The Development of the World's First Human Catapult in Adventure Tourism
AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand’s Nevis Playground , located just outside of Queenstown, is home to the world-renowned Nevis Swing—one of the largest and most exhilarating swings globally. Riders arc 300 meters across the Nevis Valley, launching from a suspended platform 160 meters above the river. The platform, walkway, and swing are supported by high-tension cables stretched across the valley. Nearby stands New Zealand's highest Bungy Jump, the Nevis Bungy, making the Nevis Playground a prime destination for thrill-seekers.
Stage 1: Ideation - Adventure Tourism Development
The taskforce brainstormed and sketched nine potential concepts, each subjected to focus group research to gauge customer interest and market potential. The team also conducted a thorough commercial and operational analysis to ensure the concept with the best cost-benefit ratio would be chosen. After six months of review, the Nevis Catapult emerged as the ideal concept to fulfil the brief.
Stage 2: Detailed Design, Testing, and Approvals
Given the complexity of the Nevis Catapult, the detailed design phase called for world-class expertise in structural, mechanical, and electronic design. Numerous technical challenges had to be addressed. One key challenge was ensuring that the Nevis Catapult would exert the same force on participants of varying weights, pulling them horizontally at speeds of 0 to 98 km/h in just 1.5 to 2 seconds, with a g-force of no more than 2.5g. Riders would travel 150 meters horizontally, experiencing a brief moment of weightlessness before decelerating and bouncing to a stop.
The Nevis Catapult’s design had to integrate seamlessly with the existing Nevis Swing platform without disrupting its operations or safety protocols. The platform and cable structure also had to bear the additional loads from the new attraction. Moreover, the system’s high-speed winch and electronics needed to operate automatically once the rider's weight was inputted, eliminating human error. Compliance with all safety standards, as well as AJ Hackett Bungy NZ’s rigorous protocols, was paramount.
This phase, which took an additional six months, involved exhaustive testing led by mechanical solutions provider Holmes Solutions.
Stage 3: Manufacturing and Commissioning
After the detailed design was finalised, the manufacturing and commissioning process began, lasting another 12 months. Each component underwent rigorous testing, with particular attention paid to the electronics programming, which had to account for every possible customer scenario.
A comprehensive set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) was established, and all staff underwent intensive training to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the Catapult.
In August 2018, after two years of development, the Nevis Catapult was ready for its first human flight. AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand’s Geoff Wilson, an experienced engineer who has ridden Bungy and Swing attractions worldwide, was selected as the test pilot. Despite his extensive experience, Geoff was taken aback by the speed of the Nevis Catapult’s launch and immediately requested a second ride to fully absorb the experience.
Stage 4: Building Awareness and Positive Word of Mouth
The Nevis Catapult has since become an integral part of the Nevis Playground. Our experience shows that it typically takes about five years to build strong awareness, demand, and customer confidence for a new extreme experience. Unfortunately, shortly after the Nevis Catapult’s launch, the COVID-19 pandemic brought operations to a halt.
Since reopening, we have been pleased with the growing awareness and positive feedback. Customers view the Catapult as a distinctive experience compared to the Bungy and Swing. Over 50,000 people have experienced the ride so far. Social media plays a crucial role in driving awareness and visitation, especially with the recent introduction of AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand’s EpicShot system. EpicShot captures dramatic footage of the Nevis Catapult ride and instantly delivers it to customers post-experience. We estimate that footage from the Nevis Catapult has generated over 50 million views.
Our tracking data indicates that the Nevis Catapult will be a long-term success, adding to the legacy of AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand’s world-class adventure experiences.