Activities
New Zealand is nirvana for active travelers. With a huge variety of terrain – mountains, gorges, rivers, lakes, rainforests, glaciers, inlets, beaches – and vast areas of unspoiled wilderness, the landscape offers an endless range of adventures, from mild to extreme. Queenstown is known as the “Adventure Capital” of the country, and just about every possible activity is available there, but you’ll find plenty of opportunities throughout the country.
Hiking
New Zealand is one of the world’s top destinations for hiking (or as the locals call it, “tramping”). The country is crisscrossed with spectacular walking tracks, which often take several days to complete. The Milford Track near Milford Sound is the most famous – other Fiordland tracks include the Keplar and Hollyford Tracks. The Marlborough Region features the Queen Charlotte and the Abel Tasman Coast Tracks, while the Rakiura Track around Stewart Island in Southland offers chances to see kiwi in the wild. In the North Island, the 4-day Tongariro Northern Circuit and 1-day Tongariro Alpine Crossing both pass through magnificent volcanic terrain. If you prefer a day hike, there is no shortage of trails all over New Zealand.
Glacier Walks
There are thousands of glaciers in New Zealand, the majority of them near the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. Walking on the glaciers – particularly the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers – is a popular activity, but should only be done in the company of experienced guides. Heli-hiking the glaciers is also an option.
Scenic Flights
Because of New Zealand’s rugged terrain, flying is the most efficient way to get around. It’s also a great way to get birds-eye views of the island’s magnificent peaks, glaciers, gorges, fiords and coastline. We took a helicopter from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, flying over the North Island’s mountains and dunes along the way. Our New Zealand partner Southern Crossings also suggests a private helicopter flight over Milford Sound, and a ski-plane flight over the Southern Alps.
Kayaking
Many of New Zealand’s lakes and coastal areas are best explored by kayak, which lets you fully enjoy the grandeur and stillness of the scenery, and gives you access to bays and coves that are unreachable by car or on foot. Some of the best places for sea kayaking are the Bay of Islands, Abel Tasman National Park, and Milford Sound, while the Whanganui River on the west side of the North Island is a favorite for river kayaking and canoeing.
River Rafting
Rugged mountains and ample precipitation means New Zealand has a number of epic rivers – white-water rafting is one of the country’s top adventure pursuits. The rafting season runs from October to March. Tours are available throughout the country, but the Wairoa, Kaituna and Rangitikei near Rotorua, the Shotover near Queenstown and the Rangitata in Canterbury are some of the top rivers. Waitamo Caves offer a thrilling underground “Black Water Rafting” experience.
Jet-Boating
Jet-boating was invented by New Zealand farmer Bill Hamilton as a way to navigate Canterbury’s shallow rivers, but it has evolved into a high-adrenaline adventure activity that’s available on lakes, rivers and harbors around the country. Some of the most exhilarating trips are in the Queenstown, Canterbury, Buller and Makarora regions of the South Island and on the Rangitaiki, Whanganui and Waikato Rivers in the North Island.
Bungee Jumping
The sport of bungee (or bungy) jumping originated in New Zealand, and is particularly associated with Queenstown, where the first commercial jumps took place. The plunge from Queenstown’s Kawarau Bridge is probably the world’s best-known jump, but jumps are offered in many other places, including Lake Taupo and the Auckland Harbor Bridge.
Skiing
The height of New Zealand’s mountains and the fact that its ski season (Jun-Oct) is the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere makes it an increasingly popular ski destination. Major ski areas (or ski-fields) include the Whakapapa and Turoa ski areas on the North Island’s Mount Ruapehu, Mount Hutt in Canterbury, and Treble Cone, Remarkables Ski Area, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Coronet Peak in Otago. There are also a number of small, locally owned ski-fields, particularly on the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps.
Caves
New Zealand has many cave systems, and some are home to glowworms, an insect unique to New Zealand. In its larval stage, the glowworm’s tail emits light, creating an ethereal shimmer within the blackness of the cave. The largest and most famous glowworm caves are in Waitomo, on the North Island – they can be explored on foot, by boat, or on a “Black Water Rafting” tour. The glowworm caves at Lake Te Anau in Fiordland are also spectacular, though smaller.
Fishing
With its abundant lakes, rivers and ocean, New Zealand is an angler’s paradise. Game fishing for marlin and tuna is available in the Northland from Dec-May. Lake Taupo is famous for its trout, while the eastern slopes of the Southern Alps offer the best salmon fishing.
Sailing
New Zealand’s many harbors and islands make it a wonderful place to sail, and sailing is a big part of Kiwi culture – Auckland is known as the “City of Sails” because it has more sailboats per capita than any other city in the world. The Bay of Islands in the Northland offers particularly excellent sailing.
Hot-air Ballooning
Prevailing breezes from the Southern Alps make the Canterbury Plains one of the world’s best places for ballooning, with panoramic views over the patchwork of fertile farmland, the famous braided rivers of Canterbury and the snow-capped Alps beyond. Ballooning is also popular in the North Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa regions of the North Island.