Becoming a Zipline Guide!

Ziplining is one of my favorite things! Friday was actually only my third time (I had a full moon tour booked for my birthday last year but we got rained out) but each time I go, I find myself fantasizing about what it would be like to do this all the time, and what better way than to become a guide and get paid for it?

From what I’ve read, you can pretty much just apply to any outdoor adventure company with a zipline and start your training there, but they obviously prefer experienced people because it’s not for the faint of heart! One of the job descriptions I read required you to have enough body strength to pull yourself up, plus an additional 270 pounds! Most zipline companies also have rope challenge courses and other eco-adventures and guides are typically expected to train and work on everything the company has to offer.

One of the biggest components all the blogs and job postings I’ve looked at stress is the customer service attitude. Obviously, as a tour guide, your main job other than safety is to make sure everyone has a good time. I’ve seen estimates of pay hovering around $9-15 an hour and any good guide knows how to make those tips.

It seems like it’s pretty easy to get just a summer position and many places even offer lodging. I would absolutely love living in a forest or on an island and spending every day zipping through the trees. Being an adventure tour guide is also a totally acceptable use of a working holiday visa, so this is something I really want to consider. Having my accommodations taken care of for a few months while I worked would be such a time and anxiety saver.

Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of places really want you to have your manual drivers license, and I am god awful at driving stick, but I have another year in which I could learn! Some places were more flexible about the driving (though still strongly preferred) and I even saw one zipline job that offered driving training specifically before you could become a fully qualified guide.

I’m not going to lie, I kind of want to quit my job and go be a zipline instructor like right now. I’m definitely going to look more into this as my approach to New Zealand gets closer!

Would you ever be a zipline tour guide? Do you know anyone who has?