Time for a real adventure. After all, we ARE in New Zealand. Miles and I went on a "flying fox" zip line on Waiheke Island, a quick 1/2 hour ferry ride from downtown Auckland.
The EcoZip mini-bus picked us up at the wharf and the driver gave us an excellent highlights tour of the island on our 20-minute ride to the zip line location. Once there, we were suited up in harnesses with 2 other zip liners (a maximum of 12 in a group) and oriented about the experience.
The activity consists of three 200-meter zip line trips, all with dual cables which allow you to fly side-by-side or "race" a friend. The first one is over a vineyard (Waiheke Island is home to about 40 vineyards and has a well-developed wine industry.)
The second and third trips were even better: we zipped over the forest and the view looking over the trees was amazing. Steeper, higher, zippier and really fun! Unfortunately, Miles can't multitask and didn't try to take pictures of me while we were racing tandem zipping.
After the third zip, our guide took us back to the headquarters on a 1 1/2 kilometer nature walk, exploring pristine pre-European high canopy forest.
But wait! Our day wasn't over! While on Waiheke Island, we went to the biennial Headland Sculpture on the Gulf art exhibition. We enjoyed the large-scale
contemporary sculptures by some of New Zealand’s most significant artists, exhibited
along a spectacular 2.5km coastal walkway overlooking Matiatia harbour,
the gateway to Waiheke.
The EcoZip mini-bus picked us up at the wharf and the driver gave us an excellent highlights tour of the island on our 20-minute ride to the zip line location. Once there, we were suited up in harnesses with 2 other zip liners (a maximum of 12 in a group) and oriented about the experience.
Rarin' to go!
Grrrrr....I'm psyched!
The activity consists of three 200-meter zip line trips, all with dual cables which allow you to fly side-by-side or "race" a friend. The first one is over a vineyard (Waiheke Island is home to about 40 vineyards and has a well-developed wine industry.)
Our guide standing waiting for us to go on the first zip over the vineyard
Here I am at the landing platform after the first zip
View of the forest zip
Very cool forest
After the zip line trips back at headquarters
Incredible views from the path
Colors kept changing as the clouds floated by
Intricately carved wooden top
Concentric circles made of plastic sheeting
Looks like a bucket on stilts, right?
But look from underneath and you can see the Orion constellations of stars
What adventurers you are! Zipping across Waiheke Island is certainly a unique way to tour the island. The Biennial Headland Sculpture on the Gulf Art Exhibition must have been a real bonus as well. LOVE the 'almost dreidl'. I am energized just seeing those photos.
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