AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungy
S 45° 00.576 E 168° 53.871
59G E 334346 N 5013833
The original home of Bungy, The Kawarau Bridge. A 43 metre Bungy Jump above the Kawarau River. Situated 20 minutes from Queenstown, New Zealand.
Waymark Code: WM9F
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 08/19/2005
Views: 526
This is the world's first commercial bungy site, running since November 1988.
The old Kawarau Bridge was originally built to link Queenstown to Central Otago during the gold rush of the 1880's, later replaced by the larger and more modern Battling Betty Bridge in the 1960's. The bridge fell into a state of disrepair and was deemed unsafe until Henry van Asch and AJ Hackett applied for a one month license to use the bridge commercially for Bungy Jumping in 1988. Through the bungy jump operation a piece of New Zealand heritage has been saved. A fee is paid to the Department of Conservation for every jump by AJ Hackett Bungy to maintain the site.
Jumps can be single or tandem, foot or harness, dry or water-touch. The nearby complex provides a cafe and gear.