6|
TOURISM » Ziptrek Ecotours
September 2016 Business South
Sustainability at heart for high flyers Kim Newth New Zealand’s top environmental tourism business, Ziptrek Ecotours, delivers sustainability education with a dose of adrenalin. From its base high above Queenstown, on Skyline Gondola Hill, Ziptrek Ecotours takes visitors on personal guided zipline journeys through the forest canopy. It is a thrilling way for travellers to engage with the environment and, at the same time, learn about sustainability through interpretation boards and from guides who have a deep understanding of the area’s natural systems. Traveller reviews have been glowing. Last year Ziptrek Ecotours was admitted to the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame after winning its fifth certificate of excellence. In May, it picked up its sixth such award, acknowledging the consistently strong ratings it continues to receive from travellers. In 2015, the multi-award winning company won the Environmental Tourism Award at the Tourism Industry Awards, setting a new benchmark of excellence for the industry. “From an industry perspective, it was definitely a highlight to be recognised nationally for the work we have been doing stretching back ten years, including the planning that was undertaken before we opened,” says Ziptrek Ecotour’s director Trent Yeo. While the business puts a lot back into the local environment in terms of planting programmes and pest control, Trent says what excites him most is the impact the tours have on those taking part. “The experience conveys a meaningful message about sustainability through promoting an understanding and appreciation of the environment. With the thousands of guests we have, I believe we have shown them a side of New Zealand that we love to show – that is, that this country really cares about its environment.” The sustainability ethos infuses the entire operation. Treehouses built for the course include the trunks of invasive wilding pine, while solar panels provide its limited power needs. Ziptrek Ecotours offers a choice of guided aerial tours: the Moa tour has four ziplines that start and finish at the top of the Skyline Gondola – it starts slow and gets progressively longer, higher and faster; the Kea tour is a six zipline tour that includes the world’s steepest zipline, reaching speeds of up to 70kmh. Twilight tours depart daily in the late afternoon (June to August). Combo tours that link up with other local eco-tourism options are also
Hanging out: Multi award winning company Ziptrek Ecotours takes visitors on guided zipline journeys through the forest canopy high above Queenstown. available. “Every school holiday, it’s definitely ‘Moa tour time’ but usually our Kea tour is marginally more popular.” As is the case with other popular Queenstown destinations, Ziptrek Ecotours attract a lot of international visitors but this also a uniquely thrilling and inspiring experience for domestic tourists. Trent is a former employee of Ziptrek Whistler in Canada, which pioneered the concept of combining nature-based learning with aerial adventure in 2001. He is proud to have opened the first global Ziptrek operation in Queenstown. “I love seeing the reactions of people on our tours. You see really adventurous people and really timid people all sharing this experience in a beautiful environment and enjoying it in different ways and at different levels.”
Bike Tours | Bike & Shuttle Packages | Bike Hire | Bike Shuttles
Queenstown Mountain Biking At Its Best
Call 0508 QTCYCLE (7829253) Around The Basin are proud to work with Ziptrek Tours
www.aroundthebasin.co.nz | info@aroundthebasin.co.nz