About this tour
When Em from our Global Hobo crew booked the Tasman Experience and Skydive combo, she got the full Southern Alps treatment: helicopter flight over glaciers and rainforest, a landing on actual snowfield, then a 13,000ft tandem jump. It's the kind of tour where you're genuinely suspended between two different kinds of awe—first the silence of hovering over ice fields, then the chaos of freefall. The whole thing runs 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on weather and how keen you are to linger on the glacier. It draws a mix of thrill-seekers and scenic tourists, so you're never alone but rarely crowded.
Highlights
- Helicopter touchdown on working glacier—your boots actually touch ancient ice
- 13,000ft tandem skydive with alpine peaks and rainforest below
- Combines two separate experiences without dead time between
- Clear-day views stretch across multiple mountain ranges at once
- Small enough groups that guides notice when you're grinning like an idiot
- Accessible for first-timers; no climbing or hiking required
What to expect
You'll start with a scenic helicopter ride that builds the visual story—forest giving way to rock, then permanent snowline. The glacier landing is quieter than expected; the pilot cuts engines and you get a few minutes on the snowfield to breathe and photograph. Then it's back to base, gear check, and the jump itself. The freefall leg is genuinely disorienting at first—the ground doesn't look real from that height—but your tandem instructor handles the spins and rolls. Descent by parachute is peaceful after the adrenaline spike, and you drift down watching the landscape reassemble itself.
Weather matters here. Em's jump went ahead in clear conditions, but cloud cover or wind can mean cancellations or rescheduling. The physical demand is low—you're strapped to an experienced jumper—but the mental aspect catches some people off guard. The combo pacing works well; you're not sitting around between activities, and the helicopter flight primes you for what's coming next.
What travellers say
- Two premium experiences in one half-day without wasted downtime
- Glacier landing is tactile—not just aerial viewing
- Tandem format means zero skydive experience needed
- Guides are skilled at managing first-timer nerves
- Accessible to most fitness levels and age ranges
- Weather-dependent; cancellations can wreck tight itineraries
- High cost reflects two premium activities combined
- Emotionally intense back-to-back; not relaxing
- Remote location requires careful transport planning
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This combo genuinely offers two premium experiences back-to-back, which saves time and gives you different perspectives on the same landscape. The glacier landing alone justifies the cost for scenic buffs; you're not just flying over it. The tandem skydive is genuinely thrilling without requiring prior experience. Most fitness levels can participate, and it suits couples, solo travellers, and small groups.
Weather dependency is real—Southern Alps conditions are moody, and cancellations happen. The combo is expensive (prices not stated here, but helicopter + skydive adds up fast). It's fairly intense back-to-back; if you're nervous about heights, this is a lot to process in one day. Public transport exists nearby but you'll need to arrange transfers to/from the airfield. Young kids can come on the helicopter but only under strict weight/safety rules. Bring warm layers even in summer—altitude cooling is genuine.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.