In 1986, Hackett performed the first jump from the Greenhithe Bridge in Auckland and subsequently started making jumps from bridges across New Zealand, before performing an illegal bungee from the Eiffel Tower in 1987. Although Hackett was arrested immediately after the jump, bungee jumping successfully secured the interest of people around the globe. The world’s first commercial bungee jumping operation was set up in Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown by Hackett and Henry in 1988.
Now bungee jumping in New Zealand is huge with numerous beautiful bungee jumping sites to its name.
Here are nine of the best bungee jumping ranges that you should definitely check out while you are in the country:
1) The Nevis Bungee
From a height of thirty-four meters, Nevis bungee packs a continuous freefall towards the Nevis River that lasts for eight point five seconds. Terrifying and exhilarating at the same time and three times as high as the Statue of Liberty, Nevis Bungee is the highest bungee in New Zealand and also the third highest in the world. Online booking is available, along with free transportation from Queenstown.The thirty-five minute drive to the destination is an exotic experience itself with scenic views of big mountain ranges and forests throughout. The four-wheel drive buses to Nevis Bungee commence from 8.40 am to 2.40 pm. Once the drive gets over, a small journey in a cable car awaits to reach the platform.
Location: Cnr of Camp and Shotover Street, Central Queenstown, New Zealand
Timings: Mon-Wed Closed, Thu – Sun 10 am – 2 pm
Cost: NZD 220
2) Velocity Valley
For those who want to try bungee jumping by spending just a short amount of money, Velocity Valley in Rotorua is a perfect choice. At a height of forty-three meters, the bungee is also less intimidating than others since it does not include anything extreme like jumping from a cliff to a river. Formerly known as the Agroventures Adventure Park, Velocity Valley is just ten minutes north of Rotorua.Location: 1335 Paradise Valley Road, Ngongotaha, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand
Timings: Fri – Mon 9 am – 4 pm, Tue – Thu Closed
Cost: NZD 289
3) Hanmer Springs Bungee
Although a jump of just thirty-four meters makes Hanmer Springs Bungee the least high site for bungee jumping in New Zealand, it still definitely delivers a chilling experience. The leap is made from the historic Ferry bridge which has been there for more than one hundred and thirty-five years. This jumping location in Alpine valley presents a surreal view and adds to the impact of the jump.Location: 839 Hanmer Springs Road, Hanmer Springs 7334, New Zealand
Timings: Thu – Mon 9 am – 5.30 pm, Tue & Wed Closed
Cost: NZD 350
4) Kawarau Bridge Bungee
Kawarau Bungee Centre, the world’s first commercial bungee jumping site offers the leap from Kawarau Bridge. The jump made from a height of forty-three meters is considered as the most sought after in the world that attracts a giant number of people every year. One can also witness display bungee jumps performed by their trained staff.Location: State Highway 6, Central Queenstown, New Zealand
Timings: Mon-Sun 10am – 4pm
Cost: NZD 205
5) Auckland Harbour Bridge
Despite attaining popularity majorly as a location for bungee jumping in New Zealand, the bridge was originally constructed seventy years ago to connect the city centre and the North Shore. It has a length of thousand and twenty meters and contains eight lanes. The climb to the bridge is complemented by the views of the city and the harbour and the jump from the bridge is forty meters high.Location: 105 Curran Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Timings: Wed-Sun 9 am – 3 pm, Mon & Tue Closed
Cost: NZD 150
6) Auckland Sky Tower
Apart from being one of the highest jumping ranges in the world at a height of one thousand and seventy-six feet, Auckland Sky Tower is the most familiar monument in New Zealand. None will be bothered by the fact that it isn’t exactly a bungee while enduring the free fall that lasts for eleven seconds from the tallest building in the country.Location: Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand
Timings: Mon-Sun 9.30 am – 5 pm
Cost: NZD 200
7) The Ledge
One of the primary adventures of Queenstown, The Ledge Bungee and Swing is unlike any other place for bungee jumping in New Zealand. It is the only bungee in the country where the visitors can try bungee jumping at night. They can swing their way down during the jump since it is the single swing in Queenstown. Easily the most courageous activity in Queenstown, the Ledge also has a wonderful view of Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps.Location: Brecon Street, Queenstown, New Zealand
Timings: Thu – Sun 12 – 5.30 pm
Cost: NZD 170
8) Shotover Canyon
The jump has free-falling and swinging to it, yet is not strictly a bungee. The height of the platform from the Shotover River exceeds a hundred meters and the visitors can choose whether to face forward or backwards before taking the plunge that is sixty meters long. The location of Shotover Canyon also is very pleasurable to the eyes.Location: 34 Shotover Street, Queenstown, New Zealand
Timings: Mon – Sun 9am – 5pm
Cost: NZD 160
9) Taupo Bungee
Taupo Bungee adds a twist to the conventional bungee by giving the adrenaline junkies an opportunity to take a dip in Lake Taupo at the end of the jump. This water touch is wonderfully rated by them since they felt that the splash was refreshing.Location: 202 Spa Road, Taupo, New Zealand
Timings: Mon-Sun 9.30 am – 4 pm
Cost: NZD 150
Some of the locations have professional photographers who can help you eternalize the occasion by snapping some brilliant photos of you. Anyway, they would demand an extra fee in order to do that.
Did we miss out any of the important locations of bungee jumping in New Zealand? Tell us in the comments.