Andrew Lichtenstein, Kiwi expat, and manager of a record-holding bungy shares his top tips for visitors to the Chinese SAR
Thomas Bywater scales the heights in Macau.
Macau builds things in superlatives.
As China's special administrative region and playground it boasts the largest indoor casino, the most challenging stop on the Grand Prix circuit, the biggest hotel building in Asia, and all on the world's most density populated island.
But for Kiwi visitors, one thing leaps out of this list of grand claims: the world's highest commercial bungy jump.
Macau Tower stands at 338m and its silhouette is instantly recognisable to Aucklanders.
Thomas Bywater walks the ledge of the Macau Skytower.
Legend has it that on a visit to Auckland, "King of Gambling" Stanley Ho Hung Sun saw the Sky Tower and decided it was exactly what was missing from the Macau skyline.
The Macau Tower shares architects and a lot of other traits with its New Zealand counterpart, the most notable of which is found on a viewing platform, 223 metres up. From here the company AJ Hackett International — the business launched by the famous Kiwi daredevil — runs the notorious bungy jump.
I meet jump master Anthony O'Rourke at the bottom of the lifts.
On the long ride up there is plenty of time to hear how he ended up in China, helping run a record-holding thrill ride. O'Rourke, from Taupo, is an appropriately towering figure and he's made more jumps than he cares to count. I wonder, silently, whether there is any truth in the belief that you gain extra height dangling on the end of a bungy cord. After working at New Zealand's Taupo and Queenstown Pipeline bungy jumps, he gained his jumpmaster qualification working at famous dives across the world, joining AJ Hackett International just over 20 years ago.
O'Rourke finally made the leap to Macau in 2007 after being summoned by fellow Kiwi and Aucklander Adam Lichtenstein. Since then he has embraced the Macanese way of life and been conducting jumps here for the world's most daring thrillseekers.
The New Zealand jumpmaster qualification is sought after. There is a long Kiwi heritage within the sport and an excellent record of delivering thrills for adventure tourists. Most importantly, it brings trust. Trust is perhaps the key consideration for anyone putting their lives on their line and jumping head first towards the Chinese cement below.
Reaching the AJ Hackett observation deck I meet Lichtenstein. The regional manager for the company, he is extremely proud of this jump. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year from across the border in Guangdong, The Macau Tower bungy has become a draw in its own right. It's a destination for tourists looking to test their luck at something other than high stakes casinos.
It is the only bungy managed by Hackett with more female jumpers than male — another point of pride for Lichtenstein. It seemed the pressure was on for me to do my bit for gender equality.
However, I would not be jumping this time.
I was handed the incredibly convenient excuse of arriving in a week while the tower's ropes were closed for auditing.
But it didn't mean I was off the hook entirely. Lichtenstein reminded me that the bungy was just one of many activities the company had on offer: a wire descent, walk and a climb to the top of the tower's antenna were also on the cards. Strapped into a harness, I followed photographer Astro out on to the ledge.
"You're going to have to do it again," he says taking snapshots. "You have to really commit to it or people won't believe the danger."
My stomach felt as though it had gone ahead with the jump anyway, dropping through my knees to the 233m landing pad below. Still it was a thrilling experience.
In a city so much time looking up at towering hotels and super casinos, it was exhilarating to see it all from above.
Macau.
Best things about living in Macau, by the AJ Hackett Kiwis
Ease of travel: The Kiwi operators make the most of being in Macau. With cheap regional flights from Macau, and Hong Kong a short ferry away, it's a great base from which to explore Southeast Asia.
Food: The Macanese culinary scene caters for even the most adventurous appetites. From authentic Portuguese and Mediterranean restaurants to cutting-edge Nikkei Sushi at the MGM Cotai, there's a little bit of everything.
Biggest bungy in the world: Even with so much to see across south China, the team at AJ Hackett remain stoked about running a record-holding bungy. An appreciation refreshed with regular trial jumps.
FACT BOX
GETTING THERE Hong Kong Airlines flies daily from Auckland to Hong Kong. A fast ferry connects to Macau.
