Most people do their first bungee jump alone, but many sites also let two people jump together, strapped to the same cord. A tandem can make the jump feel less lonely and turn it into a shared memory, which is why couples, friends and parents with teenagers often ask about it. It also comes with stricter weight rules and isn’t allowed everywhere. This guide compares solo and tandem jumps, lists the rules at well-known sites, and covers jumping as a couple, including whether to propose on the platform.
Solo vs tandem at a glance
| Solo jump | Tandem jump | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | One jumper on one cord | Two people harnessed together, jumping at the same moment from the same platform [1] |
| Weight rules | A single range, for example 35–150 kg at Kawarau Bridge [2] | A combined maximum, and often a limit on the weight difference between you [2][3][4] |
| Where it’s offered | Almost every site | Only some sites and products, and it is banned in some places [1] |
| Price | One ticket | Usually two tickets; at Shotover Canyon Swing a tandem costs the same as two solo swings [5] |
| Who decides when to go | You | Both of you, at the same moment |
Tandem bungee rules at popular sites
Tandem rules vary even between sites run by the same company, so check the page for the specific jump you are booking.
| Site | Tandem rules |
|---|---|
| Kawarau Bridge Bungy, Queenstown | Combined weight up to 235 kg; no more than 30 kg between you; each jumper 35–150 kg [2] |
| Taupō Bungy | Combined weight up to 180 kg; no more than 30 kg between you [3] |
| Auckland Bridge Bungy | Combined weight up to 150 kg; no more than 30 kg between you [4] |
| Skypark Macau Tower | Combined weight 80–140 kg, including about 2 kg of harness; each jumper at least 40 kg [6] |
| Nevis Swing (a swing, not a bungee) | Tandem up to 220 kg [7] |
| Shotover Canyon Swing (a swing, not a bungee) | Combined weight up to 210 kg [5] |
| Illinois, USA | Tandem jumping is prohibited, along with catapulting, stunt jumping and reverse jumping [1] |
The combined limits are low enough to catch many couples out. At Auckland Bridge, two adults weighing 80 kg and 75 kg would be over the 150 kg tandem limit, even though each is well within the solo range [4]. Weigh yourselves honestly before booking. The crew will weigh you again at check-in.
Should you jump solo or tandem?
Choose a solo jump if you want the classic experience, you want to decide for yourself when to go, or you and your partner have very different nerves. Going solo also means you get a full free fall without having to coordinate with anyone. AJ Hackett describes bungy as a personal challenge and says its crew never pushes people, because it wants each jumper to achieve it for themselves [8].
Choose a tandem if neither of you would jump alone, or the point is to share it. AJ Hackett’s tips page quotes a mother who did a tandem with her 12-year-old daughter because neither of them felt they could do it without the other [8]. If you are travelling with someone who wants to jump, a tandem can also be a way to keep each other going.
The main drawback of a tandem is that you both have to be ready at the same moment. If one person freezes, the other is stuck on the edge too. Talk about that before you book, not on the platform.
How to communicate on a tandem jump
- Agree before you go up. Decide who, if anyone, will say “ready”, what you will do if one of you wants to stop, and whether you are happy to try again after a pause.
- Let the crew run the countdown. They do this all day. Follow their count rather than starting your own.
- Hold on the way the crew tells you. You will be harnessed together, so you don’t need to grip each other to stay attached. Illinois’ rules specifically ban “sandbagging”, where a jumper holds on to another person or object and lets go at the bottom to stretch the cord further [1].
- Agree a stop word. Either of you should be able to call it off, and the other should accept that without arguing.
Bungee jumping as a couple
A couple can do a jump together in three main ways:
- A tandem, if the site offers one and you fit the weight rules.
- Back-to-back solo jumps, so each of you has your own free fall and you can watch the other one go.
- One jumps and one watches. This is a perfectly good option. At Kawarau Bridge, spectators watch for free from the viewing deck [9].
Mismatched nerves are the most common problem. If one of you is keen and the other isn’t sure, take the pressure off. Book a jump that suits the more nervous person, agree beforehand that changing your mind is fine, and don’t treat the jump as a test of the relationship. A jump that one of you was talked into rarely makes a good memory.
Plan the day around the jump. AJ Hackett requires everyone to be sober at check-in and refuses anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with no refund [9]. Celebrate afterwards, not before.
Proposing on a bungee jump
Proposing at the top of a jump sounds romantic but has practical problems. Your partner is likely to be at their most nervous on the platform, and the crew has a safety routine to follow. Camera rules are also strict. In Queenstown, AJ Hackett doesn’t allow personal cameras during the activity, and action cameras are only permitted on some experiences if the crew approves them on the day [9].
If you still want a jump to be part of the story, consider these options:
- Propose afterwards, on the viewing deck or somewhere quiet nearby, once you have both calmed down.
- Talk to the operator before you book. Ask what is possible and what isn’t allowed on the platform. Don’t plan to surprise the crew.
- Leave the ring on the ground. Anything loose that you take on the jump can fall.
- Make sure your partner actually wants to jump. A proposal shouldn’t depend on someone agreeing to an activity that scares them.
Anniversaries and honeymoons
A jump can also mark an anniversary or be a highlight of a honeymoon. A few practical points make it go more smoothly:
- Schedule it mid-trip, not on the last day, so you have time to rebook if weather or wind cancels it.
- Leave the rest of the day light. Many people feel drained once the adrenaline wears off. See what you feel after a bungee jump.
- Order the operator’s photos or video if you want a record of the moment, since your own cameras may not be allowed [9].
- Check your travel insurance. Many standard policies exclude bungee jumping, so read our guide to travel insurance for bungee jumping.
FAQ
Can two people bungee jump together?
Yes, at sites that offer tandem jumps. Kawarau Bridge in New Zealand allows a combined weight of up to 235 kg, with no more than 30 kg between the two jumpers [2].
What is the weight limit for a tandem bungee jump?
It depends on the site: 235 kg combined at Kawarau Bridge, 180 kg at Taupō and 150 kg at Auckland Bridge, all with a 30 kg maximum difference. Macau Tower allows 80–140 kg combined [2][3][4][6].
Is tandem bungee jumping safe?
Where it is offered, it uses its own weight rules and the crew harnesses you together. Some regulators ban it outright: Illinois prohibits tandem jumping [1].
Is a tandem bungee jump less scary?
Some people find it easier to go with someone else. The trade-off is that you both have to be ready at the same moment.
Can I propose on a bungee jump?
Ask the operator first. Camera rules are strict, and the platform is a stressful place for a proposal. Many people propose afterwards instead [9].
Does a tandem bungee jump cost more?
Usually you pay for two people. At Shotover Canyon Swing, a tandem costs the same as two solo swings [5].
Sources
- Illinois Administrative Code tit. 56, § 6000.340: Bungee jumping (tandem jumping defined and prohibited)
- AJ Hackett: Kawarau Bridge Bungy (tandem combined 235 kg, 30 kg difference)
- AJ Hackett: Taupō Bungy (tandem combined 180 kg, 30 kg difference)
- AJ Hackett: Auckland Bridge Bungy (tandem combined 150 kg, 30 kg difference)
- Shotover Canyon Swing: Canyon Swing (tandem price, combined 210 kg)
- Skypark Macau Tower: Bungy (single and tandem jumps, weight limits)
- AJ Hackett: Nevis Swing (tandem maximum 220 kg)
- AJ Hackett: Top tips to conquer an AJ Hackett bungy jump (no pushing, tandem jumpers)
- AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand: FAQs (spectators, sobriety, camera rules)
Image credits
- Photo: i_pinz from Vienna, AT / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Photo: Marjolein from The Netherlands / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Photo: Fouad Ashtari / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)