20 August 2017  |  Rotorua Canopy Tours, Rotorua

My friend Tamizan joined me on this adventure - just another step closer to overcoming my fear of heights and personal goal of the Rope Swing in Queenstown. The weather had been wet for most of the weekend, yet Sunday there were long dry spells, some showers but no heavy downpour. That was a good sign.

We met at Rotorua Canopy Tours’ headquarters on Fairy Springs Road, where we were checked-in by super-friendly staff. There usual waiver and emergency checklist to be completed, but since I had booked and paid online, it was all pretty straight forward. Soon we were greeted by our guides who kitted us with jackets and harnesses. After a quick (and humour-filled) safety briefing, we hopped into the van and made our way to the Dansey Road Scenic Reserve, which took about 15 minutes.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I do have a fear of heights. I have been skydiving which is obviously a lot higher than ziplining, but I wanted to mention it for those who may think they couldn’t do this. The hardest part for me is trusting my footing as I walked down the stairs as there are no handrails. Once you get over that, you really will have an experience of a lifetime.

Apart from the adrenaline rush of ziplining, I have to also mention how much I loved the guided forest walk throughout the tour. Rotorua Canopy Tours is an eco-tourism venture in partnership with the Department of Conservation - which means they use some of the funds from the tours for a conservation and pest control programme for the reserve. They are the only company to do this, and I hope they become a successful model for other companies to follow suit.

The longest zipline was about 220m, and the highest at 45m above the forest below.

There are two practise ziplines which gives you a taste of what’s to come. It also allows the guides to ensure that everyone on the tour will be OK to proceed to the higher ziplines. The youngest on our tour was nine and kids are welcome on the tour. It isn’t physically taxing, more of a mind-over-matter sort of thing. To be honest, if you can step up the ledge, all you need to do is lean forward and let momentum take hold. There’s no sudden falling feeling like on a rollercoaster.

You get a 360C view of pre-human paradise, that’s really what you pay for. Simply breathtaking.

The last zipline you get the chance to really challenge yourself and go upside down. I didn’t quite get to that part - letting go I mean. Do me a favour, do it, let go and zip through that beautiful scenery upside for a few seconds. Be silly. Be in that moment. Then make sure to come back upright before you get to the other side, there’s no safety block and your guide has to catch you, literally. Helmet to the jewels would hurt pretty bad I say.

If like me you have a fear of heights, try it anyway. I can’t wait to do it again, want to join me?