Adventure Awaits: Get Your Adrenaline Pumping on a Holiday in New Zealand
For thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, New Zealand is one big, limitless adventure park.
Flick the switch to choose your season.
Adventure Awaits: Get Your Adrenaline Pumping on a Holiday in New Zealand
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For thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, New Zealand is one big, limitless adventure park.
Whether it's launching yourself off a snow-covered mountain when the stars are out, diving headfirst into a gorge on a bungee jump, exploring the depths of a cave network, or taking in the sights from a balloon in the sky, Aotearoa New Zealand is packed with experiences guaranteed to get your heart racing and adrenaline flowing.
You can experience the country's most breathtaking settings on foot, by air, or in a balloon, to name just a few.
We've teamed up with 100% Pure New Zealand to help you seek out some of the most exciting, adrenaline-pumping activities — plus the best time to experience them — so that your next adventure in New Zealand is one for the memory books.
Flick the switch for seasonal adventures waiting for you in autumn, winter and spring.
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Catch a catamaran to check out some of the 144 unspoiled enclaves that make up the remarkably scenic and aptly named Bay of Islands. After linking up with the team at Barefoot Sailing Adventures, you’ll be taken on a grand island-hopping adventure as you learn about the region and even get a chance to sail the boat.
Stopping at several awe-inspiring spots along the way, you’ll have plenty of time to snorkel, swim, paddleboard and hike at each destination.
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Poor Knights Islands/Tawhiti Rahi is a celebrated spot for snorkelling and diving off the coast of the stunning Northland region. As scenic as the setting is above sea level, the underwater network of caves, cliffs and tunnels is renowned too. So much so, the area has been name-checked as one of the top ten dive spots in the world by Jacques Cousteau.
The experts at Dive! Tutukākā are more than happy to show you the delights that await under the water’s surface, with adventures for experienced and newbie divers alike. As a protected marine reserve, the Poor Knights brims with sponge gardens and gorgonian corals alongside an eclectic mix of colourful fish.
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Get up close to some of the most enchanting landmarks in and around Rotorua by heading out on Track & Trail’s North Island Cycle Tour.
Spanning five days and covering an impressive 175 kilometres, with all accommodation and meals organised, all you have to do is marvel at the immaculate scenery on this off-road extravaganza. The trails will take you across the volcanic plateau, from hydro dams and geothermal systems to waterfalls and ancient wonders.
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New Zealand is the home of bungy jumping — and the adrenaline-pumping activity isn’t limited to bridges, with clifftops also making for an ideal launching pad.
The AJ Hackett Bungy Taupō is New Zealand’s highest cliff-top bungy jump — it’s located 47 metres above the Waikato River, which is also New Zealand’s longest. Before you take the plunge into the pristine waters below, you’ll have a true bird’s eye view of the sensational surroundings, which you’ll soon be dipping into.
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Be the first person to see the sunrise in New Zealand, with a 4WD journey to the summit of Maunga Hikurangi, the highest non-volcanic mountain on North Island.
Considered sacred by the Ngāti Porou people, this site is where the sun first peeks over the horizon. Plus, it’s adorned with nine Māori carvings depicting Māui – the Polynesian adventurer.
To reach this fascinating vantage point, you’ll cross rural farmland and pastures, learning about the region’s significance in Māori culture along the way.
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Experience gold mining country aboard the Buller Canyon Jet, where you’ll traverse pink granite canyons at 85 kilometres per hour in the back of a V8-powered jet boat. Surfing across rapids, ripping beneath waterfalls and hanging on for dizzying 360-degree spins are just part of this thrill-seeker’s dream.
Even reaching the boat jetty offers plenty of adventure, with travellers needing to cross the swingbridge — stretching 110 metres above the white-water rapids below in Buller Gorge Swingbridge Adventure and Heritage Park.
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Departing from The Hermitage Hotel in the Aoraki / Mount Cook village, this two-and-a-half-hour tour with Glacier Explorers takes you on a short hike through alpine scenery, before you experience a jetboat trip across Lake Tasman and have a sensory encounter with some icebergs.
You’ll walk through glacial moraine and National Park, board a MAC boat to cruise the ‘terminal’ Tasman Lake (meaning there’s no outlet for the water except through evaporation or seeping into the ground), and you’ll even get to touch and taste centuries-old ice crystals.
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Soak up Glenorchy’s most charming scenes with the Dart River Wilderness Jet Experience.
On an exhilarating jet boat ride, you can expect to cover 90 kilometres of alluring landscapes on this half-day experience. Heading deep into Mount Aspiring National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage area with ancient beech forests that are 80 million years old — autumn is an exceptional time to visit as the foliage bursts to life in myriad warm tones. Plus, if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, keep your eyes peeled for several locations from the movies.
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Take to the skies, then explore the best of Wānaka‘s mountain bike trails through a multi-legged adventure with Southern Lakes Helibike.
Kickstarting this journey, travellers will climb into a helicopter for a mesmerising scenic flight with incredible views over the mountainous landscape. Then, depending on your adventure, you’ll touch down amid a scenic trailhead or private lakefront, where an expert guide will take you on the next cycle-bound stage of this luxe expedition.
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Keen for a spine-tingling experience you’ll never forget? Swimming with sharks might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but if you’re someone committed to thrills, climbing into a cage to get up close and personal with great white sharks might be high on your bucket list.
A trip to Bluff is the perfect chance to make it happen with the team at Shark Experience. From Bluff’s port, you’ll head into the idyllic surroundings of Foveaux Strait and the Tītī/Muttonbird Islands, which are prime waters for submerging yourself on a viewing platform to see what creatures lurk beneath the waves.
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The Tasman Glacier is the biggest frozen mass in New Zealand, making it the ideal spot for a skiing expedition.
Led by the experts at Alpine Guides, this ski trip is like few others. Each adventure features two ski runs every fine day, stretching anywhere between 8–10 kilometres depending on the season. Despite the seemingly imposing length, the runs are in fact blue/green runs, meaning even skiing newbies can take to the glacier. Allowing approximately five hours for the experience, visitors arrive via a breathtaking helicopter flight and enjoy a picnic lunch in the snow.
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Get your roll on at ZORB Rotorua by launching yourself down the volcanic dome of Mount Ngongotahā overlooking Rotorua in a giant inflatable ball.
Here, there are four unique tracks designed for maximum bouncing and tumbling. For instance, Sidewinder is the world’s longest zig-zag track, Mega is where the speed and distance ramp up and Big Air delivers the most enormous drops. You can trust in ZORB Rotorua’s expertise for a rollicking good time. After all, this precise spot is the birthplace of zorbing, now popular in numerous countries around the globe.
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Many dream of swimming with dolphins and Akaroa’s protected harbour is the place to make those dreams come true. Plus, it’s the only place in the world to swim with the smallest and rarest species in the world, the Hector’s dolphin.
Black Cat Cruises lead the intimate dolphin swimming experience, with no more than 12 swimmers at a time and a portion of all ticket sales being donated back into research for the Hector’s dolphin. You’ll spend about an hour with the endemic dolphins and you might even see some fur seals, too. A dolphin guarantee policy means you’ll be refunded half of your ticket price if no dolphins are seen. However, an impressive sighting rate of 97 percent means it’s highly likely you’ll see these majestic mammals.
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Take the scenic adventure of a lifetime with a helicopter tour across Earnslaw Burn — keep your eyes peeled for the cascading waterfalls en route — to land atop a sprawling glacier.
Led by Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, guests will soar above tussock forest running alongside a spectacular hanging glacier and frozen waterfalls. As the journey continues, you’ll soon touch down on Clarke Glacier, climbing down to wander the icy landscape and snap unforgettable travel pics.
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Forget tossing up between seeing the sights by helicopter, on skis or a snowboard — Queenstown Snowmobiles offers New Zealand’s only heli-snowmobile tour.
Hop in a helicopter as you fly over The Remarkables and the Hector Mountains before touching down in the Nevis River Valley and hopping in a snowmobile. Here, you’ll get all the kit you need to stay warm and safe as your guide takes you down an unforgettable track to explore the Garvie Mountains at pace as powder flies behind you.
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Whether you look up with wonder at the base or soak in the aerial views, appreciating the sheet scale of mountains is always best done from extreme vantage points. Our pick is from the air.
A helicopter ride is the best way to get your head around just how stunning the Southern Alps of New Zealand really are. The 40-minute flight in a twin-engine helicopter includes a snow landing by Franz Josef Glacier so you can get up close and personal with this beauty.
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Discover an incredible vantage point on the city fringes at Christchurch Adventure Park. Home to four exhilarating ziplines ranging from 400 to 1,100 metres, the offering includes the country’s longest zipline The Long Ride.
Rising high above the lush forest canopy below, this immense journey takes around 1.5 hours to complete, giving you plenty of time to admire the views.
Take in an aerial view of Christchurch not from a plane, helicopter or balloon, but from a suspended perch secured into a harness at New Zealand’s longest zipline, which stretches over 1.1 kilometres.
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Queenstown’s reputation as a winter playground precedes itself and Coronet Peak is a bustling ski destination when the cold climes arrive in New Zealand.
Delay the start of apres-ski and the shredding can go on for even longer with special night skiing sessions that take over the slopes. While a dreamy golden hour (and a few flood lights) guide your way, there’s more to this activity than just late-night skiing. The slopes also come to life with live DJs, hand-warming open fires and soothing pizzas and pints. Meanwhile, convenient night ski transport will get you back to Queenstown.
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Shaped over thousands of years, the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is a unique destination adorned with fascinating volcanic features that shift from one colour to the next. Here, you’ll encounter the radiant Champagne Pool, steaming geysers, volcanic craters and gurgling mud ponds. Take a self-guided wander along the track to get an up-close look at all of them.
With Waiotapu meaning ‘sacred waters’ in te reo Māori, this remarkable spot offers the ideal chance to learn about the local culture, not to mention the region’s startling geothermal properties.
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Soar high above the Bay of Islands with Flying Kiwi Parasail — the team behind New Zealand’s highest parasailing experience.
With the towline stretching up to 400 metres, your vantage point offers unforgettable views across distant islands and even pods of whales and orcas. No experience is required, and you’re welcome to take single, tandem and triple flights if you want to experience 10 minutes of unforgettable flight time with your pals.
The warm subtropical climate of the region is particularly balmy in the spring and ideal for basking in both the views and the sunshine.
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Tackle the white waters of the cherished Kaitiaki River with this world-class rafting experience which spans over three hours.
Plunging through 14 rapids and down three dramatic waterfalls, you’ll even take a knuckle-clenching dive off Tutea Falls — rising to seven metres, this is the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Throughout the trip, you’ll learn about the Kaitiaki River’s special place in Māori history, as a spiritual landmark with a sustaining life force.
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Offering the combination of adventure and cultural significance, Rotorua Ziplines offers the chance to soar over three waterfalls, including the towering Tutea Falls which often hosts whitewater rafters.
Reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour along ziplines stretching for almost 250 metres, the lush landscape might be little more than just a blur. During your visit, you’ll learn about the enduring Māori connection with the Kaituna River from expert guides, sip traditional tea and plant a native tree to support reforestation efforts.
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New Zealand’s top adventures aren’t just above ground, there are also extraordinary trips that take you beneath the earth’s surface.
Waitomo Adventures is the best in the business when it comes to caving, with several half- and full-day experiences ready to push your bravery to the limit. After abseiling into the massive void, you’ll roam mind-bending spaces and battle fast-flowing streams on your way back to the surface.
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Just 15 minutes out of Nelson and set on 1200 acres of working farm and native bush, Cable Bay Adventure Park is where not only thrills abound, but the scenery stuns.
Go on a four-wheel drive quad bike tour, speed down the world’s longest flying fox The Skywire, and book in a game of paintball. There’s also horse riding and a cafe with a cosy fire and friendly farm dog.
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There’s nothing more liberating than free falling, when a minute feels like forever and you are filled with exhilaration that leaves you literally breathless.
Skydiving over Abel Tasman National Park allows you a glimpse of both of New Zealand’s islands as well as the golden beaches, the Southern Alps, lush vegetation, vineyards, mountains and the shimmering Pacific Ocean.
Skydive Abel Tasman has been appeasing thrill-seekers for more than 25 years, with nearly 100,000 customers jumping during that time. There are three different tandem skydives on offer, with prices staggered depending on the height from which you dive. It’s a popular South Island attraction, so make sure you book well in advance, particularly as the months warm up.
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Venture across Tauranga’s waves and have an interactive feasting experience with Muirs Tours. Guided by Deon Muir himself — a former professional rugby star — fishing, foraging and cultural storytelling are all part of the experience.
The premium tour kicks off with a coastal helicopter flight and a visit to tribal landmarks before departing on a three-hour ocean adventure to find the catch of the day. Back on land, you’ll link up with Masterchef winners Karena and Kasey Bird, who’ll prepare a seafood feast rich in traditional cooking methods.
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Heading to New Zealand in spring? Don’t think you’ve missed the entire ski season.
Adorning the bucolic Canterbury Plains on the South Island, Mount Hutt is renowned for its long-lasting snowfall. Here, you’ll find a huge range of terrain to explore, from parks with rails and quarter pipes to runs for beginners and experts alike. Just a 90-minute drive from Christchurch International Airport, making your way to Mount Hutt’s slopes is hassle-free.
If you’re still not convinced, know that Mount Hutt has been crowned New Zealand’s best ski resort a decade running.
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From a weightless perch in a hot air balloon, you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the coastline, plains, peninsula and the alps that make up the scenery around Canterbury.
Early morning flights to catch the sunrise are the norm, but depend on the weather and season. It can be chilly at cruising altitude — even in the spring — so pack layers. After your flight, tuck into a treat that matches all the feasting your eyes have done with chilled champagne, orange juice, seasonal fruit and muffins in the paddock wherever you land. Now that’s an adventurous start to the morning.
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The country around Wānaka offers serious, world-class canyoning opportunities.
Wildwire Wānaka offers a series of assisted climbing routes (known as via ferrata) scaling the cliffs beside Twin Falls. Cling onto metal rungs, suspension bridges and a safety system of metal cables and carabiners and ascend the steep cliff.
If you’re chasing adrenaline, head straight for the ‘Lord of the Rungs’ — the world’s highest waterfall via ferrata. It’s so high that a helicopter is called for when it comes time to descend. If the 450-metre ascent is a bit too high for your comfort level, there are also lower ascents available.
To cap it all off, you can swim under the falls in one of the hidden pools. Brace yourself, this is alpine country and the water is refreshingly glacial year-round, but it is a memorable end to a big day.
With extraordinary experiences year-round, discover when New Zealand is best for you. Find your very own Aotearoa New Zealand here.
