Abseiling / Rock-climbing

Abseiling is traditionally thought to have started in Germany and this is where we get the word “Abseil”.  Two German words make up the one, “Ab” meaning “down” and “seil” meaning rope.  So in effect you are down roping!  And that’s exactly what abseiling is, using a special device called a descender to slide down a rope on a rock face.   Abseiling is also know as rappelling, which is the French equivalent to the word.

Tui Ridge Park has two Abseil platforms on natural rock, one 7 metres high and the other 18 metres high.

Rockclimbing is the sport of climbing different grades of rock walls both natural and artificial.  There are at least 3 common methods of doing this.  One is called top rope climbing, where the climber is “belayed” on a safety rope and harness.  Another is called “lead climbing”, where the climber is still belayed but takes the ropes with them and “clips” into “bolts” on the wall.  The last commonly known method is “free climbing”.  This is where the climber has no safety back up gear at all.

Tui Ridge Park has one natural rock wall and we only use the top rope climbing method of climbing as this is the safest way to experience the thrill and challenge of rockclimbing.