“Bungee jumping” covers several different experiences. The classic version is a jump from a bridge, tower or crane on an elastic cord, with a freefall followed by a series of bounces. Alongside it, operators sell canyon swings, catapults, fairground reverse bungee rides and variations such as water touches, tandem jumps and evening jumps. They feel very different and have different age, weight and medical rules, so it is worth knowing which one you are booking.
Types of bungee jumping at a glance
| Type | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge bungee | Freefall from a bridge, usually over a river or gorge, then bounces on an elastic cord | Kawarau Bridge, New Zealand: 43 m [1] |
| Platform or tower bungee | The same freefall from a purpose-built platform or tall building | Nevis, 134 m above the ground; Macau Tower, 233 m [2][3] |
| Crane bungee | A cage lifted by a mobile crane, often at events or temporary sites | UK Bungee Club 160 ft jumps [4] |
| Canyon swing | A freefall that turns into a huge pendulum swing on a rope, without the bounce | Nevis Swing; Shotover Canyon Swing [2][5] |
| Catapult | You are launched outwards or upwards by stretched cords instead of falling | Nevis Catapult [6] |
| Reverse bungee ride | A fairground ride that fires a two-person capsule into the air between two towers | SlingShot-style rides at amusement parks [7] |
Classic bungee: bridge, tower and crane
All classic bungee jumps work the same way: you are attached to an elastic cord by your ankles, a body harness or both, you fall until the cord starts to stretch, and you then rebound several times until the energy is used up [8]. The modern sport began on 1 April 1979, when members of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club jumped from the 76 m Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England [8]. The students came up with the idea after discussing the land diving ritual of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu, where young men jump from tall wooden platforms with vines tied to their ankles [8].
The structure you jump from changes the experience more than the cord does:
- Bridges are the most common scenic sites. At Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown, AJ Hackett’s original site, the jump is 43 m to the Kawarau River [1].
- Purpose-built platforms and towers allow bigger drops. The Nevis Bungy platform hangs 134 m above the ground and gives about 8.5 seconds of freefall [2]. The Macau Tower jump is 233 m, and in December 2006 it was recognised by Guinness World Records as the highest commercial bungy jump in the world [3].
- Cranes let operators run jumps at lakes, parks and city sites. The UK Bungee Club, for example, runs 160 ft (about 49 m) jumps at several locations, including central London [4]. In Illinois, crane-platform jumps have to keep a fixed platform height and match the cord to each jumper’s weight [9].
- Hot-air balloons and helicopters have been used for record and stunt jumps since the early 1980s, but they are rare as tourist products [8].
Bungee vs canyon swing
A canyon swing starts with a freefall, but the rope then carries you into a long pendulum arc instead of a vertical bounce. AJ Hackett describes the difference simply: bungy uses elastic cords that stretch and rebound, while a swing uses a rope for a pendulum arc without the bounce [10]. The Nevis Swing carries you through a 300 m arc across the valley [2], and the Shotover Canyon Swing near Queenstown gives 60 m of freefall before the swing begins, with a choice of jump styles [5].
Swings usually have more relaxed rules than bungee. You end up sitting in a harness rather than hanging upside down [2], and both Queenstown swings take tandem riders: the Nevis Swing allows two people with a combined weight of up to 220 kg, and the Shotover Canyon Swing allows a combined 210 kg [11][5]. The minimum age is 10 at both [11][5]. If you want the classic upside-down freefall and bounce, check that you haven’t booked the swing by mistake.
Catapults and reverse bungee
A catapult turns the jump around: the cords are stretched first, then released, so you are thrown outwards instead of falling. The Nevis Catapult launches you 150 m across the valley at up to 3 G, reaching 100 km/h in 1.5 seconds; riders must be at least 13 and weigh 45–127 kg [6].
A reverse bungee ride is a different thing again. It is a fairground ride with two towers feeding elastic ropes to a steel capsule for two people. The capsule is held down by an electromagnet while the ropes are stretched, then released [7]. These rides are found in amusement parks and travelling funfairs [7]. Like any ride, they depend on maintenance and correct restraint: in 1998 a rider died at the Ottawa Exhibition in Canada after his harness detached [7]. Illinois bans catapult and reverse jumping from its regulated bungee platforms, which shows that regulators treat them as a separate activity [9].
Water touch jumps
A water touch is a standard bridge jump with the cord set so that your head, hands or upper body dips into the river at the bottom. At Kawarau Bridge you ask your jump master at check-in, and it is never guaranteed because it depends on factors such as the river level [1]. Kawarau also lowers its maximum weight from 150 kg to 130 kg when the river is high [1]. Most sites don’t offer water touches, so check before you travel if it matters to you.
Tandem jumps
Some sites let two people jump together on one cord. At Kawarau Bridge, tandem jumpers must not exceed a combined 235 kg, and the weight difference between them must not be more than 30 kg [1]. Tandem jumps are not allowed everywhere: Illinois bans them from regulated bungee platforms [9]. For more, see solo vs tandem bungee jumps.
Night and evening jumps
Night jumping is uncommon, but some city sites open in the evening. At Macau Tower, the bungy jump is available in the evenings from 6 pm in winter and 7.30 pm in summer [3]. Before booking an evening jump elsewhere, ask how the platform and landing area are lit and whether the same weather limits apply.
Winter jumps
Cold weather rarely stops jumping on its own. AJ Hackett says rain, snow and cold usually don’t stop operations in Queenstown, and that strong wind gusts are what occasionally cause jumps to pause [12]. It recommends warm layers, such as a thermal base layer, a fleece and a weatherproof outer layer, with closed-toe shoes and gloves and a beanie while you wait; the crew may ask you to remove some items before you jump [12]. For more on weather, see weather, bookings and cancellations.
Jumping with a group
Many people do their first jump with friends, a club or a charity event. Larger operators such as the UK Bungee Club offer group bookings and charity fundraising jumps [4]. Every person in the group is still weighed and checked individually, and the usual age and medical rules apply to each jumper, so make sure everyone reads the requirements for the specific jump before you book.
Which type should you choose?
- For the classic experience, choose a bridge or platform bungee. Bridges are usually the most scenic; towers and canyon platforms give the longest freefall.
- If hanging upside down worries you, a canyon swing gives a freefall and ends sitting up in a harness [2].
- If you want to share it, look for a tandem bungee or a tandem swing [1][11].
- If you want speed rather than a fall, try a catapult [6].
Whatever you choose, read the age, weight and medical rules for that specific product, because they vary even at the same site [1][11][6]. For what happens to your body during the fall, see the physics of bungee jumping.
FAQ
What are the different types of bungee jumping?
The main types are bridge, tower or platform, and crane bungee jumps. Related activities include canyon swings, catapults and fairground reverse bungee rides [8][2][7].
What is the difference between a bungee jump and a canyon swing?
A bungee jump uses an elastic cord that stretches and rebounds. A canyon swing uses a rope, so after the freefall you swing in a pendulum arc without the bounce [10].
What is a reverse bungee?
It is a fairground ride: a two-person capsule is held down while elastic ropes attached to two towers are stretched, then released so it shoots into the air [7].
Can you touch the water on a bungee jump?
At some sites, such as Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand. Ask at check-in; it depends on conditions like the river level and is not guaranteed [1].
Can you bungee jump in winter?
Yes. In Queenstown, AJ Hackett says rain, snow and cold usually don’t stop jumping, but strong wind gusts can pause it [12].
Can two people bungee jump together?
At some sites. Kawarau Bridge allows tandem jumps up to a combined 235 kg with no more than 30 kg between the two jumpers [1].
Sources
- AJ Hackett: Kawarau Bridge Bungy (43 m, water touch, tandem weight rules)
- AJ Hackett: Differences between the Nevis Bungy, Swing and Catapult
- Macau Tower: Adventure (233 m bungy, evening jumps)
- UK Bungee Club: Bungee jumping experiences in the UK (160 ft crane jumps, group and charity bookings)
- Shotover Canyon Swing: Canyon Swing (60 m freefall, jump styles, age and weight rules)
- AJ Hackett: Nevis Catapult (150 m, up to 3 G, age and weight limits)
- Wikipedia: Reverse bungee (how the ride works, installations, 1998 Ottawa accident)
- Wikipedia: Bungee jumping (land diving, the 1979 Clifton Suspension Bridge jumps, crane, balloon and helicopter jumps)
- Illinois Administrative Code tit. 56, § 6000.340: Bungee jumping (crane platform rules, prohibited jump types)
- AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand: FAQs (bungy vs swing vs SkyJump, water touch)
- AJ Hackett: Nevis Swing (age and weight limits, tandem)
- AJ Hackett: How cold is too cold? Winter bungy layering and footwear tips (23 June 2026)
Image credits
- Photo: Ellanor / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
- Photo: Timo Newton-Syms from Helsinki, Finland and Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Photo: Don Graham from Redlands, CA, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)