Walking on air

Come, walk with me.

Harnessed up and ready to walk on air.

Brooke and Arjun who are the terrific guides for our group of 8.  

All the other participants are from overseas. 

Curiously there is only one man in the group.

We are separately and carefully connected to the zipline.

Step this way...

You will be airborne before you reach the bottom step.

The brakes ensure a gentle landing.

 Some stair walking to the next level...

 What are these fellow Ziptrekkers watching?

How to take off for an upside down zip.

I have spent quite a bit of my life figuring 'which way is up' so I resist the challenge.

 The views from the zip lines and at the tree huts are terrific.
Cameras can be tethered to the harness but I prefer to keep mine in a zipped pocket. I doubt I'd take a photo as I zip along a zipline.

There is a strong sustainability theme illustrated at each Ziptrek treehouse and  Arjun and Brooke explain the principles. This sustainability focus on an adventure ride is a first for me.
 This Maori whakatauki (proverb)  at the end of the Ziptrek conveys the essence of sustainability.
'Care for the land, care for the people, go forward'.

 Go forward... and up the track to the first Ziptrek Tree house where the zipping began.

What shall I try next?
Mountain biking…
There are some world champion mountain-bike trails here.

Paragliding.  

Ah, but I have done this. A few years ago when we were at the Skyline I casually mentioned I'd like to do it one day. Dick went to get me a cappuccino and came back with the coffee and a ticket to fly!

Luge. I can tick this, too. Perhaps I'll do it again.

People watching and chatting to visitors is a perennial favourite here for me.

The view from here is magnificent. 

Everyone seems to be exhilerated  by it.

I am so blessed to live in this beautiful place

Tiki Walking Track - Ben Lomond Forest

It is time for some down-hill walking.

Today is a good day - cool and overcast.

I board the Skyline gondola to Bob's Peak.  

The Tiki trail  begins near the luge track.  

To the left is the  ZipTrek platform, I pause and enquire but the next booking time is 3 hours away. 

So I continue walking down the trail which is intersected by mountain bike trails. Keep a watch for bikes.

The ZipTrek route is in the same forested area as the Tiki Trail. 

A clue. 

Tiki walking track is going to be steep in parts. 

I'd like some company, so please...

Come, walk with me.

First let's go up in the gondola.

Over the luge track, past the lupins and daisies bordering the trail...

Stop awhile to watch the Ziptrek punters begin their trip through the forest.

The first part of the track is the vehicular access route to the Skyline station.

Wilding pines are flourishing the areas that have been recently cleared of pines.

Down we go on to the rock strewn Tiki Track...

lots of zigzags...

Southern beech are in abundance here.

The track becomes steeper

and rockier...

Some zip trekkers have to walk to the last station.

 I feel as if I am getting closer to the lake...

Perhaps I should have chosen to walk the track around the Queenstown gardens which lies far below me.

Steps lead...

to a resting place.

Onwards.
My photos don't capture how rough and steep the trail becomes.
I am ever so glad that I wore my tramping boots and that I brought my walking poles.

I think that track maintenance is overdue on this section of the track.

I am wishing I had zip-trekked this rough patch...

The end is nigh...

Hallelujah!
Will I try the Zip trek? Watch this space...