My Experience Skydiving In Wollongong, Australia

Here is a detailed recap of my experience skydiving in Wollongong, a coastal city just south of Sydney in NSW Australia!

This year I crossed skydiving off my bucket list!

I’ve been wanting to skydive for at least 10 years, but I always put it off because it’s expensive.

Honestly, it’s probably one of the most expensive activities you can do. A skydiving adventure costs at least a couple hundred dollars almost anywhere in the world.

And near the pricy city of Sydney, Australia, it’s crazy expensive. I’m talking over $400 AUD per person.

As a budget traveler, I rarely spend that much money on one thing. But sometimes you have to just bite the bullet and do the things that you really want to do. Life is too short!

And let me tell you, skydiving in Wollongong was 100% worth the money.

It was the most amazing experience ever. I was literally BEAMING with joy before, during, and after the jump.

The crew made me feel super safe. The Wollongong coastal scenery was incredible.

It was an epic day and I would do it over and over again if I could afford it.

So for anyone wondering, here is my complete recap of skydiving in Wollongong, Australia!

man doing a skydive australia — My partner Matt also loved it!

How much does skydiving in Wollongong cost?

A 15,000-foot tandem skydive in Wollongong currently costs $415 AUD per person.

Adding photos costs an additional $129. Photos and videos cost $179.

These are the prices from Skydive Australia, which is the most widespread and reputable skydive company in the country (prices subject to change).

Is skydiving worth the money?

I think skydiving was absolutely worth the money, mainly because I had enough money saved and I’ve been looking forward to trying it for so long. Consider your own financial situation before committing to a skydive!

It is expensive, so I wouldn’t recommend splurging on skydiving if you’re struggling financially. You want to have some savings and not need to sacrifice basic essentials in order to go skydiving.

Talk to a financial advisor if you need to!

Personally, the steep price is the main reason why it has taken me so long to book skydiving. I’ve been a little obsessed with saving money throughout my 20s, and a $415 skydive seemed like a luxury that I just didn’t need.

But as I enter my 30s, I’ve relaxed so much when it comes to spending.

I’ve set up a wonderful life for myself thanks to many years of saving like a maniac. Now I’m putting more emphasis on enjoying life and treating myself (within reason).

I’m definitely still frugal, but I’m much more willing to spend money on valuable experiences that will enhance my life. Like skydiving, which I’ve wanted to do for many years.

When is the best time of day to go skydiving in Wollongong?

Try to get an early morning slot for your Wollongong skydive if you can. My skydive was at 6am and it was absolutely gorgeous to jump in the early morning conditions.

I originally booked the skydive for a Saturday afternoon, but it got cancelled the night before because high winds were in the forecast.

The next available slot on the same weekend was at 6am on Sunday. The Skydive Australia team said early mornings are ideal because the conditions are usually calm and clear – perfect for a jump from 15,000 feet!

The 6am skydive is also normally less crowded than the mid-morning jumps at 9am or 10am.

Matt and I live on the NSW South Coast, two hours away from Wollongong. So we locked in the 6am skydive and just prepared for an early start!

skydiving over beaches and wollongong city

My Experience Skydiving In Wollongong, Australia

Arriving at Skydive Wollongong in Stuart Park

Despite waking up at 4am and driving for two hours in the dark to Wollongong, I was buzzing with energy on the morning of our skydive.

The Skydive Wollongong office in Stuart Park is so convenient. It’s right in the heart of the city and there is plenty of parking.

We checked in, stored our belongings in the lockers, and suited up in the warm, cozy fleece pants and sweatshirts. We also got gloves, glasses, and a harness.

Then the team ran through the directions and safety briefing, which was honestly pretty quick. There isn’t much you need to know, as your personal tandem skydive guide will make sure you are doing everything right in the moment.

Each person was then assigned to their skydive guide. We jumped in the minivan, drove 20 minutes south to Albion Park Airport, and boarded the plane!

smiling at the skydive australia airport

Flying up to 15,000 feet

The flight from Albion Park Airport was about 15-20 minutes.

We cruised over the stunning Illawarra coastline, with views of Shellharbour, Lake Illawarra, the iconic escarpment, and of course, Wollongong.

This is where I lived during my first year in Australia 7 years ago, so it was awesome to admire the familiar and beautiful landscape from the sky.

The sky was bright blue, the sun was shining, and the coastline was as picuresque as ever.

Energy was high in the plane, with everyone chatting and the instructors getting organized for the jump.

My friendly instructor has been skydiving for 20+ years. He answered all my questions and made me feel at ease the whole time.

Getting ready to jump

Once we reached 15,000 feet, everyone started to jump! There were 8 pairs in total, and I was last.

This is the part of skydiving that always made me feel a little anxious. I pictured sitting at the edge of the plane, looking down, and freaking out. I wondered if I would even have the courage to make the jump.

But it was not like that AT ALL.

First of all, you are strapped so tightly to your guide that you barely have to move or do anything.

The guides lead the way and you basically just hang there. They tell you to cross your arms over your chest and keep your legs back as you fall.

Second, the whole jumping out of the plane part happened so fast.

Once the first pair jumped, it felt like a matter of seconds before it was my turn. Everyone was seated on sliding benches, so the guide just slid us forward, stepped towards the door, and then we were falling.

What it felt like jumping out of a plane

Because I didn’t have to make a conscious decision to jump and my skydive guide basically just tossed us out of the plane in one swift motion, I didn’t feel any fear while skydiving.

Even if I was nervous about the jump, I didn’t have time to freak out! It happened so fast and I had been falling for a couple of seconds before I processed what was happening.

The first few seconds were a complete blur. My stomach dropped and my mind went blank.

Then I realized I was mid-skydive, and I just enjoyed the hell out of it.

I screamed my head off. I felt the cold air whipping my face and hair. My body felt completely weightless and free.

My instructor tapped my arms to let me know I could uncross them from my chest and spread them wide like Superman.

The free fall was only 60 seconds, but it was one of the most amazing minutes of my life!

Parachuting over Wollongong

After the 60-second free fall, the guide released the parachute and we glided for about 5-7 minutes.

I probably spent the first minute of that time just recovering from the rush of the free fall. Then I removed my glasses, took some deep breaths, and really reveled in the beauty of the scenery.

Flying over Wollongong gave me the perfect vantage point of the city. I saw the lush green mountains of the Illawarra Escarpment, the long sandy beaches of the coastline, and the endless blue of the Pacific.

My guide let me hold the parachute handles and steer for a bit. We twirled around in circles and gradually got closer and closer to the ground.

coming in for landing after skydiving in wollongong

Landing in Stuart Park

Landing in Stuart Park was smooth and easy.

This is the part of skydiving where the instructors really want you to pay attention, because good form is important. You just have to keep your feet high in front of you so your legs don’t hit the ground awkwardly and cause injury.

But again, your guide will remind you of that as you’re coming down to land.

Stuart Park is wide and grassy. We landed easily, thanked our guides, and walked right over to the office where we returned our gear and went on our way.

couple smiling in a grassy park after skydiving

couple smiling after skydiving wollongong

The skydive high lasted for hours!

The entire skydiving experience, from arriving at the Skydive Wollongong office to leaving, was about 1.5 hours. It doesn’t take long at all.

So you can easily fit a skydive into any busy itinerary. I highly recommend bringing a swimsuit and celebrating your skydive with a coffee and a swim at the beach. It doesn’t get more Australian than that!

But the adrenaline and happiness coursing through my veins after skydiving remained for hours. I was so pumped and could not stop smiling afterwards.

It was one of the coolest experiences ever!

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