Adventure | Family 10 March 2022

4 Thrilling Activities To Tick Off in Queenstown

Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, meaning there is no better place to bring your need for speed or desire for thrills. Get your heart pumping with bungy jumping, jetboat rides, paragliding and an epic canyon swing.

Seek an adrenaline fueled holiday than New Zealand’s Queenstown, a year-round destination where in the wintertime you can combine the crazy fun with a ski holiday on the slopes. In summer return to mix adventure activities with cellar door hopping.

Here are four must-do thrilling activities to tick off your Queenstown bucket list:

1. Bungy

There’s no better place to take that leap of faith than Kawarau Bridge, the home of bungy. The bridge may be only 43 metres high, but this location is the world’s first commercial bungy jump. 

Shuffle out onto the edge, heart pounding, and get ready to jump, bounce and dangle like a beetle attached to an elastic band. The crew will adjust the cord to your height so you can even touch the water below.

There’s no more quintessential Queenstown adrenaline pumping adventure than a bungy jump. Ready? Three, two, one… go! 

Once the crew reel your back in, enjoy the cafe, demonstration centre, viewing pavilion, and the sound of someone screaming every few minutes. Ah, nature is peaceful.

Bungy jumping from the 43 meters high Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown New Zealand

2. Canyon Swing

The crew at the Shotover Canyon Swing are expertly trained to ensure your confidence is utterly shattered before they facilitate your 60-metre freefall into a 200-metre arc at 150 km/hr. 

Jumpers can choose from a variety of styles to leave the platform – upside down, somersaulting, pin dropping, or hurtling backwards in The Chair. If you choose the forward leap you’ll live out the dream of taking a running leap down a steep canyon. Next you could try the Upside Down Gimp, where you plunge head first with a teddy bear between your legs.  

“Ridiculously scary and seriously fun”, Canyon Swing is the adrenaline rush you didn’t know you needed but definitely do. Lock in a tandem jump with a loved one or brave friend, then choose to jump yourself or let the crew release you from the edge.

Adventurers released from the edge at the Shotover Canyon Swing

3. Jetboat 

Feel the beauty and power of nature aboard the world’s most exciting jet boat ride. Great fun for all ages, it’s no surprise the Shotover Jets are one of Queenstown’s busiest activities. 

These bright red jet boats hit up to 85 km/hr on as little as 10cm of water, blitzing up the striking Shotover Canyon with a very small margin of error. 

All you have to do is hold on, place your trust in the captain, and hope he doesn’t slam into a rock wall. The biggest thrill comes from the Hamilton Turn, a 360-degree manoeuvre that shoots up spray and necessitates wearing the thoughtfully provided waterproof ponchos. 

Every time the captain rolls his index finger in the air, grab hold of the heated, shock-absorbing handrails and enjoy the wet spin, which never fails to thrill.

4. Paraglide

Between the snow-capped mountains, emerald glare of Lake Wakatipu, and the town of Queenstown itself, Bob’s Peak is one of the most spectacular places in the world to paraglide. 

A memorable tandem ride comes back to the views, personality of your pilot at the controls, and the flow of warm thermal air that keeps the parachute afloat. All three of those are immaculate at G-Force Paragliding.

As New Zealand’s largest and most experienced paragliding company, G-Force has been launching tandem paraglides over Queenstown since 1991.

Strap in and take flight from the top of the Skyline Gondola, soaking in views over the lake, mountain, forests and town below. Anyone who says we weren’t meant to fly should try this first.

Paragliding from Bobs Peak at Queenstown New Zealand