The Best Paragliding in Queenstown Beginner’s Guide
After attempting paragliding for the first time during my week in Switzerland, I got obsessed with the feeling of floating in the air without having to leap out of an aeroplane. I’m not afraid of heights and I’m all for using parachutes, but I find free fall terrifying. To put it simply, paragliding is the ideal option for someone like me.
Because of this, I aimed to cap off our crazy adventure on a celebratory note to mark the end of our three-month campervan tour in New Zealand.
After thinking about all the fun things to do in Queenstown, I settled on a paragliding adventure from the highest commercial launching point in the city (which are plenty).
Why Paragliding in Queenstown, New Zealand?
After all, the crucial question is, “Why not?”
Queenstown offers a wide variety of heart-pounding sports like jet boating, ziplining, bungee jumping, and more, but none of them can compare to the exhilaration of paragliding over the region’s snow-capped mountains and rugged valleys.
In New Zealand, the few commercial paragliding operations that do exist focus only on providing training flights for pilots and do not provide flights for recreational purposes.
Visit this location to see a breathtaking departure from a mountainside while taking in panoramic vistas in all directions. That’s why paragliding above Queenstown is one of my most anticipated New Zealand adventures.
Skydiving, Hang Gliding, or Paragliding?
If you wish to hang from a gadget from hundreds of metres in the air, you may either paraglide, skydive, or hang glide. Also, you could be a little crazy.
Queenstown is one of the most popular places for both international and local visitors to cross skydiving off their lists. It is easy to get a New Zealand visitor visa and if you are from Hong Kong, then you can easily apply for a New Zealand visa from Hong Kong.
However, if you’re looking for a less terrifying adventure, want to try something new after skydiving, or want to test your tolerance for heights before jumping out of a plane, paragliding is the way to go.
One may also go hang gliding in Queenstown. Though I haven’t tried any of these activities for myself, a friend has said that hang-gliding is more thrilling because of the feeling of flying while lying flat (as opposed to sitting in a chair-like harness during paragliding).
Best Paragliding in Queenstown
Queenstown is home to a plethora of paragliding companies, each with its own launch site.
The nearest location to town is Gforce Paragliding, which can be found at the summit of the Queenstown Gondola. They’re the only company allowed to fly above Queenstown, but they can only take off from 450 metres, so the whole ride will probably take about 10 minutes. Here, you may get started for $199, but getting on the gondola will cost you an extra $44.
Our selected paragliding company in Queenstown, Coronet Peak Tandems, has many launch sites that are situated at altitudes much above those reached by the gondola. Higher takeoffs provide longer time in the air, during which you may experiment with updrafts.
Coronet Peak Tandems’ shuttle service, which will transport you from central Queenstown to the launch site, starts at $205 for the lower takeoff option and $235 for the higher option.
Paragliding in Queenstown? Top Things To Know
Seasonally appropriate apparel is required. At the end of winter, it was FREEZING, so we made sure to bring along warm clothing, gloves, and thick socks. Coronet Peak Tandems has a variety of outerwear, including gloves, boots, and jackets.
The pictures must be obtained! Did you ever paraglide, since you don’t seem to have any photos of it. Spending a little extra is worth it to get fantastic photos and video since the pilots are skilled GoPro photographers who know how to get all the best moments.
Don’t forget your camera! If you have a safe way to carry your camera, such a GoPro chest strap, you may be allowed to bring it along. If you want to avoid being let down, call the establishment beforehand.
It helps if you’re at least somewhat fit. Getting airborne could need you to do a little sprinting.
In reality, you’re going to go where the wind blows. Act like someone who gets a kick out of moaning that they weren’t given a better perspective or that they didn’t get to spend enough time in the air. Since you are at the mercy of the wind and thermal activity, I hope you enjoy the ride!
