Skydiving, Tandem Skydive 15,000ft - Queenstown

Skydiving is known, for very good reason, as life's ultimate thrill. It's the big daddy, the adventure and rush by which all others are measured. Amazingly, the buzz of free fall is an easy and safe experience, especially during a tandem skydiving adventure.

On the ground you'll be suited up in skydiving gear and your professional skydiving instructors will run through a few "dirt dives" – practice skydiving exits from mock aircraft. You'll also be taught the skydiving basics of canopy control and safe landing procedures. Once you're confident with this skydiving knowledge you'll enjoy a 20-minute flight to an altitude of 15,000 feet (over 4,200 metres) where, after a final check, it's time to hop out and take the quick way down – skydiving to Queenstown!

The beauty of tandem skydiving is that it requires none of the usual intensive skydiving training, but offers 100 per cent of the mind-blowing, 200km/hr open-air thrill. The feeling is often described as floating on a cushion of air as you hurtle 7,500 feet through the sky in 60 seconds. The skydiving parachute is deployed at around 4,500 feet, offering an intensely serene experience and one of the world's greatest views – perfect for reflecting on the high-adrenalin skydiving adventure you've just enjoyed. During the five-minute glide to earth you'll be taught to control your direction and descent speed and, once you touch down, you'll be on a high for weeks – guaranteed.