Thing to do
Shotover Jet
A 25-minute high-speed jet boat ride through the narrow Shotover Canyons at Arthurs Point, run since 1965 and owned by Ngāi Tahu.
Kawarau Bridge Bungy
AJ Hackett's original 43-metre bungy from the 1880 Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, where the world's first commercial bungy jump took place in 1988.
At a glance
- Type
- Bungy jump and swing
- Area
- Gibbston Valley, Queenstown, New Zealand
- Official site
- bungy.co.nz
Good to know
- Free spectator viewing deck
- Licensed café
- Free parking
- Bungy Bus from town
Why we recommend it
The Kawarau Bridge is where commercial bungy jumping began. On 12 April 1988 AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch opened the world's first commercial bungy operation here, launching jumpers from the deck of a historic suspension bridge over the Kawarau River. More than three decades later it is still the jump many visitors to Queenstown want to tick off, partly for the thrill and partly for the history.
The bridge itself is worth knowing about. It was completed in late 1880 as a key route into the Central Otago goldfields and is classified as a Category I historic place. It spans the Kawarau Gorge between the start of the Crown Range Road and Gibbston, in the Wakatipu Basin. The jump is 43 metres from the bridge deck to the river, and jumpers drop into the gorge with the historic bridge above them.
The Kawarau Bungy Centre, built beside the bridge, offers three ways to get your adrenaline fix: the Kawarau Bridge Bungy, the Kawarau Swing and the Zipride. The centre has a licensed café, a retail shop and free parking. Crucially for groups where not everyone wants to jump, spectators can visit for free without booking, and a dedicated viewing deck sits directly above the jump zone, so friends and family get a close-up view.
Getting there is straightforward. The drive from Queenstown along State Highway 6 takes about 25 to 35 minutes, or 35 to 45 minutes if you go via Arrowtown. If you are not driving, the Bungy Bus leaves from the Queenstown Bungy Centre on the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets. Seats are limited, and you need to check in 30 minutes before departure.
Opening hours are longer in summer, from October to April, than in winter, and the last jump, swing or zipride is 30 minutes before closing. The centre is closed on Christmas Day. Check age, weight and health requirements with AJ Hackett when you book.
The centre is in the Gibbston Valley, so a jump can be combined with a visit to the area's wineries. Even if you have no intention of jumping, a stop on the free viewing deck to watch others go is a memorable break on a drive out of Queenstown.
Kawarau Bridge Bungy FAQs
When was the first bungy jump at Kawarau Bridge?
AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch launched the world's first commercial bungy jump from the Kawarau Bridge on 12 April 1988.
How high is the Kawarau Bridge Bungy?
The jump is 43 metres above the Kawarau River.
Where is the Kawarau Bungy Centre?
It is on State Highway 6 in the Gibbston Valley, about 25 to 35 minutes' drive from Queenstown.
Can you watch without jumping?
Yes. Spectator entry is free, no booking is needed, and a viewing deck sits directly above the jump zone.
What else can you do there?
Besides the bungy, the centre runs the Kawarau Swing and the Zipride, and has a licensed café and shop.
Is there transport from Queenstown?
Yes. The Bungy Bus departs from the Queenstown Bungy Centre at the corner of Shotover and Camp Streets. Seats are limited and check-in is 30 minutes before departure.
Is the bridge historic?
Yes. The suspension bridge was completed in late 1880 to serve the goldfields and is a Category I historic place.
Is it open all year?
Yes, apart from Christmas Day, with longer hours from October to April. The last activity is 30 minutes before closing.