The Signal Hill Project

The Luge is a fun ride for all ages. A World 'First' proudly designed and built in Rotorua, New Zealand, the Luge is a fun filled gravity ride on a 3 wheel cart. The unique braking and steering system provides the rider full control and allows them to travel as fast as they dare.

Three separate sealed tracks wind down through the redwood trees. A scenic track with viewing bays at great locations for taking photographs allows a leisurely trip down whilst enjoying the panorama.

An advanced track allows the more adventurous to enjoy the challenge of banked corners, a tunnel, bends and dips.

Skyline Skyride's third luge track opened in December 2001, giving a combined total of 5 kilometers of luge track to ride. This luge track is equipped with lighting, giving 2 tracks available for twilight luging.

Fun for all ages with children under 6 being able to be carried in tandem. Riders return to the top of the luge on a specially designed chairlift. Also available is night luge riding.

Over 5 million riders have enjoyed the Luge ride experience to date

Luge Technical Data

The Luge Track

4 metres wide, 1 kilometre long

Reinforced 100 metre concrete poured in 12 metre lengths

On steeper slopes a concrete footing was poured first, leaving reinforcing to tie into the 665 mesh on the concrete slab

Run off areas on the sides of the track laid with plastic matting. This saves scouring out of these areas

Steeper bank sides are sprayed with grass to stop erosion

Trees are planted for environmental and recreational purposes

The end of the luge track is narrower so riders can be more controlled. This saves damage to carts and gets an orderly flow of people in line for the return chairlift ride

The chairlift has a variable speed drive motor to reduce maintenance during the slower periods but has higher speed ranges for busier periods

Chairlift has automatic pick-up and kick-offs for luge carts

Low staffing levels required to run chairlift and luge. (2 operators for chairlift and 3 for the luge)

Choice of two tracks, one for slow riders, one for advanced riders

The Luge Carts