Rotorua's Essential 50: Day 11 - Rotorua Canopy Tours

Zipline excitement and an informative guided nature walk are just two of many reasons to check out one of Rotorua's hottest new tourist attractions - Rotorua Canopy Tours. Photo / File

For excitement and high-wire action you can't go past Rotorua Canopy Tours.

In between your tree canopy adventure in virgin native forest near Mamaku you will be educated about the company's pest-eradication programme and the many native species that live in the forest.

They now have more than 500 pest traps in place, which have already made a big impact on native wildlife returning to the forest.

Rotorua Canopy Tours celebrated its first year in business in August. Since opening, it has charged to the top of the Trip Advisor rankings for the North Island.

Its three-hour tour takes people on a journey from forest floor to forest canopy on an incredible network of walking trails, treetop platforms, ziplines (flying foxes) and swing bridges.

The eco-tour features six zipline rides, broken up by a couple of swing bridges and short forest walks.

Carefully constructed platforms set among rimu and tawa trees - some about 500 years old - are strategically placed around the site so you don't visit the same place twice.

In their first year, more than 11,000 people took part in the experience and the site is now becoming more popular with commercial team building groups as well as travellers.

* The Rotorua Daily Post Essential 50 lists the city's must-see, must-do and must-try activities and experiences, thanks to reader nominations. We'll highlight one every day over summer.