I've done 100 bungy jumps around the world, these spots stood out

Bali-based event planner Nadine Gray has bungy jumped in five countries and reveals what compels her to go the distance for thrills.

Nadine Gray grew up in the Northern Territory but it was while working in Cairns as a young adult that she first tried bungy jumping.

“I didn’t love it, but decided to go back. Being a local we could get a cheap yearly membership,” says the Bali-based event planner and owner of Real Escapes and catering company Mimpi Catering.

Eventually hooked, Nadine has now jumped around 100 times in countries including South Africa, Singapore and New Zealand.

“I had a nine-hour layover in Singapore, so I went to the bungy site and did three jumps,” she says. “To bungy jump in different countries is definitely an experience. When you’re up there, you have these views that are made in heaven.”

Here, she shares her most memorable bungy jumping destinations.

Nadine Gray at the Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa.

South Africa

The Bloukrans Bungy on the Garden Route in South Africa is Africa’s highest bungy jump and has the most incredible views. You go across to the middle of the bridge on a zip line first, and that in itself is such a cool experience. Then you jump looking out at those views, and it’s just “wow”.

The Bloukrans Bungy is Africa's highest bungy jump.

Macau

Skypark Macau is the highest commercial bungy jump in the world. It’s 233m. It’s a city setting and always pretty foggy. I’ve jumped it a couple of times and the first time I was terrified. I actually cried on the tower. Then I jumped and thought, “that was the best thing ever”. I went again this year and instead of a regular swan dive, they let me do a run and jump. It wasn’t scary enough, so for the second jump they hung me over and I went off backwards.

The Macau city skyline is best experienced on a bungy jump, according to Nadine Gray.

Singapore

The bungy jump at Skypark Sentosa on Sentosa Island is on the cutest little beach with amazing views. I’ve jumped there 10 or so times. They have a really cool jump menu. You can choose from different kinds of jumps as long as you’re at a certain level. My most recent was a handstand.

Skypark Sentosa in Singapore is one of Nadine Gray's favourite bungy locations.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, I jumped at Nevis Swing and Catapult in Queenstown. I was more scared of that than the Macau jump, even though it was 100m lower at 134m. You go out on a cable car that’s hanging in the middle of the Nevis Valley. New Zealand is the home of bungy and founder AJ Hackett is one of my biggest idols.

Jumping at the Nevis Bungy in New Zealand.

NADINE GRAY’S TRAVEL HIGHS AND LOWS

Emergency stop

I was flying to Vietnam for my 30th birthday with a stopover in KL. There was a problem with the plane and we had to do an emergency landing before continuing on the same plane. I was Googling how to get a boat to Vietnam.

Friendly faces

I travelled to Papua New Guinea because my friend was living there. We were driving to a viewpoint and kids came out of nowhere. We opened the back of the 4WD and they all piled in. They were all smiles and wanted to take selfies and show us their dance moves. My heart melted.

Originally published as I've done 100 bungy jumps around the world, these spots stood out