Big Island Kohala: Zip & Dip Tour with Waterfall Swim

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.93 (132 reviews) 95% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/8

Duration9h

GroupUp to 9

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Zip through the canopy, then swim under a mountain waterfall in North Kohala

You zipline through five lines and two suspension bridges in the Kohala forest, walk past ancient Hawaiian sites, then swim under a private waterfall fed by a mountain stream. Lunch with coast views is included, along with all gear, a certified guide, and hotel pickup from Kona. The full day out means you're back by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kohala Zipline and Waterfall Swim

Get picked up early morning
Zipline across 5 lines and bridges
Climb spiral-tree staircase
Explore private mountain streams
Visit ancient Hawaiian agricultural sites
Swim under private waterfall
Enjoy picnic lunch with coastline views

The Experience

Most zip-line tours end at the platform. This one keeps going — after you clip in and work through five lines and two suspension bridges, you trade the harness for a bathing suit and wade into a private mountain stream fed by a waterfall. The contrast hits you hard: the rush of speed through the forest canopy, then the shock of cold water and silence. Your guide picks you up early from Kona, and the full day in North Kohala is built around both sides of that — the adrenaline and the stillness.

The zipline section moves at a steady pace, with time to catch your breath between runs. You'll cross a spiral-tree staircase (the only one in Hawaii, your guide will mention), walk past ancient Hawaiian agricultural sites, and get a real sense of the landscape instead of just flying through it. The gear — helmet, gloves, harness, trekking poles — is all provided, and the guides are ACCT certified, which means they know what they're doing. Kids as young as eight can go, though anyone under thirteen needs an adult on the line with them. The weight range is 70 to 270 pounds; they'll weigh you at check-in, so no surprises.

Lunch happens at a private picnic area with views of the Kohala Coast spreading out below you — a deli sandwich (turkey, ham, pastrami, or veggie), chips, a locally baked cookie, water and chilled drinks. It's simple food, but you're eating it in a place most tourists never see. After that, you head to the waterfall. The swim is short but real; the water is cold enough to wake you up, and the stream is narrow enough that you feel the mountain around you. Then it's the drive back to Kona, usually arriving in the late afternoon. Groups stay small — nine people maximum per van — so it never feels crowded.

Wear closed-toe hiking shoes, bring a bathing suit, and layer up; the mountain gets cool even when Kona is hot. You need moderate fitness to handle the walking and short climbs, and the terrain is uneven in places. If you have back or neck problems, or if you're pregnant, this isn't the tour for you. Arrive ten minutes early to your pickup location — they'll confirm the exact time and spot when you book.

What’s included

Early morning hotel pickup from Kona, all zipline equipment (helmet, gloves, harness), trekking poles, daypacks and rain gear, five ziplines and two suspension bridges, private waterfall swim in a mountain stream, lunch with a choice of sandwich or salad, chips, cookie and beverages, views of the Kohala Coast, and a certified ACCT guide throughout the full day.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Kohala Zipline

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in Kona who want both the adrenaline of ziplining and the calm of a waterfall swim in one day, with transport and all gear handled. Expect a full day out with early pickup and moderate physical demands — that's what lets you cover the forest canopy, ancient sites, and a private swim without rushing.