One of the latest attractions to open in Perth, the Matagarup Zip+Climb offers visitors a different way to appreciate the city
Perth welcomed many new destination experiences over the Covid years, all ready to enchant international visitors now as they return, and one of them is the Matagarup Zip+Climb.
Opened officially on December 5, 2021, the Matagarup Zip+Climb is an easy soft-adventure option for active folks and a fun way to take in the city skyline in the distance and the immediate beautiful landscape around the iconic Optus Stadium in Burswood Park.
What
In a nutshell, participants of the Matagarup Zip+Climb will climb up the frame of the bridge and then safely slide down a 400m-long zipline across the water body at up to 75km/h.
Sounds like the fun will be over in a jiffy, but the Matagarup Zip+Climb lasts a wholesome 90 minutes even with the Express Zip option, which involves 150 steps up to a platform set 35m above the Swan River.
The full Zip+Climb experience lasts two hours, requiring participants to take 314 steps up to the highest Sky View glass platform, down to the zipline platform and then swing off the zipline.
I took the Express Zip, and was put through a safety video and verbal briefing on what to expect. This briefing took place in an office on the banks of Swan River. Two staff then suited us up in safety harness, one cross-checking the other, before we set off on foot to the beautiful Matagarup Bridge.
Once on the bridge, our harnesses were attached to safety cables and we started our trek up steep stairs with an average gradient of 45 degrees. These same steps are used for technical access, and some areas can get rather tight, requiring participants to twist, bend and duck to get through – a superb workout for my legs!
I got to rest my legs momentarily on the zipline platform, just before the real fun began. We got clipped onto cable lines – these are dual cable lines that cater for two riders at the same time – and were give a verbal refresher on the braking stance we would need to adopt as we neared the end of the line. Then, with a good-to-go signal, I shouted “mummy!” and got pushed off.
Whoosh! It wasn’t the hair-raising ride I had expected it to be. In fact, I was able to keep my eyes open and take in the lovely sights as I descended on the Burswood Park foreshore.
All too soon, it was over and I wished I could get a second go.
Verdict
I highly recommend this superbly fun way to see the city. It is great for families, since riders as young as eight and are over 30kg in weight can zip with an accompanying adult.
Rate: From A$99 (US$68.70) for the Express Zip, with free photos of participation included
Website: www.zipclimb.com.au
