Rotorua Canopy Tours vs Redwoods Altitude vs Rotorua Ziplines: Which Zipline Should You Choose?

Quick comparison

Prices are standard 2026 rates.

Rotorua Canopy Tours: best for native forest

Rotorua Canopy Tours runs its zipline tours through Ōkoheriki, within the Dansey Road Scenic Reserve west of Ngongotahā, a large native forest with rimu and tawa trees estimated at around 1,000 years old. The site has no public access, so tours start at the company's base at 147 Fairy Springs Road, where you check in and take a shuttle out to the forest, about 15 minutes from the city centre.

There are two tours. The Original takes about 2.5 hours, with six ziplines up to 220m long, and is open to kids from age 6. The Ultimate takes about 3 hours, with nine or more ziplines covering 1.2km in total and a longest line of 400m, and is open from age 10.

The tours are tied to an active predator-free conservation programme in the forest, which is a big part of the appeal: you are seeing the canopy of forest that is being actively restored.

Choose it if: you want the most complete canopy experience, native bush rather than plantation forest, and a conservation story behind it.

Keep in mind: it is the most expensive of the three, and you cannot drive to the zipline site yourself. Check in at Fairy Springs Road, not at the forest.

Redwoods Altitude: best value

Redwoods Altitude is a guided high ropes course in Whakarewarewa Forest, in the same complex as the Redwoods Treewalk. The course runs for about 650m at around 25m above the ground, crossing 25 suspension bridges and including three ziplines through the giant redwoods, with an optional treetop leap at the end. The ticket also includes a short guided tour of the Redwoods Glowworms eco-cave.

At $145 for adults and children alike, it is the cheapest of the three, and the glowworm tour adds to the value. It is open from age 8, with anyone aged 8 to 12 actively supervised by someone 16 or over.

Choose it if: you want the most affordable option, or you are already heading to the Redwoods for the Treewalk or mountain biking.

Keep in mind: it is more of a ropes course with ziplines than a dedicated zipline tour, and the redwoods are a planted forest rather than native bush. Check in at the Altitude hangar in the far corner of the main car park, not at the Treewalk.

Rotorua Ziplines: best for views

Rotorua Ziplines, also known as Ōkere Zip, is at 761 State Highway 33 in Ōkere Falls, about 20km north east of Rotorua, with free parking on site. It has four ziplines, the longest at 236m, reaching speeds of around 40km/h as they cross the Kaituna River and Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world at 7m. The course also includes a swing bridge and around 400m of boardwalks.

It is run as a joint venture between Rotorua Rafting and local iwi Ngāti Pikiao, and it is often sold as a combo with Kaituna rafting or the Manupirua Hot Springs.

Choose it if: you want dramatic river and waterfall views, you are combining ziplining with rafting in one trip, or you have younger kids, since it takes children from age 5.

Keep in mind: it is the furthest from the city centre, so plan it as part of an Okere Falls outing rather than a quick stop.

Which zipline is best for you?

How to fit each into your day

• Rotorua Canopy Tours: the check-in base is on Fairy Springs Road, the same road as Skyline Rotorua and Mitai Māori Village, so it pairs well with the luge in the afternoon and a hāngī dinner at Mitai in the evening.
• Redwoods Altitude: combine it with the Redwoods Treewalk, a walk on the free Redwoods Circuit, or the Te Auheke Track to see glow worms after dark.
• Rotorua Ziplines: have lunch at the Okere Falls Store next door, then add Kaituna rafting or the free Okere Falls Track, a 3km return walk past three waterfalls.

What about Skyline Rotorua?

Skyline Rotorua, at the top of the Mt Ngongotahā gondola, also has Hyfly Ziplines alongside its luge and Sky Swing: two parallel 400m lines, so you can race someone beside you. A return run takes about 20 to 30 minutes, making it a quick add-on to a Skyline visit rather than a full zipline tour like the three above. Riders need to be at least 122cm tall and weigh between 27kg and 125kg.

The verdict

If you only do one, Rotorua Canopy Tours offers the most complete experience and the best setting. If budget is tight, Redwoods Altitude is the easy choice. If you are heading to Okere Falls for rafting anyway, Rotorua Ziplines adds a waterfall crossing to the same trip.