Kawarau Bridge
The world's first commercial bungy site, opened in 1988.
Duration
1 hr – 2 hrs
Best time
In the morning
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
Commercial bungee jumping was born here: AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch opened the site in November 1988 on a disused 1880 railway bridge, forty-three metres above the Kawarau.
They had taken their cue from the ritual vine jumps of the people of Pentecost island in Vanuatu, and Hackett had made his name jumping from the Eiffel Tower in 1987. The site still operates and offers a dunk option: you touch the water at the bottom of the fall. You can also just watch, free of charge, from the viewing platform.
Getting there
Twenty-three kilometres east of Queenstown, on the Cromwell road. Twenty minutes by car or on the operators' shuttle.
What the price covers
the viewing deck and walkway are free; the jump is not
Rules on site
The viewing platform is free: you can come and watch without jumping. Minimum and maximum weights apply, and some heart or back conditions rule the jump out — the declaration is made at check-in.