Outdoor Activities

New Zealanders love the outdoors and there are plenty of places to cycle, walk, swim, ski, bungy jump, fish, play golf or go rafting. Because the country has a low population density and spectacular scenery, you are never very far from an outdoor activity, whether an organized adventure or a peaceful walk in the bush. The opportunity to participate in so many activities at low cost in some of the world’s most beautiful locations is a major tourist draw card , and local tourism operators have risen to the challenge by meeting this demand with a high level of professionalism and, equally important, safety.

BUNGY JUMPING

Developed in the 1980 by New Zealand adventure A.J Hackett and Henry Van Ash, this exhilarating experience of throwing oneself off a high platform with a large rubber-band attached to the large rubber-band attached to the ankles has become world famous. The famous bungy jumping is at Kawarau Bridge

ROCK CLIMBING

Rock climbing has experienced a phenomenal growth in New Zealand. There are now lots of indoor climbing walls in towns and cities, rock climbing clubs and excellent terrain to discover throughout country. Some of the best rock climbing areas include Wharepapa, south of the Waikato which has more than 700 climbs and the Canterbury area which has more than 800 climbs. FISHING From October to April, New Zealand’s tranquil waters attract anglers from all over the world. One in four New Zealanders goes fishing, but there are plenty of fish to go around. The best places for trout fishing are lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera. In the Nelson Lake District, in the north of the South Island, a guide will help you find eels weighing 20 kilos and brown trout up to 50 cm in lengthz.

RAFTING/JET- BOATING

Wild, unnamed rivers and spectacular scenery provide the perfect backdrop for New Zealand’s numerous wild-water rafting expeditions. Jet-boats, which are fast, manoeuvrable and skim the surface of the water, were invented by a New Zealand farmer. Some of the best places for this activity are Queenstown’s Shotover River, Kawarau River both in Queenstown and the Kaituna (Rotorua)

WHALE/DOPLHIN WATCH

You can get close to whales at Kaikoura, on the east coast of South Island. Here, huge sperm whales swim barely 1 km (1/2 mile) off the coast between April and June; orcas can also be seen during the summer, and humpbacks put in an appearance during June and July. In the Bay of Islands, you’ll encounter bottlenose dolphins, orcas and sperm whales. Some trips also allow you to get into the water to cavort with the dolphins.

KAYAKING

With so much water around, both along the coast and on the lakes, this sport is enjoying a veritable boom in New Zealand, particularly in Marlborough Sounds and the Bay Of Island. You can hire kayaks for guided or independent tours lasting one or more days.

SKYDIVING

If launcing yourself into the air from a mountainside is too passé for you – try jumping form plane. Tandeem skydiving has made this thrill accessible to all. Attached to an experienced skydiver by a special harness, there is little you need to do except follow the instructions and keep control of your fear. Operators are found throughout the country, but especially in Queenstown and Wanaka.

GOLF There are around 400 golf courses in New Zealand, with an average green fee of around NZ$15, and equipment for hire at low cost. The finest courses are in the Bay of Islands(Waitangi), near Taupo (Wairakei International Gol Resort), in Auckland (Titirangi) and in Arrowtown (Millbrook Golf and Country Resort.