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Photo credit: Rod Soares
Thrill seekers with disability looking to participate in physically demanding outdoor activities can now do so, thanks to an innovative team of pioneers operating in the picturesque Blue Mountains.
The Blue Mountains Climbing School boasts climbing, canyoning, abseiling and bushwalking navigation activities, many of which have been adapted to suit the needs of people with varying disabilities.
One of the owners and the lead guide at the Blue Mountains Climbing School, Hugh Ward, explains that it’s the way the team has always run their exhibitions.
Everybody comes to us because they're needing some assistance to interact in a way that's safe and comfortable for them with the outdoors…our job is to work out where they're up to, where they want to be, and help them bridge that gap…Our accessibility products are just a continuation of that.
Hugh Ward
The adaptive adventure company was presented with the 2025 Excellence in Accessible Tourism award by the NSW Tourism Association, celebrating the environmental modifications they have put in place to provide visitors with disability with an equal opportunity to participate in activities at their own pace.
Mr Ward explains that going to a less crowded area so people with sensory disabilities feel more comfortable, or providing a custom designed roping activity for wheelchair users to be able to get out of their chair onto the rope and return to their wheelchair in a different location allows visitors the freedom to enjoy themselves.
“It could be that a private family group comes out with us, or it could just be one single person wants to come out and go climbing and abseiling,” he says.
One of the participants earlier in the year said to one of the other people that had been the best experience that they'd had since their accident…that was quite powerful… we realised we were doing something that was a little bit extra to just our ordinary guiding.
Hugh Ward
According to the Australian Sporting Alliance for People with a Disability, 14% of adults with disability participate in sport-related activities weekly, while 75% say they want to take part in sport but feel there are limited opportunities.
Four years ago, Crows Nest resident Chris Astill had a paragliding incident that resulted in a spinal cord injury. As a result of his accident, Mr Astill became a permanent wheelchair user.
However that hasn’t stopped the avid outdoorsman from participating in various sporting activities both on a personal and professional level.
“I do most of the activities for the sheer thrill of it, the enjoyment, the passion, the sense of awe and wonder that I get from doing these sorts of activities…but I have competed,” he says. “Part of the circumstances for me in acquiring paraplegia was that it's much easier to return to these sorts of activities with the help required if doing it at a formal competition.”
With this in mind, Mr Astill created Adaptive Athlete Academy, an organisation that helps people with acquired disabilities get back into sporting activities regardless of whether they wish to compete at a professional level or simply enjoy doing something physical.
I think more options is always better in so many different ways, at all different varying levels too. Some people don't necessarily want the Paralympic level of participation and everything that demands, they just wanna do it for passion, so I think catering to all types of people's interests and passions is the ideal.
Chris Astill
Mr Astill says some of the activities include surfing, indoor skydiving, rock climbing and mountain biking.
“I'm fortunate to have some very expert people that have helped me and I just want to see other people have access to those same opportunities.”
Having gone on a few exhibitions with Blue Mountains Climbing School himself, Mr Astill says the experience has never been short of enjoyable.
“Being kept safe, doing some pretty risky stuff, it's amazing to have athletes and instructors and businesses and industry people, state and national sporting organisations get on board.”
“All of the sports that we get involved with…having that mind to open doors and explore options is just life changing for everyone involved,” he says.
The Blue Mountains Climbing School is a finalist at the National Tourism Awards. The winners will be announced next month.