New era for jungle park

AN ADVENTURE park that closed under tragic circumstances is set to reopen after its new owners decided to turn it into an exciting vision for all ages.

What was previously known as Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours has been rebranded Treetops Adventure Cape Tribulation under new owners Experience Co. The park is set to reopen in June with a fully guided experience.

Jungle Surfing Canopy Tours closed its doors in early 2020 after the death of South Australian tourist Dean Sanderson, 50, who fell from the flying fox. His wife, Shannon, was also injured and taken to Cairns Hospital, but later recovered.

Treetops Adventure Group general manager Nicolas Dansin said the whole adventure park had been revamped.

“We definitely want to keep what was a success, which was the amazing jungle that the experience is around,” he said.

“We want to keep the interpretation part of it; it’s a big part of the tour, the environment, the unique and the amazing forest in the world.

“We want to provide a premium experience for every level of fitness and age. Our tours will cater to anyone who wants to experience these incredible natural surroundings in an exciting way.”

Mr Dansin said the redesign incorporated four separate ziplines varying in length between 20m and 130m, suspended bridges, cables, and nets for visitors to explore at their own pace.

“The infrastructures, the platforms, everything else has been removed and completely re-engineered from the ground up,” he said. “None of the infrastructure in the trees has been retained.”

The redesign was prompted after witnesses saw the zipline snap, leaving the South Australian couple hanging before falling in October, 2019.

The tour itself is expected to be a bit different this time around.

“We are keeping the tour. It will be split into two. Before, you had one continued canopy tour,” Mr Dansin said.

“The first part of the tour is around interpretation; the second part of the tour will be guided still but on the suspension bridges up in the trees.”

Mr Dansin said there were eco-friendly techniques that they were adopting to protect the surroundings.

“The protection of the rainforest and of our host trees is vital to the integrity of our tours,” Mr Dansin said.

“We care not only for our customers’ safety but for the health of the rainforest.”

Tickets start from $95 for three to 17-year-olds and $135 for those 18 and over.

Those booking during the opening weekend will get 50 per cent off.

More information can be found at www.treetopsadventure.com.au.