Tourist attraction zips into action

Daredevil Tourism Minister Tim Holding has resisted the temptation to hurtle through the treetops in the Otway Ranges as he opened Victoria's latest tourist attraction...

The minister with a penchant for adventure joined other thrill seekers at the launch of the state's first zip-line, near Apollo Bay, off the Great Ocean Road, on Wednesday.

The zip-line - a high tech flying fox - enables harnessed adrenaline junkies to fly through the rainforest on cables suspended between trees at the famous Otway Fly.

Mr Holding, who last year sparked a massive search and rescue effort when he disappeared in the Victorian Alps, was on hand to cut the ribbon but looked out of place in a suit and tie.

Time pressures six weeks out from a state election clipped his adventurous wings but the minister, who also dabbles in scuba diving and marathon running, vowed to be back.

"I need about three-and-a-half, four hours to do it and I want to do it justice, so we don't do things by half in Victoria and I'll come back when I've got the time to really enjoy it," Mr Holding told AAP.

"Anything that gets the adrenaline going and gets the heart beating faster is fine by me ... for people who have been on a flying fox on a school camp - this is going to take that to a whole new level and the excitement I think is going to be quite extraordinary."

The $1.4 million zip-line features eight "flying" cables ranging from six metres to 20 metres high and up to 120 metres long.

It is only the third attraction of its kind in Australia and was developed with tree-friendly technology that minimises the impact on the natural environment.

Operators say it will help bring more tourists to the area, attract return visitors and turn 10,000 day trippers into overnight stays.

Up to 160 visitors are expected to fly through the zip-line a day during peak periods.

Source: AAP