Timeline
June 26 1987
Eiffel Tower
AJ launched Bungy to the world by jumping illegally off the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
1988
Stock Exchange Building
AJ jumps from the Auckland Stock Exchange Building. The world’s first bungy jump from a building.
March 1988
Ohakune NZ
Opening of the AJ Hackett Bungy site in Ohakune, New Zealand. This was the world's first commercial Bungy Site.
November 12 1988
The world's first
Opening of the world’s first, year round commercial public bungy site at the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, New Zealand.
From the time of gold discovery in 1862 the Kawarau Gorge made access to the Wakatipu goldfields extremely difficult. The river was a major obstacle. Ferries proved difficult and expensive to maintain, so in the 1880 a tender from John McCormick was accepted to build the historic 91-metre long bridge which now stands 43 meters above the Kawarau River.
At the time of construction the bridge was described as a ‘model structure in both design and workmanship’. It was last used by traffic in 1963.
When A.J Hackett Bungy first approached the Department of Conservation, which administers this historic reserve, in November 1989 the bridge was in a dilapidated state. By presenting an appealing case both for Bungy Jumping and the restoration of the bridge, A.J and Henry were granted a 30-day license. Proving to be a safe and successful, by May 1989 they had been granted a more permanent lease and plans were started to upgrade the whole site.
The restoration fund had reached a sufficient level by March 1990 to enable a major refit and refurbishment of the bridge, which was now sound for another 100 years.
A considerable time and money has been spent on the development of viewing platforms, walkways and a reception building. The site has been sensitively landscaped and extended to cater for the over 500,000 visitors the Bungy operation attracts every year.
1989
Bungy code of practice
First draft of the "Bungy code of practice" presented. This document would become AS/NZS 5848 the standard by which Bungy would be and is still regulated by in New Zealand.
August 1990
Normandie, France and Cairns, Australia
Opening of AJ Hackett Bungy sites in Normandie, France and Cairns, Australia.
1990
First Heli Jump 380m
AJ jumps for the first time from a helicopter in Normandie, France, stretching the bungy 380 meters.
1990
AS/NZS 5848:1990
AS/NZS 5848:1990 (code of practice for bungy jumping) published for the first time.
1991
Tourism Award for Excellence
AJ Hackett Bungy Queenstown receives the New Zealand Tourism Award for Excellence. (Awarded annually to the outstanding winner of all tourism activity in NZ)
1992
Kuranda Bungy
Opening of Kuranda Bungy, Cairns Australia.
1992
The Sir Jack Newman Award
AJ Hackett receives "The Sir Jack Newman Award" for the individual who had contributed most to tourism in New Zealand for the Year.
1993
UK mobile crane operation
Opening of the United Kingdom mobile crane operation.
1994
Las Vegas and Kissimmee
Opening of Las Vegas and Kissimmee Bungy sites in the USA.
1995
Kuta Beach, Bali
Opening of the AJ Hackett Bungy site at Kuta Beach, Bali.
1997
Sports Unlimited, Germany
AJ Hackett Bungy forms an association with Sports Unlimited in Germany to assist in their bungy event marketing.
1997
Ledge Bungy, Queenstown
Opening of the "Ledge" Bungy site in Queenstown.
1998
Europe's 1st permanent heli-bungy operation
Sports Unlimited in association with AJ Hackett Action Culture set up Europe’s first permanent heli-bungy operation.
1998
Cable system development
AJ Hackett develops a new cable system to stabilize the jump, enabling accurate jumps to be executed from high structures. This process allows him to break the world record for a building jump – 190meters from Auckland’s Sky Tower.
July 1999
Millionth jump
The AJ Hackett Bungy company celebrated its millionth Bungy Jump client after more than ten years of existence and a dozen sites across the Globe!
1999
Scable Zip Line Opens France
Opening of the "Scable" (a 400 meter long cable ride) at the Normandie site in France.
1999
Condesa Beach, Acapulco, Mexico
Opening of the AJ Hackett Bungy site on the Condesa Beach, Acapulco, Mexico.
1999
Nevis Highwire Bungy
Opening of the Nevis Highwire Bungy site in Queenstown, the world’s only purpose built bungy gondola.
2000
Minjin jungle swing opens
Opening of the "Minjin" (the worlds biggest jungle swing) at the Cairns site in Australia.
2000
Guinness Book of Records
505 people jump at the AJ Hackett Bungy site in Cairns to break the world record for most bungy jumps done in less than 24 hours (12 hours to be exact) and earn an official listing in the Guinness Book of Records™
2000
Royal Gorge Bridge jump
AJ and friends jump from the Royal Gorge Bridge (world’s highest suspension bridge at 291 meters)
2001
Moto grand prix
AJ Hackett forms an association with Pulse GP to assist in event marketing of the team, in its efforts to compete in the 2001 world championship 500cc moto grand prix.
2001
Centennial Honours Award
Centennial Honours Award 1981 - 1991 - Tourism New Zealand – jointly awarded to AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch for the most significant contribution to New Zealand tourism over the entire decade.
2002
Adventure Park in Normandie
Opening of Adventure Park in Normandie, France.
2002
Skywalk X and Tower Climb Open
Opening of Skywalk and Tower Climb at Macau Tower, Macau
2003
Harbour Bridge Bungy
Auckland Harbour Bridge Bungy opened in new Zealand.
2003
Skyjump
Global Distribution agreements signed with 'Skyjump'.
2005
Celebrate 15 years
AJ Hackett Cairns and Normandie celebrate 15 years of operating
2005
Record for highest Tandem Bungy Jump
AJ sets a new Guinness World Record for the highest Tandem Bungy Jump form a helicopter over Bondi Beach Sydney – 300 meters with Australian TV personality Grant Denyer
2006
Autobiography: Jump Start
AJ releases his first Autobiography called JUMP START. This book is released all through NZ and Australia and opened the NZ Prime Minister Helen Clarke.
2006
World's Highest Bungy Opens 233m
Opening and jumping out of the Macau Tower in China measuring 233 metres above ground and holding the title as the highest commercial Bungy.
2006
Gusi Peace Prize
AJ awarded the Gusi Peace Prize for his contribution to Sports.
2006
AJ recognised in Macau
AJ Awarded by Macau Government for his contribution to Macau Tourism
2007
This Is Your Life
On the 6 November, Hackett was honoured by New Zealand television show This Is Your Life.
2009
Cairns Large Rainforest Area
AJ Hackett Cairns builds an amphitheatre on their site in Rainforest to hold 1000 peole for large scale events.
2008
Normandie Viaduc Swing
AJ Hackett Normandie, France open the highest Viaduc Swing in France - 61m
June 26 2012
Celebrate 25 years since Eiffel Tower Jump
AJ Hackett International celebrate 25 years since the now famous Eiffel Tower Bungy Jump.
November 12 2013
Kawarau Bridge, NZ Celebrates 25 years of Bungy
On the 12th November 1988, 28 people paid to jump of the historic Kawarau Bridge. 25 years later the site is still pumping with hundreds of thousands of people every year stopping to watch nervous jumpers take the plunge.
July 05 2014
AJ Hackett Sochi Skypark opens to the public
After 2 years of construction the worlds most innovative gravity park opens to the public. Known as SKYPARK. Offering the worlds highest swing, worlds longest suspended pedestrian walk way, 69m stunt bungy site, 207m bungy , Megatrol Zip Line, climbing wall, adventure park, via ferrata and restaurant, bar.
August 29 2015
Guinness World Record - Most people Bungy Jumping in 24hrs
AJ Hackett Cairns site awarded Guinness World Record for 542 people Bungy Jumping in 24hours
November 2017
Sentosa, Singapore Opens
AJ Hackett Sentosa officially opens it's doors on Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island, Singapore.
November 09 2017
Golden Backpack Award WINNER!
AJ Hackett Cairns is awarded "Best Activity - QLD" for Golden Backpack Awards, as voted by our awesome customers!
November 09 2017
AJ Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award
AJ Hackett was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at Golden Backpack Awards, hosted on the Gold Coast
October 20 2017
Innovation Award
AJ Hackett Cairns Awarded TTNQ Innovation Excellence Award, for the implementation and introduction of new Customer Photo & Video system, now being implemented across all AJ Hackett sites and other Adventure Tourism activities globally.