Shotover Canyon Swing

Well-suited for adrenaline junkies and those not-for-the-faint-of-heart, prepare yourself for a hair-raising experience on the world’s highest cliff jump. Your sense of adventure is taken to new heights as you free fall from a platform suspended high above the scenic Shotover River Canyon.

Departing from Queenstown in a 4WD, it’s a 15-minute drive to the cliffs overhanging the fast-flowing Shotover River. A short bush walk takes you to the edge, where you can survey the ribbon of the river, the Alpine vegetation, the rugged canyon, and sheer drop to the water.

The swing is attached to a cliff-mounted platform 358 feet (109 m) above the river. After a safety briefing, guides strap you into a chest and seat harness attached to a swing system.

Next, you decide your jump style. If high-octane thrills are your thing, hurl yourself somersaulting backwards into the air. If you are more cautious, try for a gentle release in a sitting position.

Hear the roaring in your ears as you freefall 197 feet (60 m) before the ropes pendulum you into a 656-foot (200-m) arc. Feel like a big kid as you swing back and forth, finally stopping before being winched back to the platform.

You can swing again or stand and watch others, all while taking in the beautiful landscape, before a well-deserved calming journey back to Queenstown.