Activities in New Zealand

Aventura

There isn't an adventure buff who doesn't dream of a trip to New Zealand. Here, bungy jumping, jet boating, skydiving, rafting, off-road, free-flying, and cave exploration are more than extreme: they take place in surreal settings. Only in Kiwi countries can you try ball rolling, Luge, Schweeb and other adventures invented by adrenaline freaks.

5 highlights of the North Island

• Rafting on the Kaituna River, in Rotorua, to overcome a 7-meter slide;
• Strange things like ball rolling (rolling down a hill inside an inflatable ball), Shweeb (a human-powered monorail) or Swoop (turns into a yo-yo) in Rotorua;
• Bungy over Lake Rotorua or jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge;
• Rafting or abseiling inside the Waitomo Caves, lined with fireflies;
• Scuba diving or freediving in the marine reserve that enchanted Jacques Cousteau, Poor Knights Islands, in the Auckland region.
  
  

5 highlights of the South Island

• Take on the highest bungy jump in the country, the Nevis Bungy, with 134 m of jump, on the outskirts of Queenstown;
• Ride The Overnighter crossing, in Lake Tekapo, camping under the protection of Mount Cook;
• Skydive on Lake Wanaka or Queenstown;
• Ride a jet boat through narrow river canyons, almost crashing into rugged rocks, on the outskirts of Queenstown or Canterbury;
• Canoeing through the turquoise waters of the Abel Tasman National Park, in the Nelson region, between white beaches, rocky shores and orcas under water (passing by you).
  
  

Wildlife

Coming face to face with wild animals in their natural habitat is always a remarkable experience. In New Zealand, some of these encounters take place in stunning landscapes, often with animal species that only exist there. And they're so common that even around Auckland, the country's largest metropolis, you can cross paths with whales and dolphins on afternoon trips. The South Island, however, is the country's great wildlife sanctuary - especially marine -. The right place to be moved by dolphins, penguins, lions and elephant seals, seals, albatrosses, wolves, and kiwi birds.

4 experiences on the North Island

• Swim with dolphins in Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, north of Auckland;
• See the curious kiwi bird at Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park in Rotorua;
• Cross with up to 22 species of whales and dolphins at Auckland's Whale & Dolphin Safari;
• Get to know rare species such as the kākā parrot, on the island of Zealand, in the Wellington region.
  
  

4 experiences on the South Island

• Watch sperm whales and swim with seals in Kaikoura, north of Christchurch;
• Interact with the endemic Hector dolphins, the rarest in the world, in Akaroa;
• Find the endangered yellow-eyed penguin in the Penguin Place reserve in Dunedin;
• Meet the blue penguin, the smallest in the world, in Oamaru, north of Dunedin.
  
  

Hiking

Exploring a landscape while walking always has a different perspective. Each stage of the trail, each viewpoint and each person found along the way remain in the traveler's memory in a much more intense way. In New Zealand, the most breathtaking landscapes can be explored on foot, on well-marked trails, in short shots (an hour's journey) or more breathtaking (a full day of hiking through mountains or beaches). What if the idea is to walk the whole trip? Crosses of 30 to 50 kilometers are the destination's greatest vocation.

4 trails on the North Island

• The volcanic landscapes of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a one-day trail in the Mangatepopo Valley;
• The 46 km of forest and swamp on Lake Waikaremoana Track, in Te Urewera Park;
• The 5 km circuit on the shores of Rotorua's Blue Lake, through the Whakarewarewa forest;
• The ascent to the summit of the volcano on Rangitoto Island, for a panoramic view of Auckland.
  
  

4 trails on the South Island

• The legendary Milford Track, 53 km (and 4 days) through the fantastic Fiordland National Park;
• The 51 km Abel Tasman Coast Track;
• The ascent to the top of the country, Mount Cook, in 40 minutes around Lake Matheson;
• The 36 km Rakiura Track, to see Kiwi birds on Stewart Island.
  
  

Food and wine

The best of New Zealand wine production can be tasted in four days of pure slow travel: stopping at the wineries you like (there are 120 on the way!) , tasting the restaurants at the wineries, enjoying charming little towns. This Wine Route crosses 380 kilometers between Napier, on the North Island, and Blenheim, on the South Island, and three of the most important terroirs in the country. Hawke's Bay is the land of robust Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In Wairarapa, the star is Pinot Noir. And Marlborough brought New Zealand wine worldwide fame with its Sauvignon Blanc. Travelers with a short time should not hesitate: Wellington is the country's great gourmet destination.

Highlights on the North Island

• The Gisborne vineyards and its East Coast Chardonnay;
• Fine chocolates with exotic fillings at a boutique chocolate shop in Greytown or Wellington;
• The Wharekauhau Country Estate and its self-created lamb.
  
  

Highlights on the South Island

• Green-lipped mussels with Nelson's Sauvignon Blanc.
• The succulent oysters in Bluff.
• The small fish cake served with Monteith beer, common on the east coast of the South Island.
• The village of Arrowtown, near Queenstown, where you can buy great local fruits, cheeses, and olives.

To delve deeper into the incredible world of New Zealand wines, be sure to check out the post New Zealand: a unique region for producing unique wines, as well as learning about the producing regions and pairing.

Cycling

Pedal lazily along the beachfront or through vineyards. Go down a mountain trail on two wheels. Feel the wind in your face on a panoramic road. All of these experiences are everyday — and very scenic — in New Zealand. The country values its bike lovers so much that it has structured an official cycling trail, consisting of 23 incredible itineraries through the North and South Islands. Whether crossing forests, alpine mountains or the coast, on one-day or one-week trails, it is possible to choose between renting a bike and going it alone using good signs, or hiring an operator to take care of the itinerary, the support car, the transport of luggage, etc.

4 highlights of the North Island

• The 93 km Great Lake Trail, with spectacular views of Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park.
• Cycling through the Hawke's Bay vineyards;
• The 2 days between the Waikato fields on the Hauraki Rail Trail circuit, 1h30 from Auckland;
• The 2 days of trails opened by the Māori on the Twin Coast Cycle Trail.
  
  

4 highlights of the South Island

• The 6 days of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, from the base of Mount Cook to numerous glacial lakes;
• The 150 km wide Otago Central Rail Trail (or sections of it);
• The 175 km Great Taste Trail, from Nelson to vineyards and historic cities;
• The 70 km through bays, forests, and mountain ranges on the Queen Charlotte Track.
  
  

Maori culture

Coming from mythical Hawaiki, in Polynesia, the Maori arrived in New Zealand about a thousand years ago and became the first inhabitants of the area. Famous for their hospitality and receptions that include banquets prepared in clay ovens, the Maori people have very rich cultural manifestations, such as their songs, their different dances and their diverse visual arts - wood carving, weaving and the traditional tattoo. Today they make up 14% of the country's population and are an important reference in New Zealand culture, language, and traditions.

Unmissable experiences

• Risk saying hello in Te Reo Maori, the traditional Maori language: “Kia ora”;
• Watch one of the performances of Kapa Haka, a typical dance;
• Attend a Maori reception, a Powhiri, with a banquet and show;
• Discover the typical Maori meeting space, the Marae;
• Appreciate Ta Moko, the Māori tattoo, on your hosts' bodies;
• Indulge in a Hangi feast, prepared in an underground oven made with heated stones;
• Take the afternoon to explore the Auckland Museum, with the largest collection of Maori artifacts in the world.
  
  

Middle Earth

Because it provided the diverse setting described by J.R.R. Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the book The Hobbit, New Zealand was chosen to bring Middle Earth to life in the film adaptations of the works.

5 highlights of the North Island

• The 44 Hobbit County burrows at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, 2 hours from Auckland or 1 hour from Rotorua;
• A Hobbit banquet at the Green Dragon Inn in Condado;
• Rafting at the Waitomo Caves, the setting for The Hobbit;
• The costumes and artifacts from Weta Cave, in Wellington;
• The Piopio rock formations, south of Hamilton, set against the Trollshaw Forest in The Hobbit.
  
  

5 highlights of the South Island

• Helicopter flight over Glacier Southern Lakes, near Queenstown — one of the locations of Isengard and the Lothlorien Forest in The Lord of the Rings;
• The alpine peaks of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, the backdrop of some scenes from The Hobbit;
• Boat ride through the incredible fjords and waterfalls in Fiordland National Park, to feel like you are on the Lord of the Rings journey;
• Horseback riding through the sunny landscapes of the two trilogies around Nelson;
• Jet boat on the Waiau River, portrayed in the movies as the Anduin River.
  
  

Golfe

Land of global stars like Sir Bob Charles and Michael Campbell, New Zealand has the highest number of golf courses per capita in the world.

5 spectacular fields

• Kauri Cliffs Golf Course, in Northland, which houses the 72 PGA Championship Golf Course;
• Cape Kidnappers, in Hawke's Bay, designed by legendary golf architect Tom Doak;
• The Hills, par 72 surrounding mountains and an alpine lake, near Queenstown;
• Jack's Point, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with steep cliffs and native forest;
• Millbrook Resort, near Queenstown, the best golf resort in Oceania and Asia and the only 27-hole golf resort in New Zealand.