Whether it’s jumping out of a plane, off a bridge or even down a waterfall, it seems that Kiwis know best when it comes to testing your limits against nature. This comes as no surprise, since their country is filled with breathtaking landscapes and diverse terrain, making it the perfect playground for adrenaline junkies. Read on to immerse yourself in some of the most thrilling adventure tours in New Zealand, all set against incredible wild scenery.
AJ Hackett, a Kiwi genius or madman – depending on your perspective – launched the world’s first commercial bungy in 1987 with a particularly audacious feat: He jumped off the Eiffel Tower attached only by his specially-developed bungy ropes, receiving a brief jail sentence but drawing global attention.
The Eiffel Tower stunt kick-started Hackett’s bungy business in one of the most scenic locations in the world: a heritage suspension bridge spanning Queenstown’s Kawarau Gorge. He drew inspiration from the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club, which in turn had copied bungy from the Vanuatuan tradition of “land-diving” using vines. When he started his commercial bungy business in 1988, the new extreme sport was an immediate hit and launched both New Zealand’s adventure tourism industry and its reputation as an adrenaline capital.
Today, AJ Hackett Bungy has grown to include global locations, and at Queenstown they now offer zip rides, bridge swings, catapults and more. But don’t be too scared – after more than a million jumps, they still have a spotless safety record.
Tucked away in a valley north of Nelson, at the top of the South Island, Cable Bay Adventure Park offers world-class mountain-biking and the thrilling SkyWire Experience, one of the world’s longest flying foxes. It’s a cage that shoots you and three others a kilometre across a bush-clad valley at speeds of up to 100kph. It’s definitely the fastest way to traverse the valley – and then you get to do it all backwards, admiring the view as you go.
If you’d like to experience the park at a slower yet still thrilling pace, it has a world-class network of mountain-bike trails to explore as well as paintball, quad bike tours and a climbing wall.
Local’s tip: Enjoy mountain-biking, the Skywire and 4WDing, then have some fish and chips at the park’s cafe and drive to Cable Bay itself to take in its perfect semi-circle rocky beach. It’s a great place for kayaking, swimming or paddleboarding.
Credit: Nimmo Photography
Credit: Nimmo Photography
Credit: Nimmo Photography
The competition for New Zealand’s best skydive is fierce, but if you’re going to jump out of a plane then you might as well choose somewhere with the best views possible. Skydive Franz & Fox is on the west coast of the South Island and offers tandem jumps, all within view of the beautiful Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area rainforest and the spectacular reach of the snowy Southern Alps.
Jump heights range from 10,000ft to their signature 18,000ft Kea Jump, New Zealand’s highest skydive. After a 30-minute scenic flight to get to the jump point, you’ll enjoy 85 seconds of freefall travelling at 200kph, then long minutes of serenity as you float to earth, with time enough to take in all the beauty surrounding you.
The company also offers a variety of ways to capture the experience, including a personal jump videographer filming your every reaction.
Credit: Miles Holden
Credit: Miles Holden
Credit: Miles Holden
There is no better way to appreciate the spectacular diversity of New Zealand’s ancient forests than swinging up, down and through its lush canopy. Equal parts forest restoration effort and mind-blowing nature experience, Rotorua Canopy Tours offers a thrilling zipline adventure through prehistoric forest.
Once you’re strapped in, you’ll be taken on a journey through the tree canopy via swing bridges, cliff walks, tree-top platforms and of course the ziplines – up to six of them – all enhanced by a knowledgeable guide.
The company is also dedicated to preserving the environment they operate in – learn about their conservation efforts, plants and wildlife, and local history in between moments of heart-pounding joy.
Fancy rafting? How about in pure darkness? The extensive Waitomo Caves, in central North Island, are a subterranean wonderland of sinkholes and underground rivers. The area has long been known as one of New Zealand’s best natural attractions, and for good reason.
Waitomo’s Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. hosts the Black Abyss trip, where you’ll spend five hours abseiling, zip-lining, climbing underground and then tubing in fast-flowing, pure freshwater. Its shorter Black Labyrinth tour sees you floating down an underground river, jumping off waterfalls and viewing constellations of tiny blue-white glow-worms from the comfort of your wetsuit and tube.
Whatever trip you take, you’ll be in awe of the geological marvels and secret worlds to be discovered in these dark and ancient depths.