The Best Adventure Experiences in New Zealand

Across the country, there are 11 official Great Walks, hundreds of shorter trails and backcountry routes. The Arthur’s Pass hike cuts through mountain beech forest and alpine vegetation in the heart of the Southern Alps. As the trail opens up, you’ll pass waterfalls and steep valleys, with the chance to spot kea (native alpine parrots) along the way.

The Tongariro Crossing trek is a challenging full-day hike through a complex of volcanic cones formed over roughly 275,000 years. Much of the walk takes you directly across the remnants of its volcanic history. On a private guided hike, you’ll walk past lava flows, steaming vents and crater lakes before reaching Red Crater, the highest point on the crossing at 1,886 metres.

Biking in New Zealand takes you along flowing singletrack, old railway lines and quiet rural tracks. The country’s 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides include well-known New Zealand cycle trails around Rotorua, Lake Taupō, Wānaka and Queenstown, with options for short rides and multi-day journeys.

Some trails also bring in local food, wine and wildlife experiences. In Queenstown, the trail network connects the town with Arrowtown and Gibbston, where you can pair a day on the bike with time in the region’s vineyards.

Kaikōura is one of the best places to observe New Zealand’s wildlife. Head out by kayak along the coast and spot fur seals, albatross and dusky dolphins against a backdrop of steep mountains and open sea. Whale watching here is also exceptional, with resident sperm whales seen year-round and other species passing through seasonally.

Rakiura is home to a large population of brown kiwi, or tokoeka, which can sometimes be spotted during daylight as well as after dark. We especially recommend a guided night trek through the forest, when you can listen for their calls and watch for them searching for food.

New Zealand has several extreme sports rooted in Queenstown, where bungy jumping began at Kawarau Bridge in 1988. The original jump drops 43 metres towards the river and is open to children aged 10 and over. The Nevis Bungy takes things further with a 134-metre plunge and around 8.5 seconds of freefall.

White water rafting is another way to explore Queenstown’s dramatic landscapes. Head out on the Kawarau River, where you’ll navigate rapids and calmer stretches of water surrounded by steep cliffs and mountain scenery. It’s also a great option for families with children aged 13 and over.

Stargazing at Lake Tekapo is one of the South Island’s standout after-dark experiences. The lake sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, which covers more than 4,300 square kilometres. You can visit observatories, use powerful telescopes and spend an evening beneath remarkably clear skies. For couples and honeymooners, stargazing can also be paired with a soak in the hot pools at Tekapo Springs.

Māori astronomy, known as tātai aroraki, has long been used to understand the seasons, navigate and interpret the night sky. At Lake Tekapo, you can learn about Ngāi Tahu (a Māori tribe) and their connections to the stars, alongside the science behind constellations, planets and distant galaxies.