Zipline Safety at Rotorua Canopy Tours
Where World-Class Safety Meets World-Class Adventure
Safety is built into every moment of your adventure. We’re a WorkSafe-registered adventure activity operator and are independently audited by Qualworx against New Zealand’s Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities. From the moment you arrive, every step is designed for safety, comfort, and excitement- so you enjoy a safe and thrilling experience.
Requirements of Guests
- Weight limit 120kg (256.5lbs)
- Minimum age: Original 6yrs; Ultimate 10yrs
- Walk on uneven terrain, cross swing bridges, and climb stairs.
- Raise your knees and keep them tucked in while ziplining and when approaching landing platforms.
- In the unlikely event of poor weather or a medical issue, walk up to 45 minutes on uneven forested trails during an evacuation.
- Expectant mothers over 15 weeks’ gestation are not eligible to join the tour. If you are in doubt, please consult with your midwife or healthcare professional before booking.
Please seriously consider your personal limits. We operate in a remote forest, we’re over one hour from Rotorua Hospital, and emergency services cannot easily access our location within the forest. If you’re differently abled, pregnant, managing a health condition, or have any concerns, talk to us before booking so we can help assess suitability.
Guest Responsibilities when ziplining with Canopy Tours
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, we require all of our guests to:
- Listen to and follow guide instructions at all times.
- Disclose any medical, physical, or psychological conditions or concerns to our staff before the experience.
- Complete a pre-tour check-in form
- Review the physical requirements and consider whether you can complete the tour safely and comfortably
What we do to keep you safe
- Always attached at height: Our continuous safety systems keep you connected whenever you’re off the ground and not surrounded by handrails.
- Industry-leading equipment: Purpose-built zipline and safety gear, selected for our forest environment and regularly serviced.
- Expert guides: Guides complete comprehensive training (safety-at-height, emergency procedures, dynamic hazard management) with ongoing assessments. Training is aligned with NZ national qualifications in high-wire guiding and outdoor leader fundamentals.
- Clear briefings & on-tour coaching: Simple, friendly safety briefings before you start, and coaching throughout your tour.
- Small groups, great supervision: We cap group sizes and position guides to maintain oversight on platforms and ziplines.
- Weather-ready gear: We provide wet-weather and warm layers suited to Rotorua conditions so you’re safe and comfortable in all seasons.
- Regular inspections: Daily pre-use checks, scheduled equipment servicing, and independent course inspections at or above industry expectations.
- Emergency ready: Guides carry communications and first-aid; rehearsed rescue plans are in place.
Risks and hazards
- Vehicle collisions
- Falls from heights of up to 50 metres (150 feet)
- Collisions on the ziplines
- Fingers, hands, hair, or clothing getting caught in moving zipline trolleys
- Exposure-related issues due to weather conditions
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Falling objects from above (e.g., tree branches, epiphytes)
- Human error
- Exposure to images of typical New Zealand conservation activity, which involves removing possums, rats, and mustelids from our ecosystem
Accessibility & questions
Rotorua’s environment
Rotorua Canopy Tours take place in a living forest with changing weather conditions. We operate year-round; typical temperatures range 5–24 °C (41-75.2°F), extremes are uncommon but may span –5 °C in winter to 30 °C+ in summer (23-86°F).
Potential environmental factors include:
- Strong winds
- Heavy rain
- Thunder and lightning
- Heavy frosts
- Sun and UV exposure
- Cold, hot, or humid temperatures.
We may postpone or cancel tours in the unlikely event of extreme weather. If conditions change during a tour, guides may adjust the experience for safety. This can include reduced or lengthened tour times and changes to the expected route.
Safety measures at Rotorua Canopy Tours
We have several measures in place to mitigate potential risks. We do whatever we can to ensure you have a safe and fun experience with us. This includes:
- Using industry-standard safety equipment.
- Delivering safety briefings before the tour and coaching guests inside the forest.
- Weight limits and physical requirements standards (only our staff will see this information; it is discreet).
- Limiting group tour sizes
- Providing you with wet weather and warm gear to suit the current and potential weather conditions.
- Comprehensive training and continued supervision of our staff. Our robust and relevant training includes safety at height processes and active hazard identification.
- Equipment that is fit for purpose.
- Regular equipment and course inspections at or above industry standards.
ORIGINAL CANOPY TOUR
What’s involved
It’s a 15-minute van ride from our HQ to the forest. From there, we walk 300 metres along a gravel pathway with gentle inclines and declines, and 130 stairs spread into small sections. We move slowly, pausing to discuss the surrounding flora and fauna. Our guides are experts at gauging the pace for each small group and accommodating every individual.
At the first ground-based platform, you’ll climb a 15-step staircase to the first tree-based platform and zipline launch. Here, you’ll receive a safety brief before being attached to our continuous belay system, which keeps you connected at all times while you’re at height or not surrounded by handrails. On every zipline, you’ll have a guide on the platform you’re leaving and the platform you’re flying to, helping with both launch and landing. You’ll then fly your first zipline (50 m) to a tree-based platform 12 m high, followed by the first swing bridge (40 m) floating above massive tree ferns.
Staying in the treetops, you’ll cross three more awesome ziplines (40 m, 49 m, and an impressive 200 m). After that, you’ll return to the forest floor and take a 150-metre walk along our forest trail, where we share our conservation programme. There is seating here if needed.
You’ll then head back into the canopy on two more ziplines (170 m and 70 m) and a 10-metre suspended swing bridge, where we’ll capture unique photos. From there, you’ll fly to the forest floor, and a guide will assist with unclipping you. The final feature is a stunning 300-metre flat exit trail, with the occasional tree root peeking through.
It’s approximately a 15-minute van ride back to base.
ULTIMATE CANOPY TOUR
What’s involved
It’s a 15-minute van ride from our HQ to the forest. A 350 metre walk-in with slight inclines/declines and 30 stairs leads you to grand doors that open onto the first feature: a 75-metre suspended swing bridge, 16m high.
A 120-metre walk takes you to the first ground-based platform, where you’ll receive a safety briefing and be attached to the continuous belay system. You remain connected to the belay whenever you’re at height or not surrounded by handrails, and you’ll always have a guide behind you and in front of you to help with launching and landing. From here, you’ll climb the unique spiral staircase that lifts you into the canopy and to your first zipline (50 m). You’ll stay in the canopy for another zipline (110 m) before reaching a second staircase that lowers you to the third, scenic valley zipline (220 m), where you’ll fly onto a platform built onto an exposed volcanic rock face. This is our volcanic cliff walkway – a fixed walkway with an inside handrail and self-guided walk (while attached to the belay) offering stunning views across the forest valley, 50 metres above the ground.
Next is the tandem 400-metre race zipline – choose your partner to race! A remarkable 75-metre suspended swing bridge follows this. On the other side, you’ll climb approximately 200 stairs before pausing at a seating area where your guides share insights into New Zealand’s unique biodiversity and our conservation efforts to protect it.
Next, (after being reconnected to the belay system by your guides), you’ll climb our beautiful six-storey floating staircase (the highest section sways a little). At the top is a small, suspended swing bridge (no more stairs to climb from here) to another tree-based platform.
Another zipline follows: a 125m zipline through the middle of the canopy, leading to the final 50-metre swing bridge. This is the most challenging of the four as it tends to sway more, but you’ll be securely attached throughout. You’ll then fly on your last zipline, 230m and one of our highest off the ground. You’ll reach the final tree-based platform and the finale.
The last feature is an epic, step off, from our last platform 16m above the ground (or release if not up to stepping off). This is not an abseil; you are lowered in a controlled manner no faster than 2m per second.
You’ll walk out of the forest via a 500-metre flat, gravelled trail to the exit, where a quick 15-minute van ride returns you to base.
Your safety and satisfaction are our top priority
If you have any questions or concerns about your ability to complete either of our Rotorua Canopy Tours experiences, please call our friendly team at +64 (0)7 343 1001.
If you are unsure how your physical health or medical conditions may affect your ability to participate in the tours, please consult your healthcare provider before booking.
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