Kōloa Zipline holds a 5.0 on TripAdvisor across more than 6,000 reviews. For most families, that ends the comparison. If you want more than lines and social proof, the other two are worth comparing: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures builds a full interior day around the course, with a 4WD ride, a swim, and a bamboo grove lunch included in the price. Outfitters Kauaʻi at Kīpu Ranch spans the widest price range, from a $69 prone-position FlyLine to a $255+ all-day safari.
Table of contents
- Comparison of all Kauaʻi ziplines
- 1: Kōloa Zipline
- 2: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
- 3: Outfitters Kauaʻi
- An introduction to ziplining
Table of Contents
- Comparison of all Kauaʻi ziplines
- 1: Kōloa Zipline
- 2: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
- 3: Outfitters Kauaʻi
- An introduction to ziplining
Age and weight limits vary more across these three operators than the operators’ websites make obvious. We’ve seen Backcountry’s mandatory 100-lb weigh-in catch families off guard at check-in. Check those restrictions before you book.
Complete list of Zipline Tours on Kauaʻi
Three operators run zipline courses on Kauaʻi, each with a different format, price, and access requirements. The comparison below covers the key decision factors: number of lines, duration, age and weight minimums, and what’s included.
| Name | Duration: | Starting Price: | Best for: | # of lines: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Outfitters Kauaʻi (Details ↓) | 3.75 hours | $69 | Thrill Seekers, Value | 1 to 6 |
| 2Kōloa Zipline (Details ↓) | 3.5 hours | $162 | Families | 8 |
| 3Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures (Details ↓) | 3 hours | $169 | Scenery | 4 to 6 |
Q: What is the best zipline for Families?
Kōloa zipline is the top choice for families. With the lowest minimum age of the three operators (7 years old) and an optional ground school for first-timers and younger kids, it covers the most ground for mixed-age groups.
Q: What is the best zipline to see Scenery?
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures‘ zipline course descends a valley on 17,000 acres of former plantation land, with Mt. Waiʻaleʻale and multiple waterfalls visible from the lines.
Q: What is the best zipline for Thrill Seekers?
Outfitters Kauaʻi offers the AdrenaLine tour, which includes a ride in the prone Superman position on Kauaʻi’s longest zipline (the FlyLine, more than 3/4 of a mile) and a ride on the WaterZip, the only line on Kauaʻi where you release over a lagoon and land in the water.
Q: Which zipline offers the best value?
Outfitters Kauaʻi‘s FlyLine ($69) is the most accessible entry point: a single prone-position line at Kīpu Ranch, over 3/4 mile long, with no full-course commitment required.
Kōloa Zipline
Best For: Families and first-timers
Kōloa Zipline has the most lines of any operator on Kauaʻi (8 total) and the lowest minimum age of the three operators (7 years old). The patented Flyin’ Kauaʻiian harness is the course’s main differentiator: it frees your hands mid-flight, so riders who want to try aerobatics, spins, or an inverted position on the longer lines can. Ground school is available for first-timers and younger kids who want more preparation before the first line.
This 8 line course is about 3.5 hours of excitement featuring a line that is almost ½ mile long. On this course you can also zip together with your partner so you can both experience the wind and speed as you zip down the wires. Image: Koloa Zipline
Better yet, the course is one of the most extensive on the island, with 8 ziplines, including one that exceeds a 1/2 mile in length, with light hiking between the lines and water/snacks provided during the tour. Located just a quick drive from Poʻipū, Kōloa zipline is easy to reach for those staying in the resort area.
Book this if you want the most lines on the island (8), the widest age access (7+), or Kauaʻi’s only hands-free harness experience on a line approaching half a mile.
Kōloa Zipline on Kauaʻi: 8 Lines, Half-Mile Final Run
Eight ziplines on a 22,000-acre former sugar plantation, with a hands-free Superman harness and a final line that reaches roughly 55 mph. Open to ages 7 and up, maximum 280 lbs.
from:
$162
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.- Location: Kōloa
- Price: $162
- Tour Length: 3.5 hours
- Other Activities included in tour: Famous movie sites
- Number of ziplines: 8
- Minimum Age: 7 years old. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Weight restrictions: max 280 lbs
- Where to Book: Kōloa Zipline
The following video by Kōloa Zipline shows off some of the most dramatic rides they offer:
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
Best For: Interior landscape, full-day experience
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures is booked as much for the destination as for the lines. The tour starts with a 4WD ride into 17,000 acres of former plantation land, passes through seven ziplines descending a valley with Mt. Waiʻaleʻale as the backdrop, and ends with a swim in a mountain pool and lunch in a bamboo grove. This is the most restrictive operator: age 12 minimum, weight 100-250 lbs, with a mandatory weigh-in at check-in.
With a minimum age of 12, this tour is not for families with young children. It makes a good outing for adults, with guided narration about the history, culture, and environment of the land the course explores.
Book this if you want more than a standalone zipline course. The interior Kauaʻi setting, the 4WD ride, the swim, and the lunch are as much the reason to book as the seven lines.
Backcountry Kauaʻi Zipline Tour
Seven ziplines zig-zag down a private valley with Mt. Waiʻaleʻale as the backdrop, followed by a mountain swimming hole and lunch in a bamboo grove. This is a full interior Kauaʻi day trip that happens to include ziplines.
from:
$169
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.- Location: Līhuʻe
- Price: $169
- Tour Length: 3 hours
- Other Activities included in tour: Swim in mountain pool, lunch in bamboo grove
- Number of ziplines: 7
- Minimum Age: 12 years old. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Weight restrictions: between 100 and 250 lbs (mandatory weigh-in at check-in)
- Bookings: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
You can get an idea of the Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures zipline adventure from the following review video, made by Hannah and Richard from Wild and Growing:
Outfitters Kauaʻi
Best For: Format variety and Kīpu Ranch setting
Outfitters Kauaʻi runs its courses at Kīpu Ranch, land that has appeared as a filming location in Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean. The format range is the broadest of the three operators: from a $69 prone-position FlyLine (over 3/4 mile, solo or tandem) to a $255+ all-day Kīpu Safari with kayaking and lunch. The WaterZip, where riders release over a lagoon and land in the water, is exclusive to Outfitters and not available at either other operator.
The FlyLine drops 400 feet in the first section.
Its Nui Kauai Zipline Tour ($170) has six ziplines, beginning with 600-foot side-by-side lines and building up to the 4,000-foot Superman-style FlyLine. The $170 Adrenaline tour includes a ride in the “Superman position” on Kauaʻi’s longest zipline (the FlyLine, more than 3/4 of a mile) as well as a ride on the WaterZip. A single ride on the FlyLine is also available for $69.
The most encompassing option is the all-day Kīpu Zipline Safari tour ($267). It includes a scenic two-mile paddle, ziplining, picnic lunch, hike, and the WaterZip. The tour explores the landscape and film sites of Kīpu Ranch.
Book this if the setting matters as much as the lines (Kīpu Ranch is the most cinematic landscape of the three operators), or if you want to start with the $69 FlyLine before committing to a full course.
Outfitters Kauaʻi Ziplines at Kipu Ranch: All Four Tours Compared
Six ziplines over Kipu Ranch's Jurassic Park filming locations, finishing with a face-down, 4,000-foot FlyLine that Outfitters claims as Hawaiʻi's longest single zipline
from:
$69
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.- Location: Kīpu Ranch, Līhuʻe
- Price: Starting at $69 for the Flyline up to $255 for the full-day Kīpu Safari
- Tour Length: 3.5 hours (main tours); full day (Kīpu Safari)
- Other Activities included in tours: WaterZip, paddling, picnic lunch, 1/2 mile hike, canoe ride, famous movie sites
- Number of ziplines: 4+ (varies by tour)
- Minimum Age: 7 years old, 4 feet tall. Safari: 5 years old.
- Weight restrictions: Between 60 and 275 lbs
- Bookings: Outfitters Kauaʻi
You can see shots of the WaterZip and the FlyLine in the following video:
What is ziplining?
Ziplining is a cable ride in which a rider clips into a harness and travels the length of a line under gravity. The rush comes from the speed and open air, but courses vary significantly in intensity: some are smooth and gradual, others reach 40-plus mph on lines close to half a mile long. On Kauaʻi, all three operators build their courses into terrain that earns the view.
What to expect on a zipline tour
A zipline tour follows a predictable sequence: safety briefing, harness fitting, then transport or a short walk to the first line. After each line, the group moves to the next platform, either on foot or by vehicle, depending on the course layout. Some courses include extra elements between lines, like rappelling or suspension bridges.
The typical zipline tour takes 2-3 hours to complete. Here are other good things to know:
- Regardless of the company, the ziplining experience is always guided. Staff will assist you with your gear each line and ensure safety is a top priority.
- Some courses offer “dual-track” lines, which means there are two lines side-by-side, allowing friends and family to ride right next to each other at the same time.
- Safety harnesses are required and provided. The harnesses come in limited sizes and lines have weight restrictions, which is why you will see size and/or weight requirements that differ by company/course. Age limits also differ by company. Be sure to take note if you have young children.
- No personal gear is necessary to zipline, nor is any prior experience. Helmets are provided – all you have to do is wear close-toed shoes (required by all companies).
Zipline Tours on other Hawaiian islands
Ziplining is available on all four major Hawaiian islands. Here are our operator-by-operator comparisons for each: