Booking choice: The NZONE Queenstown skydive, from $217 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Queenstown is where AJ Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungy on the Kawarau Bridge in 1988, and NZONE says it began New Zealand's first tandem skydives two years later, in 1990. Many visitors only have the budget or the nerve for one.
Here is how the main options compare, with live ratings and from-prices.
The quick answer
Skydive for the longest freefall and the biggest views: up to 60 seconds from 15,000 ft, strapped to an instructor. Bungy for a short, intense fall that you step into yourself: about 8.5 seconds at the 134 m Nevis Bungy, or 43 m over the river at Kawarau Bridge. Bungy and swing prices include photos and video; the skydive photos are extra.
How do Queenstown's big thrills compare?
The skydive gives the longest freefall; the bungy and swing include photos; paragliding is the gentle option.
| Experience | The fall | Min. age | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZONE skydive | 25 to 60 s freefall | 6 | 4.7 (1,476) | $217 |
| Nevis Bungy | 134 m, about 8.5 s | 13 | 5.0 (158) | $226 |
| Kawarau Bridge Bungy | 43 m over the river | 10 | 4.8 (242) | $183 |
| Nevis Swing | A canyon swing, solo or tandem | 10 | 4.8 (115) | $186 |
| Tandem paragliding | No freefall | 6 | 4.7 (134) | $217 |
Leaning towards the long freefall? Check dates for the NZONE skydive.
Check dates for the NZONE Queenstown skydiveWhich is scarier, a skydive or a bungy?
It depends on you: the bungy is a short drop you commit to alone, the skydive a long fall where someone else is in charge.
Some people find stepping off a bungy platform harder, because nobody pushes you and the ground is right there. On a tandem skydive the Tandem Master handles the exit, and at altitude the ground feels far away.
Nevis Bungy: the biggest drop
New Zealand's highest bungy at 134 m, with about 8.5 seconds of freefall, jumped from a cable car pod above the Nevis canyon.
It is $226 on Viator with transport, photos and video included; the site is on private land, so the operator's transport is required. Minimum age 13, weight 45 to 127 kg. Friends who come to watch pay a NZ$50 spectator fee.
Want the biggest bungy in the country? Transport, photos and video are included.
Explore the Nevis BungyKawarau Bridge: the original
A 43 m jump over the Kawarau River, where AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch opened the world's first commercial bungy in 1988.
It is $183, with photos and video, an optional water touch, and transport if required. Spectators are free, and the minimum age is 10.
Nevis Swing: the halfway house
A giant swing over the Nevis canyon that you can ride alone or with a friend.
It is $186 with transport, photos and video. Minimum age 10, weight 35 to 220 kg.
Paragliding: views without the freefall
A tandem paraglider launch from Coronet Peak, with no freefall at all.
It is $217 with return transport; photos are extra. Weight limits are 120 kg from October to February and 110 kg in March and April.
Which should you choose?
Match the thrill to what you want to remember: the view, the fall or the story.
- The longest freefall and the biggest view: skydive, ideally from 15,000 ft.
- The purest fear factor: the Nevis Bungy.
- History and a river below you: Kawarau Bridge.
- Doing it together: the Nevis Swing in tandem.
- Scared of falling, still want the air: paragliding.
Doing both? Book the skydive early in your trip, since it depends on the weather.
Check dates for the NZONE Queenstown skydiveFrequently asked questions
Is a skydive or a bungy cheaper in Queenstown?
The Kawarau Bridge Bungy is cheaper at $183; the skydive starts at $217 for 9,000 ft, before photos.
Which has the longer freefall?
The skydive, by far: up to 60 seconds from 15,000 ft, against about 8.5 seconds at the Nevis Bungy.
Can kids do a bungy or a skydive?
Skydiving from age 6 (9,000 ft only up to age 12), the Kawarau Bungy and Nevis Swing from 10, the Nevis Bungy from 13.
Ready to book
Choose your jump
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
NZONE Skydive Queenstown: 9,000 to 15,000 ft
- Tandem skydive with a jumpmaster from 9,000, 12,000 or 15,000 ft
- Safety briefing and all equipment: jumpsuit, goggles, hat and gloves
- Courtesy coach from 35 Shotover Street to the drop zone and back
Nevis Bungy: New Zealand's Highest at 134 m
- Nevis Bungy jump from the cable car pod above the canyon
- Photos and video included
- Return transport from The Station Building in Queenstown (required: the site is on private land)
