It does not seem that far until you are plunging into the abyss at more than 150kmh with little more than a nylon harness between you and certain death.
Luckily, I was strapped to someone else to share the experience.
The Queenstown Times, along with about 60 frontline tourism agents, yesterday experienced the latest adrenaline-fuelled adventure to be launched in the resort.
Shotover Canyon Swing's new Tandem Cliff Jump was hailed as "the highest tandem jump in the world you can do without a plane".
Staff members Sam Wills and Ana Bajurin put me at ease at the Shotover St shop.
But trepidation kicked in, as I signed my life away and declared I had no false limbs and was not pregnant.
I wondered if Shotover Canyon Swing knows something I did not, when Ms Wills and I were joined by Salvation Army community worker John Helvadjian on the ride to the Arthur's Pt swing site. The operator asked agents to bring non-perishable food on the launch days for donation to the army's community food bank.
On the windswept gangplank, sorry, platform, I was paired with Coronet Peak Hotel staff member Rachel Mercer, who was calmer than all of us put together.
"I'm feeling good, I did bungy last week and it was awesome. I've been wanting to do this for a while.
"I like the adrenaline rush you get from these things."
Operations manager Harry Cutler and jumpmasters Nick Eyre and Steve Brownlie bantered as we were harnessed side-by-side. But I was somehow preoccupied as we paused for photographs and shuffled to the brink.
On the count of one, Ms Mercer and I ignored our survival instincts and took a leap of faith. The jagged rock face was a blur and there was an incredible sense of freedom, as we plummeted 60m straight down the canyon.
Then the ropes snapped to attention. The rush turned to relief and the swing became a rare and leisurely chance to take in the ragged vista of the canyon and river from above.
Ms Mercer and I laughed as our swing steadied and we were hoisted back to the platform, to smiles, handshakes and congratulations from the swing team.
Shotover Canyon Swing sales and marketing manager Claire Stewart said the Tandem Cliff Jump had been prompted by demand from customers and agents.
"It's an extra jump style we're offering, where the challenge still exists to jump off yourselves, but you've got the extra fear and intensity of two people jumping off, the enjoyment of swinging together and the chat as you come back up, being instantly able to share the experience."
I'm ready to go again.
• Tandem Cliff Jump costs $199 per swinger.
