Ziptrek celebrates record locals’ day in Queenstown

Multi-award-winning Queenstown based-tourism company Ziptrek Ecotours helped locals reconnect with their ‘inner child’ with a record-breaking locals’ day in aid of a good cause.

The recent locals’ day was a massive success, with almost 280 Queenstown residents participating, and with Ziptrek raising $7,000 for the local branch of St John’s Wakatipu – giving 50% of proceeds from ‘locals’ price trips of just $50 per person for the Kea 6-line tour or Moa 4-line tour.

Ziptrek has been holding locals’ days to thank its local community and benefit a local charity or cause since it launched more than five years ago. The amount raised is the highest in that time – ‘topped up’ by the company to make a round figure.

Queenstown St. John Station Manager Keith Raymond said they were “delighted” Ziptrek had chosen to help them out with their locals’ day initiative.

Raymond stated “we’re not directly Government funded, so rely heavily on community support and contributions to maintain our current service.”

Ziptrek Ecotours Director Trent Yeo said the company was “more than proud” to be helping another local community organization.

Yeo added “I love locals' day. It’s such a buzz for us to see the crew work at full rate and see everything running silky smooth. It was a record locals’ day for us as well.

“It was a real pleasure to support St John's ambulance as it’s important to consider an organisation that we only normally think about in an emergency. Their passion and care for the Queenstown community is very much like ours. A contribution from the tours on our locals’ day is also a bonus.

“On top of all that I had some great conversations with some local people which made me realise just how close this community is. Let's stick together as we move towards the crazy summer season, so more people than ever will enjoy what we enjoy every day.”

Local St John staff threw themselves into the middle of the action on Sunday by performing free blood-pressure checks for locals and passers-by from the back of their ambulances, which they brought to the main Ziptrek Treehouse and gondola base on the day.

As well as celebrating with its local community, Ziptrek recently celebrated winning the Environmental Tourism Award at the national Tourism Industry Awards in Auckland. Judges were hugely impressed, describing it as a “wonderful example” of a highly successful tourism business embracing and promoting sustainability in everything it does.

The company first started in 2002 in Whistler, Canada and nearly six years ago launched into Queenstown as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier zipline-based ecotourism organisation.

Image: Queenstown locals join in Ziptrek's locals day.

5th October 2015 - ZIPTREK ECOTOURS WINS ENVIRONMENTAL TOURISM AWARD

12th November 2014 - NEW ZEALAND’S ORIGINAL ZIP-LINING COMPANY CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY