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Indoor Skydiving

January 6, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Have you ever heard of iFly Downunder?

Located in Penrith (about an hour’s drive from Sydney city), it offers a 5 metre wide, 13 metre tall wind tunnel where you can literally go flying. We drove past their billboard advertisement in December, and it instantly became the only thing Small Man wanted for Christmas.

It’s not a cheap experience – $89 buys you two one-minute flights on a weekday morning – but it was enormous fun. Each flight is equivalent to a freefall skydive from 14,000 feet (and a whole lot less terrifying, I’m sure). Pete wasn’t feeling 100%, so he sat this one out, but the boys and I had an absolute blast!

We were asked to arrive an hour early to check in, suit up and receive instructions. Each flyer is accompanied by an instructor for both flights, and given the option to be taken to the top of the wind tunnel on their second flight for an extra $10. Big Boy declined, but Small Man and I jumped at the opportunity! Our instructor, the ever patient Matt, put on an aerial display at the end of our session that blew us all away. (Ha! No pun intended.)

Both my sons took to this as though they’d been jumping out of planes their entire lives, especially Big Boy…

Small Man couldn’t keep the grin off his face…

Neither could I for that matter – it was the most fun I’d had in ages!

Pete sat right outside the tunnel and took videos for us – I don’t want to wipe out your broadband with multiple large downloads, so here’s just one of Small Man flying high…

This was such a wonderful experience! I’m not planning to jump out of a plane anytime soon, but we’ll certainly be heading back to Penrith for another round in the wind tunnel!

PS. iFly have indoor skydiving centres across the US, Canada, the UK and Asia. Here’s a link to their locations page!

. . . . .

iFly Downunder
Indoor Skydiving Penrith Pty Ltd

123 Mulgoa Road
Penrith  NSW 2750

Ph: 1300 366 364
International: +61 2 4761 1800
info@iflydownunder.com.au

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Posted in Cool Things | 87 Comments

87 Responses

  1. on January 6, 2015 at 6:15 am sallybr

    I WANT TO DO THIS!!!!!!! I want to do this so badly I could scream….

    I “think” I would scream in fact like a mad woman, but maybe only the poor instructor would suffer with it…

    Celia, what a cool experience! Never heard of it, and now I cannot stop thinking about it…


    • on January 6, 2015 at 6:19 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sally, it’s a US based company – here’s a list of all the places you can do this:

      https://www.iflyworld.com/find-a-tunnel/

      Is there one close to you? I’m crossing my fingers for you! :)


    • on January 6, 2015 at 6:20 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Oh, and I DID scream like a mad woman as I went up the 13 metre tunnel – with sheer joy though, not fear! The instructor said, “I could hear you – and I was wearing earplugs and a helmet!” :D


    • on January 6, 2015 at 8:04 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sally, there’s one in Denver, Colorado… :)


  2. on January 6, 2015 at 6:23 am tableofcolors

    Wow…that looks great! I don’t think I could jump out of an airplane(my husband has many times) but I’m afraid I would get a heart attack…but this is something that I would probably dare to try! :)


    • on January 6, 2015 at 6:35 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Laila, it wasn’t even the slightest bit frightening – I’m a bit terrified of the idea of jumping out of planes as well. Your husband is very brave! :)


  3. on January 6, 2015 at 6:25 am Jo

    Celia, you make me laugh with every post! That is awesome.


    • on January 6, 2015 at 6:35 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hahaha…we had the best time ever Jo! :)


  4. on January 6, 2015 at 6:29 am Classy Canuck

    I’ve always wanted to try this. XD


    • on January 6, 2015 at 6:36 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I’ve just added a link to their worldwide locations – they have tunnels in Montreal and Toronto! :)


  5. on January 6, 2015 at 7:14 am Veronica (Roni)

    big fun :)) xx


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It really was, Roni! :)


  6. on January 6, 2015 at 7:15 am theintolerantchef

    AWESOME! I would never jump out of a plane, but I would do this in a heart beat Celia! Your little man looks like he had the time of his life – so much fun :) xox


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Becca, definitely worth a visit next time you guys are in Sydney! :)


  7. on January 6, 2015 at 7:18 am lizzygoodthings

    Wow! I must admit I did a double take when I saw your photo on instagram! Looks like serious fun…


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hahaha…it really was, Lizzy! Small Man’s already planning his next visit!


  8. on January 6, 2015 at 7:26 am Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    Holy cow that looks like fun!! Imagine all of us doing it on the same day :)


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Apparently when you’re experienced, you can have several people in the tunnel at the same time. I’m not sure how one GETS experienced in one minute flights at $45 each…hahaha


  9. on January 6, 2015 at 7:39 am Debra Kolkka

    What a great idea. I would never jump out of a plane, but I would love to do this.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Deb, you would love this! I did! xx


  10. on January 6, 2015 at 7:50 am lambsearsandhoney

    What an absolute hoot! I love doing extra special things like that with the family. One year we took them to feed the lions at Monarto Zoo & they still talk about it.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Feeding lions!! That would have been very exciting! Tell me you didn’t hand feed them?


  11. on January 6, 2015 at 9:00 am Rose

    What fun! Small Man will remember that Christmas pressie forever!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Small Man now wants to drop all his savings on flying in a wind tunnel…hahaha


  12. on January 6, 2015 at 9:26 am Francesca

    Celia, you make me smile. And I love your sense of adventure! I’m out there with Pete!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Nah, you’d be in there with me, Fra, I know it… ;-)


  13. on January 6, 2015 at 9:29 am Jan

    I don’t think I’ll be wiping the smile off my face for a while either! I do admit when the video showed Small Man suddenly rising to great heights that my stomache did cartwheels. I’m flat out keeping up with you Miss C. I’m still imagining receiving the note from Big Boy about the huntsman in the kitchen – the first thing that came to mind was whether the note had been written inside the kitchen or outside the kitchen – this would give an indication as to the size of the beastie. Oy phew – and pass the fudge!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hello lovely Jan, yes it’s been a great start to the year! Hope you and Peter have been having fun too! :)


  14. on January 6, 2015 at 9:38 am TIFFIN bite sized (@TIFFINbitesized)

    I saw these photos on twitter yesterday. Brilliant! Coincidentally, last night I watched an old episode of the Tonight Show and Jimmy fallon was also indoor skydiving. You look a lot more elegant than he does. xx


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:47 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Oh you do so say the nicest things! I liked that in all the photos our instructor Matt looks like he’s teaching us ballroom dancing or something…hahaha


  15. on January 6, 2015 at 9:43 am Lury Budde

    Looks like a blast!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 5:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It really, really was! :)


  16. on January 6, 2015 at 9:46 am Manuela

    That looks like absolute fun! I wouldn’t jump out of a plane either; but the wind tunnel looks like even I could do it. I think my boys would love it too!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:18 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Manuela, they have a couple of tunnels in Canada! :)


  17. on January 6, 2015 at 11:33 am nancy @ Plus Ate Six

    Hmmmm I think I would have been keeping Pete company outside…..!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:18 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      C’mon Nance. You KNOW you’d be in there with us! :D


  18. on January 6, 2015 at 11:52 am dianeskitchentable

    I saw your title and thought you were joking! I should have known. What an experience and such a cool idea. This would be such a great gift idea for someone and you can bet I’ll be checking into it. I like the idea of it not going out the side of a plane since to me that just doesn’t sound like a great deal of fun. Absolutely love the video which was a great idea since the regular photos don’t do it justice. I see you going back again…


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      The photos really can’t capture the wind – the glorious, noisy wind! They have a wind tunnel in New Hampshire – is that near you?


      • on January 7, 2015 at 6:25 am dianeskitchentable

        Oh my goodness! It’s maybe a little over an hour’s drive from here. I wish I had seen that one earlier, it would have been perfect for a gift for my husband. I showed him the video & he thought it was so cool. Tim got him a gift certificate to go down to a racetrack where he can choose from a variety of cars like Ferrari’s, Maserati’s, etc. and he gets to take them out on the racetrack. (Boy I hope we don’t have to cover any damages).


  19. on January 6, 2015 at 12:21 pm Emilie @ The Clever Carrot

    Ahh! What fun. The boys must’ve been thrilled. I’m glad you gave it a go too! Oh, and fyi- my first (and last) sky diving experience was a million years ago in Cairns over the Great Barrier Reef. Never again LOL.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:22 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      You daredevil you! This was great fun, but I doubt I’ll ever jump out of a plane – I actually have no great urge to anymore after this experience! :)


  20. on January 6, 2015 at 12:22 pm NapoliRestaurantAlert

    I have heard about it – one of my boys is dying to do this!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:23 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It’s nearly an hour’s drive from Sydney, but definitely worth it! :)


  21. on January 6, 2015 at 1:26 pm Eva Taylor

    We just saw the one in Ontario last week! It looks like an amazing experience. I wanted to go sky diving for my 30th but never got around to it…maybe this is my chance!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:23 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Definitely worth trying if you ever get the chance! :)


  22. on January 6, 2015 at 3:06 pm cheri

    You sure are adventurous, looks like a lot of fun!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It was huge fun! Not at all scary either, just exciting!


  23. on January 6, 2015 at 7:38 pm Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

    I have never heard of this place or indeed concept! What a great idea – it sounds like lots of fun :) And no need to jump out of a plane, which I think is a definite win!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:24 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Kari, there are a couple of tunnels close to London! :)


  24. on January 6, 2015 at 7:48 pm Pat Machin

    What fun!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It really was, Pat! :)


  25. on January 6, 2015 at 7:50 pm Chica Andaluza

    Oh wow, wow,wow! You look like you had an amazing time :) Almost 10 years ago to the day I was walking over Sydney Harbour Bridge with my best buddy to celebrate our 40th birthdays…maybe I should fly over again to celebrate my 50th doing this ;)


    • on January 6, 2015 at 7:57 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Darling, we’d love to have you, but you don’t have to come that far – they have three in the UK (two near London, one in Manchester). Here’s the info:
      https://www.iflyworld.com/find-a-tunnel/ :)

      Sounds like we’re almost exactly the same age! xxx


      • on January 6, 2015 at 10:35 pm Chica Andaluza

        It feels like the perfect age to me right now!


  26. on January 6, 2015 at 8:09 pm stacigirl

    Wow, the video looks like so much fun. Much better then jumping out of a plane.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Much cheaper too, I’d wager! :)


  27. on January 7, 2015 at 12:45 am themateriallady

    That looks amazing fun! I am so glad that you and your boys had such a good time.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We really did, thanks Kim! :)


  28. on January 7, 2015 at 3:25 am Liz @ spades, spatulas, and spoons

    Oh my goodness! I want to do this, it looks like wonderful fun. I’ve only flown in dreams and always wanted to sky dive (but lack the nerve). What a good time and a perfect way to start the new year.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 4:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Liz, I think there’s an iFly near you – I have friends in SF who’ve been there! :)


  29. on January 7, 2015 at 3:48 am narf77

    Holy crap Ms Celia! That made me excited beyond belief but when small man started ascending and descending it was like watching a horror movie! You are much braver than I am…who needs show rides! ;)


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:27 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Fran, honestly it wasn’t the least bit scary once you got in there. I can understand how folks get addicted to the sensation of flying!


      • on January 7, 2015 at 8:05 am narf77

        It looks terrifying from this end Celia!


  30. on January 7, 2015 at 5:38 am MamaD1xx4xy

    I would love to do this with the boys! So glad you all had fun. There isn’t a location near us, who knows, maybe someday on vacation.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 6:27 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Gretchen, maybe on holidays! Your boys would love it – they cater for kids from 3yo up! :)


  31. on January 7, 2015 at 10:31 am Lily Lau

    Wow, this experience seems so exciting! Yay for you :D


    • on January 7, 2015 at 4:27 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thank you! We had a ball!


  32. on January 7, 2015 at 11:45 am SeattleDee

    There’s no way I’d leap out of a plane voluntarily, but indoor skydiving sounds exciting… almost tempting… something fun to do with my adventurous twenty-something niece. There’s an iFly location in Tukwila/Seattle, just 20 minutes away from the house. I might need alcohol before and chocolate after.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 4:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Or maybe the other way around – chocolate first, then alcohol. Not sure you want to float in the wind tunnel under the influence! :)


  33. on January 7, 2015 at 1:08 pm Sherri

    Thanks for posting the video. It looks like awesome fun, very exciting.


    • on January 7, 2015 at 4:28 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      It was huge fun! :)


  34. on January 7, 2015 at 2:50 pm milkteaxx

    im intrigued about this one, have been actual sky diving, i wonder how this compares!


    • on January 7, 2015 at 4:27 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Much, MUCH less scary, I’m sure! :)


  35. on January 7, 2015 at 4:54 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    Hehe I saw your pics on IG! It sounds like you had a great time Celia and it is much safer than the outdoor version! :D


    • on January 7, 2015 at 4:59 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Worth a visit if you ever get a chance! :)


  36. on January 8, 2015 at 2:21 am gourmetgetaway

    Oh wow, now this is a MUST DO!!! Like, right now if I can. Yeah!!!

    Julie & Alesah
    Gourmet Getaways xx


    • on January 8, 2015 at 9:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hahaha…that was what we were like Julie! :)


  37. on January 8, 2015 at 7:30 am hotlyspiced

    What a great gift. This looks like a really fun thing to do as a family. I’m just wondering though, Celia – how long it would take me to get to Penrith! I would definitely prefer this to jumping out of a plane – that I don’t think I will ever do! xx


    • on January 8, 2015 at 9:25 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Oh forever, Charlie! It took us a solid hour from the inner west! :D But definitely worth the trip!


  38. on January 8, 2015 at 1:54 pm heidiannie

    They have a facility in Virginia Beach- that is only 2 hours and a little bit more if the traffic is heavy on the Bay Bridge/Tunnel from Chincoteague and Meredith is coming home this month to be stationed on the East Coast! I’m going to see if she is interested – thanks for the idea! You are so fun and adventurous, Celia!


    • on January 10, 2015 at 5:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Heidi, it really IS great fun! Happy New Year to you and your lovely family! xxx


  39. on January 10, 2015 at 5:13 am The Life of Clare

    I got the biggest smile just watching that video! It looks like the best time!


    • on January 10, 2015 at 5:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Clare, it really was! Floating to the top was like flying! :)


  40. on January 11, 2015 at 1:02 pm Sally

    We have this here in Dubai. I’ve never done it though. Maybe I should :)


    • on January 20, 2015 at 9:41 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Sally, I loved this – bet you would too! :)


  41. on January 14, 2015 at 12:05 pm Kim Bultman

    Celia, what a blast! (And bravo for taking the plunge!) Thanks for the link, too — I see there’s one near Dallas about 4 hours away. Hmmmm… maybe 2015 will be the year to create a lil’ excitement of my own. :) Loved the video clip you shared! This post was just the “verbal & visual” fun I needed tonight. xo


    • on January 20, 2015 at 9:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Kim, there might actually be one closer – apparently there are a few companies with wind tunnels in the US! :)



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