67. Climb the world’s highest waterfall cable at Wildwire

Cable climb with Wildwire.

BY Sarah Bennett

Last updated . 31 January 2022

From skydiving and jet-boating to hiking and biking some of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in the world, New Zealand is synonymous with adventure: here is No. 67 of our 101 Reasons To Stop Dreaming About New Zealand And Go.

Wildwire may be the world’s highest waterfall cable climb, but it isn’t just an adventure for those hardcore rock-climber types. The beauty of this experience is that it makes climbing super-safe and easy thanks to the via feratta system that originated in the European Alps. A via feratta is a secure, protected, climbing path. Fitted with an abseil harness, you’re attached to a cable fixed into the rock along the route and accompanied by highly skilled guides giving you all the necessary instruction and support that will see you gaining confidence with every step.

Wildwire’s route climbs alongside the boulder-lined Twin Falls, around 20 minutes’ drive from downtown Wānaka. The 150-metre ‘Go Wild’ climb is perfect for absolute beginners or those with basic fitness, while the mid-range ‘Wild Thing’ 320-metre climb will suit adventurous, active beginners. This is the most popular trip, which takes five hours and includes a view-filled, 45-minute walk back down to the base via a zig zag path. Adrenaline-seekers may wish to push onward via the ‘Lord of the Rungs’ route that reaches the top of the Twin Falls. All three tours feature suspension bridges, hidden pools and spectacular views of Lake Wānaka and beyond, but the higher you go the more you’ll see, and the bigger the sense of accomplishment you’ll have at the end.