Find out where we have come from, to what we have achieved now. All in a few short years
Bungy History
The idea of bungy jumping originated in the 1950's, when
footage was obtained by the BBC and David Attenborough, during a
trip to the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Here they
witnessed the ancient ritual of 'land-diving', whereby men and
boys dive from a tall wooden tower (some up to 30metres high),
with vines attached to their ankles in an attempt to break their
fall. This practice continues today as both a land fertility custom
and as a test of manhood.
In 1979, a group known as the Oxford University Dangerous
Sports Club, executed the first modern bungy jump, from a 250 foot
bridge in Bristol, England. Even though they were arrested
following this experiment, they went on to bungy from the Golden
Gate and Royal Gorge bridges in the USA.
Commercial bungy jumping began with New Zealander, AJ Hackett in
the 1980's.
Our History
Before we became Mokai Gravity Canyon, we were High Time
Bungy!!
1997- 2002
High Time Bungy was the brain child of local man John
Eames. The site got consent to build in 1996 and was completed
in December 1997. With just a train carriage as
an office and the bungy, this was the starting point for
better things to come. At that time High Time was the highest
bungy in the country untill the Nevis Highwire in 1999.
2002-Now
From the start of 2003 we re-opened as Mokai Gravity
Canyon with new shareholders Taupo Tourism Holdings. In 2004 we
added the Extreme Flying Fox and it has become one of our most
popoular activities with over 20,000 flyers to date. And in
2007 we added the Giant Swing - the activity the staff rate as
the scariest activity here!