New Zealand – Bungee Jumping from the Kawarau Bridge
“I’m still falling!!!(!!)!!!” I clearly remember internally screaming while mid-bungee jump. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise me, but it’s a long fall! Since you’re reading this post, you can believe I did it. I went bungee jumping to celebrate my birthday while on the South Island of New Zealand. It was terrifying, electrifying, and something I won’t soon forget.
I chose to jump from the Kawarau Bridge, a scenic and classic location with bright blue waters below a steep canyon and ornate walking bridge. It’s the location where Bungee Jumping was commercialized by AJ Hackett, so it felt momentous to jump here with the company. While the New Zealand spelling is “Bungy,” I’m going with the American “Bungee” for this blog post, where I will break down the entire experience and recommendations for how to make a successful jump (and not chicken out!).
(Hanna Note: I went bungee jumping on March 1, 2020, but I wrote this post in August 2022. Due to the pandemic, I froze and didn’t think it was a good idea to share an adventure activity in a destination that was closed off to most of the world for what ended up being years. Now that New Zealand has opened up again, I am excited to relive the terrifying yet exhilarating bungee experience. Information is updated with current information as of 2022.)
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Bungee Jumping with AJ Hackett
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in New Zealand, go bungee jumping with AJ Hackett. While there may be other bungee operators, AJ Hackett popularized and commercialized bungee jumping at the Kawarau Bridge (skip down to my history of bungee jumping section to read about the birthplace). It felt necessary to do the extreme activity that I long associated with New Zealand, and I’m glad I did. Without further ado, let’s get into the jump itself.
Signing up in Queenstown + Drive to Kawarau Bridge
If you’re like me and will not be sure if you’re going to jump until you get to New Zealand, you’ll need to stop by an AJ Hackett office to talk with a staffer and sign up for a timeslot. However, if you’re visiting during the peak season, you might want to book ahead of time online and get $20 off if you book more than 20 days out. The timeslots ensure there isn’t a massive backlog of jumpers, and it remains a smooth process. As a jumper, I was grateful not to wait tooooo long before jumping.
At the Queenstown office, we chatted about the different jumps. While I knew I wanted to jump from the Kawarau Bridge, it was interesting to hear about the other available options. The Nevis location has the longest jump in New Zealand, dropping 439 ft (134m) and lasting 8.5 seconds. That seems wild! Since I wasn’t trying to break any records and loved the scenery of the Kawarau Bridge, I moved forward with the bridge. There was an opening in the next hour, and I took it!
We immediately set off for the Kawarau Bridge, about 25 minutes from Queenstown, through Franktown and scenic countryside. On the drive, my partner reminisced about the time he jumped over a decade before. He gave me a pep talk, tips, and encouragement as we drove. As we got closer to the bridge, we saw gorgeous wineries on the hillsides, and I made a mental note to go wine tasting when I return to New Zealand to try the famous Sauvignon Blanc.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars; I’m not rushing to do it again, but I’m so glad I did it!
- Intensity: Casual clothes, comfortable shoes
- Location: Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown
- Cost: NZ $205/per person with AJ Hackett, which is roughly USD $155 and does not include the professional photos/video
- Restrooms: There are bathrooms in the main building
- Timing: While the jump lasted only seconds, the entire process from check-in to climbing the stairs after the jump was probably about 45 mins (maybe less), it was like a well-oiled machine.
Highlights:
- Heart-pounding, saliva-drying, hands-shaking, live-living experience.
- Gorgeous bridge and scenery to do something as ridiculous as jumping off a bridge.
- Partaking in a sport further developed and popularized in New Zealand.
- Sense of achievement and bragging rights.
Lowlights:
- Holy moly, that was scary.
- Pricey experience, but I’ll pay for the safety and knowledge of the AJ Hackett staff.
Checking in and Getting my Number
Pulling into the parking lot and seeing the bridge, my nerves jumped up a notch. It was becoming real. We made our way into the building, where you moved down a series of ramps to the main floor, where there was a souvenir shop and two different desks. I cannot remember which desk I signed the waiver, wristband, and number. However, I distinctly remember checking in at the first desk and getting weighed at the second desk.
It’s crucial to get your accurate weight to adjust the elastic bungee! They write your number on one hand and your weight on the other. I recommend going to the bathroom before getting weighed (not because of weight) because I immediately had to wash my hands and was worried I would wash these numbers off.
Setting up for New Zealand Bungee Jumping
From there, you can go outside and watch other people jump. However, I was too nervous to watch and headed right up to the bridge. There are two platforms and two lines, which they alternate between. There were probably 5 or 6 people ahead of me. While I waited for my turn, they helped me into a harness and adjusted it to fit correctly. They also did a mini interview with a camera on the bridge. Before long, it was my turn to go into the side of the bridge where there is a flat area where they wrap your ankles.
As they were wrapping my ankles, my nerves jumped up another notch, so I kept chatting with the staff to keep my mind distracted. They asked how far I wanted to go in the water, and I pointed to my forearms. There was no one in front of me in what felt like an instant. The AJ Hackett staff had me stand up on the platform and begin hobbling to the end. My heart was POUNDING as I looked down and slowly scooched my feet toward the edge. What am I doing?? Don’t think about it. Wow, that water is blue. My thoughts were all over the place, my mouth was dry, and I froze my face into a smile to hide the fear.
The Jump
“Okay, Hanna, give a wave to the camera. And look over your shoulder and wave.” The AJ Hackett Staff directed me. At this point, I had absolutely no thoughts at all. I could feel that my breathing was shallow, so I tried to slow it down.
“Look, we’ve got some rafters. Let’s give them a show, shall we, Hanna?” I said something in the form of an agreement because I knew as soon as he counted down, I wasn’t going to hesitate; I was going to jump immediately.
“Okay, 5, 4, 3…” I didn’t even wait for him to finish and started to bend my knees and reached out wide. When he reached 1, I was launching myself in the air like a dive. And I began to fall….
…and fall…
…still falling…
I’m still falling!!! The fall felt like it took 20 seconds instead of only a few, and the ground was coming up to meet me. I could feel myself wanting to back up while I was falling forward. As I approached the water, I reached forward but didn’t quite touch it as I started to feel the force in the opposite direction. The bungee whipped me around, but I could hear my partner cheering from the viewing deck. I forgot to scream! Instead, I whooped back at him while bouncing around above the Kawarau River.
Catching a Boat While Upside-Down
While I was upside down, I realized I didn’t have a complete concept of how they get jumpers down. Luckily two cheerful dudes in a bright yellow inflatable raft were ready to catch me. They reached out a pole for me to grab onto. I caught the pole on the first pass, which is a miracle that I had any concept of what to do. The staff above lowered me into the boat and had me look up to the camera. What a hilarious shot.
One of the cheerful boat dudes unwrapped my ankles and undid my harness while the other pulled us back to shore. I bet the rafters were floating by around this time, but my mind was swimming in mixed emotions. They had me hop out of the boat, and there was a clear path with stairs back up to the main building, where my partner came down to meet me.
The Post-Jump Wave of Relief
When I reached my partner, it hit me that I had just jumped off a bridge. Whaaat? My partner immediately told me my jump was beautiful, which was great because I didn’t plan to do another one. All I could say was that the fall felt like it was forever. All the emotions were hitting me at once – giddiness, pride, excitement, fear, and relief that it was over. While I wasn’t physically shaking, I was emotionally all over the map, adrenaline pumping through my veins. We took a few photos before heading up to purchase photos/videos.
The scenery didn’t hit me until after the jump – it was a gorgeous day! Puffy clouds in the sky, a bright blue river below, the ornate brown bridge with a platform, and steep canyon walls. Stunning. After purchasing photos, we walked across the bridge for a different angle and watched a few jumps. It took a while to feel fully grounded again.
When passing through the main building again, a guy told me he jumped a few people after me. He said, “You didn’t hesitate and didn’t even scream, so I knew I had to do it.” We all had a good laugh because the non-scream was not intentional! I definitely felt a bond with everyone who jumped that day.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Hesitate
From the moment I committed to going bungee jumping, I had a plan with two parts that led to a beautiful jump. First, I knew exactly how I wanted to jump. My close friend Kelly (she’s the one in my Guatemala and Cuba pictures!) did this same jump about a year before me. She showed me the images of her arms wide out, gracefully falling to crystal clear waters below. Stunning. While planning the trip, I had her in mind and used her jump as an inspiration for my falling pose. Also, there’s nothing to hold onto, so keeping your arms wide is a good call.
The second part of my plan was that I committed to not hesitate. I told myself repeatedly that as soon as they told me to jump, I would jump. Absolutely no hesitation allowed. If you hesitate, even just a mili-second, it gives your brain a chance to say “STOP!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!” with maybe a few more curse words thrown in the mix. Then you’re fighting your entire body’s flight response. Instead, have your pose ready and outsmart yourself from thinking. No thoughts, just jump.
While all of this is an easier-said-than-done-type-of-thing, visualizing your success and trying to have a plan won’t hurt the process.
Having a Support Human
Another helpful thing to have for a successful jump was a support human. Once I told my partner I wanted to go Bungee Jumping for my birthday, he took over all critical thinking. It’s as if I transferred my brain cells over to him because it got increasingly hard for me to think clearly as we got closer to the jump and even afterward. Here are the things he did to help me jump:
- Drove us to the AJ Hackett office in Queenstown
- Helped me decide what timeframe to choose for the jump
- Drove us to the Kawarau Bridge with a pep talk (reminiscing when he did it years before)
- Stood by the different steps required for check-in
- Walked me out to the bridge and encouraged me until my ankles were wrapped
- Held my items and filmed the jump on my phone
- Whooped and cheered during the jump (I could hear him!)
- Met me down the trail post-jump and told me what a great job I did
- Convinced me to purchase the photos/video, which he knew I would use for this post
- Allowed me to calm down by walking across the bridge and watching other jumps
My partner ushered me through the jump process seamlessly and ensured I didn’t get caught up. Many of those pre-jump moments could have been an opportunity to say, “you know what, I’m not doing this.” Instead, I had someone grounded, saying, “you’ve totally got this! I’m so excited/proud of you.” I honestly cannot thank him enough.
If your travel partner wants to bungee jump and the thought makes your skin crawl, consider taking on the “support human” role to help make it happen. Or, if you’re the jumper, consider asking your travel partner to take on this vital role.
Deciding to Purchase the Photos… or not.
After the jump, you can purchase photos, videos, or both. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the exact prices, but it’s kinda steep. I got everything, which was about NZD $90 (USD $55). The combo package included a USB drive with digital copies of the photos and video, plus printed pictures of the jump. All of this was ready 15 or 30 mins after the jump, which is scary fast. How do they do it?
The videos included a mini 19-second behind-the-scenes clip where staff interviewed me just before the jump. Then there is a formal 2:09 minute video that shows me prepping, waving to the cameras, jumping, and catching the boat afterward. The jump video is kind of close-up, and they have multiple cameras going. They have a little booth on the building side of the bridge with high-speed cameras. The photo shots they got were crazy! All the photos in this post where I am mid-jump or on the platform are from AJ Hackett.
Should you purchase the photos and videos? Since I knew I would be writing about the experience, I bought everything. My partner filmed my jump (and he did a great job), so I don’t know if I fully needed the video. That said, there is a shot of my feet scooching out on the platform and some wide-angle shots of the scenery that help give more perspective. Video is so engaging and fun to share. As for the photos, I’m SUPER glad I got those. It’s up to you and whether you think you’ll ever bungee jump again in your life. I’d suggest at least purchasing one or both and considering that as part of the cost. So instead of NZD $205, budget NZD $295.
Bungee Jumping – What to Bring With You
While you need practically nothing for the actual jump, you might want to bring a small backpack of items for before and after jumping. Lockers are available to store things while jumping or have your friends hold them. Here’s what I brought along:
- Phone/Camera fully charged and with plenty of space!!!!!!!
- Tights were a good choice. While I got these years ago, here are a few lilac tights I found as of August 2022: These on Backcountry are under $20, these target ones look adorable, or the reviews of these REI Co-op tights are calling them buttery-soft.
- I wore a flowy cropped top, which was cute while upright and mid-air, but immediately flipped over my face when I was upside-down. Haha, wouldn’t recommend it.
- Comfortable, secure shoes. I just had some simple gray keds.
- Lightweight jacket. I brought along my gray Patagonia better sweater but never wore it – way too warm!
- Small Pack – I used this exact small 18L packable backpack from Amazon. I bought this backpack in 2018 for travel and have accidentally used it SO much, and it’s held up well — I cannot believe it’s back in stock. Looking closely at the distant mid-air photo, you can see my partner wearing the backpack while I’m jumping.
- Sunscreen (apply before arriving) – I use this sunscreen for my face and this one for my body.
- A handy dandy refillable water bottle is ALWAYS a good thing to bring with you.
- Snacks for after the jump.
Other Bungee Locations and Experiences offered by AJ Hackett
While Bungee Jumping is the most well-known activity offered by AJ Hackett, the company provides a variety of ways to scare you. There are different locations on the North and South Islands, each featuring unique scenery.
- Bungee Locations: North Island
- Bungee Locations: South Island (All Near Queenstown)
- Kawarau Bridge: This is where I jumped! The Bridge offers a 141 ft (43 m) jump with the option to touch the water and go tandem.
- The Ledge: We saw the platform while taking the gondola above Queenstown! With views of Lake Wakatipu, the Ledge offers a 154 ft (47m) jump and the option to jump freestyle with the elastic around your chest.
- Nevis Valley: The highest NZ Bungee at 439 ft (134m) is an 8.5-second free-fall. How nuts is that? While the bragging rights would be great, I don’t think the scenery is as lovely as some other locations.
- Swing: If you prefer to be a little more upright, consider doing a “swing” where you have more of an arching fall across the canyon. At the Nevis site, you can go tandem and will swing for nearly 1,000 ft. The other option is at the Ledge in Queenstown, where you self-release to swing 154 ft (47m).
- Catapult: And finally, if you feel like falling isn’t reaching the speeds that your hearts desire, at the Nevis site, you can be catapulted forward as you fall. You are propelled nearly 500 ft. and then swing below.
History of Bungee Jumping and AJ Hackett
While popularized and commercialized in New Zealand, the birthplace of bungee jumping was Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. As the legend goes, a woman in an abusive relationship ran away from her husband up a tree. She tied vines around her ankles as she went and jumped from the tree safely. Her husband followed her without the vines and ended his life. The act of defiance developed into the tradition of land diving.
According to this CNN article, the design and rules of land diving have been perfected over the years to reduce injury. First, jumping is only allowed for two months of the year, after the rainy season when the vines are strongest and most elastic. Fresh wood is used to ensure strength. The ground underneath is tilled to absorb impact (yes, they land on the ground every time). And vines are carefully measured to the jumper’s weight and height of the jump. The jumping height is determined by age and experience of jumping. Using weight to change the length of the cord sounds eerily familiar!
In 1979, a group of rowdy students in the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club came up with the idea to use elasticated rope from the local hang gliding club to jump from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol England. They survived the jump but were arrested shortly after. The ordeal made a big fuss, and more people began bungee jumping across the world, including AJ Hackett. AJ Hackett needed to do something radical to demonstrate their faith in the bungee rope. In 1987, he illegally bungee jumped from the Eiffel Tower in Paris and cemented his fame and association with bungee jumping. Within the following year, AJ Hackett set up a commercial jump location from the Kawarau Bridge.
Overall Thoughts: Bungee Jumping with AJ Hackett
Re-living and re-reading this blog post, it’s crazy how much I have to say about an experience that only lasted a few seconds. But also some of the most intense seconds of my life. While I don’t know if I’ll do it again right away, I’m glad I went bungee jumping in New Zealand. It’s one of those things in life that no one can take away from me. Forever into the future, I will know what bungee jumping is like. And the Kawarau Bridge is one heck of a gorgeous place to do it!
If this is a little too extreme for you, take a look at the other things I did in New Zealand:
- Outdoorsy Things to do in Wanaka
- Roy’s Peak In-depth Description
- Mount Cook Day Trip with Hooker Valley Track
- Milford Sound Day Trip and Cruise
- Te Anau Scenic Helicopter Ride
- Outdoorsy Things to do in Queenstown
Since you read this blog post, are you thinking of bungee jumping?? If so, where are you considering doing it, or where did you do it? And did my description line up with your experience? Let me know in the comments because I’d love to hear about other jumps and experiences!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
