Though the Vanuatu people of Pentecost Island have long practiced a form of bungee jumping as a rite of passage into manhood, New Zealand’s South Island is credited with turning it into a commercial success. New Zealander A.J. Hackett popularized the activity with a leap off the Eiffel Tower before going on to establish the world’s first bungee jump center near Queenstown in 1988.

Visitors to Christchurch can try the sport in a number of scenic locations outside the city. For a classic bungee-jumping experience, local operator Thrillseekers Adventures organizes jumps from a 135-year-old ferry bridge an hour and a half north of the city. West of Christchurch on Mount Hutt, skiers and snowboarders can tack on an additional adrenaline rush at the Kea Rock bungee-jump platform. Jumpers launch from a 140-foot tower extending over the mountain; afterwards, simply detach the harness and continue sailing down the slopes.