Adventure
It’s been said that living in a relatively small country surrounded by water in the middle of the South Pacific has created a culture of adrenaline junkies. Extreme sports are everywhere in New Zealand, but you can also find tamer pursuits for those not inclined to throwing themselves off perfectly good bridges. Come experience adventure, Kiwi style!
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Bungee (spelled Bungy by the Kiwis) jumping wasn’t invented in New Zealand. They just perfected and commercialized it. Now found throughout the world, the idea came from land diving in the island nation of Vanuatu. A J Hackett brought it to Queenstown in 1987 on a 30-day permit to see where it would go! And see where it’s gone. You can experience bungee jumping from the first place it ever happened right here in New Zealand. |
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Jet boating is another uniquely Kiwi sport. The engines on jet boats were invented to travel the narrow canyons and shallow rivers using an internal propeller for propulsion. The result is a thrill like no other, skimming past rocky outposts as you twist and turn through narrow canyons at breathtaking speeds. It’s all perfectly safe, while providing you with their own brand of Thrill Therapy. |
Nestled in one of the most picturesque harbours you’ll ever find, Akaroa is the first, and only, French settlement in New Zealand. Located just outside of Christchurch on the Bank’s Peninsula, you can explore the colonial architecture, shop the many craft shops and go for a swim with the world’s smallest and rarest dolphins – the Hector’s dolphin. Spend an hour or so in the water with these friendly creatures and it will change you forever.
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Another Kiwi invention, for 20 years intrepid travelers have been guided through Waitomo’s underground rivers. The Black Labyrinth is a 3-hour cave tubing excursion that calls on you to weave, jump and gently glide through a glowworm lit underground universe. If you want more adrenaline, then add abseiling and climbing to the cave tubing for the 5-hour Black Abyss tour. Either way, you’ll finish amazed and awed! |
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The iconic New Zealand trek is 4 days, often described as the “finest walk in the world”. The track proceeds from an inland lake, through a deep river valley and over an alpine pass to merge into Milford Sound, along the way enjoying some of the most breathtaking scenery you’re likely to find anywhere. You stay in bunk-bedded lodges along the way and have an experience you’ll remember forever. |
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The ski season runs from May to October, so you can find yourself skiing in July and August while the rest of the U.S. is in the midst of summer. From Ruapehu on the North Island to the ski fields of Queenstown, Wanaka and MacKenzie on the South, you’ll find challenging skiing in scenery guaranteed to make your jaw drop. Extend your skiing year round with a winter trip to New Zealand in our summer! |
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Another uniquely New Zealand concoction, imagine rolling down a hill with you inside a giant inflatable ball. Now imagine throwing a bucket of water inside the ball and you slipping, sliding and tumbling while rolling. Add a couple of your mates, and you’ve completed the fun. Only in New Zealand will you find this sport, so be sure you check it out while you’re down under! |
