Skydiving Frequently Asked Questions

Skydive Lake Wanaka is based at Wanaka airport, a few minutes drive from the alpine village of Wanaka, nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps in the magnificent South Island of New Zealand. Wanaka is only one hours drive from Queenstown.

Tandem skydiving over Lake Wanaka is a truly unique experience. It is much more than just an adrenalin 'buzz' and allows you an amazing personal interaction with the most spectacular scenery that New Zealand has to offer.

New Zealand's highest mountains (Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring), glaciers, lakes and alpine wilderness make an incredible backdrop for your skydive. Our tandem skydiving instructors love skydiving and pride themselves on personal service, ensuring you leave Wanaka with a feeling of achievement and a BIG smile that will last for days, if not forever!

As with any extreme sport, there will always be an element of risk, but this risk is minimised by thorough training, reliable, well maintained parachute equipment and a positive attitude to safety. Skydive Lake Wanaka has an unparalled safety record in New Zealand tandem skydiving.

Many people imagine a sensation of falling, but freefalling is more like floating on a bed of air - you have no sensation of actually falling. Freefall is a unique feeling that has to be experienced!

• From 15,000ft (4575 metres) – 60 seconds

• From 12,000ft (3650 metres) – 45 seconds

We recommend that you go to the highest altitude that your budget will allow, especially if you are having a freefall DVD/pictures combo or tandem skydiving instructor handi-cam DVD.

Tandem skydiving will be the highlight of your New Zealand adventure! A freefall DVD and digital pictures means that you can relive your tandem skydive over and over again. It is your proof and chance to show the world you have done it! Your smile in freefall is priceless!

The freefall DVD and picture Combo is taken by one of our creative, experienced cameraflyers who falls with the tandem pair. Our cameraflyer has 2 cameras mounted on their helmet (one video and one photographs). This is the option to choose if you wish to have freefall pictures and an overall perspective of your skydive and scenery. The freefall DVD is fully edited with a funky soundtrack and comes complete in a case with your CD of over 40 digital pictures.

The Tandem Handi-Cam freefall DVD is a freefall DVD taken by your tandem master with his wrist mounted camera with a very wide angle lens. Your Tandem Master is with you every step of the way including your first reactions once the parachute is open and some of the parachute ride. This is a great option for those on a budget or who do not want any digital freefall pictures.

No, each tandem skydiving pair leave the aircraft a few seconds apart for safety. Our camera flyers can only film one tandem skydiving pair at a time.

Skydive Lake Wanaka use state of the art tandem parachutes that are designed for tandem skydiving. These tandem skydiving parachutes are highly maneuverable and allow slow, soft parachute landings.

Tandem skydiving is very weather dependent and cannot be undertaken in strong winds, or if there is complete cloud cover. New Zealand weather can often change quickly, so we ask that you call us 30 minutes before your jump, to confirm conditions are suitable for tandem skydiving.

Skydive Lake Wanaka will provide your tandem skydiving jumpsuit, helmet, goggles and gloves. You will need to wear sensible, secure footwear and warm clothing for the New Zealand winter. You can wear either glasses or contact lenses for your tandem skydive without any problem.

The fastest way to book your tandem skydive is to book online using our secure booking form or call Skydive Lake Wanaka direct - FREEPHONE: 0800 786 877 (Within New Zealand ONLY). Book your skydive online and recieve a FREE Skydive Lake Wanaka Drink Bottle.

If you are travelling as part of a New Zealand tour, or travelling with Kiwi Experience, Magic Bus or Stray Travel, your driver or tour guide should be able to assist in booking your tandem skydive in advance. Most New Zealand accommodation providers, such as hotels, motels, backpackers and campsites will also assist you in making a booking for tandem skydiving.

Yes. Skydive Lake Wanaka offer tandem skydiving gift vouchers and you do not have to be resident in New Zealand. Simply complete our secure online gift voucher order form and we will post your gift voucher anywhere in the world within 24 hours.

Skydive Lake Wanaka accept credit card payments via Visa and Mastercard, Eftpos $NZ, cash in NZ$ dollars and New Zealand Travellers Cheques.

Allow 2 hours for your complete tandem skydiving experience.

Yes. We have excellent facilities at our Skydive Lake Wanaka Dropzone, so bring as many friends and family to watch and take pictures!

We have taken passengers tandem skydiving from age 5 to age 80. Skydiving customers under the age of 18 will need written parental permission.

Yes. For safety reasons our maximum passenger weight limit for tandem skydiving is 100kgs/220lbs or 15.7 stone.

Yes. If you are a sports skydiver you must have a B licence and minimum of 500 freefall jumps. You must bring your current log-book, licences and skydiving equipment.

International skydivers that have a current FAI licence are required to join the New Zealand Parachute Federation. Your skydiving equipment must have a reserve that has been packed within the last 180 days and an AAD.

Skydive Lake Wanaka is a small tandem skydiving operation, so sports jumps are on a sub-load basis. Please contact us for further information or if you are seeking employment opportunities at Skydive Lake Wanaka see our job vacancies page.