Image thanks to Gap Year
The land of the long white cloud is truly the adrenaline seekers heaven. And what better way is there to reach heaven than to jump out of a plane from 15,000ft (or even more), touch the sky, and then fall towards the ground at terminal velocity. That’s right. Today we’re talking about skydiving in New Zealand. But what makes a truly great skydiving spot? As we’ve said in a previous blog it’s all about the scenery. And with a country like New Zealand being made famous for having some of the worlds best scenery, there really isn’t a better place to take the leap. So where should you go in New Zealand to get your sky high adrenaline fix? Read more to find out.
Image thanks to Skydive Franz
The Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are a pretty popular place to head when in New Zealand’s, South Island. People travel from all over the world to hike up these ancient glaciers. But what if we told you there was a better way to see them? What if we told you you could see them from 20,000ft up in the air? That’s right, not only is this the best way to see 360° scenic views of these amazing glaciers, but Skydive Franz Josefs 20,000ft Kea jump is the highest commercial tandem skydive in the world. With 85+ seconds of freefall from such a height, you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere, making these easily one of the best skydives in New Zealand, if not the world.
Image thanks to Backpacker Guide NZ
Skydiving is one of Taupo's biggest businesses, and for good reason. Not only is it one of the more affordable Skydives (seriously, skydiving can get expensive), but it also provides some amazing scenery. For Lord of the Rings fans, skydiving in Taupo is likely to be a favourite. Falling from 15,000ft you’ll see major movie highlights like Mt. Ngauruhoe, the real-life Mt. Doom, as well as the ever stunning Lake Taupo, Tongariro National Park, and Mt. Ruapehu. If you’re looking for bang for your buck, with a little bit of Middle Earth thrown in the mix, Taupo should be your go-to.
Image thanks to Bookme
The Bay of Islands is one of the most scenic places in New Zealand’s North. Made up of 140 subtropical islands it’s known for its undeveloped beaches and rich Maori history. What better way to see such a wide variety of islands than a birds-eye view? Skydiving over the Bay of Islands is something special, and much like Franz Josef there’s the opportunity to jump from 20,000ft. That’s higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro which is only 19,341ft high. This means that after you’ve jumped out of a perfectly good plane you’ll get 85 seconds of free-fall and get the chance to revel in the beauty that is the Bay of Islands.
Image thanks to New Zealand Tourism
Abel Tasman is a special skydive. Jump from up to 16,500ft and get views of some of the best scenery New Zealand has to offer. From turquoise blue waters to mountain ranges to rivers that cut through the land and more. There’s even the chance to get a view of both islands at once! With its landscape serving up a unique tasting plate of New Zealand’s best scenery, there really isn’t another skydive like it.
Image thanks to Everything Queenstown
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Queenstown. As the adventure capital of the world, skydiving is as routine for locals as taking a walk in the park. But for you, this skydive is anything but routine. Jump from up to 15,000ft over the Wakatipu basin and get a birds-eye view of Queenstown's dramatic landscape with its rugged mountains and large open lakes. The big guys in the Queenstown skydiving team are Nzone Skydive and are also probably one of New Zealand's most experienced skydive companies. If you’re a bit hesitant to skydive, we recommend heading to Queenstown for your first leap of faith.
Image thanks to Velocity Valley
Go skydiving with no planes, no parachutes, and no death defying drops. If you’ve ever wanted to fly but haven’t been able to build up the courage Freefall Xtreme is for you. Located in Rotorua’s Velocity Valley (not actually a geographical valley) this giant wind tunnel shoots air out at 220km/h. Feel like you’re floating through the clouds in an essentially infinite freefall. The best bit is that after you’ve had a go at Freefall Xtreme you can explore the rest of the adventure park and have a go at some of their other awesome rides, like their freestyle airbag or a New Zealand classic, the bungy jump.
We’ll never be quite sure why humans go to such extremes for that adventure and excitement, but one thing we are sure about is that skydiving is almost always a great time. And with it being safer than ever (you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than be involved in a skydiving accident) literally anyone can do it. So why not book a dive and take the leap?
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