(EXP) — Adventure
Bungy jumping was invented here. So was jet boating, zorbing, and a long list of ways to fling yourself politely into the landscape.
(Field notes) — 124 listings
New Zealand built a tourism industry on adventure — and the country still does it better than anywhere. Operators are tightly regulated, gear is current, and guides have grown up in the terrain they take you into.
(01)
Jet boat the Shotover canyons, raft the Kaituna's seven-metre waterfall, sea-kayak Abel Tasman's golden coast, or surf the cold left-handers of Raglan. The country's coastline is over 15,000 kilometres long and almost none of it is crowded.
(02)
Skydive over Lake Wakatipu or Lake Taupō. Heli-hike onto Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. Paraglide off Coronet Peak. Most providers run multiple daily slots in summer; book at least 48 hours ahead.
(03)
Ten Great Walks crisscross the country — Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, Tongariro, Abel Tasman and others. Multi-day huts must be booked months in advance for summer; shoulder seasons (April, October) are quieter and just as beautiful.
Queenstown
The world's first commercial bungy site, opened 1988.
Queenstown · Shotover Canyons
The only operator licensed to run the canyons themselves.
Fiordland
Day and overnight cruises into the country's most famous fiords.
Names shown are representative of the kind of operator we feature. Full directory rolling out across 124 verified listings.