A real tandem skydive is a genuine once in a lifetime moment, but it comes with real minimum ages and weight limits since you are falling from an aircraft at 200 kilometres an hour. The good news for families with younger kids is that New Zealand also runs two wind tunnel flying experiences, where the whole family can feel that same freefall rush with both feet staying firmly on the ground.
Indoor Skydiving Family Pack at iFLY Queenstown
The Indoor Skydiving Family Pack at iFLY Queenstown splits 8 flights across a group of up to 4 people in the wind tunnel on Brecon Street, with instructors guiding everyone through the hover. This is the pick for younger kids, suitable for ages 5 to 105, with a maximum weight of 125 kilograms.
Freefall Xtreme, Velocity Valley Rotorua
The Freefall Xtreme at Velocity Valley uses an outdoor wind column to deliver the same weightless body flying sensation as a skydive, without the plane. Minimum age is 5 and minimum weight is 20 kilograms, with parental consent required for under 18s.
Queenstown Tandem Skydive 12,000ft
The Queenstown Tandem Skydive 12,000ft is a real jump from the plane over the Remarkables, with up to 45 seconds of freefall at 200 kilometres an hour. Minimum age is 6 with written parental consent under 18, though children 12 and under are capped at a 9,000ft jump height and must meet a minimum height of 1.2 metres and weight of 40 kilograms.
Skydiving in Taupo
The Skydiving in Taupo experience jumps from up to 16,500ft over Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park, with a complimentary stretch Hummer pickup from town. There is no set minimum age, though anyone under 18 needs a signed parental or guardian consent form, and the maximum weight is generally 100 kilograms.
Frequently asked questions
What age can kids try skydiving in New Zealand?
For a real tandem jump, most operators set a minimum age around 6, with written parental consent required for anyone under 18. For younger kids, the iFLY Queenstown Family Pack and Freefall Xtreme in Rotorua both accept ages 5 and up.
Is indoor skydiving the same as jumping from a plane?
Not quite, indoor wind tunnels recreate the same freefall sensation using a column of air, without the altitude, the aircraft or the parachute landing.
Do younger teens need parental consent to skydive?
Yes, anyone under 18 needs written consent from a parent or guardian before a tandem skydive in Queenstown or Taupo.
Is there a weight limit for skydiving in New Zealand?
Yes, tandem skydives typically cap passengers around 95 to 100 kilograms, while the iFLY Queenstown wind tunnel allows up to 125 kilograms.
Which skydiving activity suits a family with younger kids?
The iFLY Queenstown Family Pack and Freefall Xtreme in Rotorua are the better starting points for younger kids, since both accept ages 5 and up without the altitude or weight limits of a real tandem jump.
Local tip: book a real tandem jump for the morning, winds are calmer and you get first pick of departure times in both Queenstown and Taupo.
Go everywhere. Do everything. Book your family's New Zealand skydiving experience above, indoor flying in Queenstown or Rotorua, or a real tandem jump in Queenstown or Taupo.