One of New Zealand’s most popular tourism activities this month celebrates twenty high-flying years of giving clients the thrill of a lifetime.
Queenstown based tandem-skydiving company NZONE Skydive was established in October 1990 and was the first commercial tandem skydive operation in New Zealand. Two decades later it is a multi-award-winning company that has thrilled more than 170,000 guests.
NZONE Skydive General Manager and co-owner Robynne Williams, said for her and husband Lindsay, the 20 year milestone was an opportunity to reflect on the company’s successes.
“We started with just three staff members at our base in a paddock at Jardine’s farm near Queenstown. 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,” she said.
“Today we employ a dedicated team of 40 fulltime skydivers working at dropzones in Queenstown and Rotorua, and have been voted the best experience in Queenstown by traveller websites.
“Over the years our philosophy has remained unchanged - 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.”
NZONE Skydive guests choose their fear-factor - the ‘Exosfear’ 15,000ft jump, ‘Stratosfear’ 12,000ft jump or ‘Troposfear’ 9,000ft jump. The experience and breathtaking birds-eye views begin on a scenic flight to the dropzone before the freefall action begins when guest and jumpmaster step out of the aircraft door. Using state of the art photo and video equipment, NZONE Skydive deliver the most comprehensive photo and video package in the industry, to ensure guests’ Tandem Skydive experience becomes a memory that lasts a lifetime.
NZONE Skydive has won a string of awards over the years. It was recently ranked the Most Popular Activity in Queenstown above 65 other activities reviewed by independent consumer feedback website tripadvisor.com. It was also named Top Rated Experience in Queenstown and Top Skydive Company in New Zealand, by travellers who posted their 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’ subcategory and ‘Visitor Activities and Attractions’ category.
“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 Mrs Williams.
NZONE Skydive operates from a private airstrip just 20 minutes from Queenstown’s town centre, and also from Rotorua, where the company operates from the airport. The company will celebrate its 20TH birthday with a party for frontline agents in early December.
