Twenty years of NZ skydiving thrills
06 Oct 2010
The Queenstown company credited with launching commercial tandem skydiving in New Zealand has turned 20, and is celebrating becoming a multi-award winning thrill-provider for more than 170,000 high flyers.
NZONE, ‘The Ultimate Jump’, which began as a small farm-based operation, now has bases in both the North and South islands and is internationally recognised as one of New Zealand’s top tourism adventures.
The company started out in October 1990 with just three staff members and operated from a paddock at Jardine’s farm near Queenstown. Today it employs 40 fulltime staff at Rotorua and Queenstown dropzones.
Tandem skydiving
Over the two decades that NZONE has operated as a commercial tandem skydive company, more than 170,000 people from all over the world have experienced the "thrill of a lifetime".
NZONE Skydive co-owner Robynne Williams said that for her and husband Lindsay, the 20-year milestone was an opportunity to reflect on the company’s successes.
"Over the past 20 years we have grown year-on-year to become a world-renowned, multi-awarded tourism adventure operation that knows a whole lot about providing the highest level of customer satisfaction."
Williams said that the company’s philosophy had remained unchanged over the years.
"To focus on value and exceptional quality for our customers - it’s all about giving people the best possible experience, a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Fear factor
NZONE Skydive offers different levels of "fear-factor" - the ‘Exosfear’ 15,000ft jump, ‘Stratosfear’ 12,000ft jump, or ‘Troposfear’ 9,000ft jump.
The experience gives skydivers a breathtaking, birds-eye view of some of New Zealand’s most picturesque scenery - begining with a scenic flight to the dropzone before the freefall action when guest and jumpmaster step out of the aircraft door.
The thrilling moments are recorded on sophisticated photo and video equipment.
Staff members have been party to a number of memorable experiences themselves over the years - having witnessed numerous special moments including marriage proposals and romantic pledges.
Award-winning activity
NZONE Skydive has won a number of awards and was recently ranked ‘most popular Queesntown activity’ above 65 other activities reviewed by independent consumer feedback website tripadvisor.com.
It was also named ‘top rated Queenstown experience’ and ‘top NZ skydive company’ by travellers who posted feedback on rankers.co.nz.
NZONE Skydive was also the first New Zealand skydive company to be awarded Qualmark endorsement. In 2007 the company won the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association’s ‘supreme award’ and also took top honours in the ‘adventure’ and ‘visitor activities and attractions’ categories.
"We have always found awards processes incredibly valuable for measuring and improving the company and its performance, but it is especially rewarding when we receive great customer reviews, particularly when we’re named the best in what we do," said Williams.
NZONE Skydive announced its 20th birthday to the world with an instructor flying a birthday flag high above Queenstown.
More information
Skydiver celebrates 10,000 jumps
New Zealand's season of romance
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
