5 Adventures in New Zealand

1. Kawarau Bridge – Bungee Jumping

Any country that promotes bungee jumping as one of its main traveling attractions cannot be missed by anyone looking for an adventure holiday. New Zealand sees more than a million visitors a year, who are mainly looking for thrilling rather than laidback vacations.

2. Jet Boating

Jet Boating (Photo Credit: Alex E. Proimos on Flickr)

An adventure traveler will find the South Island of New Zealand to be an unbeatable destination. Queenstown, in the Otago region, is considered New Zealand’s capital for adventure. In the mild months, bungee jumping, jet boating, mountain biking, heli biking, rappelling, and fly fishing are all available in abundance here. Queenstown is also the base for great skiing and snowboarding adventures at resorts like Cardona, Treble Cone, and the Coronet Peak.

3. Mount Cook

Mount Cook (Photo Credit: Airflore on Flickr)

The Fjordland National Park features the Milford Sound, a truly one of a kind destination where you can go sailing, sea kayaking, road biking, hiking, and mountain climbing on Mount Tutoko. Additional amazing adventure trips on the South Island are present on the Queen Charlotte Sound, an unbeatable sea kayaking destination and the home of the Queen Charlotte Track, an epic mountain biking single track. Mount Cook is New Zealand highest peak and serves up some difficult mountain climbing while Mount Hutt is on the opposite side of the South Island and is a well known skiing destination. Last but not least, take a hiking (or tramping) trip to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, the Abel Tasman National Park, Mt. Aspiring National Park or the Heaphy or Routeburn Tracks for a truly remarkable hiking adventure.

4. Tongariro

Tongariro (Photo Credit: Hooch on Flickr)

The North Island definitely has a smaller number of adventure trips, but they are no less exciting. The Bay of Islands is home to some of the best deep sea fishing, sailing and sea kayaking, and scuba diving adventures in Oceania. The Tongariro National Park is the most diverse adventure location on the North Island, featuring hiking on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, skiing and snowboarding at the Whakapapa resort, white water rafting on the Tongariro River, and fresh water fishing on Lake Taupo. Rotorua is another fantastic trout fishing location and features the Whakarewarewa Forest, site of many adventure laden mountain biking trails. Horseback riding is available all over the North Island, especially in Manawatu and the Bay of Islands. Hiking and biking are popular on the burgeoning Rimutaka Rail Trail.

5. Kawarau Rivers

Kawarau Rivers (Photo Credit: Karora on Wikimedia Commons)

Kawarau Rivers (Photo Credit: Karora on Wikimedia Commons)

For lovers of water adventure sport, there are options for canoeing and kayaking at River Whanganui, white water rafting on the Shotover, Wairoa, Mohaka, Clarence and Kawarau rivers and surfing in the area around Auckland. Auckland is also a well-known sailing location, perfect for a short excursion to the Haruki Gulf or a long excursion to the Marlborough Sounds. Don’t forget to try wreck diving and scuba diving at dive sites like the HMNZS Canterbury, Rainbow Warrior and the Mikhail Lermontov, which is the world’s largest wreck that can be accessed by an amateur diver.

Other interesting activities in New Zealand are swimming with the dolphins, whale watching, (mountain) biking and horseback riding. To see some of the Maori culture, you should at least see a traditional haka before you leave New Zealand!