About this tour
When Em from our team took the plunge at Skydive Franz, she strapped in at 16,500 feet with Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers spreading out below—New Zealand's biggest peaks and ice fields right there in the frame. The three-hour experience (most of it pre-jump admin and gearing up) puts you in a tandem harness with an instructor, launching you over a landscape that swaps between jagged mountains, brilliant blue glacier lakes, rivers snaking through valleys, and the Tasman Sea glinting on the horizon. Multiple jump times mean you can fit it around your South Island itinerary, and shared transfers get you to the airfield and back.
Highlights
- Aoraki and twin glaciers dominate the view during freefall
- Ocean, rivers and lakes visible in one jaw-dropping sweep
- Tandem setup means zero prior skydive experience needed
- Multiple departure times suit different schedules
- Round-trip shuttle from the booking office included
- Harness assessment ensures safe fit for most body types
- Weather-dependent but full refund if conditions fail
What to expect
The day starts with collection from the booking office and a drive to the airfield—allow a good hour either side of your jump time for transfers and admin. Once there, expect to spend time in the briefing room getting kitted up: helmet, goggles, gloves, jumpsuit, and the tandem harness itself. Your instructor will walk you through what happens on exit, during freefall, and under the parachute on descent. The actual dive is the adrenaline hit—35-40 seconds of freefall before the chute opens and you float down for a slower, quieter descent with 360-degree views of mountains and ocean.
Em found the pre-jump process thorough but not rushed. The scenery is genuinely spectacular; you're not jumping over farmland or generic landscape. The freefall is intense and fast; the parachute descent is where you catch your breath and actually absorb where you are. Weather in the South Island can be temperamental, so book with flexibility in mind.
What travellers say
- Unbeatable scenery: mountains, glaciers and ocean together
- Tandem format: no training required, guide handles everything
- Flexible scheduling with multiple daily jump times available
- Weather guarantee: full refund or rebook if conditions poor
- Inclusive shuttle transport to and from the airfield
- Weight range accommodates most body types fairly
- Weather-dependent: cancellations common in South Island
- Three-hour block mostly ground time, freefall is brief
- Expensive add-ons for photos and video footage
- Not suitable for spinal, cardiovascular or pregnancy concerns
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is the most dramatic way to see the West Coast's geography in one hit. The mountain and glacier views are iconic, not a gimmick—you're looking at real wilderness. Tandem means beginners are absolutely welcome; your instructor handles the technical stuff. The weight range is fairly generous (35kg minimum, and heavier jumpers assessed on the day with a small surcharge).
Three hours is needed but most of it's waiting and gearing—the actual freefall is under a minute. Weather is a major factor; poor conditions mean rescheduling, so don't book this as a fixed commitment. The jump itself is not for anyone with spinal issues, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy. Moderate fitness is expected. Bring warm, lightweight clothes and secure lace-up shoes; the harness can dig in and altitude temperature drops fast. Photos and video are extras (paid separately), so if you want proof, budget for that. The experience is physically demanding but not technical—the instructor does the work.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.