Overview
Always wanted to soar though the air, but never felt the need to jump out of a plane? That's where iFLY comes in. Open on the Gold Coast since 2016, the indoor skydiving chain caters to daredevils who like their thrills a little closer to home. For Brisbanites, that can now be taken two ways, with its first local spot launching at Westfield Chermside.
If your blood isn't pumping fast enough after the high-octane activity that is trying to find a car park at the huge shopping centre, now you can step inside, hop into a vertical wind tunnel and pretend you're free falling above the earth. (You can also pretend you're reliving whichever skydiving-based movie scene takes your fancy — finding your inner Keanu, Point Break–style, is our pick.)
Here's how it works: the vertical wind tunnel whips up wind from above, which is then pushed down the sides of the structure. Next, the air is channelled up out of the floor, into the enclosed glass chamber. Eager adrenaline junkies then float on the kind of cushion that no one can see — while supervised by a certified skydiving instructor, because safety still matters.
All first-timer flyers will actually have help from two instructors, with one assisting you with getting into the tunnel and the other controlling the air. You'll be fully briefed on what to do beforehand — and you'll end up riding the wind for around a minute, which is approximately one-and-a-half times the usual tandem skydive length according to iFLY. Or, you can opt for a double jump, spanning twice the length.
Now open seven days a week, iFLY is an all-ages activity, so expect to have plenty of company if you're keen for some gravity-defying fun. You can also put that idea into action in the tube, floating with your mates at the same time. Thanks to the wind tunnel's clear walls, you'll watch everyone else while they're being adventurous, too. And, if you're super keen on another type of skydiving — still without braving the real thing — iFLY boasts a 360-degree virtual reality flight experience as well.
iFLY's packages start from $69, which gets you two flights.
Find iFLY Brisbane at Westfield Chermside, 295 Hamilton Road, Chermside, open from 9am–10pm daily.