.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9328-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9328-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9328-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sarah was ready to go to the skies!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, it was Sarah&#8217;s turn. She also went out to the cliffs, but apparently there were some weird currents and they went falling (safely) below the cliff line. Ryan told Sarah that they might have to make a landing on the beach since there were a severe lack of normal updrafts. Luckily, they caught an &#8220;elevator&#8221; just in time and were able to make it back to the top of Taylor&#8217;s Mistake, soaring above the hills to see gorgeous views of the city and bleating sheep below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/g0069982.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-775\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We were at about 100 meters here (still don\u2019t know what a meter is but it felt high).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9345-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9345-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9345-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9345-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9345-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9345-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ryan at Christchurch paragliding was a pro! It was an incredible experience and felt very safe. Would highly recommend!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After all of that, we decided to book a nice hotel for our last night in New Zealand, so Sarah chose a place in Christchurch called Sudima, and we went to check in. We told the staff it was our honeymoon, and they congratulated us before checking us in. We ordered some room service from the restaurant below because we were exhausted. A little later, they showed up with some dessert and wine to go with dinner, which was a really great treat and made it all feel special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9357-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9357-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9357-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9357-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9357-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9357-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This was one of the most beautiful sights of the day for Sarah after car-camping 2 days in a row (and you can see from the post it had a lot of competition).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9369-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9369-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9369-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9369-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9369-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9369-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">It was so kind of Sudima Hotels in Christchurch to send up complimentary wine, dessert, and a note wishing us a happy honeymoon\u2014no wonder they\u2019re a 5 star hotel!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" src=\" https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9387-1.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9387-1.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9387-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9387-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/img_9387-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All clean and ready to eat! The food tasted even more incredible than it looked!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We got right to business: laundry. Unfortunately, there was a long line, and the washer didn&#8217;t spin cycle properly\u2014so all of our clothes were dripping wet out of the washer. Eric wrung them out and threw them in the dryer, but, as of this writing, it&#8217;s unclear whether they&#8217;ll actually dry before we have to wake up for our 6:00 AM flight to Australia. Here&#8217;s hoping!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/e2b22e39-3640-48a0-bacb-69634b5f2db8-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">We didn\u2019t take any photos of the room covered in our wet laundry since we were quite stressed and tired from the long day\u2014so here are close ups of the amazing food the hotel served us.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eric and Sarah find out what \u201chill\u201d means in New Zealand.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[9,12,18],"class_list":["post-222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-zealand","tag-christchurch","tag-mt-cook","tag-the-dark-sky-reserve"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=222"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3621,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/222\/revisions\/3621"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sarahanderictraveltheworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}