Skydiving Melbourne is an adventure that I added to my bucket list as soon as I arrived in this city. With so many gorgeous viewpoints and multiple different drop zones, I knew that it would be time for me to yet again take part in – let’s be honest – probably the biggest adrenaline rush in the world. What could be more terrifying exciting than jumping out of a flying plane?!
The last time I went skydiving was eons ago, in San Diego, back when I turned 18. I figured I had to do something pretty daring for my 18th, and skydiving on the first day of being legally able was a good start. I absolutely loved the experience, but the fast pace of life and years of budget travel prevented me from attaining this special high again… for nearly 9 years!
A few months into living here, I learned about Skydive Australia’s “Elevate Your Courage” campaign – empowering women to face their fears by jumping out of a moving plane. I mean, what better way to prove to yourself that you can do anything than hurling yourself into the air at 15,000ft?!
I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to skydive again, to promote an awesome cause. I may be quite the daredevil generally myself, but the idea of motivating other women to do something they would ordinarily deem unattainable by skydiving Melbourne was fantastic to me.
Mid free-fall. Cute, right?!
Skydiving Melbourne: Why Go?
1. There are 3 places you can Skydive in Melbourne.
Not sure what kind of view you want from the sky? No problem. You can skydive Melbourne at:
If you’d like the city, dramatic coastlines, or rolling hills of vines, Skydive Melbourne has got you covered. Or, you can experience three completely different sides of Melbourne from a rare perspective – 15,000 feet up! Each drop zone is truly unique and showcases a different side of Victoria.
2. The Melbourne Skydive is the closest drop zone IN THE WORLD to a city.
Yep, that’s right, Skydiving Melbourne will allow you to come the closest in free fall to a city in the world. Skydive Melbourne is one of only two city skydives in the world (the other is Dubai), but this one comes quite a lot closer to the city center.
Imagine marveling at the skyscrapers while you free fall through the air much, much higher than they are? Skydiving near the city gives an entirely different perspective on what you can see below you, with a comparison point of massive buildings you may walk past on the daily. This is the ONLY place you can have that experience!
3. What better way to prove to yourself you CAN do anything?!
I really can’t think of a better way to kick yourself into gear and face your fears than jumping out of a plane… can you?! The adrenaline may run high as the plane climbs up and up, but the rush you’ll get when your feet touch the ground again is truly unlike anything else.
How about those ocean views?!
Skydiving Melbourne: What to Know Before You Go
The whole experience is actually really chilled out and relaxed (although you may not have expected to hear that!). After checking in, you’ll be given the keys to a locker and a pair of Skydive Australia pants (and fleece/gloves if it’s cold enough, which is basically a given in Melbourne much of the year). After strapping into your harness you’ll watch an instructional video and then board a bus to the airport, where you’ll start your videos and board the plane in twos with your tandem instructor. Then, it’s go time!
General important info to know before skydiving Melbourne:
What do I wear?!
I was worried about this one, too! Just comfy clothes will do – loose fitting are best, likely with running shoes on the bottom. If it’s winter, bundle up a bit more!
Where can I put my stuff?
They have lockers at Skydive Melbourne that you can place all your belongings into before you leave. Safe and sound!
What am I allowed to bring?
Literally – nothing. You must leave all your belongings in the lockers. Can you imagine if your phone fell out of a pocked mid-air? Nooo, thank you. That’s why purchasing the photo/video package is the best idea to preserve some memories from your jump!
Which airport do you take off from?
You take off from Moorabbin airport, which is just down the coast about 30-40 minutes from St Kilda. It’s a tiny little airport with mostly private aviation groups. It only takes a few minutes to get back over St. Kilda, but you’ll spend more time getting up to 15,000 ft.
What about the weather?
If you know Melbourne, you know the weather is COMPLETELY unpredictable. Wind and rain will delay takeoffs, but the team does a great job fitting as many jumps in as they can when the weather is good. Instructors can do up to 7-8 jumps in a day in the high season!
Well if that isn’t the face of pure happiness?
My Experience Skydiving in Melbourne:
So after confirming my jump, it finally actually hit me that morning that I was about to jump out of a plane…. Oh god. I mean, even as someone who loves to push the limits of adventurousness, there’s always that tiny little voice of normalcy in the back of your head. But obviously, I was going to elevate my courage and do the damn thing!
Making sure not to go out the night before (can you even imagine skydiving on a hangover?!), I woke up early and got ready… only to realize the wind had delayed any takeoffs for that morning.
Typical Melbourne.
Luckily for us it was short lived, and I showed up just an hour later than planned. There were some fluffy white clouds in the sunny sky, and there really couldn’t have been a better day for it.
The build-up felt like forever, and my nerves really made themselves known as we climbed higher and higher into the sky. I’d day it was about half anxiety and half excitement, but what else would you expect when planning to hurl yourself out of a plane?! The whole group of 7 or so guests + instructors smiled for their respective cameras at regular intervals between marveling at the gorgeous coastline view of Melbourne.
After a short delay, we had finally reached our optimal height… it was go time. Before any of us could speak now or forever hold our peace, the rolling door was flung up, and the first skydiver had his feet right off over the edge… and then he had disappeared.
From the first jump it was only about ten seconds between, and before I know it I was being scooted over to the edge. “Holy sh*t holy sh*t holy sh*t” was going on in my brain, but I didn’t have a chance to comprehend anything before my feet were over the edge too. My goggles were on; I was holding the straps like i was supposed to, and milliseconds later my instructor Kez and I flung into a head-first tumble out into the open air.
Above the clouds
The Free Fall
I was supposed to keep my head back, but I couldn’t help but absolutely gape at the incredible views from a state of free-fall. An airy scream was coming out of my lungs before I got the chance to acknowledge it, and I looked side to side in a wide-eyed and adrenaline-fueled frenzy. Kez had to non-verbally remind me to keep my head back and then to put my arms out (which were basically the two things we needed to remember (doh), but all flew out the window the same time I did…. get it? 😛 )
I couldn’t contain my exhilaration at I screamed “YAAAAHHHHSS” at the top of my lungs, catching glimpses of my very favorite city skyline from a vantage point you couldn’t possibly attain any other way.
After 2.5 seconds nearly 50 seconds, I felt the big tug of the parachute, and a big high-five from Kez. We hadn’t died! We grabbed a few more awesome shots from the Go Pro on his wrist, pointed out various landmarks throughout the city (including Luna Park), spun in a few circles, and I wiggled my feet, watching the ground get nearer with thousands of feet of nothingness between them and it.
We looped in to landing, and gave one final high five as I shouted praise to the entire experience. I was on SUCH a high – such a massive adrenaline rush that had me feeling awesome for the rest of the day.
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As I walked back to pick up my stuff, I gazed up into the clouds and saw the final few parachutes drifting down the the landing site. I had never felt so…. normal... just being on the boring old ground. Walking around just doesn’t seem the same anymore once you have flown through the clouds. This was a feeling I’d never had before – the fact that I could long for more than what gravity limited me to in the everyday.
Skydiving gave me a new perspective in both a literal and mental way, a new level of adventurous high, and to this day has me longing to try it again. It is the perfect way to face your fears, and let me warn you – it can get addictive.
Nest step in life: completing a solo skydiving course. I am soooooo serious – watch this space! 😀
If you are into even MORE adventure – check out the amazing options for Melbourne Helicopter Tours + Rides or some really fun things to do in Melbourne for couples, too.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.