90-year-old Auckland great-grandmother oldest person on Ziptrek Ecotours trip

A 90-year-old great-grandmother is on an adrenalin high after completing her first ever Ziptrek Ecotours trip in Queenstown today (25 January 2013).

Aucklander Val Brown became the award-winning company’s oldest customer when she completed the Moa 4-Tour zipline tour with her family this morning.

Mrs Brown is visiting Queenstown as part of a week-long pub crawl around the South Island with 35 of her closest friends and family.

When she turned 80 Mrs Brown was asked by her family what she wanted to do on her 90th birthday, to which she replied “a ‘pub crawl’ down the West Coast of the South Island”.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Ziptrek and whilst I didn’t manage to turn myself upside down, I did let go and that was enough of a thrill for me,” said Mrs Brown.

Ziptrek Ecotours director Trent Yeo said it was “hugely inspiring” to see the Nonagenarian do the trip surrounded by her family.

“It was such a pleasure to see Val and her family get into the whole experience. She looked like she was thoroughly enjoying herself and it is an inspiration to see a lady of her age embracing life and experiencing new things,” Mr Yeo said.

Mrs Brown’s grandson Matthew Parker is based in Queenstown and said that friends had recommended his grandmother do the Ziptrek as part of her birthday celebrations.

“We have had a great trip doing lots of things, from jet boating to eating and drinking in lots of pubs on the way. We’re now off paragliding,” Mr Parker said.

And for the record, her family said she always drank the most and was the last to go to bed.

Image Captions:

1)         90 year old Val Brown enjoys the Moa 4-Tour Ziptrek with family and friends as part of her 90th birthday celebrations
Centre of image is 90 year old Val Brown
Front row; boy in black jacket and tan trousers is Marlow Parker, Val’s great grandson,
Back row in black jacket and red trousers is Sue Parker, Val’s daughter. Lady in black jacket and blue trousers is Val’s friend Adrienne Wilson, far right lady in black jacket and black trousers Mary Morris. With Ziptrek guides James Eisner, right hand side and Josh Little left hand side.

2) 90 year old Val Brown enjoys the thrill of the Moa 4-Tour Ziptrek as part of her birthday celebrations