Bungy

For many visitors, bungy jumping in New Zealand has almost become a rite of passage, that they take that heart-stopping leap of faith while they're here.

In the 1980’s, a couple of young kiwis, AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch, set up New Zealand's first commercial bungy jumping operation, with a jump from the historic Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown. Since then, New Zealand has become the home of bungy, with numerous other operators starting up. Every day of the week locals and tourists alike enjoy the experience of a bungy among stunning landscapes. Bungy jumping remains one of New Zealand's most popular and renowned leisure activities.

Sky Diving

There is nothing like skydiving for sheer heart-stopping adrenalin and adventure and there is no place like New Zealand to do it.

New Zealand's magnificent landscapes take on an extra dimension when you’re 12,000 feet in the air. Skydive in Queenstown or Wanaka and you will look from the vastness of the Central Otago high country to the snow-capped mountains surrounding the jewel-like lakes. At the other end of the country, Lake Taupo has the largest commercial drop zone in the world and stunning views of volcanoes, forests and the lake itself. A Bay of Plenty skydive flight will take you over gleaming waters and geothermal wonders.

Zorb

OGO Rotorua is the largest ball rolling park in the world and is operated by the inventors of this iconic New Zealand experience.

The experience of rolling down a hill inside a giant inflatable ball has been an iconic NZ bucket list adventure experience since Andrew and David Akers invented and developed the first operation in the world back in 1995 on this very site! With FOUR different tracks to choose from, wet or dry ride styles, OGO Rotorua is the perfect opportunity to let your inner child come out to play. Think of it like a giant water slide, 40 litres of (warm) water, slipping and sliding - there is no tumbling involved just full on belly laughs from top to bottom.

Caving

Spelunkers (cavers) say that New Zealand has some of the most challenging and spectacular caving systems in the world, but even first-time cavers can enjoy our underground scenery. Caving experiences range from a dreamy drift through a glow-worm grotto to a rip-roaring, rope-dangling, action-packed subterranean adventure.

Waitomo is often top of mind when thinking of caving in New Zealand, however there are many awesome caving sites throughout the country for you to explore.

Off-road Driving

A wonderful by-product of New Zealand’s agricultural heritage is our comprehensive network of back-country roads and tracks.

Off-roading in New Zealand could be anything from a chauffeur-driven safari in a luxury Land Rover to a self-drive scoot around the forest on a quad bike. Experiences vary enormously according to where you are in the country. In Northland you can traverse colossal sand dunes on Ninety Mile Beach; Waikato four-wheel-driving could be a blast in a rally car or a quad bike farm tour; Marlborough might see you chasing the good life on a high country sheep station; and Canterbury could mean an alpine adventure in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Ziplining

New Zealand is home to a number of spectacular zip lining experiences, where visitors can glide through spectacular native forest, across rivers and canyons.

In the North Island, make your way to Waiheke Island, where you'll zip your way past stunning views of Auckland Harbour, or head to Rotorua for an immersive 3-hour wilderness experience. In the South Island's Queenstown you can take a gondola up to the top of Bob's Peak; then fly through the treetops while gazing out at the Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu. On the West Coast, you can combine zip lining with river tubing and twinkling glow worms.

Kayaking

Kayaking is one of the best ways to really explore the thousands of kilometres of New Zealand's magnificent coastline and inland waterways.

A guided New Zealand kayaking tour can take you anywhere from the crystal clear waters in Abel Tasman National Park to the sheltered Marlborough Sounds, or the towering grandeur of the fiords to open water safaris around, for example, the Bay of Islands and Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Paddle with dolphins, or paddle around a marine reserve and jump in for a snorkel.

Sailing

With 15,000 kilometres of stunning coastline, sheltered sounds and island-dotted harbours, New Zealand has everything you could ask of a sailing holiday.

Where to sail is up to you; there are certainly no shortage of choices. The marine reserves are good places to start; the Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf, and the Marlborough Sounds. The sheltered harbours and islands make for picturesque journeys before opening out to inshore cruising grounds. There are also a number of popular coastal journeys where you can moor each day in a sheltered bay before heading onward. The east coast, north of Auckland, on route to the Bay of Islands, the Kerikeri Inlet or the fiord-like Whangaroa Harbour is a particularly scenic cruise.

Boat Cruises

Boat cruises are a great way to relax and see the sights. With so much water in and around New Zealand, you'd be remiss not to include one on your holiday.

Boat cruising is a big part of the New Zealand experience. We have beautiful islands, harbours, gulfs and beaches waiting to be explored. Our mountainous landscape provides an abundance of pristine lakes and rivers, while our awe-inspiring fiords, sounds and glaciers draw visitors from all over the world.

Surfing

With an astonishing 15,000 kilometres of coastline featuring a variety of breaks, waves, points and reefs, it’s no wonder New Zealand is a world-class surfing destination.

It’s as though nature designed the New Zealand coastline with surfers in mind. Tiny coves, long sandy beaches and sandbars and reefs - the diversity and consistency of surfing conditions here is as remarkable as the stunning coastline itself.

Rafting

From a quiet drift through forest wilderness to a white-knuckled, wide-eyed journey down turbulent rapids, rafting covers the full adventure spectrum.

Rafting rivers in the North Island are mostly found in the central and east coast areas of Lake Taupo, Bay of Plenty and the Hawke's Bay. Lake Taupo's Tongariro River is home to three sections of white water, ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 4. In the South Island, you’ll get the chance to try rafting around the resort town of Queenstown, Christchurch and on the wild West Coast.

Windsurfing

New Zealand’s stunning coastal and lake side scenery makes windsurfing or kitesurfing all the more enjoyable.

Whether your preference is to explore calm inland waterways, chop jump across a harbour or wave sail off the face of a roller, there’s a perfect location waiting here for you. Board hire and instructors are available at most of the popular windsurfing areas, which include the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

This amazing walk encircles Mount Ngauruhoe, an active volcano in Tongariro National Park. You'll see craters, explosion pits, lava flows and more.

The Tongariro Northern Circuit encircles the cone of Mount Ngauruhoe - the most perfectly-shaped volcanic cone within the Tongariro National Park. Although it’s resting at the moment, this mountain is New Zealand's most active volcano with 61 eruptions since 1839. The first day of the circuit follows the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is probably New Zealand’s best-known day hike. So if you don’t have time to do the full circuit, you can opt to do a single day.

Duration: 4 Days

Distance: 41 kilometres

Cathedral Cove Walk

Explore the spectacular Coromandel coastline as you walk to Gemstone and Stingray Bays and the famous Cathedral Cove.

Follow the well-graded path as it follows the headland from Hahei and begins descending steadily into the Gemstone Bay valley. A side loop track takes you through a grove of native puriri tree before rejoining the main trail. From here the track leads you out of the valley and upwards to the track's highpoint. Views of offshore islands make for a perfect rest spot. Journey across pasture, scrubland and a pine forest where native shrubs compete in the undergrowth. Descend down to the water, where you can walk through a majestic natural rock arch that joins the two sandy beaches of Cathedral Cove.

Duration: 1.5 Hours

Distance: 2.5 kilometres (return)

Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway

Journey over beaches and cliff tops, through farmlands and native forest to discover views that reach all the way down to the Hauraki Gulf.

As you wind your way along the ridgeline, marvel at the native nikau, pohutukawa and taraire trees that cling to the almost sheer slopes below. Make sure you stop to check out the 'giant staircase' a natural rock amphitheatre carved from the hillside just below the track. At the highpoint of the ridgeline breathtaking panoramic views stretch from Bream Head all the way down to the Hauraki Gulf and the offshore islands.

Duration: 2-3 Hours

Distance: 5 kilometres (return)

Wainui Falls Track

Walk through stunning native bush on the way to Wainui Falls, the largest falls in Golden Bay.

Follow the track as it crosses open farmland and enters a native forest of nikau palms, rata trees and ferns. Here the track climbs rapidly, occasionally offering glimpses of the Wainui River some distance below. Cross the river at the swing bridge and a few minutes later you will hear the thunder of the falls, before they appear suddenly, curtained in a halo of spray.

Duration: 1.5 Hours

Distance: 3.4 kilometres (return)

Devil's Punchbowl Walking Track

Take a short walk through beautiful native forest to stand at the base of the spectacular 131m Devil's Punchbowl Falls.

Although the top of the Devil's Punchbowl Falls can be seen from the main road, the walk to the base of the waterfall is well worth the trip at any time of year. Follow the path as it crosses the Bealey River, via a foot bridge. At the second bridge take time to pause for a good view of the waterfall, then climb the series of steps that travel up 150 metres, to the viewing platform.

Duration: 1 Hour

Distance: 2 kilometres (return)

Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Walk

Discover New Zealand's longest glacier with this walk that takes in alpine-fed lakes and glacier-moulded landscapes.

At around 27 km long, the Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier in New Zealand and a relatively recent addition, having started its formation in 1974. For a good view of the glacier, follow the path from the carpark as it meanders up past the Blue Lakes to a viewpoint on the moraine wall. From there, you can see across the valley taking in the glacier, terminal lake and surrounding mountains.

Duration: 1 Hour

Distance: 2.7 kilometres (return)

Whale watching

There’s nothing like the rush of excitement felt when spotting a huge body appearing from the water, finishing with the graceful emergence of an almighty tail. It’s fair to say, that spotting a whale is a once in a lifetime experience for many people coming to New Zealand.

The New Zealand waters are the fourth largest marine territory in the world, with a whale migrating route going straight through them. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise to find there are some excellent whale watching tours. From the year-round show of sperm whales in Kaikoura to the frequent visits by orcas in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand provides an awesome opportunity to see an unreal variety of whale species. In fact, almost half of the world’s species of whale are seen around New Zealand’s coast.

Seals

Take a walk along some of the rockier parts of New Zealand’s coastline and look closely. At first you’ll see nothing but rocks. And then one of the rocks will move and you’ll realize that what you’re looking at is a basking fur seal.

In the North Island you can see the seals at Cape Palliser, near Wellington and at Castlepoint on the Wairarapa coast. Take a kayaking trip around Tonga Island in the South Island’s Abel Tasman National Park and you’ll see seals, dolphins and penguins. Other places are Cape Foulwind near Westport, and Kaikoura where you can enjoy a guided seal-swimming experience and marvel at their grace in their natural element.

Glow worms

New Zealand's caves, grottos and native forests form the perfect home for glow worms, a type of insect that glows in the dark.

Glow worms can be found throughout the country, and are often spotted in damp, overgrown places – the banks of lakes, rivers and forest undergrowth are prime places to spot their glowing blue-green lights. Guided night time kayaking, hiking or boating trips are great ways to get to the right places to see them.

Horse Riding

Horse Trekking is one of the best ways to truly explore New Zealand – from beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, to snow-capped volcanoes and enchanting native forests. Riding on horseback allows you to get back to nature and enjoy the solitude and harmony of the New Zealand wilderness.

There’s a multitude of horse trekking experiences on offer in New Zealand. Choose from coastal treks along white-sand beaches in Northland or ride under the shadows of snow-topped dormant volcanoes in Ruapehu. If you’re a Middle‑earth fan, head to Glenorchy in the South Island, which was used for many filming locations from The Lord of the Rings. Located at the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, Glenorchy offers horse trekking amongst turquoise lakes and the towering peaks of the Southern Alps.

Stargazing

Recently, 4,300 square kilometres of New Zealand’s South Island was recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest reserve of this type worldwide. Covering much of the Aoraki/Mount Cook Mackenzie region, the Dark Sky Reserve has been labelled as ‘one of the best stargazing sites on earth’.

If you would like to go stargazing in the North Island, head to Wairarapa or The Coromandel. Or, you could catch the Cable Car up to Wellington's Carter Observatory, perched high above the city, to discover the stories and significance of New Zealand's southern skies. Known for its interactive experience, the Carter Observatory is New Zealand's national observatory.

Bird Watching

Before humans arrived New Zealand was a world of birds and plants. Here you will find some of the world's most unique birdlife.

Our most famous bird is of course our national emblem, the kiwi. About the size of a domestic hen, it has an extremely long beak and plumage that is more like hair than feathers. Though endangered, the nocturnal kiwi can still be seen in the wild in Northland and on Stewart Island. You can also see kiwi birds at wildlife enclosures throughout the country.