5 Extreme Activities to Do in New Zealand
17th November 2011
Fresh from having successfully hosted the Rugby World Cup and basking in the glory of becoming newly crowned world rugby champions, now is a great time to visit New Zealand.
As well as rugby, New Zealand is also famous for extreme sports and adrenaline filled adventure.
Resort towns such as Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau in the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand are nonstop outdoor activity centres. So much so that influential travel book publisher Lonely Planet recently selected the region as one of their top 10 destinations for 2012.
But wherever you are in New Zealand there are plenty of extreme activities to try. If you are thinking about visiting the country any time soon, be sure to try these five activities:
Heli-Skiing
If you are used to skiing in European resorts in France and Austria, you may be in for something of a surprise in New Zealand. The country has hundreds of miles of untouched, snow-capped mountains that you can ski. The best way to access these routes is via helicopter. Heli-ski operators allow access to large swathes of the Southern Alps, as well as areas such as the Tasman Glacier in the Mount Cook National Park and the Harris Mountains region close to Wanaka.
Jet Boating
If you are looking for a real adventure that will offer a jaw-dropping thrill jet boating is certainly something worth experiencing. Travel along the river gorges, canyons and rivers of New Zealand on a white-knuckle jet boat ride: most experiences culminate after 30 minutes with a full 360 degree spin that will take your breath away.
Fly By Wire
This activity is unique to New Zealand and is dubbed a ‘tethered adventure flight’. A purposely built aircraft is suspended from an overhead cable, which allows it to fly at speeds of over 100 miles per hour inside a spectacular natural canyon. The fly by wire activity is located near Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island.
Bungee Jumping
Thinking about trying a bungee jump, but unsure about doing it in a car park in the UK? Fear not, New Zealand is one of the best places on the planet to try your hand - or should that be feet - at bungee jumping. Expect an adrenaline rush like no other and some spectacular scenery too. You can find bungee jumps all over New Zealand. Popular spots include Queenstown, which has an impressive five different sites and Auckland’ Harbour Bridge.
Canyoning
Canyoning is becoming increasingly popular around the world and it is a fun activity to try when in New Zealand. From gentle walking to abseiling down cliffs and swimming in the sea, canyoning is pure adventure, but in a controlled and fun environment. Expect to get wet (you will be in a wet suit), but more importantly, expect to have lots and lots of fun. Popular places to try your hand at Canyoning include the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland and Wanaka on the South Island.
Don’t forget to pick up your travel money before you jet off.
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