29 March 2012

Hollywood Star Zips In Queenstown

Queenstown, New Zealand: An ‘A-list’ Hollywood superstar yesterday (March 28) joined the growing list of celebrity zippers to take to the trees with Queenstown award winning ecotourism business, Ziptrek Ecotours.

Don Cheadle, famous for movie roles in Ocean’s Eleven, Iron Man 2 and Hotel Rwanda, zipped from tree to tree high above the resort as he enjoyed a Moa Tour with his family yesterday. The family is holidaying in Queenstown while Mr Cheadle, an enthusiastic golfer, takes part in the NZPGA Pro-Am Championship at The Hills.

Mr Cheadle described the Ziptrek tour as ‘Fantastic’.

“Ziptrek was great, we did upside down, right side up, backwards, forwards and every way that was possible on a zipline.”

Ziptrek Ecotours owner and host Trent Yeo said the Cheadle family had heaps of fun in the trees and thoroughly enjoyed the sustainability discussion on the eco-tour that is integral to the Ziptrek forest experience.

“It was great to see the whole family going upside down, down under.

“There’s no better way to appreciate the landscapes around Queenstown than standing in our treehuts and zipping your way down. The eco interpretations we provide are inspirational in this setting.”

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More about Ziptrek Ecotours
Ziptrek Ecotours is a must-do, award-winning adventure ecotourism business renowned for delivering awareness and appreciation of the natural environment along with a good dose of adventure.

Ziptrek was founded in 2001 in Whistler, Canada by Charles Steele and David Udow. Their goal was to provide a unique experience combining nature-based learning with a rush of adrenaline. In December 2009 Trent Yeo, a former Ziptrek Whistler employee committed to a partnership to open the first global Ziptrek operation in Queenstown, New Zealand. His background in sustainable architecture with outdoor education was a perfect fit for the business. Due to its success and growth Ziptrek appointed Stu Cordelle 15 months later as General Manager to assist with the day to day running of the operation. Stu bought a wealth of knowledge to the business having been involved in a number of leading tourism operations in New Zealand.

When the business was first established on Bobs Peak they launched the four line Moa tour. This tour incorporated four flying foxes/ziplines through the forest canopy connecting aerial treetop platforms (tree houses) that descended one third of the way down the mountain. In November 2010, Ziptrek launched the Kea 6 line Tour which saw guests travelling all the way to the bottom of the mountain, including a beautiful walk through native beech forest. This tour can now claim the steepest tree to tree zipline ride in the world.

Ziptrek's eco-credentials are rapidly developing momentum and within 18 months of opening they won the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Award and received the Qualmark Enviro Gold award. Most recently they won the Fairfax Media Sustainable 60 Award for Marketplace. They also work closely with the local community and are a patron of the Wakatipu Trails Trust, in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes Biodiesel Consortium and working with Otago Polytechnic on their Sustainable 360 business program.

Since launching, Ziptrek Ecotours has caught the attention of global television and print media putting them in front of millions of people across countries such as Australia, UK, Brazil, New Zealand, Canada and USA.

ENDS

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