Australia’s First Via Ferrata Experience is Coming to Victoria

Australia is getting its first via ferrata adventure! RockWire at Mt Buller, Victoria is expected to open at the start of February.

 

Along with hiking, biking, and running, a new adventure will soon be added to your to-do list when visiting Mt Buller in Victoria’s High Country: RockWire, Australia’s first via ferrata experience.

Suitable for first-time and experienced climbers, this guided trip will take you along 400 metres of bridges, ladders, and stemples in a three-hour thrill-seeking adventure that explores the usually inaccessible west face of Mt Buller summit.

What is via ferrata?

Via ferrata, meaning ‘iron way’, has a long history in Europe as it was created during World War I to provide access through the rugged Italian Alps. Metal rungs and cables were fixed into the mountainside to help soldiers negotiate the diabolical Dolomite mountains. Ever since mountaineers and climbers have used these iron pathways to create and link recreational climbing routes. The popularity of this unique climbing adventure has grown across Europe and the US and has now found its way to Australia’s alpine environment.

Read more: Italy’s Iron Way

One of the two bridges you’ll traverse along RockWire

Scary, But Safe

The via ferrata climbing experience offers all the rewards with minimal risk. Climbers wear a harness attached to a fixed cable via unique lanyards. Regardless of your previous climbing experience, you can enjoy the thrill of high-altitude adventure, with the knowledge you’re safely secured and being guided by an experienced climber.

To participate in RockWire you must weigh 40kg or more, be at least 120cm tall, and be able to climb a ladder. We can only imagine the hurdles the team behind RockWire had to negotiate to pass Australia’s extensive health and safety, as well as environmental, regulations.

‘Opening up access to a part of a mountain that once could only be looked at from afar but can now be explored up close, offering a taste of mountaineering is very special. We’ve designed it with enjoyment and safety in mind, ensuring a memorable and comfortable adventure for all ages,’ says Noel Landry, General Manager at BSL.

Enjoy stunning views from the eastern face of Mt Buller Summit

Bringing RockWire to Australia

Climber James ‘Jimmy’ Webb used to guide via ferrata climbs in the United States before conceiving the idea of bringing this elevated experience Down Under. He’s excited to share the incredible alpine views with a fresh cohort of climbers and that unbeatable feeling of accomplishing something outside your comfort zone.

‘RockWire is more than a climb; it’s an invitation to go beyond the edge and touch the sky, to stretch your limits and discover the exhilaration of the ascent amidst the splendour of Mt Buller’, James said.

When does RockWire open?

RockWire opens in just a few weeks, on Saturday, 3rd February 2024 but bookings are open now!

Prices start from $199 per person, with discounts for midweek and group bookings. RockWire will be open every day of the week with both morning and afternoon sessions, this unique three-hour adrenaline experience will make for an unforgettable alpine adventure. Private group tours are also available.

For more info and to book, head to the RockWire website.

Images thanks to Mt Buller