# Queenstown Bungy Jumping: Which AJ Hackett Jump? | Newzealand-Vacation > A guide to Queenstown bungy jumping with AJ Hackett — Kawarau Bridge, the 134m Nevis, and The Ledge — how to choose by nerve level, plus prices from NZD. *Source : https://newzealand-vacation.com/things-to-do/queenstown-bungy-jumping/* --- Skip to content This is where the whole idea began. **Queenstown bungy jumping was born at the Kawarau Bridge in 1988, when AJ Hackett opened the world’s first commercial bungy** — and the same company still runs the region’s three very different jumps today. Whether you want a photogenic starter leap or New Zealand’s highest freefall, the choice comes down to how much your nerves can take. ## The three AJ Hackett jumps Each site is a different beast. Pick by height, setting, and how brave you’re feeling. Jump Height Setting Nerve level Kawarau Bridge 43 m Historic bridge over the Kawarau River The original — approachable Nevis Bungy 134 m Cable car pod over a remote canyon **NZ’s highest** — extreme The Ledge Bob’s Peak, above town Urban platform with city & lake views Run-and-jump, freestyle **Kawarau Bridge** is the heritage jump and the gentlest introduction. At 43 metres over the clear Kawarau River, you can even choose a water touch. It’s the most iconic photo and the one most first-timers pick — being “the original” is half the appeal. **Nevis Bungy** is the big one: **134 metres**, New Zealand’s highest bungy, launched from a glass-floored pod suspended by cables over a remote canyon reached by 4WD. The freefall lasts around eight seconds. This is the one you talk about for years. **The Ledge** sits above Queenstown on Bob’s Peak, reached by the Skyline Gondola. It’s lower than the others but uniquely urban, with the town and Lake Wakatipu spread below — and because you jump from a slider rather than a fixed ankle tie, you can run off the platform and invent your own style. ## More than bungy: Nevis Swing & Catapult If a straight drop isn’t your thing, the Nevis site also runs the **Nevis Swing** — a giant arc across the canyon that you can ride solo or tandem, forwards or backwards — and the **Nevis Catapult**, which fires you _upward_ and out at speed from a standing start. The Swing is often the sweet spot for people who want the canyon setting and serious thrill without the head-first plunge of a bungy. ## Choosing by nerve level (and price) A simple way to decide: - **Nervous / first bungy:** Kawarau Bridge. Lower, historic, water-touch option, gentle crowd energy. - **Want the view, not the extreme height:** The Ledge, or the Nevis Swing. - **Chasing the biggest possible thrill:** Nevis Bungy — nothing else in the country goes higher. Jumps are priced **from NZD** per person, with the Nevis being the most expensive of the three and Kawarau the most accessible. Combo packages that bundle two jumps or a jump-plus-swing work out cheaper than booking separately, so decide your appetite before you buy. Queenstown packs a lot into a small footprint, so it’s worth planning where to base yourself — see our guide to [where to stay in Queenstown](https://newzealand-vacation.com/accommodation/where-to-stay-queenstown/) and the wider [Queenstown travel guide](https://newzealand-vacation.com/destinations/queenstown-travel-guide/) for making the most of a few days. And if freefall is your fix, the same region is a launchpad for [skydiving in New Zealand](https://newzealand-vacation.com/things-to-do/skydiving-new-zealand/). **Tiaki tip:** The Kawarau Gorge and the Nevis canyon are living landscapes, not just adrenaline backdrops. Stick to marked platforms and paths, take every wrapper and drink bottle back out with you, and leave the riverbanks as untouched as you found them — small habits that keep these gorges pristine for the next jumper. ## FAQ ### Which Queenstown bungy is best for first-timers? The Kawarau Bridge is the friendliest first jump. At 43 metres it’s the lowest of the three, it’s the historic original from 1988, and you can opt for a water touch — approachable while still delivering a genuine bungy rush. ### How high is the Nevis Bungy? The Nevis Bungy is 134 metres — New Zealand’s highest bungy jump. You launch from a cable-suspended pod over a remote canyon and freefall for roughly eight seconds before the rebound. ### Is there an option that isn’t a head-first jump? Yes. The Nevis Swing sends you in a huge arc across the canyon (solo or tandem, forwards or backwards), and the Nevis Catapult fires you upward from a standing position. Both give the setting and thrill without a bungy plunge. [← More in Things to Do](https://newzealand-vacation.com/things-to-do/) [All articles](https://newzealand-vacation.com/blog/)