8 of the BEST adventure activities to try in New Zealand!

New Zealand is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places on earth. It offers everything your wanderlust-fuelled heart could hope to see in one place. The sheer beauty of the landscape, from the snow-capped Southern Alps to its rippling lakes, all create the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable adventure.

Luckily for us, the crafty Kiwis realised their beautiful country offers up a playground for big kids (that’s us!) They saw rivers, caves and mountains and realised they’d make a whole lot of people very happy if they turned them into the base for many amazing adventure sports. So, they did just that. Now, New Zealand isn’t just a beautiful place to visit, it’s one that’s ridiculously fun too!

If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand and need some inspiration on how to have an unforgettable time, here are some of the very best adventure sports on offer. You should also read this guide on things you absolutely must know before you go to New Zealand.

Planning your trip?
•••
Hotels, we use Agoda
Rentals: Discover Cars
Transfers: Welcome Pickups
Insurance: Cover-More
SIM Cards: Simify

Where possible, I register as an affiliate for anything I use and recommend. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click these links and make a purchase I may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you, and in some cases, these links may even unlock savings or give you additional bonuses I’ve negotiated. You can find out more about this here and here.

---

1. Skydiving

Strap yourself to another human and jump out of a perfectly good plane, for the ultimate rush! As we all know, the scenery in New Zealand is ridiculous, so it’s the perfect spot to do a Skydive and see NZ from an incredible angle.

Book with Skydive Wanaka here

2. Jet Boat

Climb aboard a jet boat and rip along a river at high speeds, busting spins and turns that make you scream out with excitement. Not only this, but the scenery all around you is spectacular, typical New Zealand! Take a look at the famous Shotover Jet Queenstown and Skippers Canyon Tour with Jet Boat Ride. You can also read about my experience on the Shotover Jet Queenstown here.

Book with Shotover Jet Queenstown here

3. Heli-biking

If you find yourself in New Zealand during summer, a Heli-Bike adventure is a must! Climb aboard a helicopter and take an amazing ride through the mountains before being dropped atop a peak with unimaginably gorgeous views, then ride your hired mountain bike down to the bottom. Check out Heli Bike or Vertigo Bikes, both in Queenstown.

4. Heli-Skiing

For an unforgettable day, climb aboard a helicopter and set off for a day of skiing or snowboarding in picture-perfect backcountry terrain that boasts some of the world’s most dramatic scenery. Alpine Heliski offer an amazing 6-run day with lunch and transfers out of Queenstown that looks epic!

Book with Alpine Heliski here

5. Bungy Jump

New Zealand is the birthplace of the bungy, so it seems a little bit rude to visit and not jump off at least one bridge or platform. There are plenty of places to do it and varying heights to tackle. Check out AJ Hackett’s Kawarau Bridge, Ledge or Nevis jumps. You can read about my experience jumping off the Karawau Bridge Bungy here.

Book with AJ Hackett Bungy here

6. Exploring Caves

There’s a myriad of incredible caves and hidden waterways waiting to be explored. You can spend a day black water rafting in Waitomo with The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. You can also climb through a hidden cave world, float through a glow-worm cavern and explore a river in a tube with Underworld Adventures in Charleston. This amazing experience reminded me of those epic scenes from Life of Pi where everything is black, except the bright blue twinkling lights all around. It was incredible!

7. Heli Hike a Glacier

The Franz Josef Glacier has to be seen to be believed! The best way to see it? strap on a whole bunch of essential glacier-hiking gear (including special spiked boots), climb aboard a helicopter and land on the glacier. Then, spend a few hours traversing the ice, squeezing through narrow corridors and taking in the views. The guys at Franz Josef Glacier Guides are your best bet. You can read about my experience doing the Franz Josef Heli-Hike here.

8. Ogo or Zorb

Climb inside a giant, clear hamster ball, throw in some water and set off down the side of a hill. Standing up won’t be possible as you’re whizzed around, up and down, side to side and come out the other side with a broad smile across your face. You can do the Ogo in Rotorua with its inventors or check out the Zorb, also in Rotorua.

---

Get connected with a local SIM card from Simify.
Get it delivered before you leave home, ensuring you’re able to connect and navigate as soon as you arrive + find great things to do on the go!

---

---

---