Wanakaaaa

Making our way down the South Island, we drove through the beautiful Aoraki National Park, where many Lord of the Rings and Avatar scenes were filmed. No wonder, the place looks like from another world.

Next up are the Blue Pools, glacier water collecting in shockingly blue water.

And it wouldn't be Stray if the driver didn't make some of his passengers jump in.

Lake Wanaka was our last stop before reaching Wanaka City, where I would do one of the craziest activities I have ever done.

...Flying a stunt plane.

For 200 dollars, you get a thirty minute flight. The pilot takes off, lands, then leaves almost the complete flight to you. It's terrifying, exhilarating, completely insane. Not even three minutes of flying and then your hands are on the joystick.

And of course, because it's a stunt plane, the pilot teaches you to do tricks and such. That involves a barrel roll and a loop. Each trick is completed four times.

The first time, the pilot does it.

The second, you do it with his hands near the controls.

The third, his hands are on his lap, but he is talking you through it.

The fourth, he is sitting there, silent, while you fucking fly the plane into a loop, five thousand feet above Lake Wanaka.

If that doesn't fill your daily dose of adrenaline, I don't know what will.