Thinking about skydiving in Queenstown? I’ve got you covered.
There are specific activities I have reserved for specific locations, usually those once in a lifetime moments. An open door helicopter in Hawaii, snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and skydiving in Queenstown, New Zealand. Can anyone relate?
After years of living in New Zealand and skydiving being on the bucket list I finally did it! Here’s all the information you need to know about skydiving in Queenstown so you too can tick skydiving off your bucket list.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand after all, and the alpine landscape creates the perfect backdrop for a birds eye view!
Also see our top tips for first time skydivers.
About Skydiving in Queenstown
Who should i go with?
NZone is the main skydiving company in Queenstown, but there are other skydiving companies in the South Island so definitely do your own research, ask them questions and select the company you feel the most comfortable with.
Skydive Wanaka is another option that isn’t too far from Queenstown, which could be combined with a hike up to Roy’s Peak, another bucket list experience!
If you plan on driving from Queenstown to Mt Cook (highly recommend), you might want to consider Skydive Mount Cook which will get you epic views of Lake Ohau, Tekapo, Pukaki, and the Southern Alps.
I opted to go with NZone Skydiving in Queenstown for my first tandem skydive experience and they were great. I felt informed and safe throughout the whole process.
How long does it take?
Plan to allocate a half day for the experience. If you book in to go skydiving in the morning, you’ll have time for a couple of shorter activities in the afternoon such as jet boating, bungy jumping or a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw.
Skydiving can easily fit into our 3-day Queenstown itinerary. You’ll have time to experience other highlights within Queenstown, plus a day trip to do a Milford Sound cruise or explore the rural town of Glenorchy.
Can anyone go skydiving?
Certain criteria will need to be met such as minimum and maximum age, height and weight requirements so be sure to check these requirements with the company you choose.
Also let them know if you have any medical conditions to ensure you are safely fit to fly.
How much does skydiving cost in Queenstown?
Pricing is based on the altitude you choose to jump from as well as the company you choose but be prepared to spend upwards of $335 NZD for the experience.
» Book your Queenstown skydiving experience here!
Skydiving Options
NZone offers three altitudes to choose from – 9,000, 12,000 or 15,000 feet. Pricing is based on the altitude with 15,000 feet being the most expensive at around $515 NZD.
I went for 15,000 feet because it gave the most freefall time of up to 60 seconds and because why not! By comparison, 9,000 feet will give you up to 25 seconds of freefall.
Other skydiving companies may be different so definitely check out the options and cost against what you’ll get for it.
Photo/Video Options
Most companies will offer photo and video packages for an additional cost which I highly recommend if the budget allows.
NZone offers three options. One option is a handicam photo and video package. This is where the Tandem Master will have a wrist mounted GoPro to capture the entire experience.
Another option is a personal freefall photographer that skydives alongside you taking still photos as well video during the experience.
Or you can get a combination that gives you both the handicam and the personal freefall photographer.
The handicam gives you the close up ‘selfie’ perspective, whereas the freefall photographer gives you the birds eye view and the spectacular scenery.
For safety reasons, the freefall photographer will need to release their parachute separately and away from you.
This means you won’t get footage of the parachute ride if you go for just the freefall photo and video package, but you do get everything else from on the ground and in the aircraft to exiting the plane, freefall and landing.
The packages range from $200 to $370 NZD.
I opted for the personal freefall photographer and was very happy with the quality of the photos and video they captured.
To be honest, I didn’t miss the parachute footage, it was the least action-packed part where you can just take a breath and enjoy the views.
The turnaround was also very quick and we had our photos and videos before we left on the shuttle back to Queenstown center. Don’t forget to open your eyes and smile!
How to Dress for Skydiving
It’s pretty chilly at the high altitude especially in winter, which is when I went. Honestly, I was probably too nervous to feel the cold but my advice would be to dress in warm fitted layers rather than a big puffy jacket.
You will be provided with a jumpsuit to put over your clothes and you don’t want to feel too restricted for movement. They also provide you with gloves, goggles and a cap.
Be sure to wear shoes that are comfortable and lace up securely otherwise you may be going home in your socks.
Best Time to Go Skydiving
Skydiving in Queenstown is great in any season. However, because it is a weather dependent activity including wind and fog factors, my advice would be to book in a time for the beginning of your stay in Queenstown.
That way if it gets cancelled due to inclement weather you may have the option to re-book for another day.
As mentioned, I went in winter. But as you can see from the photos it was a gorgeous day. It will be cold in any season, and of course the weather is never guaranteed, but the snow-capped mountains of winter in Queenstown was especially beautiful.
Itinerary for the Day
I had a 9am start time and we were back in central Queenstown for lunch. Here is the itinerary that we followed within that timeframe to give you an idea of what to expect.
I arrived at the central Queenstown reservations shop promptly for the allocated time. After a short briefing our group went into a room to watch safety videos. Once that was completed we were transported in a van to the drop zone, a scenic 20-minute drive.
It’s a beautiful location and worth bringing a camera to take photos on the ground, although you will not be able to take anything onboard the aircraft for safety reasons.
Most companies should have lockers you can use to store your belongings in while you skydive but double check with your chosen skydiving company just to be sure.
Also, a note about guests. If you want to have someone else come with you to the drop zone but they are not skydiving, be sure to check with the skydiving company if this will be possible. It is dependent on space availability on the day.
Once we arrived at the drop zone we were weighed and divided into groups. The wait time will depend on which group you are in.
I was in one of the last groups so it was a bit of a wait, about 1.5 hours, but the scenery was beautiful and you can watch the other skydivers land. There are nice facilities to wait inside as well.
Once our group was called we met our Tandem Master, had another safety briefing and final instructions on how to position ourselves when exiting the plane.
We were then fitted for our jumpsuit and conducted the pre-skydive interview with the photographer/videographer who was jumping with us.
The planes are small and quite different to those commercial aircrafts! You will board in a line and are seated on the floor in two rows with your Tandem Master sitting behind you.
The altitude you are jumping from will determine the order you leave the aircraft starting with the lowest altitude.
If you are jumping from 15,000 feet or higher you may be given a mask with oxygen to put over your face for the last couple of minutes.
When it’s time to jump the Tandem Master checks the harnesses and you scoot to the exit, swing your legs over the edge, look up and away you go!
It’s a scary, exhilarating and insane feeling with the most epic views of Queenstown and surrounds before you. Absolutely spectacular!
Once you’re in freefall, you’ll get a tap from the Tandem Master to put your arms out. I needed two taps before I released my death grip from my shoulder straps.
The sheer velocity at which you are falling literally takes your breath away for the first few seconds. The feeling of freefall is difficult to describe, it’s something that has be experienced first hand.
If you have a photographer with you, they may come over and interact with you, like grabbing your hand if you are comfortable to do so.
Once the parachute is released it’s a smooth glide down to the ground while you soak in all the views.
The landing was smooth and easy. I thought that part would be a lot messier, but I literally just stepped down onto the grass.
Back on the ground we had a short wait while they prepared the photos and video before being transported back to the central reservations office.
Final thoughts
Skydiving in Queenstown is an experience you won’t forget! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or its your first jump, it’s sure to get the adrenaline pumping. Have you been or are you planning to go skydiving? Let me know in the comments below.
Ready for more adventures in Queenstown?
How about jet boating at high speed down the stunning Shotover River. Or bungy jumping from the Kawarau Bridge, you can even touch the water if you dare!
Or, for a change of pace check out my guide to Moke Lake, Queenstown’s best hidden gem.
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Heather is a travel enthusiast living in New Zealand with her family. She writes about living in and enjoying travel to New Zealand.
Hi Heather,
Very informative account! Could you please help me understand how much time to carry for the skydiving? How to plan the activities for rest of the day, is it possible to do gondola and other activities on the same day of skydiving? It would be great help to have some understanding beforehand
Hi Gunjan,
I’m glad the information was helpful. Plan half a day for skydiving. You can then do one or two shorter activities in the afternoon such as the gondola, jet boating, a cruise on the TSS Earnslaw or a short hike such as Bob’s Cove. Each of these will take a couple of hours to do. Onsen Hotpools is a great way to finish the day and they are open until late. Hope that helps with your planning. Enjoy!