Adventure Travel in New Zealand

by Gail Gillespie
(Auckland, New Zealand)

Emerald Lakes-Tongariro Crossing

New Zealand is a country just made for adventure travel. We have wonderful mountains, which attract people from all over the world to either climb, ski or snowboard, heli ski down or walk. Walk a mountain?.......... Well the Tongariro Crossing , which crosses over Mt Ngaurahoe (Mt Doom from the Lord of the Rings)is considered the most popular day walk in New Zealand.

Our bush

Our beautiful bush, lush and thick with growth, is a draw for those who love hiking and tramping. The canopy is 300 to 1,000 or more year old with native trees such as kauri, kahikatea, or totara. The lower level has tree ferns and ponga’s, strange looking plants called lancewood, and a whole cornucopia of New Zealand native plants. Here the many native birds sing, and somewhere.............. hidden away because they are very shy and nocturnal, are the kiwis. They can be heard if you know what to listen for, usually at night.

Our water

Interlaced with the bush are rushing streams, rivers, and waterfalls. The opportunity for a bush adventure can range from one day to several, many opting to do the Milford Track, or the Heaphy, or Greenstone, or Routeburn....... or, mmmmmmmmm – there are far to many to list here.


Beaches, lakes and caves all offer their own adventure activities. Deep sea fishing, deep sea diving, parasailing, wakeboarding, jet boating, white water rafting, and blackwater rafting, are but a few.

Our activities

Of course New Zealand was where bungy jumping all began, inspired by a traditional manhood ritual in Vanuatu. New Zealander AJ Hackett, developed the first bungee which you can still try, in Queenstown. There are now a range of equally adrenaline pumping activities if you like to jump off bridges, buildings and leave your stomach behind! We have over 10 different bungy experiences. Or can you imagine the thrill of walking the perimeter of the Auckland Sky Tower – the highest tower in the Southern Hemisphere?


For those who need a break,to let the blood pressure settle, you can have a more benign adventure, swimming with dolphins or whale watching.


If your appetite for adventure in New Zealand has been whetted, you need to check out my website www.holidays-in-newzealand.com to get all the information you will need to plan your holiday. No doubt being the adventurous sort, you prefer to plan your holiday independently, with a few short 1-4 day tours to get you to some of the activities. Because we have such extreme conditions for many activities, be sure to also read and take on board some of the safety issues. We like our visitors to return home to tell their stories to more adventure travellers.