Top 10 Adventurous Things You Can Do in New Zealand in 2023
Adventure tourism involves participating in thrilling and demanding activities, frequently in natural settings. Engaging in adventure tourism can be an excellent way to immerse yourself in new cultures, push yourself physically and mentally, and create long-lasting memories.
Adventure tourism attracts individuals for various reasons. While the excitement and the challenge entice some, others are inspired by the opportunity to discover new destinations and appreciate nature. Also, adventure tourism is an excellent platform for acquiring new competencies and expanding social circles.
Experience the Thrill of Challenges!
Adventure tourism can bring immense benefits, not only to tourists but also to the local communities. However, it is essential to choose responsible tour operators and follow the guidelines mentioned above to ensure that the impact of adventure tourism on the places you visit remains positive, both for the environment and the local people.
Jet Boating
Jet boating in New Zealand is an unforgettable adventure tourism experience. The country boasts stunning scenery and world-class rivers, providing the perfect backdrop for a thrilling ride. Queenstown, the world’s adventure capital, has many jet boat operators offering tours of the Shotover River Canyons, Dart River, and Kawarau River. Taupo is home to the mighty Huka Falls, which Hukafalls Jet offers tours to take passengers right up to the base of the falls. In the South Island, Jet Boat Wilderness gives tours of the Wairau River and Buller River, taking passengers through remote and scenic landscapes, including rainforests and mountain gorges. No matter where one chooses to go jet boating in New Zealand, they will have an unforgettable experience.
Rafting
New Zealand caters to rafters of all experience levels with its rugged mountains and pristine rivers. The Kaituna River, located in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island, is home to the Tutea Falls, the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. The Shotover River, located near Queenstown in the South Island, is known for its narrow canyons and challenging rapids. Only experienced rafters should attempt the Shotover River. The Kawarau River near Queenstown is known for its thrilling bungy jumping bridge and Grade 5 rapids. Only experienced rafters should attempt the Kawarau River. The Tongariro River, located in the Taupo region of the North Island, offers a variety of rapids. If you are looking for an adventure, add rafting to your itinerary when visiting New Zealand.
Heli Skiing
Heli-skiing in New Zealand is an unparalleled adventure tourism experience. With its breathtaking mountain scenery and top-class heli-skiing operators, New Zealand is the ideal destination to experience the excitement of skiing on untouched powder. Heli-skiing gives you access to remote and unspoiled ski areas inaccessible on foot. Once you reach the top of your selected run, you can enjoy the exhilarating sensation of skiing or snowboarding down pristine powder slopes. Queenstown- the adventure capital of New Zealand- owns several heli-skiing operators. The mountains surrounding Queenstown offer a range of terrain, from easy slopes to challenging chutes. Wanaka is another popular heli-skiing destination in New Zealand. Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, is home to some of the world’s best heli-skiing terrain.
Canyoning
Canyoning is an exciting adventure tourism experience in New Zealand that involves exploring and descending rivers and streams through canyons. These canyons are natural water parks carved into stone and located in the wilderness. With its rugged mountains and pristine rivers, New Zealand has some of the best canyoning options in the world. Abel Tasman National Park, situated at the northern tip of South Island, is known for its golden sand beaches, turquoise waters, and lush native forests. The Kaituna Valley in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island is home to the Kaituna River, known for its stunning waterfalls and challenging rapids. The valley provides various canyoning options, including the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall. Since canyoning is a physically demanding activity, it is essential to be in good shape before you decide to go.
Off-roading
Exploring New Zealand’s wilderness through off-roading is an exciting adventure tourism experience that will pump your adrenaline. With its rugged mountains, pristine beaches, and lush forests, New Zealand caters to off-roaders of all skill levels. Ninety Mile Beach, situated on the North Island, is a long stretch of sandy beach known for its breathtaking scenery and challenging off-roading conditions. The Coromandel Peninsula boasts beautiful beaches, lush forests, and a rich gold mining history. The Coromandel Peninsula also features off-roading tracks suitable for beginners and advanced riders. Central Otago, located in the South Island, is famous for its dry climate, rugged mountains, and gold mining history. Choosing to go off-roading in New Zealand is an experience you’re sure to cherish forever.
Caving
New Zealand is a perfect destination for caving, with its stunning limestone formations, crystal-clear waters, and unique glowworm grottoes. With over 6,000 known caves, New Zealand has something to offer cavers of all levels of experience, from beginner to expert. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are home to thousands of glowworms that light up the caves with their eerie blue glow. Visitors can take boat tours of the caves or abseil into them for a more adventurous experience. Ruakuri Cave is also located on the North Island and is known for its impressive limestone formations and underground waterfalls. Oparara Marble Arch is located on the South Island and is known for its unique marble formations and underground rivers. Abbey Caves is located on the South Island and is known for its impressive limestone formations and underground waterfalls.
Zip Lining
New Zealand is a heaven for adventure tourism enthusiasts, and ziplining is one of the most popular activities to experience there. With its breathtaking scenery and world-class zipline operators, New Zealand offers the perfect setting for soaring through the air. Among the many destinations in New Zealand, Rotorua stands out owing to its geothermal activity and lush forests. Several zipline operators in Rotorua offer tours of the Redwood Forest, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and Okere Falls. Queenstown, known as the world’s adventure capital, is another popular destination for ziplining. Several zipline operators in Queenstown offer tours of the Shotover River Canyons, Kawarau River, and Skyline Gondola. Waiheke Island, situated in the Auckland Gulf and known for its vineyards, beaches, and olive groves, is another beautiful destination worth visiting. Ziplining is a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty of New Zealand’s wilderness and get your adrenaline pumping.
Zorbing
Zorbing is an adventure activity where people roll downhill in a giant inflatable ball. There are two types of zorbing: dry and wet. In dry zorbing, you roll down the hill inside the ball with a harness attached. In wet zorbing, you roll down the hill inside the ball with a layer of water between you and the inside of the ball. ZORB Rotorua is the original zorbing company in Rotorua on the North Island. They offer a variety of zorbing tours, including the Sidewinder, the longest and twistiest zorbing track in the world. ZORB Queenstown is located in Queenstown on the South Island. They offer a variety of zorbing tours, including the Nevis ZORB, the world’s longest and steepest downhill zorbing track. Hukafalls Jet is located in Taupo on the North Island. They offer a variety of zorbing tours, including the Hukafalls ZORB, the world’s only zorbing track that takes you past a waterfall.
Bungy Jumping
Bungee jumping is an adventure tourism activity where a person jumps from a high platform with a large elastic cord attached to their ankles. The cable slows down the person’s descent and brings them back to the forum. This thrilling activity was invented in New Zealand in the 1980s and has gained worldwide popularity. The Kawarau Bridge Bungy, located near Queenstown on the South Island, is the original bungee jumping site in New Zealand. It is also the world’s first permanent commercial bungee jumping site, standing 43 meters high, and takes place over the Kawarau River. The Nevis Bungy, standing at 134 meters high, crosses the Nevis River and is the highest bungee jump. AJ Hackett Bungy is one of the most sought-after bungee jumping operators in New Zealand, offering sites in Queenstown, Taupo, and Auckland. Thanks to its breathtaking scenery and exceptional operators!
Skydiving
Skydiving in New Zealand is an adventure tourism experience that is unparalleled. With its breathtaking scenery and world-class skydiving operators, New Zealand is the perfect place to experience the thrill of freefalling through the air. Queenstown, known as the world’s adventure capital, offers several skydiving operators that provide jumps from altitudes of up to 15,000 feet. Taupo, surrounded by stunning mountains and home to the largest lake in New Zealand, is also a popular destination for skydiving, with several operators offering jumps from up to 15,000 feet. Abel Tasman National Park boasts golden sand beaches, turquoise waters, and lush native forests, as well as providing 15,000-foot jumps. Regardless of where you choose skydiving in New Zealand, you will undoubtedly have an unforgettable experience.
Epilogue
New Zealand is a paradise for adventure tourists, with its stunning scenery and diverse activities. Whether seeking a thrill-seeking experience or a more relaxed outdoor adventure, New Zealand has something for everyone. These are just a few adventure tourism activities in New Zealand. It is a genuinely fantastic country with endless opportunities for adventure.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your adventure today!