walking . is . overrated

Let’s face it. There isn’t much on offer in NZ for disabled thrill-seekers. More often than not we’re lumped in the ‘too hard’ basket and left on the sideline as a spectator by many tourism operators. So imagine my excitement when I got a call from the folks over at Auckland’s brand new SkyWalk, asking me if I’d like to take their new ‘access’ chair for a test drive (or swing, as it turns out). Without thinking about what I was getting myself into, I jumped at the chance!

But it wasn’t until I was sitting in my wheelchair, on the topmost ledge of what is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, that I really began to question my own sanity. I was crazy, I thought. Falling to my death crossed my mind several times. But as you can see from the picture on the left, I had very little to worry about

So what is the SkyWalk, exactly?
SkyWalk is the name given to the 1.2 metre-wide platform that circles around outside the SkyTower’s main observation deck. There are no handrails, no barriers, just you and a 192-metre drop. Oh yeah, and a harness or two

But you’re in a wheelchair, how did you do it?
Good question, and here’s where it gets interesting! SkyWalk have adapted a fabric chair used for things like paraponting, and hooked it up to an incredibly secure harness, which then gets attached to a pole above the SkyWalk platform, and you simply slide along in this little seat, almost 200m in the sky! It really has to be seen to be appreciated. Check out the video from when Attitude TV took it for a swing.

Are there any restrictions?
To use SkyWalk’s access chair you need to be under the weight limit of 100kgs, and not be reliant on any external apparatus such as ventilators. Other than that, the SkyWalk is pretty much accessible to everyone!

Finally, I want to give the SkyWalk team a massive pat on the back for not only showing me such a great time, but also for making the thrill itself so openly accessible to everyone. My disability was never treated as an inconvenience or annoyance, in fact I’m pretty sure the chair is the way to travel - bugger walking round that track! Totally overrated

For more information, check out their website, or give them a call on 0800 759 586, I totally recommend it!