Here in Wānaka, mountain adventures and care for our landscapes often go hand-in-hand. But few capture that balance quite like Wildwire, a local adventure company guiding waterfall climbs at the base of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Clipped into a wire high above the valley, Wildwire’s via ferrata climb up the edge of Twin Falls offers both an adrenaline rush and a connection to Wānaka’s landscape that is hard to describe to those on the ground. The birds-eye mountain views, the spray of the waterfall, the high of the outdoors – it’s a different world on the rock, and it’s a unique way of learning to care for and protect the places that move us. Up there, every step reflects a conscious effort to tread lightly and give back to the land that makes it all possible.
We caught up with Wildwire co-founder Laurel Morrison to hear how caring for the land they love so much has guided their story right from the start.
For Laurel and her husband Mark, Wildwire began with a simple goal: to build an unforgettable experience in nature that could also make a difference. “We started Wildwire because we have such a passion for nature and the outdoors, and we wanted to share that with others,” says Laurel. “We can’t believe we’re lucky enough to be able to work and live where we do, but we want to do more than just run a business in a beautiful place. We also want to make a difference.”
That drive to make a positive impact sits at the heart of their partnership with Love Wānaka, the local non-profit organisation working with businesses and individuals towards environmental sustainability in the region. “By partnering with Love Wānaka, we can join forces with other like-minded businesses and groups, and really make a difference to our community,” Laurel says.
Operating just outside Mount Aspiring National Park, Wildwire’s team feels a deep sense of guardianship over their surroundings. “We’ve all been drawn to work here because we have an inherent love and respect for the land we operate on,” Laurel explains. “This is the backbone of our business. Without it, we wouldn’t have anything.”
Wildwire works with the Matukituki Charitable Trust to trap predators and monitor waterways leading into the national park, helping to protect native birdlife. They’ve also begun a replanting programme along the waterfall, recently planting 100 native trees which they’ll continue to tend over the next year and through the dry Otago summer. Solar power, waste reduction, and sustainable partnerships all help them towards their goal of “causing more good than harm.”
Laurel and the team understand that environmental sustainability is the key to ensuring the waterfall can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. “We’ve made sustainability a key part of our culture, and it governs every decision we make,” says Laurel.
The Wildwire experience is more than a climb: it’s a moment of awe, of quiet, and of a connection with nature that stays with you long after your feet hit solid ground. “When you’re clipped to the side of a 100-metre waterfall, fresh air in your lungs, snow-kissed peaks stretching before you and the lake below, the spray of the waterfall misting your face as it roars behind you – it’s hard not to connect with nature,” says Laurel.
And to Laurel, the environment is the best teacher. “People on our tours naturally walk away with an appreciation for this place and its beauty, without the long speeches or time spent at information boards,” she explains. “They see our nursery of growing plants and our traps, they breathe the air, they take in the view. They see with their own eyes what we are doing, and they know why.”
Running a climbing business in such a sensitive landscape requires balance and care. Every choice, from the size of tours to the sourcing of food and materials, is made carefully and with the environment in mind. “Every decision we make takes into account how we can have as low an impact as possible,” Laurel says. This way, Wildwire’s adventures don’t just showcase the land’s beauty; they also help preserve it.
Love Wānaka Impact Partners like Wildwire perfectly capture what it means to blend adventure with authenticity, and to offer experiences that celebrate this region’s wilderness while actively caring for it. “We aim to make a positive difference in every area,” says Laurel. “To people through adventure, to our environment through conservation, and to our team by supporting them to be the best they can be.”
Nothing quite captures the beauty, thrill, and sense of awe found at the top of the climb like hanging on to the wire yourself. For those ready for their next adventure, head to Wildwire to explore first-hand how adventure and care for our land go hand-in-hand.
Much like Wildwire, Love Wānaka works hard to protect the landscapes and wildlife that make our rohe (region) so special. Whether you’re a Wānaka local or you’re just passing through, there are plenty of ways to give back to the land: whether volunteering with local groups, making a donation or investing in Love Wānaka to support environmental projects in the area.
Or, for local businesses keen to make a difference, explore the Love Wānaka Impact Partner programme and join the community shaping a more sustainable future for our mountain home.
Images by Emily Lawson
