Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

High high up above the town of Queenstown is a beautiful network of ladders and rungs that if you didn’t know where to look you wouldn’t imagine they were there. Via Ferrata Queenstown is currently taking people towards the clouds and you don’t need a degree in climbing to get up there.

Via Ferrata which is Italian for Iron Road is usually found in the alps of France and Italy and includes a collection of climbs that usually you’d have to be superman to get to, but with the aide of these rungs and ladders anyone can now fly high above the land below. Via Ferrata Queenstown is a company right here taking people up to an incredible section of climbs on Gorge Road. Only accessible through their secret gated area I joined them for an afternoon of exhilarating climbing made all the more special with an added bonus of a beautiful day, my shoulder (post operation) was working the way it should and I was seeing Queenstown from a whole new perspective.

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

The clever people at The Adventure Centre have climbing under their belts and Canyoning Queenstown. Climb in the morning, sink yourself into a canyon in the afternoon. Perfect.

Via Ferrata Queenstown has such lovely small groups it’s excellent for taking your time, wandering up the hillside slowly until you get to the climb start proper and then allowing your guide to show you the ropes (literally). You are then given the freedom to climb along at your own pace (always under the watchful eye of said guides). We had fast and slow in the group and both were catered for perfectly.

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

I’ve always wanted to see Queenstown from this angle and now I could without feeling like a scaredy cat in the process. If you get a wee bit anxious, you stop, you’re clipped on the whole time and you can rest. Easy peasy. I could have had cake and tea whilst hanging up there. I didn’t but I could have.

See, options.

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

As we had differing levels in the group there were times when you can push up your level of comfort and try something more difficult or if you choose, just hang out on the lower sections. Many many opportunities to take photos (they know me well).

We made it to the top and then enjoyed a gorgeous walk back down popping out onto the Queenstown Hill track until we reached the road and were picked up again.

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Our guides Telli and Neil were completely on the ball. I haven’t been climbing in a long time (maybe way back when the wheel was invented) so I was a tad nervous about getting up high. At no point did I feel rushed, under pressure to do anything I didn’t want to but I also pushed myself a little to be out of my comfort zone. Via Ferrata Queenstown tick of approval from me.

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

Climbing up high with Via Ferrata Queenstown

A simply gorgeous afternoon high up in the clouds overlooking Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

Via Ferrata Queenstown
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I was a guest of Via Ferrata Queenstown but as always my opinions are my own.