AusLeisure

Adventure tourism operator Wildwire Wanaka has launched the world’s highest waterfall climb at Wanaka’s Twin Falls.

Located near the Treble Cone Ski Field, the challenging 450 metre ascent sees climbers make use of steel rungs and wire-bridges (known as a Via Ferrata), while secured by a safety cable, to climb the rock face.

Taking an average of six to seven hours to reach the top, climbers descend via a helicopter ride taking in aerial views of Twin Falls and the surrounding natural beauty.

Dubbed the 'Lord of the Rungs' experience, the waterfall climb is the most difficult of the three climbs offered by Wildwire Wanaka.

Created by mountaineer-turned-tourism-guide and operator Mark Morrison and his Laurel, the Lord of the Rungs experience “has been a dream in the making” since 2004.

On the Wildwire Wanaka website, Mark Morrison writes "set amongst the natural beauty of the Twin Falls waterfalls, located near Treble Cone Ski Field, Wildwire offers participants a truly unique experience ... created by adventurous souls for adventure seekers.”

Via Ferrata literally means ‘iron road’. Originally used in the First World War to help transport troops across steep Alpine mountain ranges, the modern via ferrata involves a steel cable that runs along a route (periodically fixed to the rock).

Climbers secure themselves to the cable and climb using iron rungs, pegs, bridges and ladders, allowing access to otherwise inaccessible climb routes.

No climbing experience is necessary to enjoy a via ferrata walkway, just a head for heights.

Growth via ferratas oroviding quasi-mountaineering experiences has seen the creation of more than 1000 via ferrate across Europe’s Alps and Dolomites.

The Lord of the Rungs experience follows another via ferrata operating on the outskirts of Queenstown, and this more remote and spectacular climb at Twin Falls.

The Wildwire Wanaka waterfall climb starts at $595 per person with a two-person minimum reservation.

For more information go to www.wildwire.co.nz 

Images courtesy of Wildwire Wanaka/Facebook.

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