First test of Sunshine Plaza’s $3m high ropes course
A test run of Sunshine Plaza’s new high ropes course brought back memories of being a 10-year-old boy climbing cotton trees, writes Matty Holdsworth.
Opinion
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The Sunshine Coast Daily has taken a test ride on Sunshine Plaza's brand new $3 million high ropes course ahead of its public opening on Friday morning.
The investment by Melbourne-based TreeTops Adventure Group boasts seven circuits across four levels of difficulty, including 145 aerial obstacles connected by 16 zip lines.
The course - Next Level - is the largest high ropes course in the country and comes packed with thrills.
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Photographer Patrick Woods and I tested our balance, co-ordination and fitness on the course ahead of its opening.
It was just like climbing trees.
Once you get your head around how the safety harness works, a bit of jiggling and wiggling later, you're off and running.
There's a smorgasbord of obstacles to maze your way through, some slower than others.
Some are harder than others.
It took me back to days climbing cotton trees in Maroochydore and Redcliffe as a youngster.
But while the height of those trees could be nerve wracking to the unhooked climber, you never quite felt that level of unease on the course despite dangling from up above.
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The flying fox at the end over Cornmeal Creek was easily the highlight.
TreeTops Adventure Group CEO Nicolas Dansin said the team at the park couldn't wait to welcome the first players to tackle the circuits.
"Next Level is an aerial adventure like no other and today we're not only celebrating the opening of our first urban park, but also our expansion into Queensland," Mr Dansin said.
"The unique design is a real engineering feat, including three hexagonal towers made up of 35 poles, each up to 20m high.
"We encourage our players to start on the two easier courses and then to progress to the 'next level' all the way up to circuit 7 for a real challenge."
The course has more than 1km of zip lines, the longest of which spans 135m across the creek taking participants from all levels back to the starting point on the main tower.
Next Level also includes a 22m viewing platform offering impressive 360-degree views of the Coast which can be accessed as a separate activity to the high ropes.
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