The Stray bus pulls into Queenstown… Stop number 1? The Kawarau Bridge Bungy, home of the world’s first commercial bungy jump. The faint sound of screams as people jump, leap, dive or just fall off the platform will greet your ears and mark the beginning of your adventure in NZ’s adrenaline capital.
Calling all thrill-seekers, daredevils and, well, just plain crazy people – here’s my list of 10 must-do activities in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Skydive
The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of adrenaline? Skydiving. Queenstown is home to two incredible jump locations: The Remarkables (Nzone) or Glenorchy (Skydive Paradise). Both offer incredible views and the option to jump at 9,000, 12,000 or 15,000ft. I’d 100% recommend splurging on the 15,000ft though – you will not regret it!
Bungy Jump
You’ll be spoilt for choice with bungy locations in Queenstown. Looking for the best views and quirky jump styles? Check out the Ledge. If you want to get dunked into water and say that you’ve officially jumped at the first ever commercial jump site then the Kawarau Bridge is for you. Finally, if you think you’re king/queen of all things adrenaline, then just head straight for the Nevis. At a whopping 134m it’s New Zealand’s tallest bungy and takes some serious guts to leap off. So, which one will it be?
Nevis Swing
Not quite ready to brave the Nevis Bungy but still looking for an adrenaline rush? The Nevis swing is your answer! Imagine dangling 160m above the ground, waiting nervously for the AJ Hackett team to press a button that drops you into a canyon below. It’s just about as terrifying as it sounds.
Canyon Fox
A twist on the classic flying fox, the Canyon Fox involves a 5m drop! It’s as if you get to experience the fear of becoming detached and falling from a zipline without actually falling from a zipline. Does that make sense? Probably not. You’re just going to have to experience it for yourself. You can just slide off the ledge or run straight off the ramp – either way, this activity is not for the faint-hearted!
Canyon Swing
I’m going to go right out and say it… This was by far the scariest thing I’ve done in New Zealand so far. It’s kind of like a bungy jump but instead of a bounce-back, you’ll swing through a giant canyon! There are dozens of jump styles, which means you’re going to want to mentally prepare yourself (and save up the $$) to jump more than once. We chose to do a tandem ‘Gimp boy goes to Hollywood’ and then I did a solo ‘Backwards’ fall. How can something be so terrifying and so fun at the same time?!
Skyline Luge Queenstown
I reckon this is the easiest way to get your daily adrenaline dosage in Queenstown. Just follow these simple instructions…
- Step 1: Grab all of your friends (and maybe even your Stray Driver)
- Step 2: Catch the Gondola (or walk) to the top of Bob’s Peak
- Step 3: Hop into a real-life Mario kart and race down the hill!
Shotover Jet Queenstown
A trip to Queenstown is incomplete without a jet boat ride! You have to try out the world famous Shotover Jet and experience 360 degree spins as you speed past giant boulders. Are you a fellow adrenaline junkie who enjoys that ‘near-miss’ feeling? Well this is the activity for you!
Paragliding & Hang Gliding
In my opinion, this is quite a relaxing activity but I believe those with a fear of heights would deem it worthy of this list. I almost preferred this to skydiving because the airtime is so much longer. That said, you don’t get the thrill of the freefall so, I guess, the conclusion is that you’ll just have to try both! Sometimes you just need to run off a mountain (with a qualified instructor, of course) and Queenstown provides the perfect scenery for such an occasion!
Ziplining
An adventure awaits at the top of Bob’s Peak! Ziptrek Queenstown offer an array of eco-tours through the forest canopy. Choose from 2, 4 or 6 ziplines depending on how much time you want to spend dangling from a wire. We’d recommend going for 6 if you’re a true adrenaline junkie – it finishes with a zipline ride that descends 30 storeys at speeds of up to 70kph!
Snowsports
Don’t fret if you’re visiting during low season – Queenstown is just as awesome (if not better) in the winter! Wrap up warm, hire some skis and carve up the mountains with your friends. With amazing ski areas to choose from and multiple snow parks to show off your skills you certainly won’t get bored. Oh and don’t even get me started on the views…
Check out the Stray bus passes and prepare to embrace the adrenaline junkie lifestyle with these must-do activities in Queenstown. Queenstown is calling! What are you waiting for?