Wanaka adventure tourism business Wildwire has developed a reputation for thinking outside the box since COVID-19 restrictions have been in place.

Wildwire is the world's highest waterfall cable climb (via ferrata).

The family owned business came up with ‘Koha climbs’ after the alert level four lockdown, offering climbs for a koha (donation) rather than the usual asking price, and the deal attracted more than 500 people.

“We really believed that we would only have a handful of people climb with us, but it just exploded,” managing director Mark Morrison said.

Go Wild is a great family climb.

“The great thing about it all was that it allowed us to employ a lot more guides. When lockdown happened we had to lay off the seven guides we had. Then at the peak of our Koha programme in May/June we had 17 guides employed.”

Now the business has taken its philosophy of “Life is about experiences, not stuff” to the next level, offering the koha approach to hard-hit Kiwis and their families around New Zealand.

Wildwire also offers two other levels of climbs: pictured is Wild Thing.

The new offering, Climbs for Kiwis, was launched on Tuesday December 1. 

Wildwire is offering 50 spaces each month for the summer (or until the New Zealand borders open) on their Level 1 Go Wild climb, which is usually priced at $199 per adult. 

There will be no screening on who can take part in this, but Wildwire asks if you can afford it to leave the spaces for those who really need it.

Lord of the Rungs is the third level of climb offered.

“We know that 2020 has been a tough year for just about everybody,” Mark said. 

“We firmly believe that getting outside and filling your life with adventure is the key to happiness,” he said.

Mark said the response to Climbs for Kiwis was immediate and positive. 

Emails Wildwire received last week included these lines: “It will allow my whanau to experience and appreciate NZ’s great outdoors at a family friendly price. It will hopefully challenge and instill some confidence in my girls”, and “We… cannot usually afford family holidays. Being a family of five, usually the deals are only for two adults and two children. This Koha for Kiwis deal would be an awesome way for us to be able to do this unique activity as a family. When there are five of you, activities that are $100-200 per person are way out of our budget.”

Mark said, judging by the comments they’ve received, the scheme will allow people to have a fun, family experience.

“Getting out there will bring families closer together; there is nothing like enjoying an experience together and sharing the stories later,” he said.

Mark acknowledged that adventure tourism activities are not always affordable. 

“We hope that this scheme will change that, by providing a way for those that are really struggling to get out there and have some fun,” he said.

Find out more at the Wildwire website.

PHOTOS: Supplied