How on earth did I get myself into this?
I feel a bit dizzy, and my hands are shaking slightly.
I find myself standing on a wooden platform high in the trees near the top of the Skyline Gondola at Bobs Peak.
Drops of rain are hanging on every needle in the pine forest.
In front of me, four other Queenstown locals look excited about the prospect of being attached to a harness, zipped on to a wire and then dashing off into the shadows of the woods.
I am still not sure this is a good idea.
As I wait in line, I think of my conversation with Ziptrek managing director Trent Yeo at the company's launch party on Monday evening last week.
"My aim is to get my mother to do the tour. I'm sure she could and would. And if she can do it, anyone can do it," he said.
Somehow those words convinced me I could do the tour as well.
Standing here on the platform, I imagine Trent's mother must be a hard-core action lady.
This is not really my thing.
Sure enough, I go skiing and horse riding, plus a bit of light tramping and the occasional jet-boat ride.
But after more than three years in Queenstown, I have still never felt inclined to do stuff like bungy jumping, skydiving, canyon swinging, paragliding or anything else requiring me to be strapped up and jumping off anything.
I have been assured this flying fox tour is nothing like those other activities and is a fun and safe joyride for anyone over the age of 7.
So why is my heart threatening to stop?
I feel the blood leave my cheeks, and tug at the harness.
It seems solid.
I must look scared as Chris cheerfully tells me the most dangerous part of this experience was driving through Queenstown on my way to the gondola.
My friendly guide gives me the final safety instructions as he attaches my harness to the wire and checks the straps.
"Are you ready?" he asks.
I mumble something like "as ready as I'll be", and wonder how anyone knows for sure when they are ready.
On the zip lines you do not actually jump off the platform.
Steps lead down off the launch area under the wire.
You simply walk down to the stairs until the harness strap tightens, and gravity takes over and lets you glide off into the open space in front of you.
I look down and count seven steps.
I feel dizzy again.
"Keep walking," I hear behind me.
One step down.
Two steps.
The harness straps tighten around my thighs.
I take one more step, and suddenly I am dangling on a wire many metres above the ground, quickly picking up speed.
Wow! This is great.
I hear myself laugh out loud.
What an unexpected joy.
As I turn my head to look at the trees flicking past, I start to spin around, so my back is towards the landing platform.
A second of panic brushes through me, as I think I might slam backwards into the very solid-looking platform.
I am relieved to see Marc Menard, our other guide, operating a brake system on the wire and then he is gently pulling me on to the stairs of the landing.
My knees are a bit wobbly as I listen to the guides do a series of interesting narrations on eco-awareness on each of the impressive and beautifully constructed platforms.
From the time we step on to the first platform, we do not set foot on the ground again until after the fourth zip ride.
It does feel a bit like flying, and as the line gets longer and steeper, I feel the speed pick up, but the rides never become overly scary.
After three zip flights, I feel bold enough to agree to launch my last zip line backwards.
But turning around on the steps in order to take a step backwards into thin air, brings my initial fear back in full force.
I try to smile to the two extra guides, Jay Conroy and Tom Walter, who I had roped in to act as cameramen for me - but feel a bubbling laughter compete with my shaking hands.
I take the fearsome step backwards and swirl into the longest, fastest and most scenic ride of the day.
On my way down on the Skyline Gondola, one thought sums it all up for me: "If I can do it, anyone can do it!"
• Ziptrek operates 365 days a year in all weather.
Tours last about two hours and cost $119 for adults or $69 for juniors under 15 and seniors over 65 years (plus the gondola ticket).
Tickets are available at the booking office at 37 Shotover St.
