Entirely World Famous Nicquel: WASHPEN FALLS

With Full On

Just over an hours drive from Christchurch, Washpen Falls offers unique recreational and outdoor activities in a breathtaking natural setting. There are fascinating walking tracks through the canyons formed by an ancient volcano. Walks are open to the public, however a donation in the honest box is required before you start. For those of you who are keen on the more adventurist activities, Full On can offer you a tripod of adrenalin rushes including the abseiling, the giant swing, and the leap of faith.

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Liz the marketing manger of Full On and our personal tour guide for the day guided us through lush native bush tracks to a country styled dinning area alongside an idyllic lake. (The original owner created the lake for the purpose of generating private hydro electricity generation). This is where we had a safety debrief and prepared for our activities by putting on a harness and helmet. For free walkers, this is a great place to stop and have afternoon or morning tea.

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Once we were in our harnesses and Liz checked to see they were on properly we walked to our first activity on the list, abseiling (don’t stress if your harness comes loose during the walk because they check your harness before every activity). We abseiled from a platform that was 100ft from the ground! The scariest part is the beginning because you have to lean back into your harness as you step backwards into thin air. You have to remind yourself that it is completely SAFE and you are connected by several ropes- of course this never works and I find myself imagining ways that I could fall to my death. After the initial part is over it’s easy sailing to the bottom. Try and take in the view as hard as it might be because it is absolutely stunning (by this I mean- don’t close your eyes all the way to the bottom!!).

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Second stop was the giant swing- it’s not as giant or as scary as what you think but it definitely does get the heart rate going! First off you are connected to a safety rope as you climb about 20metres up a tree. (The tree has pegs to put your feet on as you climb). Once you reach the top there will be an instructor who will connect you to the swing. 20metres may not seem that high but when you are already nestled halfway up a mountain it is high enough! When you build up the balls to actually jump, your stomach is left back on the launch pad as you freefall for about a second. Then it’s like being on a giant swing as the name suggests. It was so much fun I did it a second time! In which case I asked if it was possible to do a flip and Paul the instructor just laughed and said no.

The third and final activity is the leap of faith, which I believe was the scariest of the three. However Liz told us that it’s a close tie between the swing and the leap of faith for most people. So if you ever do participate in them let me know which one you think is the scariest! The leap of faith consists of ‘leaping’ out to a trapeze bar from a ledge in a tree. Sound a bit technical? Once again you’re required to climb up the tree in order to get to the ledge, except this time you are on a smaller ledge and you’re by yourself. The trapeze honestly seems impossible to grab but that is the last thing on my mind as the thought of me plunging to my death creeps back into my head! Then of course the countdown starts 3, 2, 1… So I bend my knees, crouch down and jump as high as I can.