Via Ferrata Takaka Hill: Rock Climbing Adventure for kids 12+
Via Ferrata in New Zealand
Wow if you are up for an adventure and you have your head screwed on then this might be the kind of thing you’re after.
The new Via Ferrata on the Takaka Hill opened in late 2024 and is the first public Via Ferrata in New Zealand. I know there is the awesome Wildwire in Wanaka where the advanced track will have you practically climbing a waterfall, but that is a fully guided only tour. But this, this is your chance to give it a go on your own if you have the skills.
I’m stoked that there are some passionate people putting this on the map in New Zealand and can’t help think how cool it would be to have this reproduced around the country.
Article Table of Contents
- What is Via Ferrata?
- Our Experience on the Takaka Hill Via Ferrata
- Skills section
- Cliff Traverse Section
- Via Ferrata FAQs
- How do I get to the Via Ferrata Takaka Hill location
- Where can I hire equipment from?
- How long does it take to climb the Takaka Hill Via Ferrata
- Is Via Ferrata safe?
- Who runs the Via Ferrata?
- Is there a minimum age for the Via Ferrata Takaka Hill
What is Via Ferrata?
Via Ferrata is Italian for the “iron way” and it’s a protected climbing route, often with metal rungs, a ladder and a long wire where you are connected via carabiners and harness.
In laymans terms, its a type of wire rock climbing where you clip in and traverse the mountain in a more safe way for the average human. It means you can scale some vertical terrain without specialised rock climbing skills but still get to enjoy the outdoors with more calculated risk. There are differing levels of course but many are beginner friendly.
Via Ferrata is super popular in Europe. With the mountainous regions of Italy, Switzerland, Austria etc, these trails are certainly very common. It’s not unusual for people to own their own harnesses and go out for a weekend mission, much like New Zealanders would do for hiking.
Our experience on the Via Ferrata Takaka Hill
For context, at the time of doing this activity my boys were 11.5 years old an d 9,5 years old (yes apparently all half ages)
We hired gear from the Ngarua Caves shop and watched the safety video and we were left to our own devices. Our mission today was to find out whether it was suitable for our kids, knowing that perhaps it wouldn’t suit all of us, so went in to this with a very open mind.
My husband and I haven’t done Via Ferrata before, nor do we have extensive rock climbing experience, however we are all fit, have no fears of heights, are experienced hikers as are the kids and have our heads screwed on. Our kids are also used to following instructions and aren’t ones to muck around in these types of situations so we felt confident they would do well under our advisement.
There are two via ferrata courses here. The Skills Section is an easy 2-5 minute traverse where you can practice your skills and check you have a head for heights. Its rated a B, moderately difficult (On a scale of easy starting at A) whereas the main climb is rating a C (difficult)
Skills Section
The Skills section, for us, was easy and you’ll find the kids probably could have done the “course” without being hooked up. It climbed up to about 4m and came back down again. It gave you a little practice using the steel rungs, a bit where you had to climb on the rock itself and also gave you practice clipping on and off your two carabiners.
Here’s a great video that explains how to do it correctly. I made a video here that shows what it looks like but you’ll note that I didn’t use the correct way of clipping the carabiners on alternately (one clip down and one clip up) so don’t forget that fact.
Cliff Traverse
The Cliff Traverse is much more difficult that than skills section. Even just starting the via ferrata here was a vertical climb and I struggled in one section just to find the right holds to get up. I did make it, but I didn’t have the same speed as my 11 year old haha. He’s far more nimble that I am.
There are some “easy” sections that feels like you’re climbing some big rocks that I had no problem with and there are also some with big open cliff faces and nothing much below.
If you are afraid of heights, this might not be the activity for you. It was foggy the day we visited so probably had no concept of how high we were.
There are a number of “emergency” exits where if you feel uncomfortable you can bail out and hike back down. When you reach the top, you hike back down too (you don’t head back down the wires)
Just after the third emergency exit was a nice horizontal traverse around the rock where I got a little stuck. I couldnt figure out where to put my feet to make it over to the next rung. The steel rungs were really easy to use and wide enough to put two feet. But sometimes you had to wedge your foot on a ledge as step to make it there.
If you’ve done indoor rock climbing where you are belayed for example, the rope is tight. You can let go and just stay still. Or you can reach, miss and then try again. Here, it’s not quite the same. If you slip, you will swing down a few metres and to be honest, I’m not exactly sure how you get back up again. So there is where the “fear and adrenalin” lie.
I did however, manage to find an okay place to put my feet and made it around, but it did make me think for a moment and I do remember thinking “oooh, I think I’ve reach the extent of my comfort zone”
There’s a cool 3 wire bridge which is a little more “bouncy” than expected but otherwise, the rest of the section is what I like to think of as a fun challenge.
If you’re an expert rock climber you might find it super easy, but for me, it definitely got the adrenalin going a little and I came out very satisfied.
Via Ferrata FAQs
Where is the Takaka Hill Via Ferrata?
You’ll find the start of the walk to the two via ferrata courses at the Takaka Hill Walkway carpark near the top of the Takaka Hill (on your left heading towards Takaka)
Do you need any equipment?
Yes you sure do. You will need a helmet, a special via ferrata harness with “bungy” carabiners and ideally gloves holding onto the wire and rock faces can be pretty hard on your hands.
You can hire via ferrata gear from the Ngarua Caves shop. It was $8 for a harness. I believe they have around 15 harnesses available so if you think it could be busy (especially weekends), there are some shops in Nelson that also hire them if you are coming through that way. They also recommend that the minimum weight is around 40kg for the shock absorber to deploy correctly so that might make a difference to who can join.
I would also make sure you have shoes with good grip and dependent on weather, a jacket or thermal, because I imagine the wind can really whip in around here at times. Also don’t forget the sunscreen!
How long does it take to do the Via Ferrata at the Takaka Hill?
The main Cliff Traverse route took us about 35 minutes and the recommended time was between 20-40 minutes. If you do both routes, your round trip from the carpark should take about 90 minutes.
How Safe is Via Ferrata?
Nothing is without risk, but if Via Ferrata is done correctly, it should be pretty safe. If you fell, the bungy corded carabiner would save you from falling off the cliff, but you’re likely to still slam into the rock. You do have a helmet, but I’m imagining there would be some good bruises. But if you are all clipped in correctly you wouldn’t die which is obviously the major risk.
Who runs the Via Ferrata Takaka Hill?
I love when a community gets behind a cool project and this is exactly one of these cases. Championed by a cool group of volunteers, the Via Ferrata Aotearoa Inc was set up as a registered charity. They created the route and as far as I’m aware they will do any necessary maintenance and safety checks, but in terms of keeping safe and climbing, well that bit is up to you.
The club memebers are made up of several industry climbing professionals, experienced climbers and regular users of Via Ferrata in Europe and the deputy chair is even an geotechnical engineer.
Is there a minimum age for via ferrata?
There is no minimum age but the team at the Takaka Hill trail suggest that kids from about age 12 should find it pretty good but to belay those those who are younger than 10. They’ve also recently added that 140cm tall (and 40kg minimum for the harness) seems to be about the minimum height for good reach, and I know that Kippy did struggle a little being slightly shorter than this.
I have to say, given that we have tried it out, that I think those are pretty accurate. Again depending on your children.
My 11.5 year old is quite tall at 145cm and found this pretty good. He enjoyed it and did the main cliff traverse section with me after giving it a go with his dad.
My 9.5 year old is pretty adventurous, fit and strong and there were some sections that he found it hard to reach the metal rungs (he’s about 130cm tall) and in general he said it was challenging, he felt he accomplished something but didn’t want to go again right now. So I think that puts him at the very lower limit of this
So for this main section of the track, I think this is a great recommendation. Again, you know your own children as well as your own skills, so assess from here
Backyard Travel Family Recommendation for Via Ferrata with Kids
My own opinion as a relatively responsible outdoor mum but beginner via ferrata user (you can assess how qualified I am to make an opinion) is that I wouldn’t take kids who don’t have the ability to listen and take on advice. My kids are used to being in outdoorsy situations where there is some risk and understand that if I say stop, it really means stop.
If the kids don’t clip in properly or follow the instructions, yes it could be really dangerous, so it’s up to you to assess this. And it may mean to wait a few years until they are responsible enough. This is not a Clip n Climb situation where they can just let go and magically travel to the ground safely.
Other Awesome Things to do near Takaka
- Read our full article: the Best Things to do in the Nelson/Tasman region
- Visit Te Waikoropupu Springs: Some of the clearest water in the world
- Explore Ngarua Caves, a guided tour of an awesome cave system.
- Fish for Salmon at Anatoki Salmon Fishing
- Hang out at Tata Beach, one of my favourite beaches in Golden Bay
- Walk to Wharariki Beach near Farewell Spit: a 30 minute walk to one of New Zealand’s most famous beaches
- Visit Totaranui, the golden beach in Abel Tasman National Park
- Takaka’s Labyrinth Rocks: A free place for kids to explore in the natural rock settings. It’s the perfect setting for a huge game of hide and seek (free)
Jennifer
Founder of Backyard Travel Family
Jen is a super organiser when it comes to travel. Having travelled extensively in Europe and Africa, has lived in London and the USA and holidayed in many parts of Asia, she is not a newbie to the travel space
Jen has three young children, 11 and under and travels around New Zealand with them.
what you need to know
Travel
- You'll find the Via Ferrata on Takaka Hill at the Takaka Hill Walkway Carpark at the top of the hill - Walk for a few minutes to find the skills track and then another 10 minutes to the Cliff Traverse Trail.
The track
- A super cool experience
Suitable for kids?
- a good challenge for older children around 12+ . Kids should have their head screwed on and can follow instructions clearly. If done correctly, the risk is minimised and should be a great adventure. If the kids are not responsible and don't listen, I wouldn't recommend this activity.
Facilities
- No toilets here. If you hire from Ngarua Caves I would use these before you leave
- Trail is quite exposed and there is no shelter here. Dress appropriately for the weather.
What to bring
- good sturdy shoes
- Windbreaker or thermal if necessaryday
- Perhaps a snack if you are with a larger group as it can take a wee while
Food options
- Ngarua Caves Cafe or Townships of Riwaka, Motueka and Takaka are your closest bets for supermarkets, restaurants and more cafe options.
