Ziptrek Ecotours New Zealand

What Ziptrek Ecotours New Zealand does

Ziptrek Ecotours New Zealand, legally operating as ZJV (NZ) Limited, is a Queenstown-based adventure tourism company founded in December 2009 by Trent Yeo as the first zipline tour operator in New Zealand and the international expansion of the Whistler-originated Ziptrek brand (founded 2001 by Charles Steele and David Udow). The company operates a year-round gravity-fed zipline course on Bobs Peak, accessible via the Skyline gondola, with hand-built timber treehouse platforms connected by 4-6 ziplines and an internationally patented in-house braking system. Solar-powered safety infrastructure and the electric operations vehicle 'Hiko' support a net zero carbon operating posture, with sustainability credentials (Qualmark Enviro Gold, WorkSafe NZ certification, 4,000+ native trees planted on Bob's Peak) underpinning the eco-tourism brand. Interpretive content is built on The Natural Step sustainability framework and delivered via STQRY multilingual audio (Mandarin, French, Spanish, Australian English), supplemented by guided eco- and Māori cultural talks.

The company generates revenue primarily through three core tour products—the 4-line Moa Tour ($129-$159), the 6-line Kea Tour featuring the world's steepest tree-to-tree zipline ($169-$209), and the 2-line Kererū Tour with a 21-metre drop ($119)—plus seasonal Twilight Tours, intimate treehouse weddings starting at $690, group and corporate event bookings, branded merchandise, and gift vouchers. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer online booking via the Zaui platform, walk-in Queenstown CBD office, travel-trade partnerships with downloadable factsheets, a dedicated group-sales desk, and Skyline gondola co-marketing. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, approximately 24-40 employees, and operates as part of a multi-country Ziptrek brand also present in Whistler and Mt. Tremblant, Canada, with cumulative throughput exceeding 500,000 zips since 2009.

Name

Ziptrek Ecotours New Zealand

Legal name

ZJV (NZ) Limited

Website

https://ziptrek.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ziptrek Ecotours New Zealand operates a year-round Queenstown-based zipline eco-adventure business offering three canopy tours, twilight experiences, treehouse weddings, and group events to domestic and international tourists, combining gravity-fed ziplining with environmental education and net zero carbon operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Adventure Tourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zipline, Ropes Courses & Aerial Adventure Parks (THAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Zipline & Canopy Tour Parks (THAAACAA), Treetop Walks & Aerial Trails (THAAACAD), Adventure & Aerial Parks (Ropes Courses, Zipline Parks, Climbing Parks) (THAJAEAI)

Keywords

• Zipline tours
• Eco adventure tourism
• Forest canopy tours
• Sustainable adventure tours
• Treehouse wedding venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Queenstown

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tour Bookings: Primary revenue from zipline tour bookings including Moa (4 lines), Kea (6 lines), and Kereru tours. Prices range from $119-$209 per person for standard tours, with Twilight tours offered seasonally.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including phone bungees, signature shirts, and souvenirs at the completion of tours.
3. Wedding Venue Hire: Intimate wedding venue rental at treehouses with packages starting from $690 for up to 8 persons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ziptrek Ecotours operates guided zipline eco-adventure tours on Bobs Peak in Queenstown, New Zealand, accessible via the Skyline gondola. The company sells three core tour products — Moa (4 lines), Kea (6 lines), and Kererū (2 lines plus a 21-metre drop) — supplemented by seasonal Twilight Tours, treehouse wedding venue hire, and group/corporate event bookings. Each experience pairs a gravity-fed zipline journey through native beech forest with interpretive eco-education content and panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.

Product overview

Ziptrek Ecotours operates as a multi-award-winning zipline eco-adventure company offering three distinct tour products: the Moa Tour (4 ziplines, 1.5-2 hours, entry-level), the Kea Tour (6 ziplines, 2.5-3 hours, featuring the world's steepest tree-to-tree zipline), and the Kererū Tour (2 ziplines plus a 21-metre drop, 1 hour, quick thrill). All tours operate year-round from Bobs Peak, accessible via Skyline gondola, combining adventure with environmental education using The Natural Step sustainability framework. The company also offers seasonal Twilight Tours, wedding ceremonies in the treehouses, and group/event packages. Founded in 2009, Ziptrek is Queenstown's first zipline company and first net zero carbon tourism business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Phoenix Tour: A Mandarin-language zipline tour hosted entirely in Mandarin, launched in February 2015.

Products and services

• Moa Tour A 4-zipline eco-adventure tour lasting 1.5–2 hours on Bobs Peak, Queenstown, suitable for ages 6+. Adults $159, Youth $129. Starts and finishes at the Ziptrek Treehouse, ideal for groups, families, and first-time zipliners, combining forest canopy ziplining with eco-education and views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.
• Kea Tour The most popular 6-zipline eco-adventure tour lasting 2.5–3 hours on Bobs Peak, suitable for ages 6+. Adults $209, Youth $169. Features the world's steepest tree-to-tree zipline, descends through native beech forest, and finishes back in town with eco-education and scenic interpretation throughout.
• Kererū Tour A quick thrill tour combining 2 ziplines with a 21-metre controlled drop from one of the treehouses to the forest floor, lasting approximately 1 hour. Adults and Youth $119. Marketed as the quick but high-adrenaline option with a minimum weight limit of 20 kg.
• Twilight Tours Evening/nighttime zipline tours operating seasonally (May–August), allowing guests to experience the forest after dark and zip beneath a sky full of stars. Uses the same ziplines as the Moa Tour with headlamp-lit descents.
• Ziptrek Weddings Intimate wedding venue hire and ceremony packages in Ziptrek's treehouses atop the Skyline gondola hill, with Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range as a backdrop. Packages from $690 for up to 8 persons, with an optional Kererū Jump available post-nuptials. Suitable for elopements and small ceremonies.
• Groups and Events Group booking packages for corporate groups, conferences, team-building events, school groups, and incentive programmes, supported by a dedicated group sales team and downloadable factsheets. Contact via [email protected].
• Gift Vouchers Ziptrek gift voucher products sold online that allow recipients to redeem them against any of Ziptrek's tour offerings (Moa, Kea, Kererū, Twilight, or weddings/events).

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero carbon emissions as certified net zero carbon tourism business
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FjällrävencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fjällräven outdoor clothing based on their deep commitment to durable and non-toxic outdoor clothing. Team members equipped with Fjällräven outdoor apparel. Partnership underscores mutual commitment to environmental stewardship and inspiring connection to nature through eco-friendly practices.
• Kiwi Birdlife ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor sponsor of the reptile wing at Kiwi Birdlife Park, helping meet conservation goals. Long-standing relationship with Ziptrek admiring their commitment to sustainable practice and environmental education.
• Paper4TreesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict sponsor for Paper4Trees initiative, educating schools about recycling and providing opportunity to exchange recycling for native trees.
• Queenstown Trails TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatron of Queenstown Trails Trust supporting trail maintenance and development in the region.
• Love QueenstownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for Love Queenstown environmental initiative that raises funds and awareness for local environmental action. Locals' Day 2023 raised $4,000 supporting local climate, conservation and biodiversity projects.
• Wakatipu Reforestation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Locals' Day fundraising beneficiary. Trust works with community to grow and plant native plants including threatened species throughout district.
• WorkrideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Workride to encourage team to ride to work through bike purchase benefit programme supporting staff with cost-effective bike purchases.
• The Lightfoot InitiativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered for Love to Ride Challenge in 2023 and 2024 to promote cycling, fitness, and environmental sustainability among staff.
• Queenstown Resort CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Queenstown Resort College to support local students through internships and prepare them for careers in Adventure Tourism.
• St John Ambulance WakatipuminorOthersBeneficiary of Locals' Day fundraising events. Wakatipu branch relies on community support to maintain emergency services.
• Wakatipu Search and RescueminorOthersRegular beneficiary of Locals' Day fundraising initiatives.
• KIVAminorOthersInternational microfinance organization supported through Ziptrek's sustainability story and community initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Jungle Surfing Cairns: Australian rainforest canopy tour operator in Cairns offering a guided zipline experience similar in concept to Ziptrek. Comparable product, customer profile, and tropical/temperate rainforest canopy positioning.

Direct peers

• Shotover Jet: Queenstown-based jet boat adventure operator on the Shotover River, part of the Ngāi Tahu Tourism portfolio. Directly competes with Ziptrek for Queenstown adventure tourist bookings and offers a similarly adrenaline-driven, time-bounded experience product.
• Zip World (UK): UK-based zipline and aerial adventure operator running multiple sites including the fastest zipline in the world (Velocity at Penrhyn Quarry). Most direct international peer in the multi-site zipline eco-adventure category.
• AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand: Iconic Queenstown-based adventure tourism operator offering bungy jumping, swing, and bridge climbing experiences. Directly comparable as a Queenstown adventure activity competing for the same tourist dollar with similar target customer segments and pricing tiers.
• Ziptrek Ecotours Mont Tremblant: Third global Ziptrek location in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Operates under the same brand with comparable zipline eco-tour offerings, sharing proprietary braking technology and sustainability framework with the NZ operation.
• Flight of the Gibbon (Thailand): Thailand-based zipline and rainforest canopy tour operator with a strong eco-education and sustainability positioning very similar to Ziptrek's value proposition. Directly comparable as an international eco-zipline operator.
• Cape Canopy Tour (South Africa): Established Cape Town-based zipline eco-tour operator focused on combining adventure with ecological education in a protected fynbos biosphere. Comparable business model, eco-education narrative, and small-team private-operator scale.
• Ziptrek Ecotours Whistler: Parent brand and original Ziptrek location in Whistler, Canada, founded in 2001 by Charles Steele and David Udow. Operates the same eco-zipline business model in a comparable mountain tourism market, making it the closest direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• RealNZ (Real Journeys): Major New Zealand tourism operator (formerly Real Journeys) offering cruises, flights, and wilderness experiences across the South Island including Queenstown. Broader incumbent with overlapping eco-tourism positioning but much wider portfolio.

Regional players

• Skyline Queenstown: Operates the Skyline gondola that provides essential access to Ziptrek's Treehouse departure point, as well as the Skyline Luge and stargazing experiences. Functions both as a critical channel partner for Ziptrek and as a competing Queenstown attraction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ZiptrekEcotoursQueenstown
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZiptrekNZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/ziptreknz
• TikToktiktok.com/@ziptreknz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ziptrek-ecotours-new-zealand

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ziptrek Ecotours New Zealand