Summer Tube

Alpine Springs in Lake Tekapo has recently opened the country’s first summer tubing facility at the Alpine Springs Hot Pools and Day Spa complex on the shores of Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Country. 

Summer tube rides were at the top of the Must Do List for northern hemisphere adventure seekers - and Alpine Springs introduces the first one in New Zealand. 

Riders use the winter snow tubes, but the base of the tubes are reinforced for use on the artificial matting. There is an existing Magic Carpet conveyor lift to take people quickly up to the top of the 150 metre slope. Please bring suitable footwear for the tubing park, helmets are compulsory and provided by Alpine Springs. One tubing ticket entitles the bearer to one hour

The facility is being imported from Austria, and will be installed on the winter snow tube park on the lower slopes of Mount John. It uses synthetic carpet with the same slippery properties as snow, and curves, corners and slopes on the thrilling ride-on-gravity. 
 

For safety reasons the Tube ride is restricted to persons 1 meter tall and over.

Cathy Hemsworth, Business Development Manager for Alpine Springs, said summer tubing had proved so popular in Europe and North America that 500 facilities had been installed in just a few years. 
 

“It’s become a real craze and we’re delighted to be the first in New Zealand to offer such a great summer adventure ride that’s safe for all the family. There’s only one in Australia but they are incredibly popular in Europe where they’re operating in urban and rural settings,” Cathy Hemsworth said. 
 

“The summer tube experience will add to the roller and blade skating attractions we offer, and the three hot pools. I’m sure it’ll be a very popular combo for families here and there will be a lot of younger people who will want to tube and talk about it on their social networks.” 
 

“Tubers get the thrills and spills of an exciting downhill ride in a safe environment, and as operators, it means we can use the same slope and conveyor lift for both winter and summer rides.” 

Alpine Springs will have the facility open mid December. 
 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
 

What is summer tubinge? 

Summer tubing involves gliding speedily but safely downhill on artificial matting with raised sides, using normal snow tubes with a reinforced bottom. The tubing track is built onto the ground and has straights, banked corners and parabolic curves. 
 

What are the main features? 

 Can be used in all seasons 

 Matting gives a consistent surface for easy control 

 Exciting summer activity for wider range of skill abilities 

Where was it developed? 

Winter snow tubing proved very popular, especially in the USA, and a summer version was developed in 2001 in Italy (by Neveplast Italia Ltd) and in association with an Austrian company (SunKid). Tekapo Springs is importing its facility from Austria. 
 

Where is summer tubing popular? 

There are more than 500 faciliities installed in Europe. 

The first one installed in the Southern Hemisphere was in Australia in 2010 (Melbourne’s The Enchanted Maze Garden on Mornington Peninsula). There is also a large one in Indonesia’s Kampung Gajah Amusement Park (Java). 

Adventure Parks in Europe are using summer tubing, in urban and more rural settings such as forested areas, river banks and lower moutntain slopes. 
 

What are the benefits for the operator? 

 It is assembled simply and quickly by modular construction and can be modified, changed and repaired cost effectively and easily. 

 The parabolic curves and straights use metal structures with protective mattresses to give users an exciting and safe ride. 

 There is a semaphore and braking system for controlling traffic and speed. 

 Summer tubing increases the range of activities on site and uses the winter snow park facility and Magic Carpet conveyor year round. 

 Normal snowtubes with reinforced bottoms can be used. 

NOTE TO MEDIA: Your interest in this new activity is warmly welcomed and we invite media coverage of the offial opening (to be advised) and the use of the facility. 

For more information please contact: 
 

Cathy Hemsworth. 

Business Development and Sales Manager 

Alpine Springs 

Lake Tekapo 

Ph: 0274 324 286 

Ph: 03 3766 346 

Email: cathy@alpinesprings.co.nz