Wildwire
Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand
Highly-regarded and friendly local operator of the Lake Wanaka via Ferrata course. Full safety accredited.
Bucket list experience:
There are not many places in the world you can climb a waterfall – at least this site hasn’t found one yet – and this also happens to be the highest.
Set on the shores of stunning Lake Wanaka, the ‘Lord of the Rungs’ (their name, not ours) via Ferrata-esque course has 3 levels to suit varying abilities.
All three courses combine a mix of climbs on steel rungs, and crossing of suspension bridges. The full 5-7 hour climb to the top (450m) also goes behind the waterfall, sees you climb through an airy overhang, and helicopters you back down from the top. Brilliant!
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Destination Guide >The basic level 1 climbs 150m and takes 2-3 hours; the intermediate level 2 climbs 320m and takes 4-5 hours; the full climb, level 3, of 450m takes 6-7 hours.
No previous experience is needed and all equipment is provided. Standards of safety are rigorously high, and you are secured at all times to a runner in the rockface via a steel cable. (So don’t worry!). Mine age for levels 1 & 2 is 10 years, for the full ‘Lord of the Rungs’ tour to the top, its 15 years.
Lunch is provided for levels 2 and 3, and the price includes return transfers to Wanaka.
It’s available all year round, seven days a week, weather permitting.
Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with
Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand
Highly-regarded and friendly local operator of the Lake Wanaka via Ferrata course. Full safety accredited.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
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Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[43.3 miles]
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Best for ages: 8+ | £60 | 4-5 hours
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand[25.2 miles]
This artisan, family-run distillery is renowned for its handcrafted single-malt whisky, gin, vodka and liqueurs. 75-minute guided tours take you behind the scenes to see the production process, and of course, to sample some of the outputs.
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Best for ages: 8+ | £40
Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand[48.4 miles]
This 1912 Edwardian twin screw steamer – the only remaining commercial passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere – offers 1.5-hour scenic cruises on Lake Wakatipu. Passengers can view the engine room, and read onboard displays about the boat’s history, as well as soaking up the jaw-dropping scenery.
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