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Taupo Bungee Over the Waikato River: Cost, Wait Times and the Water Touch

The AJ Hackett bungee platform jutting out over the Waikato River in Taupo

The AJ Hackett bungee in Taupo jumps off a platform above the Waikato River, and it’s walk-up: no booking, just show up. Two of our group jumped on this trip. I’ve done it before, and I’d do any of it again.

Quick facts

  • Where: AJ Hackett Taupo Bungy, above the Waikato River
  • Cost: about NZ$150 per person when we went in 2024. Check current prices
  • Book ahead: no. We walked up and waited about 30 minutes
  • Water touch: they’ll try for it but won’t guarantee it
  • Also there: the Big Swing
  • Our rating: 10/10

Before you go: check current prices, opening hours and weight limits on the official Taupō Bungy site.

The jump

The platform sits out over the turquoise river, and the setting alone is worth the drive. The staff are calm and professional: everything is checked and double-checked, which helps a lot when you’re the one standing on the edge.

About the water touch: they’ll try for it, but they always err on the side of caution, so it isn’t guaranteed. Neither of ours touched the water. When I jumped on an earlier trip, I’d broken my leg, so I couldn’t go head first, and they won’t do a water touch any other way.

The Waikato River gorge below the Taupo bungee
The AJ Hackett bungee platform above the turquoise Waikato River in Taupo
My jump in 2019. Same platform, same river.

The Big Swing

If the bungee isn’t for you, the Big Swing is the alternative. My mom did it on that earlier trip, and I think it might be even more fun than the bungee, with just as much adrenaline: a short free fall you don’t control, then a huge swing out next to the rocks.

The bungee platform on the cliff edge above the Waikato River

Tips

  • Check the weather. Ours was sun, then rain, then wind within an hour.
  • Don’t count on the water touch. Enjoy it if it happens.

Verdict

10/10 if you want the adrenaline. Walk-up, beautiful setting, well run. The Big Swing is the better pick for anyone who wants the rush without the head-first drop.

Taupo bungee FAQ

Do you need to book the Taupo bungee?

We didn’t. It was walk-up when we went, and we waited about 30 minutes.

How much does the Taupo bungee cost?

It was about NZ$150 per person when we went in 2024. Check the official site for current prices.

Will you touch the water on the Taupo bungee?

Maybe. They will try for a water touch but won’t guarantee it, and it is only possible on a head-first jump.

Is there an alternative to the bungee in Taupo?

The Big Swing, on the same site: a short free fall, then a huge swing out next to the rocks.

This was day 6 of our 10-day North Island itinerary.

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