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Last Updated on May 25, 2025
Walking in the Sky in Rotorua
Conquering the Redwoods Altitude Treetop Adventure
Rotorua is famous for its bubbling mud pools and Māori culture, but nothing prepared us for the thrill of meeting its mighty redwoods — face-to-face, high above the forest floor. This was because it was not just a casual meeting, and not a quiet walk through the peaceful forest! Rather, it was filled with adventurous Indiana Jones-style bridge crossings and thrilling zip lines through the canopy, and yes, there was a little bit of screaming on my part.
Redwoods Treewalk is located in Rotorua, New Zealand, on the North Island. While here, in addition to wandering around the massive California redwoods, you can sign up for ALTITUDE, a two-hour adventure tour with ziplining, rope bridges, and a finale not for the faint of heart.
Thank you to Redwoods Treewalk for providing me with the opportunity to walk and soar in the clouds!
➡️ Book a Tour at Redwoods Treewalk now!
The zip lines rocket you from one massive redwood to the next, slicing through cool, pine-scented air with a burst of adrenaline. Try these ziplines as you hold on with all your might, let go with one hand and wave at your mate, or free-style it and fly like the super-human you are!!
Swaying rope-and-plank bridges dangle high between towering redwoods, creaking and dancing underfoot like something straight out of a Raiders of the Lost Ark tomb scene. Each step tests your balance and nerve, all as you are suspended over the forest canopy. Well, sometimes not every step will test you, because some of the bridges are designed to look like some of the planks are MISSING so you have to skip a step!
And let’s not forget the finale! The free-fall step into midair! More on that later.
Why the Altitude Experience Is a New Zealand Bucket-List Must
- High-wire adrenaline: 25 different adventures from ziplines, to swing bridges, to balance beams strung between 120-year-old Californian redwoods.
- Eco-friendly design: All platforms are suspended with a “living tree” system that never drills into the trunks, so the fun leaves zero scars on the mighty giants.
- Guides clip you in 100 % of the time: no experience required and their number one priority is safety.
➡️ Soar in the Trees! Book now!
Our Two-Hour Forest Flight
Harness-Up & Hype – Our friendly guides, Chloe and Henry, double-checked every carabiner and strap while sharing the redwoods’ back-story: planted in 1901 as a forestry experiment, now a beloved forest, tourist destination, and epic zipline adventure.
First Step, Shaky Knees – The initial bridge wiggles just enough to spike the heart rate, until hubby also got on the bridge. He (intentionally?) made the bridge sway back and forth while I was still on it. After that, I was just unsteady the whole rest of the way!
Zip, Laugh, Repeat – Each zipline gets longer and faster. We were encouraged to let go and sail hands-free through the forest.
Canopy Classroom – We had a few classroom sessions throughout the course to introduce us to the redwoods, New Zealand ferns, and other forest flora and fauna.
- Henry showed us huhu grubs at one stopping point. Huhu grubs may be consumed either raw or traditionally cooked in a hāngī. Hubby and I wondered if we might have unknowingly eaten them in our buffet dinner the night before! Our guide had eaten some and said that they tasted like peanut butter. Perhaps they are a good substitute for those allergic to nuts! He recommended eating the head first so that the grub didn’t bite the esophagus on the way down. No, thank you.
- The other ‘things’ he showed us were weta. They are flightless New Zealand crickets –but they can be HUGE. New Zealand does have its share of interesting creepy crawly bugs.
Victory Leap – A controlled free-fall off the final platform delivers the mic-drop finish. Adrenaline? Check. Screams? Definitely yes. Worth it? Totally a fun activity for us Empty Nesters looking for a unique Bucket List Activity in New Zealand. I can’t say that I have just stepped off of a perfectly good platform and done a free-fall before!
Quick Tips Before You Soar at the Redwood Treewalk Altitude
- Book ahead, especially in the New Zealand summer.
- Wear closed shoes to protect your feet on landings
- Wear layers, Rotorua mornings are crisp –on our tour, it was misty the whole time!
- Phone lanyard or Go-Pro; you’ll want pics but need both hands free.
How to book a Redwoods Treewalk Tour in Rotorua
The After Glow
Back on solid ground, we could still feel the sway of the bridges in our knees and thighs –in fact, that burn lasted a few days after this adventure!
Pro Tip: Come back to Redwoods Treewalk in the evening to experience the after-glow in the form of twinkling nightlights through the forest and along the bridges.
➡️ Book a Treewalk package that includes the Nightlights!
We also felt the enjoyment of ticking off a New Zealand activity that blends eco-friendly adventure and storytelling with pure, soaring fun.
If Rotorua is on your itinerary, schedule two hours to climb into the clouds at Redwoods Altitude. Your inner kid will thank you.
Add it to your New Zealand bucket list. Then get up there and do it.
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