David Trubridge lights up Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua

David Trubridge lights up Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua

Rotorua's Redwood Forest has been lit up with a new nocturnal tourism experience, Redwoods Nightlights.

The work of internationally renowned designer David Trubridge is featured and sold in over 500 outlets worldwide.
Credit: Redwoods Treewalk

Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua and New Zealand designer David Trubridge have partnered to create a new nocturnal tourism experience: the Redwoods Nightlights.  

Incorporating unique creations from the internationally-acclaimed design and sustainability champion David Trubridge, the new night-time experience will offer visitors the opportunity to explore Rotorua’s majestic Redwood Forest under the shroud of darkness.

“With 30 custom-made creations and a network of lights the night-time forest will come to life in a magical and surreal experience,” says Rotorua local and Treewalk director Kellie Thomasen.  “David Trubridge’s unique and inspiring lights add an amazing design element that is sure to become a much admired attraction within the forest.”

“The Trubridge design team and the arborists at the Treewalk worked hard to place the 30 2.5m tall lantern creations in areas embracing the natural beauty of the forest, to provide dramatic contrast for visitors.”

In addition to the Trubridge lighting, over 40 infinite colour spots and feature lights will illuminate the 115-year-old redwood trees, forest ferns and pungas.   

Nightlights will be open daily and shining bright until at least 10pm in the summer and 8pm during the winter season. 

“The Treewalk day walk has proven extremely popular and it was a natural progression to look for an innovative and world-class night-time product to offer additional opportunities for visitors to experience the city’s wonderful forest,” says Redwoods Treewalk general manager Alex Schmid.

Located within Rotorua’s Redwood Forest which attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually, the Redwood Treewalk is the longest suspended walkway of its kind in the world. The walk, consisting of 23 elevated swing-bridges and living platforms, showcases one of Rotorua’s most visited natural attractions. 

The work of renowned designer David Trubridge is featured and sold in over 500 outlets worldwide. Mr Trubridge and his team were excited to take on the Nightlights challenge, initially finding inspiration in New Zealand native birds; the ruru (New Zealand owl), karearea (New Zealand falcon) and the miromiro (tomtit).

The lights are up to 2.5 meters tall and were made at the David Trubridge workshop in Hastings and assembled by a team in the forest. Creating outdoor lighting was challenging especially for the forest environment. 

“The lights needed to feel weightless, yet be able to survive the conditions,” says Trubridge. “Some are suspended over 25 metres above the ground, with others installed to circle the trees. In the giant scale of the redwood grove they had to be much larger than most lights the studio normally makes.” 

Redwoods Treewalk is Rotorua’s newest eco-tourism attraction. Designed for use without harnesses or protective gear, it is suitable for all ages, providing the treewalkers can walk unaided.

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