TreeClimb Adelaide review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

For those who want to step out of their comfort zones, and step out on a limb, inner-city aerial adventure park TreeClimb Adelaide is the place to go.

You could say I’m in a bit of a pickle. I’m high up, suspended on the middle of a zip line and stuck. Children are standing beneath me and are pointing and laughing. My friends are at the end of the zip line in fits of laughter.

What do I do now?

We’re at the inner-city aerial adventure park TreeClimb Adelaide, and jumping off the first zip line was completely exhilarating.

With a high-pitched squeal, I launch off the platform atop the trees and soar the long way from one platform to the next, gaining momentum and a delightful thrill.

It isn’t till I make it to the other side that I wonder – how do I land?

“How do I stop?” I yell at my friends whose faces turn from shock to laughter as I hit the landing pad and ricochet with great momentum back down the zip line.

I slowed down and came to a stop in the middle, where I am now, a good 20 metres away.

After pausing to reflect, I grab the zip line and slowly but surely pull myself back, head between my legs. Not literally, thank goodness.

My New Year’s resolution was to try new things, learn new skills and put myself outside of my comfort zone. And TreeClimb certainly ticks those boxes.

TreeClimb Adelaide. Picture: Tara Nash

Located in the Park Lands, the zip line and high ropes courses and obstacles, as well as a cafe, are a hub for families and giggling children. While the kids (those taller than 100cm) were loving 21 treetop obstacles, there is a “grand course” for those of us taller than 135cm, with five courses and 52 obstacles.

Instructor Andrew leads us into a room to harness up and watch a safety training video. We get a refresher and practise.

There’s one solid connection from our harness to each line, which runs the entire course – which feels assuring. But it means that once you start one course, you can’t disconnect until the end – there’s no turning back.

There’s a second connection which clips on and off the wire for each obstacle for extra security. You can also yank on it while on the zip lines to slow you down.

So, we’re off. Each obstacle is only five metres long or so, which connects to another and another. There are bridges, ladders and swings to balance and climb over, finishing with zip lines – the best part.

One course was one zip line to another, which will leave you trembling with adrenaline. Each course steps up in difficulty, leaving the final two most memorable.

One has a “Tarzan” swing, which, as it sounds, will send you flying through the tree tops screaming “I’m king of the jungle”.

The other requires much balance, including through swinging hoops on ropes, and a rock-climbing wall.

Sophie Nash on a rock-climbing wall at TreeClimb Adelaide. Picture: Tara Nash

If you’re anything like me, the next day your hands and muscles will sting from clutching on hard. And if you get rope burn from the swing, it’ll peel for weeks.

But you don’t have to tackle it as full on as we did. Sure, it does require a certain amount of adrenaline and fitness, but it also is created to be flexible to suit your style.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in June 2020 and details updated in March 2021

• Park 20, Corner of Greenhill and Unley roads, Adelaide
• [phone]
• treeclimb.com.au
• LOCATION Corner of Greenhill and Unley roads, Adelaide
• DETAILS More than 70 obstacles in eight courses. Choose grand course, with minimum height 135cm and maximum weight 135kg. Two hours includes harnessing, safety briefing and practice course. Otherwise, children’s course has a minimum height of 100cm, with 80-minute sessions, including harnessing, safety briefing and practice course. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your climb time to check in.
• AVAILABILITY Climbing bookings currently are for starts between 10am-3pm weekdays; 9am-3pm weekends. These times could be subject to change, so check the website or call.
• FACILITIES Cafe, toilets, locker.
• WAIVER A waiver must be signed before participating.
• PRICE Grand course $39 adult, $35 student/ concession, two-hour sessions; children’s course $29, 80-minute sessions.