Happitat adventure park: Zipline, cliff walks and rainforest views guide

Happitat Adventure Park.

Sometimes getting the best view means becoming part of the scenery, and that is exactly how it felt standing on the edge of the cliffs at Happitat. Tucked deep within the Gold Coast hinterland and surrounded by the ancient wilderness of Lamington National Park, the adventure park offers an entirely new way to experience nature.

The day before, I had eased into the hinterland at SOL Elements on Tamborine Mountain, where immersion took on a slower, more restorative rhythm. Set beside a tranquil lake and wrapped in subtropical rainforest, SOL invited me to disconnect completely and move through warmth, water, fire and steam without distraction. Sitting quietly in the magnesium pools or by the sunken fire, I was grounded by the presence of nature as rain fell.

SOL Elements.

That sense of calm carried with me into the next morning after a stay at Binna Burra Lodge, where I wake up surrounded by forest, 800 metres above sea level. From my Sky Lodge apartment, mist drifts through the treetops, and the forest stretches endlessly beyond the glass.

The view from Binna Burra Lodge.

Stepping out into the warm air, it’s only a few minutes walk to Happitat. Located just 1.5 hours from Brisbane and around an hour from Surfers Paradise, Happitat feels worlds away from the coastal hustle and bustle. There is a sense of calm mixed with anticipation; the kind that comes from knowing you are about to step outside your comfort zone in the best possible way.

As the world’s first cliff park, Happitat combines zip lines, suspension bridges, via ferrata climbs, rainforest walks and swimming holes into one immersive experience.

Founded by conservationist, alpine adventurer and former professional snowboarder Michael Neururer, the park reflects a lifetime of adventure and respect for the natural world.

That philosophy is woven into every part of the experience, and inspired by cliff-based adventures across Austria, Europe, America and Canada, Happitat combines activities that would normally require multiple destinations into one journey.

You feel that intention immediately.

Happitat Adventure Park.

The experience begins with suiting up into gloves, helmets and of course, a zipline harness. Staff conduct multiple safety checks and we each take a turn on a lower course to ensure we’re safe and feeling confident. Timber crossings, tightropes and steel rungs carry me across the cliff face of the Arete Via Ferrata Climb, and with each step, the view seems to expand.

Happitat Adventure Park.

Harness secure and surrounded by experienced guides, I move out across an 80m bridge suspended high above the valley. There is something surprisingly grounding about being so exposed yet fully supported, an experience that forces you to slow down and focus entirely on where you are.

From there, I launch into Total Exposure, the park’s longest and highest zipline. Flying 200 metres above Lamington National Park, I feel completely weightless, gliding over the treetops with nothing but open air beneath me.

The scale of the landscape is humbling, with layers of trees stretching endlessly into the distance and mountains rising and falling like ancient sculptures shaped by time.

Thrill-seekers can also try The Overhang Zipline Course, soaring past waterfalls and rugged cliff faces. Visitors can then conclude their visit with The Edge Park Explorer, a chance to slow down, wander shaded bush trails, dip into crystal-clear natural pools and take in sweeping views from a 12-metre cantilevered platform suspended 400 metres above the valley floor.

Happitat Adventure Park.

Time at Happitat is exhilarating without being rushed, thrilling but grounding. Each section of the park feels carefully considered, offering moments of intensity balanced with time to absorb the surrounding beauty.

It’s this beauty that reminds me of how powerful it is to slow down and create space to appreciate what surrounds us.

When you feel connected to nature in this way, it’s no surprise you feel more compelled to protect it.

Every element of the park has been purposefully engineered to ensure it gives back more to nature than it takes. Safety is equally paramount, with capped visitor numbers, highly trained guides and engineered systems meeting rigorous safety standards.

More than $1 million has been invested into environmental restoration, including stabilising bushfire-affected cliffs, planting native species and implementing a zero-waste operational system.

Looking ahead, a second stage of the project will introduce Walden, a cafe celebrating local produce and panoramic hinterland views, and is set to open mid to late 2026.

After experiencing it firsthand, it is clear this is more than an adventure park. It is an invitation to step into nature, test your limits and rediscover a sense of clarity.

Details

Happitat officially opens on Saturday, January 10.

GETTING THERE

Drive 1.5 hours from Brisbane or 1 hour from Surfers Paradise.

Happitat Adventure Park | happitat.com.au

Queensland | queensland.com

New Zealand Herald Travel visited courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland and Happitat Gold Coast.