TOP REASONS TO SKYDIVE IN ABEL TASMAN

What if the most heart-pounding moment of your life was also one of the most beautiful? Skydiving here isn’t just an adrenaline rush; it’s a full-blown scenic experience. As the plane climbs, you’ll look west to the vast, rugged wilderness of Kahurangi National Park, then turn your gaze east to a coastline of pure gold and turquoise. 

Summary 

• An Abel Tasman skydive blends jaw-dropping coastal panoramas with an unexpectedly smooth freefall and serene parachute flight. 

• Safety is paramount, with elite tandem instructors, advanced automatic backup devices, and rigorous regulations. 

• Skydive Abel Tasman is the only New Zealand Skydive with unique sub-tropical coastal views of vibrant turquoise bays, golden beaches and on a clear day, views of both the north and south island. 

• From 10,000 feet to 18,000 feet, choose your height based on how long you want to freefall, book easily online, and head to Motueka to prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

From thousands of feet up, the scenic views from an Abel Tasman skydive become breathtakingly clear. You’ll see the famous Abel Tasman Coast Track unfold below like a string of pearls, connecting one perfect golden beach to the next. The landscape is a vibrant palette of deep blue Tasman Sea, brilliant turquoise bays, and shimmering sand.  

On a clear day, the sheer scale of the panorama is hard to understand. You are not just skydiving over Golden Bay; your view can stretch across the entire top of the South Island, from the sands of Farewell Spit all the way to D’Urville Island.  

From Heart-Pounding Freefall to Serene Flight: What a Tandem Skydive Actually Feels Like 

Many first timers expect a stomach-lurching drop like on a roller coaster, but the reality of freefall is completely different. Because you exit the plane moving horizontally, the sensation isn’t one of falling, but of floating on a powerful and supportive cushion of air. It’s an exhilarating, empowering feeling of total freedom as you fly over the world below. The “scary” part most people imagine simply doesn’t happen. 

Your skydive has two incredible, distinct chapters. 

1. First comes the breathtaking rush of freefall. 

1. Then, your instructor opens the parachute, and everything changes. The powerful roar of the wind softens into a whisper, and you begin a gentle, scenic flight. This is your time to truly appreciate the view, soaring like a bird over Abel Tasman’s golden beaches and turquoise water as you float peacefully back to earth. 

On a tandem skydive, you’re securely harnessed to an expert who manages all the technical details, from the jump to the soft landing. They’ll give you a couple of easy instructions before and during your jump, but they will be with you all the time, which allows you to be fully present for every second. Safety is built into every single step and we want you to focus on the unforgettable experience that pivots from an adrenaline rush to a full scenic journey. 

Is Skydiving Safe? Your Biggest Question Answered 

• The biggest question is often about safety, and the answer is a resounding yes: tandem skydiving is incredibly safe. Your security starts with the expert you’re attached to. Every tandem instructor is an elite professional with an exceptional level of training. They’ve been trained to manage every situation imaginable, making your safety their absolute focus from the moment you meet them. 

• Beyond their expertise, modern parachute systems add another powerful layer of security. Every tandem parachute rig has a small, automatic device that constantly measures your altitude and speed. It’s an intelligent failsafe designed to deploy the backup parachute if it ever becomes necessary, working completely on its own to give you total peace of mind. 

• Finally, the entire Abel Tasman tandem skydive experience is governed by strict civil aviation regulations. This means every jump, piece of equipment, and instructor is held to the highest safety standard. You’re not just choosing a beautiful place to skydive; you’re choosing one of the safest. 

Abel Tasman vs. Queenstown Skydiving: Which One Is for You? 

When it comes to ticking a skydive off your bucket list, most travelers default to the “Adventure Capital.” But as New Zealand’s tourism landscape evolves, savvy adventurers are weighing the Queenstown vs. Abel Tasman skydiving debate differently. 

Queenstown is undeniably iconic, offering the jagged peaks of ‘The Remarkables’ and the icy blue of Lake Wakatipu. However, being a global tourism hub comes with trade-offs. The experience can often feel like a “conveyor belt” – high-volume, high-stress, and significantly harder on the wallet. If you are chasing that specific alpine drama, even Skydive Franz Josef & Fox Glacier often edges out Queenstown by offering more unique, expansive glacier views that feel less like a commercial “tourist tick-box”. 

Choosing to jump over the Abel Tasman region (near Nelson) offers a distinct “magic” that you simply cannot replicate. It’s not about competing with the scale of the Alps; it’s about choosing a different kind of beauty: 

• A Palette of Paradise: Imagine turquoise seas, shimmering golden sands, and lush native forests. It’s New Zealand’s version of a sub-tropical paradise. 

• Inclusivity Over Adrenaline: Skydive Abel Tasman is built on the philosophy of making skydiving for everyone. The atmosphere is welcoming and grounded, prioritizing the awe of the view and the entire experience over the intensity of the “drop.”  That’s still awesome to have, but Skydiving is about the entire package.  

• Unrivalled Geographic Scope: It is one of the few places in the country where, on a clear day, you can see both the North and South Islands simultaneously – a perspective the deep valleys of the south can’t provide. 

• A Personal Discovery: Away from the buzzing “tourist traps,” the experience feels more intimate and unique, offering a sense of peace and space that is increasingly hard to find in the major tourism hubs. 

Your Skydive Cheat Sheet: Altitude, Cost, and Booking Your Jump 

• One of the first choices you’ll make is how high to jump. Skydive Abel Tasman offers a range of options, each as breathtaking as the next. Choose from 10,000 feet up to a staggering 18,000 feet, the highest Skydive in New Zealand. A higher jump simply gives you more time in thrilling freefall – up to 85 seconds of pure exhilaration! No matter which you choose, the gentle, scenic parachute ride over New Zealand’s golden beaches is still the same length. 

• While the cost of skydiving in Abel Tasman is a key consideration, it’s best viewed as an investment in a story you will tell for the rest of your life. It’s more than an activity; it’s a peak life experience that delivers an unmatched feeling of accomplishment and awe in one of the world’s most beautiful settings. 

• Ready to make it real? Booking a skydive should be easy and straightforward. Simply visit the operator’s website to see live availability, select your jump height, and secure your spot for an unforgettable leap. 

Your Unforgettable Leap Is Just a Decision Away 

An Abel Tasman tandem skydive experience is more than a leap – it’s the moment the world opens into a map of shimmering coastline and endless blue. It’s the surprising peace of floating back to earth, knowing professionals are guiding you every second. It is one of the ultimate Abel Tasman National Park adventure activities. 

That feeling of soaring will stay with you, a quiet confidence that comes from doing something truly extraordinary. The top reasons to skydive in Abel Tasman are real and waiting for you. Your first step is simple: book your jump and prepare for the view of a lifetime. 

Abel Tasman Skydiving: Quick Facts

• Is skydiving safe at Skydive Abel Tasman? Yes. We are fully certificated under CAA Rule Part 115, meaning every jump, instructor, and aircraft meets rigorous New Zealand aviation safety standards.
• What makes this jump unique? It is the only skydive in Aotearoa where you can see the North and South Islands, three National Parks, and turquoise coastal views all in one freefall.
• Who is this experience for? We welcome everyone! From international adventurers to NZ domestic travelers and locals looking for a social, people-first atmosphere.
• What are the height options? We offer four jump heights: 10,000ft, 13,000ft, 16,500ft, and our ultimate 18,000ft experience.

Q&A 

Question: What will I actually see during an Abel Tasman skydive? 
Short answer: Expect a sweeping coastal panorama. As the plane climbs, you’ll look west to Kahurangi National Park’s rugged wilderness and east over Abel Tasman’s golden beaches and turquoise bays. Below, the Abel Tasman Coast Track unfurls like a string of pearls, and on clear days views can stretch from Farewell Spit to D’Urville Island, and you might even be able to see the tip of Mount Taranaki. It is an aerial tour of the entire top of the South Island. 

Question: What does a tandem skydive feel like – will my stomach drop? 
Short answer: It feels like flying, not falling. Because you exit the plane moving horizontally, freefall feels like floating on a powerful cushion of air rather than a roller-coaster drop. After the exhilarating rush of freefall, your instructor opens the parachute and the noise fades to a whisper, turning the experience into a calm, scenic glide over gold-and-turquoise coastline. You’re harnessed to an expert the whole time, so your only job is to soak it all in. 

Question: How safe is tandem skydiving? 
Short answer: Safety is built into every step at Skydive Abel Tasman. You’ll be attached to an elite tandem instructor with years of training. Parachute systems include an automatic backup device that continually measures altitude and speed and can deploy the reserve parachute if needed. All operations are governed by New Zealand’s strict civil aviation regulations, holding equipment, instructors, and procedures to high standards. 

Question: How high should I jump, and how does altitude change the experience? 
Short answer: You can choose between about 10,000 – 18,000 feet. Higher altitudes mean more time in thrilling freefall – up to 85 seconds at 18,000 feet – while the gentle parachute flight stays about the same length regardless. Pick the height that matches how much freefall time you want. We use supplementary oxygen for high altitude jumps, which means they’re open to guests aged 16+. Booking is simple: reserve online with Skydive Abel Tasman in Motueka by selecting your preferred altitude and an available time. 

Question: Abel Tasman vs. Queenstown – how do I choose? 
Short answer: Pick the vibe you want to fall in love with. Queenstown is a popular tourist destination but can be a bit crowded. It offers jagged, snow-dusted peaks and deep-blue Lake Wakatipu. Abel Tasman offers a different magic: vibrant turquoise bays, shimmering golden sand, and lush forest meeting the sea, plus a more quintessential New Zealand vibe.