Not all forest adventures are created equal. At Paradise Ziplines, near Glenorchy in New Zealand’s spectacular Southern Lakes region, your adventure takes you deep into native beech forest, following the twists and turns of the Oxburn Stream through a dramatic natural gorge.
This is more than a backdrop for an adrenaline experience. It’s a living part of Aotearoa’s natural heritage, rich in history, native wildlife, and the quiet magic of an indigenous forest.
A Living Link to New Zealand’s Natural History
The native beech forests of the Southern Alps are among New Zealand’s distinctive natural environments. These indigenous forests provide habitat for native birds, ferns, mosses, and countless other organisms, while helping protect waterways and maintain healthy ecosystems.
The wider Glenorchy region has a long human history, too. Māori travelled through the inland lakes and mountain valleys, gathering food and resources and following routes through the Southern Alps. Later, European settlement brought farming, exploration, and significant changes to the landscape.
Today, the forests and valleys around Glenorchy remain an important part of the region’s natural heritage, with the nearby mountains and protected wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park adding to the area’s extraordinary character.
A Forest Full of Life
The Oxburn Gorge offers a special opportunity to experience native forest up close. Towering red and mountain beech trees create a canopy above the stream, while mosses, ferns, and other forest plants thrive in the sheltered environment.
Look and listen as you travel through the forest and you may encounter some of New Zealand’s native birdlife:
- Pīwakawaka (fantail): A lively little bird recognised by its fanned tail and acrobatic flight.
- Miromiro (tomtit): A small forest bird that can sometimes be spotted among the branches.
- Titipounamu (rifleman): One of New Zealand’s smallest birds, often found moving along tree trunks and branches.
- Korimako (bellbird): Known for its beautiful song, which can carry through the forest.
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but the forest invites you to slow down, listen, and appreciate the natural world around you.
The stream below is equally important. Healthy native forest helps stabilise soils, shade waterways, and support the wider ecosystem.
Native Beech Forest, Plantation Pines and Wilding Pines: What’s the Difference?
Around Queenstown and the wider Whakatipu Basin, the landscape includes native forest, planted pine stands, and wilding pines. Understanding the difference helps explain why the environment at Paradise Ziplines is so special.
Plantation pines are introduced trees grown for purposes such as timber production. Wilding pines, by contrast, are introduced conifers that spread naturally from their original planting locations into places where they are not wanted. Their seeds can travel considerable distances on the wind, allowing them to establish and spread across open land and native ecosystems.
When wilding pines become established, they can form dense stands that compete with native plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Over time, this can reduce native biodiversity and change the character of the landscape.
A healthy native beech forest offers a different ecological experience. Its indigenous trees, understorey plants, mosses, ferns, and native birdlife form part of a naturally evolved ecosystem.
At Paradise Ziplines, you’re immersed in this native environment rather than simply travelling above a stand of trees. The beech canopy, Oxburn Stream, waterfalls, and sculpted rock formations all contribute to an adventure shaped by the natural landscape.
It’s the difference between passing through trees and experiencing a living part of New Zealand’s natural heritage.
Experience the Oxburn Gorge for Yourself
Our eight-line zipline adventure takes you through native beech forest, over the Oxburn Stream, and into dramatic sections of the gorge that are difficult to appreciate from the road.
From elevated views across the surrounding mountains to flights through the forest canopy, each line reveals another perspective on this remarkable environment.
Whether you’re visiting Queenstown for the scenery, seeking a unique outdoor adventure, or wanting to discover a different side of Glenorchy, Paradise Ziplines offers an experience where the natural setting is just as memorable as the thrill.
Come for the adventure. Leave with a deeper appreciation of New Zealand’s native forest.
Discover the Paradise Ziplines experience and explore the wild beauty of the Oxburn Gorge.
