Well, you can. At least kind of. I’m pretty sure skydiving is as close as I’ll ever get to that feeling.
If you’re in Melbourne and thinking about jumping out of a perfectly good plane like I did, you’re probably wondering where the best place is to take the leap. Here’s what I reckon are the best three, in no particular order.
Skydiving the Yarra Valley
Your skydiving experience as a whole will be relatively similar regardless of where you do it, so your decision to make is really all about the views (also the price and distance from where you’re staying, of course, but mainly the views).
If you haven’t visited the Yarra Valley, you should check it out on ground level for the wineries, Healesville Sanctuary, and some amazing caving, paddling, hiking and mountain biking.
From 14,000 feet you’ll be able to see it all, the picturesque forests and mountains of the Yarra Valley Ranges, as well as the townships and vineyards. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Melbourne.
You’ll need to get yourself to Yering, 50 kilometres (approximately an hour’s drive) from Melbourne. Skydives here operate daily and are at regular intervals throughout the day.
Head over to Klook to make your booking online.
Skydiving St Kilda
This skydive is the closest to Melbourne’s CBD at only 8 kilometres away (about a 20-minute drive). The views from 14,000 feet are sure to be spectacular here, where Port Philip Bay and its beaches meet Melbourne’s city and suburbs.
Skydives operate daily and are at regular intervals throughout the day.
Head over to Klook to make your booking online.
Prices are seasonal and there are often specials and promotions running so I won’t list them here.
Skydiving the Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is one of my favourite spots. I love it so much I co-authored a book about it. It’s a must visit for its beaches, rocky headlands, rainforests, indigenous and European culture, and its lovely little seaside towns.
This part of Victoria looks as incredible from above as you’d expect.
Of the three skydives mentioned, this is the highest jump of the three at 15,000 feet but I’m not so sure that extra thousand feet will make a huge difference to your experience. You are travelling at over 200 kilometres per hour in freefall, after all. It’s worth mentioning that, at the time of writing, this one offers a cheaper jump from 12,000 feet as well. I much prefer the idea of jumping from as high as possible though, personally.
For this one, you’ll take off from just near Barwon Heads, about 90 kilometres or an hour and a half from Melbourne’s CBD. Skydives are daily and at regular intervals throughout the day.
Head over to Klook to make your booking online.
Prices are seasonal and there are often specials and promotions running so I won’t list them here.
Ever been skydiving? Where did you take your plunge? If you have any stories, updates or corrections, please let us know by commenting below.
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