If you thought keeping your cool was hard at the best of times, try doing it hanging from a cable clipped to a tree which is suspended 13 metres in the air.
That’s just what two of the Mail’s reporters did this week, thanks to the team at Forest Adventures South West who invited them along to road test Busselton’s new high rope and zip line park.
The adventure park was designed by a French company which create similar high rope and zip line courses around the world.
It is situated on eight hectares of land in Tuart Forest and has over 500 metres of flying foxes suspended through the trees.
Once you are clipped in and after a quick training session, you are free to take on any one of the 65 challenges in the park depending on your skill level and daredevil bravado.
And the verdict, well we thought we would let our reporters tell you what they thought, both have different fitness levels and both found different obstacles challenging more so than others.
Here’s what they had to say:
On arrival
Alexis: I wasn’t too sure what to expect not having done something like this since primary school camp.
I’m also not a huge fan of heights so I was hoping that I wouldn’t feel to nervous or scared however once we had our harnesses on I felt far more relaxed.
Emma: I was feeling quite confident before we arrived, I had done a zip trek on a mountainside in Queenstown and it was a lot of fun.
When we got to the park I could see that it wasn’t all zip lines and flying foxes, it was going to be more challenging than what I expected.
Training course
Alexis: Once we learned how to move our way through the training course and learning that at all points we would be clipped on and safe I felt totally relaxed. I enjoy playing sport and being physical so after the training course I was keen to get onto something bigger.
Emma: The first obstacle in the training course was a tight rope and my legs wobbled like crazy (more so than the squat track in a pump class) it was harder than I thought it would be and I wasn’t sure if I would make it to the other side.
First challenge
Alexis: I was pretty excited to climb up our first sizable tree ready to start the course, it kicked off with a tight rope which I found easier than expected.
Emma: I was mortified to find that the first obstacle in the course I took on was a tight rope, this time much higher and longer than the training course.
After watching Alexis get through it with no problems I called out to her for a few tips – which worked – I made it across the wire with a slight wobble at the end.
Toughest challenge
Alexis: The hardest part for me were the swinging logs, I generally feel quite coordinated but this one really required patience and coordination – it had me stumped, pun intended!
Emma: For me, the toughest challenge was the netted mesh ropes, it was physically challenging, but I surprised myself and made it to the ledge on the other side.
Most fun
Alexis: Climbing the wall on the advanced course was a really fun challenge with the reward of even longer and faster flying foxes.
Emma: The snowboard on the zip line was lots of fun, and of course the flying foxes.
Overall verdict
Alexis: Absolutely loved it! I would love to head back and challenge myself to complete every obstacle on the course. It was great fun with a friend having a laugh with each other along the way.
Emma: It was mentally challenging, you really need to think about how you are going to tackle the next obstacle then go for it. Most of all it was fun and I’m looking forward to going back.
Check out the photo gallery above showing some of the park’s obstacles.
