SkyJump & Sky Tower

Views from inside and outside Auckland's Sky Tower

The idea of bounding off the side of the Sky Tower, some 192 metres off the ground, may not be everyone's idea of fun ... but it should be. Here are the facts:

First and foremost: this is a safe and controlled jump. Unlike a bungy jump, you're not thrown off head-first and left to bounce upside-down at the bottom. Rather, a specially designed cable is clipped to your jump suit, before you 'step off' into fresh air!

Secondly, this isn't some out-of-control free-fall to the bottom. Your descent is regulated via a cable drum that allows you to fall quickly at approximately 75 kilometres per hour for around 16 seconds before slowing in the last few metres, to ensure a gentle landing.

And finally, jumping off the world's 12th tallest tower is one wicked way of getting a birds-eye view of Auckland.

However, if you prefer a more sedate way of checking out the city's views, then head inside the Sky Tower and up to the Sky Deck. This internal platform sits at 220 metres high and gives you a 360 degree view of Auckland that, on a clear day, reaches the 82 kilometre mark.

Just one level down is The Observatory. A brasserie-style buffet, this restaurant is perched at 194 metres and combines New Zealand seafood specialities with top views.

But the piece de resistance of sky-high dining? That would be Orbit. Offering an a-la-carte menu showcasing superb New Zealand cuisine, Orbit does just as its name promises: the room rotates - slowly - as you dine in 190-metre high comfort.