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Tandem Skydive over Wanaka, 15,000ft

The full-height jump over Wanaka's lakes and mountains, with Mount Cook on a clear day.

A tandem skydive from 15,000ft over Wanaka: a 10 to 15 minute flight past lakes and mountains, flying through the air at 200km/h, then a parachute ride down to a smooth landing at the dropzone.

📍 New Zealand ⏱ 3 Hours 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

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Booked with Wanderlust, an Australian travel business based in Byron Bay (ABN 34 636 612 523). We handle your booking ourselves, before and after you travel.

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Overview

Wanaka is the name people give when you ask where to skydive in New Zealand, and the 15,000ft jump is the highest option here: up to 60 seconds of freefall at over 200km/h. You don't need previous skydiving experience. You are harnessed to a highly qualified tandem master with many thousands of jumps behind them, at a dropzone that has been running for over 30 years and has put more than 150,000 tandem skydivers out the door.

It starts with check-in and registration at the hangar at Wānaka Airport, then a safety briefing in the cabin, including a video of what you've signed up for. You suit up in a jumpsuit, helmet, goggles and gloves, then board a Cessna Caravan for a 10 to 15 minute flight to altitude over Lake Wānaka, the surrounding lakes, the Upper Clutha River and the Southern Alps, with Aoraki Mount Cook on the horizon on a clear day. At the door you pause on the edge, then you are flying. Your parachute opens and you float down to a smooth landing back at the dropzone.

Allow around 3 hours all up. The dropzone is at Wānaka Airport, 10km from town, with a free shuttle from the Wānaka i-SITE at 103 Ardmore Street for every jump time. Return transfers from Queenstown run on set days for an extra fee. Minimum age for this altitude is 13, minimum weight 30kg, minimum height 1.2m, and jumpers of 95kg or more are assessed by a tandem master on the day. Write messages on your hands for the camera: pens are provided in the departure lounge.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    15,000ft tandem jump, up to 60 seconds of freefall

  2. 2

    Over 200km/h in freefall

  3. 3

    10 to 15 minute flight to altitude in a Cessna Caravan

  4. 4

    Lakes, Southern Alps and, on a clear day, Mount Cook

  5. 5

    Free shuttle from the Wānaka i-SITE

  6. 6

    No previous skydiving experience needed

  7. 7

    Dropzone with over 30 years and 150,000+ tandems

Itinerary at a glance

1 Check-in · Arrive at the hangar, Wānaka Airport

Arrive at your booking time, by free shuttle from the Wānaka i-SITE or self-drive to 14 Mustang Lane. Check-in, registration and the safety briefing video happen in the cabin. Pens are out in the departure lounge for hand messages.

1 Gear up · Jumpsuit, harness and tandem master briefing

You are fitted with a jumpsuit, helmet, goggles and gloves, meet your tandem master and go through the jump with them.

1 The flight · 10 to 15 minutes to 15,000ft

The Cessna Caravan climbs over Lake Wānaka, the surrounding lakes, the Upper Clutha River and the Southern Alps. On a clear day Aoraki Mount Cook sits on the horizon.

1 The jump · Up to 60 seconds of freefall, then the canopy

You pause at the door, then fall at over 200km/h for up to a minute. The parachute opens and you glide down to a smooth landing at the dropzone.

1 Back on the ground · Photos, video and the shuttle back to town

Collect your photo and video package if you bought one, then take the pre-booked shuttle back to the Wānaka i-SITE. Allow around 3 hours in total.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Tandem skydive from 15,000ft with a qualified tandem master
  • Safety briefing video and harness fitting at the hangar
  • Jumpsuit, helmet, goggles and gloves
  • 10 to 15 minute scenic flight to altitude in a Cessna Caravan
  • Free shuttle to and from the Wānaka i-SITE, 103 Ardmore Street (return must be pre-booked)

✕ Not included

  • ✕Photo and video packages: a wrist-mounted camera package, a camera flyer package, or both combined, bought on the day
  • ✕Return transfers from Queenstown (set days only, extra fee)
  • ✕Weight surcharge for jumpers of 95kg and over (paid on the day)
  • ✕Meals and drinks

Common questions about this trip

  • Where do I check in and how do I get there?
    The dropzone is the hangar at 14 Mustang Lane, Wānaka Airport, about 10km from the town centre along State Highway 6. A free shuttle runs from the Wānaka i-SITE at 103 Ardmore Street for every jump time; be there 10 minutes early, and pre-book the return. Arrive at your booking time and allow 3 hours for the whole experience. Call the dropzone 30 minutes before to confirm conditions.

  • Can I do this from Queenstown?
    Yes. Return transfers from Queenstown run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing at 6.45am from a skydive centre on Shotover Street in central Queenstown, and the drive to Wānaka Airport is about an hour and a half each way. The transfer is an extra cost and turns the jump into most of a day.

  • Are there age, weight or height limits?
    Children 12 and under are limited to the 9,000ft jump, so you need to be 13 or older for 15,000ft, and anyone under 18 needs written consent from a parent or guardian. Minimum weight is 30kg and minimum height is 1.2m. Anyone 95kg or more is assessed by a tandem master on the day, and a weight surcharge applies. Recent injuries or pre-existing conditions such as epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart conditions or a dislocated shoulder must be declared and may need a doctor's clearance.

  • What should I wear?
    Secure, enclosed footwear: jandals, flip flops and bare feet are out. In winter wear warm layers rather than one bulky jacket. A jumpsuit, helmet, goggles and gloves are provided, and the goggles fit over glasses or contact lenses.

  • What happens if the weather is bad?
    The crew do not jump if the weather is not good. If your slot is weathered off they rebook you later the same day or the following day. Call 30 minutes before your booking time to check conditions, and leave a spare day in Wānaka if you can.

  • Can I bring my own camera or get photos?
    You cannot take any kind of camera on the skydive. Three packages are sold on the day: one filmed on a wrist-mounted camera by your tandem master, one with a separate camera flyer, and a combined package with both. Each comes with 100+ high-resolution digital photos.

  • Can my mates come and watch?
    Friends and family are welcome at the airport base. There is no safe viewing area at the landing zone itself, so they watch from the hangar side. Children riding the shuttle must be able to wear a seatbelt; infants and baby carriers are not permitted on it.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    Cancellation terms for this trip are set by the operator and confirmed on your booking voucher. Refunds mirror the operator's policy, if they can refund, so can we. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf. Message us for the exact day-by-day terms before you book.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"What an incredible experience jumping from 15,000 ft! The whole team was friendly and very professional. … Highly recommend to anyone thinking about skydiving! Wanaka has a stunning scenery."
C

Curious67622175657

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"The staff are amazing and make you feel completely relaxed about the jump. Jumping from 15000 ft is definitely the way to go as the views and experience are something you want to last as long as you can."
C

Cardinal_Wolsey89

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"The whole place seemed very professional thank you. Recommend doing the 15000 ft as thought the free fall part was amazing"
M

Mark R

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

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