The plane climbs rapidly, the scenery outside the window is breathtaking, the towns beneath your feet turn into tiny green grids, and your field of vision gradually matches the pace of the snow-capped mountains. White clouds begin to swirl around. As the cabin door suddenly opens, a strong gust of wind rushes in. Sitting at the doorway, fear peaks, but then you glance up at the clear blue sky—and the next second, you’re in it, free-falling. A powerful rush of air and the entire landscape come rushing toward you at top speed, all your senses on high alert. A world clearer and more vivid than ever unfolds before you—at 4,500 meters above sea level, the sunlight is especially brilliant, the snow-capped peaks above the clouds shimmer brilliantly under the sun, and the emerald lakes gaze up at the sky and mountains like devoted lovers...
This was the firsthand experience of a reporter who recently went skydiving in New Zealand. The freefall, reaching speeds of up to 220 km/h, lasted 60 seconds, during which the person was flying alongside the mountains, sunlight, and clouds. On the ground, dozens of Chinese were waiting for the plane to return and take them up into the sky.
The scene above is now a common snapshot of the tourism industries in Australia and New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere. These two countries attract a large number of Chinese tourists every year with their pristine natural landscapes. As outbound travel increases year by year and living standards continue to rise, the tastes of Chinese tourists are changing significantly along with their travel experiences. In recent years, extreme and outdoor sports—popular in both countries—have also become favored travel options for Chinese visitors. Many tourists who are no longer satisfied with simply enjoying good food and scenic views are seeking the ultimate experiences of adventure and sports amidst the blue seas and skies.
Australia and New Zealand’s rich natural geography make these two countries a paradise for extreme and outdoor sports. Bungee jumping, skydiving, diving, surfing, hiking—the range of extreme sports here covers land, sea, and air, and are seen by thrill-seekers as the best way to come face-to-face with both stunning scenery and adrenaline-pumping fear.
"My daughter says I’m too ‘alternative.’ I go hot-air ballooning, diving, and hiking instead of shopping, taking buses, or dining out like others," said Zhang Xiaoyu, a 38-year-old from Shanghai, in an interview with a reporter. This was her second trip to Melbourne. Unlike the first, hot-air ballooning and wilderness hiking replaced shopping, riding, and eating. She’s also planning to try paragliding. "I want to experience more unique activities."
Mount Arapiles in Victoria, Australia, is recognized as one of the world’s top rock climbing destinations. Its long coastline also offers opportunities for diving and swimming with sharks. In the south, Tasmania is home to the world heritage-listed Cradle Mountain, where the 65-kilometer "Overland Track" is ranked as one of the best hiking routes globally. "Next time I come to Australia, I plan to do this six-day, five-night hiking route with friends," Zhang Xiaoyu said.
Meanwhile, in neighboring New Zealand, the birthplace of bungee jumping, the atmosphere for adventure sports is even more intense. Despite the high cost, most Chinese visitors to the South Island of the country choose to experience the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of skydiving.
NZONE SKYDIVE in Queenstown is New Zealand’s first company to offer commercial tandem skydiving. With over 20 years of operation and a spotless safety record, it enjoys global acclaim. Derrick, the head of the company’s China operations, told a reporter, "To my surprise, there are many Chinese tourists coming here to skydive. Of the approximately 20,000 tourists who jumped here last year, about 10% were from China, and that number is growing at a rate of 7–8%. We originally thought Asian tourists would be more conservative about skydiving, but actually, that’s not the case. Just last week, I hosted a mother and son from Beijing—the child was 8 years old."
Derrick said the number of Chinese tourists coming to his company for skydiving is second only to Australians. Across New Zealand’s extreme sports industry, a significant number of Chinese tourists can be seen, drawing high attention from the country’s tourism authorities and companies. Now, NZONE SKYDIVE not only employs Li Li, a woman from Wuhan, specifically to assist Chinese guests, but also runs a dedicated Chinese Weibo account and makes several promotional trips to mainland China each year.
At the skydiving base, the reporter met many Chinese tourists waiting to "take to the skies." Wang Jun, a man in his 30s from Shanghai, shivered as he asked the reporter and others whether it was scary—but then explained, "They say skydiving here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t miss, so I’m giving it a try."
"Many people ask if their heart can handle it. Actually, compared to bungee jumping, skydiving is both thrilling and fun—and very safe," Li Li said.
"Contrary to what people think, skydiving is a very safe sport. Statistics show that none of the safety incidents in the global commercial skydiving industry are related to the act of skydiving itself—they are mostly due to aircraft malfunctions, which are directly linked to maintenance and support. So I advise Chinese tourists to choose reputable, well-established skydiving companies," said Nick, a coach with 11,000 skydives under his belt.
According to staff from Tourism Victoria in Australia and the New Zealand Tourism Board, the Chinese tourism market holds huge potential. Extreme sports such as skydiving, diving, and hiking are attracting Chinese tourists at an astonishing rate, representing a brand-new selling point for local tourism. They plan to include these highlights in targeted promotion efforts in China, "with the target customer group being wealthy middle-aged and young adults in their 30s and 40s."