Tauranga: 15,000ft Tandem Skydive & Scenic Flight Bay of Plenty

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.99 (319 reviews) 99% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/6

Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 2

Mobile ticketAccepted

Leap over Tauranga with a 15,000ft skydive and wild coastal views

You’ll feel your pulse race from the moment you board the plane above Tauranga for this 15,000ft tandem skydive. Soak up wild Bay of Plenty views during a long scenic flight before leaping into freefall at 200km/h—with an instructor guiding every step. There’s even a chance to steer the parachute as you drift back down, heart pounding all the way.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Tandem skydive and scenic flight

Arrive 30 minutes before jump
Receive instructor briefing
Enjoy 20-25 minute scenic flight
View The Mount and golden beaches
See White Island, Mount Ruapehu, Rotorua Lakes
Freefall up to 40 seconds at 200kph
Instructor pulls parachute at 5000ft
Optional control of 5-minute canopy ride

The Experience

I never thought I’d willingly fling myself out of a plane above Tauranga, but there I was—harnessed up, hands sweating, trying to act cool for the GoPro. The morning had that salty Bay of Plenty air, kind of sharp but fresh, and I could smell sunscreen from someone else in our group. Our instructor, Jamie (who’s done this thousands of times—he said it so casually), cracked a joke about “not losing your shoes at 15,000 feet.” I gripped mine tighter just in case.

The flight itself was longer than I expected—almost twenty minutes just circling higher and higher over Mount Maunganui and those endless gold beaches. You see way more from up there than you’d think: White Island puffing on the horizon, Rotorua’s lakes glinting in the sun. Jamie pointed out Mount Ruapehu too—he said on clear days you can spot Taranaki if you squint. Honestly, my heart was thumping so loud I barely heard half of it. But when the door slid open at altitude and cold air slapped my face? That’s when it got real.

The freefall is just chaos—wind everywhere, your cheeks doing weird things, everything spinning but somehow still making sense. Forty seconds felt both endless and gone in a blink. At some point Jamie yelled something (maybe “look!”) but all I remember is this wild mix of fear and pure joy. When he handed me the canopy controls on the way down—I nearly forgot how to breathe again. Floating back toward Tauranga with my legs dangling over those patchwork fields… yeah, that sticks with you.

What’s included

Your day includes a full safety briefing with experienced instructors at Skydive Tauranga before taking off on a 20-25 minute scenic flight across Bay of Plenty landmarks like Mount Maunganui and White Island; then comes your tandem skydive from 15,000ft—with all equipment provided—and even a chance to steer during your five-minute parachute ride back to earth.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Skydive Tauranga