Six of the best ziplines in Queensland
List
By Catherine Blake
In between the red dirt of the outback and the bright white sands along the coast, Queensland has some of the country’s most pristine rainforest. You may have already explored it on foot or by torchlight, so now it’s time to elevate things. About 20 metres should do it.
Besides the thrill of whooshing along at high speeds, ziplining over and amongst the treetops is like having a birds eye tour of the canopy. Is there any better way to see the rainforest?
Whether you’re coming from the city or the coast, turn the canopy into a playground at the longest, fastest, and highest ziplines in Queensland:
Highest, fastest, largest | Gold Coast
Seven huge zip lines crisscrossing the Gold Coast’s Cedar Creek Gorge makes the Canyon Flyer the largest zipline in Queensland. Strapped in, your thrill starts by flying high above the treetop canopy before dropping into the spectacular gorge.
Take a tour group up to 10 people for three hours’ worth of guided fun zooming across the ziplines.
How many: 7 ziplines
How far: 1.4km in total - the longest run is 300m
How high: Highest point 70m
How fast: Up to 70km per hour
How much: Adults are $125 and children $105, including 4WD transfer to ziplines
Where: Thunderbird Park, Mount Tamborine, just 90 minutes from the Gold Coast beaches.
Bonus: You’ll also find a multi-level high ropes course, the TreeTop Challenge in Thunderbird Adventure Park with its own 10 flying foxes. Get up to 30m high across 9 acres of bushland and rainforest.
For the kids | Gold Coast
Photo by @thunderbirdpark
Finding activities to keep the kids stimulated can be a struggle, but the Juniors Treetop Challenge at Thunderbird Park has done all the hard work for you. Built especially for kids aged 3 to 7, it has two low-to-ground ropes adventure courses. Included in the course are four ziplines for the little ones to fly around on.
Like the rest of the course, the ziplines are nice and low, with the longest run being just 15m. There’s even a specialist team on hand to help, so you can rest assured your kids are in safe hands.
How many: 4 ziplines
How far: Longest run 15m
How high: Highest point 4m
How fast: Comfortable for kids
How much: Children $35 for two hours
Where: Thunderbird Park, Mount Tamborine – an hour’s drive south of Brisbane
Bonus: The Juniors Adventure Park is also full of other kid-friendly activities including horse riding, laser skirmish and minigolf. There are even some camping sites, or lodges on the banks of Cedar Creek if you want to stay for a couple of days.
For daredevils | Gold Coast
If you’re not the kind to balk at the thought of ziplining over croc-infested waters, Currumbin's TreeTop Challenge is for you. Eleven zip lines form part of a high-ropes adventure course allowing you to fly over pristine bushland and observe wildlife including dingoes, emus, kangaroos and Tasmanian devils.
How many: 11 ziplines
How far: Longest run 96m
How high: Highest point 7m
How fast: 40km/hr
How much: Adults $49, children $39, family $160 including equipment. The course should take around 3 hours to complete.
Where: Located inside Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast
Bonus: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a whole day chock full of family-friendly fun. Purchase an Experience Pass if you’d like general admission to both the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and High Ropes Adventure Park.
The single route | Gold Coast Hinterland
If you’re checking out the Gold Coast Hinterland, add O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat to your itinerary. Their flying fox zipline will send you soaring over the beautiful Moran’s Creek, offering a prime view of Lamington National Park. Open to guests and day-trippers alike.
How many: 1 zipline
How far: 180m
How high: 25m at the start
How fast: Go at your own pace
How much: Adults $35, children (aged 3 and up) $22
Where: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Canungra, two hours’ drive from Brisbane
Bonus: Try O’Reilly’s Segway Safari, or stay overnight for a 4WD bus tour to the Lamington National Park glow-worm grotto. If the nerves need calming after soaring over the creek, head to O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards.
Slow travel | Mackay
Forest Flying near Mackay has designed an experience for eco-tourists and slow travel enthusiasts. You can control your speed going along their ziplines, and really take your time getting a whole new perspective on a tropical rainforest ecosystem. As well as cruising through the trees, your tour includes a guided forest walk. Along the way you’ll learn all about the rainforest plants and ecosystem. Remember to wear red to attract the iridescent blue Ulysses butterfly. These azure critters are one of the world’s most stunning species of butterfly and are known to flit around these parts.
How many: 2 zip lines
How far: Longest run 230m
How high: Highest point 25m
How fast: Go at your own pace
How much: $90 per person
Where: Olivers Road, Finch Hatton Gorge, about an hour from Mackay.
Bonus: Now that you’re acquainted with the wildlife, spend the day in Eungella National Park exploring waterfalls, swimming holes and walking tracks. You can even stay overnight at the Finch Hatton Gorge Cabins, or go all out camping in the rainforest with Forest Flying.
Need some locals’ tips for discovering the outdoors in Mackay? Head here.
Visit a national treasure | Sunshine Coast
It’s a national treasure and one of the state’s proudest monuments, but bring the kids to see the Big Pineapple and they’ll remember it for a different reason entirely. Located just an hour north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, the Big Pineapple sits right next to eight acres of rainforest containing the TreeTop Challenge.
How many: 12 ziplines
How far: Longest run 140m
How high: Highest point 30m
How fast: Go at your own pace
How much: Adults $65, children $55, Familied $220
Where: 76 Nambour Connection Road, Woombye QLD 4559
