Kauai’s topography makes it a natural for ziplining adventures with breathtaking views of ocean waters, canyons, valleys, ridges, and forests combined with the agreeable, tropical climate. Make Hawaii your aerial runway as you fly over the islands on a zipline. Here are some of our top picks in Kauai.
Zipline Aerobatics
Channel your inner aerobatic with some fun tricks as you fly over Kauai’s south shore with Koloa Zipline Aerobatics. While safely secured on the zipline, you’ll be able to spin, zip upside down, go hands free, and try out the starfish move while zipping above the water and more than 22,000 acres of Hawaii’s oldest sugar plantation. The guides even take photos during your tour so you can just have fun and enjoy. Silliness encouraged! This 8-line course is 3.5 hours long and includes tandem lines and Kauai’s longest zipline course. Koloa Zipline also offers sunset and twilight zipline tours and ATV off-roading adventures. Several start times are available, and tours are open to guests age 7 and up.
Zip N’ Dip
Princeville Ranch offers several unique tours, including their most popular 9-line Zip N’ Dip. The grand finale to the ziplining portion of the tour is called the King Kong – a 1,200-foot, tandem zip off a 26-foot tower. Also included is a refreshing break at a 15-foot swimming hole, complete with a picnic lunch and the relaxation of floating on inner tubes near a small waterfall. The tour is 4.5 hours long and is open to guests age 10 and up.
Ride N’ Glide
Also at Princeville Ranch, the Ride N’ Glide begins with horseback riding through a ranch of open pastures along Kauai’s north shore. The ride is followed by three zipline runs, including the final, 700-foot-long “Big Kahuna.” After these thrilling zips, jump back on your horse for a peaceful ride back to your starting point. Check-in time is at 1:30 PM every day except Sunday, and the tour is open to guests age 10 and up.
Nui Nui Loa Zipline
Soar, zip, and splash with this adventure from Outfitters Kauai that includes a 9-line zip course with 14 cables soaring over the famous Kipu Ranch. You’ll recognize parts of these 4,000 acres from scenes in Jurassic Park, The Descendants, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Zip over lush valleys and waterfalls, past Ha’upu Mountain and above the treetops of the jungle. The biggest zip is a whopping 1,800 feet and is a tandem zipline to allow you to race (or hold hands) alongside a partner. Other unique features include a banyan treehouse, a suspension bridge, and a zippel (part zipline + part rappel). There’s even a Waterzip to bring you to a bamboo pool to cool down. This 6-hour tour includes cold drinks and a picnic lunch. Start times are 7:15 am and 11:15 pm.
Almost all zipline tours follow a similar policy of “rain or shine, we still zipline.” It’s a good idea to bring a windbreaker or light raincoat to stay comfortable, and swimwear and a change of clothes if you’ll also be swimming. Don’t forget to wear closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and a securely-fastened camera to capture the views!
