Launceston: Hollybank Forest Treetop Zip Lining with Guide

The forest opens beneath your feet. Hollybank Forest Treetop Zip Lining gives you six guided rides through blue gum trees, including a 400 metre flight across the valley and Piper’s River. I like the mix of big views and useful forest information, and I like the small groups, limited to 10 people. The main consideration is simple: you need to be comfortable high above the ground, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, pregnant women, or anyone over 136 kilograms.

You spend 150 minutes with the activity, not just a few minutes on one cable. Guides such as Monty, Lachy, Taylor, Jesse, Charlie, Faith, and Danielle have been praised for calm instruction and encouragement, which matters when your feet leave the platform. Wear closed-toe shoes, leave skirts and high heels behind, and remember that children under 40 kilograms or aged 8 and younger must ride with another person.

Key points at a glance

• Six zip lines cover almost one kilometre, so this is a full canopy session rather than a single quick ride.
• The longest cable runs 400 metres, giving you the clearest view across the valley and Piper’s River.
• The cables reach 50 metres above the ground, making height part of the experience, not a minor detail.
• Small groups of up to 10 people allow the English-speaking guides to give personal help and steady nervous riders.
• The 10-minute walk to the launch zone gives you time to get fitted and understand the equipment before the main activity.
• Children and lighter riders need special planning, since anyone under 40 kilograms must ride tandem with another person.

Six cables, one high forest adventure

Hollybank Forest is best understood from above. At ground level, a blue gum forest can feel like a wall of trunks and leaves. From the canopy, you get a broader view of the trees, open sky, the valley, and Piper’s River below.

This is not a simple point-to-point ride. The tour uses six different zip line sections, linked by timber platforms and short movements through the forest. Together, the cables total almost one kilometre. That gives the session a useful rhythm: prepare, ride, arrive at a platform, hear more instructions, then set off again.

The height reaches 50 metres above the ground. That figure is worth taking seriously if you are uneasy with heights. You may feel the first launch more sharply than the later ones, once you understand how the harness and cable system work. The guides help with that transition, showing you how to get strapped in before you walk to the launch area.

The longest ride is 400 metres. It gives you more time in the air than the shorter sections and should be the moment when the scale of Hollybank becomes clearest. You are not simply looking at a forest from a platform. You are moving through it, with the valley and river opening out beneath you.

Meeting the guides and getting fitted

The tour begins with a meeting with your guide. You learn how the zip line equipment works and how to get strapped in. This early instruction is important because the activity depends on you understanding the system before you leave the ground.

You then walk for about 10 minutes to the launch zone. That walk is part of the setup rather than dead time. It gives you a chance to ask questions, settle your nerves, and get used to the equipment before the first ride.

Guide quality is one of Hollybank’s strongest points. Specific guides praised in feedback include Monty, Lachy, Taylor, Jesse, Charlie, Faith, Danielle, Carlos, Chris, Naomi, and GC. The repeated pattern is clear: guides are described as professional, patient, friendly, and encouraging.

That matters most if you are trying to manage a fear of heights. One participant specifically used the activity to challenge that fear and appreciated a calm, respectful approach. You should not expect the guides to remove the height, but you can expect them to explain the process and help you take it one platform at a time.

A small group makes this easier. With no more than 10 participants, the guide can pay attention to how people are coping rather than simply moving a large crowd through the course. The group size also helps create a more personal outing, especially if you are visiting with family or friends.

What happens on the six zip lines

Once you reach the launch zone, the guide leads you through the course from one timber platform to the next. Each platform is a reset point. You can listen to the next instructions, take in the view, and prepare for the following cable.

The first rides help you get used to the basic action. You are clipped into the line, move from tree to tree, and learn how the course feels. The guides also explain the forest and the way the installation works in the trees, so the activity has an educational side as well as a physical one.

The scenery changes with your height and direction. You see the gum forest at canopy level, then look across the valley toward Piper’s River. The view is not a decorative extra. It is the reason the high course feels different from a zip line built over a small clearing.

The cables vary in length, with the complete route approaching one kilometre. This helps prevent the tour from feeling repetitive. You are not repeating the same short ride six times. The course builds toward the 400 metre final or later ride, where you have more time to look around while moving between trees.

Guides also share information about Hollybank Forest’s ecosystem. The exact amount of interpretation can vary with the group and the pace, but the activity gives you a chance to understand the forest as more than a backdrop. You get a view from the level where much of the forest life and structure can be appreciated.

At the final platform, the guide helps you get unhooked. The formal tour ends there, after the equipment is removed and the last section of the course is complete.

The view from 50 metres above the ground

The best reason to book this tour is the viewpoint. Hollybank lets you see the blue gum forest from the canopy, with sky above and green below. That combination is hard to get from a normal walking path.

The height also changes your sense of distance. Piper’s River and the valley become part of one wide view, while the individual tree trunks and platforms keep the scene connected to the activity. You get both a close look at the forest and a wider outlook across it.

The scenery has been praised as spectacular, but you should keep expectations practical. This is an active tour. You will be handling equipment, listening to instructions, and moving between platforms. You may not have unlimited time to stop for photographs, and the main reward is seeing the forest while travelling through it.

If you want quiet nature observation, a walking trail may suit you better. If you want scenery with a strong sense of movement, the zip line offers much more energy.

Is the $102 price fair?

At $102 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. I think the price makes more sense when you look at the full 2.5-hour schedule rather than counting only the time spent in the air.

You receive a fully guided canopy tour, all required equipment, six zip lines, almost one kilometre of cable, instruction, and access to views from as high as 50 metres. You also get a guide who manages the safety process and explains the forest. That is a substantial activity for a half day.

The small group is part of the value. A large operation might offer a lower price, but you would likely receive less individual attention. Here, the guide’s role is not just to point you toward the cable. They help you get fitted, explain the system, support nervous participants, and assist with the final unhooking.

I would call it good value for someone who wants a main Launceston activity, especially if you enjoy outdoor adventures and want more than a short thrill ride. It is less attractive if you are only mildly curious about zip lining or mainly want a relaxed forest outing.

The flexible booking terms also help. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start times when planning, since the tour lasts 150 minutes and is not a quick stop between other fixed appointments.

Who should book this tour?

This suits adults, families with older children, and friends who want a shared challenge. It can also work well for a couple marking a special occasion. One couple used the tour to celebrate an anniversary and found the guides Jesse and Faith reassuring.

You do not need to be an expert adventurer. The activity includes instruction and guided support, and the course is designed for participants to move through it with help. Still, you should be ready for heights, harnesses, timber platforms, and the physical demands of getting through a canopy course.

It is a particularly good choice if you want to challenge yourself. The activity can feel intimidating before the first ride, but calm instruction makes the process manageable for many people. Tell your guide if you are nervous. The feedback about patient and encouraging staff suggests that this is exactly the sort of concern they are used to handling.

Families need to read the age and weight rules carefully. Anyone under 40 kilograms must ride tandem with another person. Children aged 8 or younger must also ride tandem. For anyone under 18, one adult must supervise every four young people.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or people weighing more than 300 pounds, which is 136 kilograms. These are firm planning points, not minor fine print.

Clothing, shoes, and useful preparation

Wear closed-toe shoes. This is the one item you should sort out before arriving. Open-toed shoes and high heels are not allowed, and skirts are also prohibited.

Choose practical clothing that lets you move comfortably in a harness. The provided information does not specify a special clothing list beyond the restrictions above, so you should avoid treating the activity like a casual sightseeing stop. You will be walking to the launch zone, climbing or moving around platforms, and riding several cables.

Bring a steady attitude as well as suitable footwear. The safety process is guided, but you still need to listen carefully and follow directions at each platform. The activity works best when you allow the guide to set the pace.

English is the instruction language. If you need detailed guidance in another language, this may be a limitation.

What makes the staff so important

A zip line course is only as good as the people running it. Hollybank receives especially strong praise for its guides, and the comments are specific rather than vague. Guides have been called professional, careful, supportive, and informative.

One account describes a guide helping a child who did not reach a platform. The guide handled the situation professionally and brought the child in safely. That story points to the practical value of having trained staff nearby when a participant needs help, rather than being left to solve a problem alone.

You should not book an adventure activity based only on the scenery. The guide controls the briefing, equipment checks, pace, and response to nervous or uncertain participants. Hollybank’s high rating, 4.9 from 57 reviews, reflects how strongly this part of the outing has been received.

The named guides also give the experience a more personal feel. Jesse and Charlie took time to help people feel comfortable, while Lachy and Taylor were praised for the amount of information they provided. Monty, Danielle, Carlos, Chris, Faith, Naomi, and GC were also singled out positively in separate visits.

My call: book it if you want height and scenery together

I would book Hollybank if I wanted a proper outdoor activity near Launceston, rather than a quick novelty ride. The combination of six cables, a 400 metre longest run, nearly one kilometre of total zip lining, and canopy views gives the $102 price a reasonable basis.

You should choose something else if heights make you deeply uncomfortable, if you need a fully accessible activity, or if your group cannot meet the tandem and supervision rules. The course is active, high, and guided in English.

For the right person, this is a memorable way to see a Tasmanian blue gum forest. You get the rush of moving between trees, the calm of looking across Piper’s River, and the useful reassurance of guides who know how to keep the experience safe and encouraging.

FAQ

How long does the Hollybank Forest zip line tour last?

The tour lasts 150 minutes, or 2.5 hours.

How many zip lines are included?

The tour includes six different zip line courses, with a combined length of almost one kilometre.

How high above the ground are the zip lines?

The course reaches up to 50 metres above the ground.

How long is the longest zip line?

The longest ride is 400 metres.

What should I wear?

You must wear closed-toe shoes. High heels, skirts, and open-toed shoes are not allowed.

Can children take part?

Children aged 8 or younger must ride tandem with another person. Anyone under 40 kilograms must also ride tandem. For participants under 18, one adult must supervise every four youths.

Is the activity suitable for everyone?

No. It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, or people weighing more than 136 kilograms.