New Zealand Activities
Walking and Trekking
If you’re keen to enjoy New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes and explore our vast wilderness areas, pack a selection of walking shoes and boots.
About 30 per cent of New Zealand is protected land with public access, so there are plenty of tracks and trails to choose from. You can find your own way, or take advantage of the many guided hikes and tours.
New Zealand offers a wide range of terrains: big city greenbelts, long deserted beaches, coastal cliff tops, lush native rainforests, open river valleys, alpine tussock grasslands, high country farmland and active volcanic areas.
Eco Experiences
A symphonie of Birdsong -Tiritiri Matangi Island
The forest of Tiritiri Matangi Island was regenerated from barren farmland by a volunteer planting programme. The island is now an open sanctuary for rare native birds.
When I visited for the day, I was truly amazed by the results. Countless close encounters with such rare species reminded me of what is possible when we care for our environment.
Night Time in a sacred forest
Tane Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest, is the largest kauri tree in New Zealand. Revered by Maori people, it stands proud in the Waipoua forest.
On a night tour to experience this magnificent 51m high remnant of the ancient forests, I felt as though all my senses were directly connected to the natural world.
Whale watching with the locas – Kaikura
At Kaikoura, you can board a modern whale watching boat with a ninety per cent chance of getting up close to these majestic marine mammals, at any time of the year.
Your knowledgeable guides are local Maori people with a deep traditional passion for the ocean’s eco-system. It’s a remarkable experience.
Walking on a glacier – FOX Glacier
Fox Glacier is truly unique. From a village at its base, you can walk directly onto the glacial ice. As I stood on its vast surface I was entranced by the beautiful blue colour of the ice, which formed thousands of years ago. Ancient and pure, it’s a tangible icon of the natural environment.
Adventure
Land activities
Off Road Driving Adventure:
A wonderful by-product of New Zealand’s agricultural heritage is our comprehensive network of back-country roads and tracks. Some are gravel, some are dirt and others are not much more than a sheep trail up the hillside.
In Kiwi slang, the remote areas that you can see on a 4WD adventure are known as the ‘wop-wops’ or ‘the sticks’. If you’re out to see the scenery, you’re on a ‘tiki tour’. And if you find yourself ‘up the boohai’, then you’re well and truly lost.
Off-roading in New Zealand could be anything from a chauffeur-driven safari in a luxury Land Rover to a self-drive scoot around the forest on a quad bike. Experiences vary enormously according to where you are in the country. In Northland you can traverse colossal sand dunes on Ninety Mile Beach; Waikato four-wheel-driving could be a blast in a rally car or a quad bike farm tour; Marlborough might see you chasing the good life on a high country sheep station; and Canterbury could mean an alpine adventure in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
So buckle up, start your engine and hold on tight, the scenic wilderness is waiting.
Abseiling/Rapelling:
Controlled descent is an enthralling way to interact with the landscape. And the great thing about abseiling, also called rappelling, is that it’s quite easy to learn. After a few lessons, you’ll be slipping down the rope like a master.In some cases, abseiling is a mode of transport – a way to reach an unknown world. This is certainly the scenario in Waitomo, where it’s necessary to drop 100 metres down a huge tomo (hole) in the earth to reach the Lost World.
Other adventures are focused on the trip down, like abseiling waterfalls in Egmont National Park or descending the rungway on Queenstown Hill. The skilled guides and instructors who operate abseiling experiences know all about easing people out of their comfort zone, so that you get an amazing sense of accomplishment.
Check out the abseiling opportunities around the country. There’s sure to be just the kind of adventure you’re looking for.
Canyoning:
The fine art of canyoning uses every part of your body and requires all kinds of skills – scrambling, climbing, jumping, sliding, abseiling, swimming and shouting “yeehaa” as often as you dare. It’s a wet business, but you’re equipped with a tough wetsuit that provides warmth and a useful amount of padding (rocks can be sharp!).
Under the watchful eye of your guide, you’ll make the journey down natural rock canyons, water-polished chutes, waterfalls, pools and streams. In most cases, canyoning adventures are staged in remote mountain locations. In Auckland the Waitakere Ranges have everything required for a great canyoning experience; operators in Nelson, Canterbury and Wanaka make good use of the South Island’s magnificent mountain terrain; and Coromandel’s canyoning tours use the fabulous Kaueranga Valley.
Apart from the adrenalin buzz associated with leaping off waterfalls and sliding down glass-smooth rocks, canyoning is a chance to enjoy forest and river areas than few people ever get to see.
Golf:
A great round of golf feeds the mind, the body and the soul. Our magnificently designed courses cleverly test all ability levels and will certainly keep you thinking. You’ll be exercising in the clean fresh air and breathtaking panoramas of snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests or seascapes will provide the nicest kind of distraction.
There’s one more thing that makes New Zealand a great golfing destination – it’s just so easy to get a round in. There are more than 400 golf courses around the country and you can play in any season. Visitors are always welcome and green fees are surprisingly reasonable.
Visit Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm:
Discover the real Middle-earth on the most picturesque private farmland near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand, where you can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy in a fascinating two-hour guided tour.
There are spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges from the rolling green hills of the movie set, which is still a working sheep and beef farm.
Horse Treks:
Whether you’re exploring a gold mining river, a wilderness beach, lush native forest or crossing an alpine pass, New Zealand’s pristine beauty tends to transport your mind back to the pioneering days. Trekking on horseback, as the early settlers did, is very much in harmony with the feel and pace of our landscapes.
There’s also something deeply natural and rewarding about interacting with animals, and horses are no exception. Even on a short novice ride, you learn about your horse’s personality and develop a level of rapport and understanding. Our equestrian industry is internationally recognised and this extends to breeding horses that are ideal for trekking – reliable, friendly and easy to ride.
Operators the length of the country run half day, full day and longer guided treks. Most stables cater for a range of rider abilities. All tack, including hard hats, is provided and overnight trekking packages also include the necessary camping equipment.
Bungy:
In the 1980s, kiwi entrepreneurs AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch started the world’s first commercial bungy operation, with a jump from the historic Kawarau Bridge near the South Island alpine resort of Queenstown. Since then, bungy jumping has become the thrill of choice for thousands of travellers.
Operators around the country can help you to make the leap of faith from a variety of bridges, rail viaducts, specially constructed platforms and stadium roofs. There are various ways to personalise your jump – try partial immersion in water, a tandem jump or a night jump. New Zealand’s highest jump involves an awesome 134 metre plunge (440ft or 8 seconds of free fall) from a gondola suspended above a canyon.
If you’re planning to jump for the first time, one seasoned jumper has this advice: “I think the secret to bungy jumping is to consciously blank your mind as you approach the moment of truth and not think at all until you’re flying through the air. Don’t think, don’t analyse, just jump”.
Bungy jumping has been called the ’quickest personal growth experience ever’. You’ll dine out on the story for days.
Skiing:
Whether you’ve never felt snow before or you’re permanently in powder, New Zealand offers ski adventures that will keep you begging for “just one more run”.
In the North Island there are two commercial ski fields (Turoa and Whakapapa) on Mount Ruapehu, an active volcanic cone.
In the south, the Southern Alps offer a large choice of ski fields with spectacular alpine scenery and lively resort towns for fun at the end of the day. The Remarkables, Cardrona, Treble Cone and Coronet Peak fields are centred on the resort towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. There’s also a Nordic skiing area near Wanaka, with 25 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails.
The Mount Hutt field in Canterbury has the longest ski season in the country. For a ski experience that’s pure adrenalin, experienced heliski operators will take intermediate and advanced skiers up into the Alps to discover open bowls of powder and steep, high-speed chutes.
Whether you’re planning to make golf the focus of your holiday, or simply want to keep your hand in with a quick half-day on the greens, you’ll enjoy the scenic beauty and public accessibility of New Zealand’s golfing landscapes.
Water activities
In New Zealand we’re always finding reasons to get onto, into or under the water. Our sailing prowess has won the America’s Cup twice, we invented the jet boat and if a new water sport happens along, such as kite surfing, we’re very quick to get it sorted.
Wherever you travel in the country, there will be opportunities to take a cruise, go fishing, paddle a kayak or catch a joy ride in a fast-moving water craft of some kind. You’ll also have the chance to collect some new water sports skills – maybe it’s time to learn how to surf, dive or flick a fly rod. Ocean, lake or river, water always means fun.
Boat cruises
Getting out on the water is a big part of the New Zealand experience. As an island nation we have a non-stop coastline, and our mountainous interior provides hundreds of inland waterways that run to the sea.
There are islands, harbours, sounds, gulfs and beaches to be discovered and rivers, lakes, fiords and glaciers waiting to be explored.
You can hire a punt on an urban river; relax for days on a houseboat, motor yacht or sailing vessel; be your own captain or hire an experienced professional crew.
The pristine landscapes and waterways of the Southern South Island offer a favourite cruising experience for many, and it is there that 2008 Tourism Award winner Real Journeys offers scenic cruises through Fiordland, Queenstown and Stewart Island. Whether you prefer a high speed jet boat ride or a leisurely jaunt, you’ll find New Zealanders are happy to share with you their love of water-borne transport.
Sailing
There are several areas of New Zealand’s coastline that are ideal for sailing adventures. Sheltered harbours open out to inshore cruising grounds dotted with picturesque islands, and there are popular coastal journeys with harbour-like bays conveniently spaced less than a day’s sail apart.
You can charter a vessel and sail her yourself or opt for a skipper and crew. Skippered voyages range from an afternoon tea and sightseeing sail on the harbour to several days on an ocean-going maxi racing yacht.
The style of boat varies from restored historic square riggers to New Zealand’s high-tech America’s Cup winners. You can get as hands on or as laid back as you wish.
The maritime reserves of the Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds are among the best areas for a holiday afloat. Auckland, known as the City of Sails, has the world’s largest number of boats per head of population.
Diving
With around 15,000 kilometres of coastline and hundreds of offshore islands, New Zealand offers divers a vast and diverse underwater landscape.
A network of substantial marine reserves protects an abundance of marine life in clean, clear waters. You can dive wrecks, drop-offs and sub-tropical reefs; explore huge kelp forests, swim with school fish or clown around with the seals.
Many of the popular spots are easily accessed from the mainland coast or you can take a boat to a remote reef or island. For something new, try the serenity of kayak diving or a descent after dark.
The late Jacques Cousteau considered the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve to be one of the world’s top five diving locations. Other popular areas are the Bay of Islands, the dramatic fiords of the South Island and Stewart Island’s kelp forests.
Don’t forget your diver’s certification card. If you are not certified, instruction and certification are available here.
Windsurfing and Kitesurfing:
Harnessing the energy of the wind to skim across the water is a very satisfying way to get close to nature, and it’s also a huge amount of fun. New Zealand’s stunning coastal and lake side scenery makes this sport all the more enjoyable.
Whether your preference is to explore calm inland waterways, chop jump across a harbour or wave sail off the face of a roller, there’s a perfect location waiting here for you. Board hire and instructors are available at most of the popular windsurfing areas, which include the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin.
If you’re fond of the water but also like to get air-borne, try kite surfing. This extreme water sport has a growing following in New Zealand. Harnessed to a paragliding-style kite with a small board attached their feet, kite surfers race across the face of wind – mainly on the water and at times in the air.
Rafting:
From a quiet drift through the forested wilderness to a white-knuckled, wide-eyed journey down turbulent rapids, rafting covers the full adventure spectrum.
The mountains of New Zealand’s interior feed a myriad of fast flowing rivers that run through the forests to the sea. Grade 1 rivers offer relatively tranquil waters, while grade 5 is regarded as an extreme sport. Trips ranging from a couple of hours to five days are led by qualified rafting guides who comply with established safety codes. All gear and special clothing is provided.
Rafting rivers in the North Island are mostly found in the central east coast areas of the Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay. In the South Island, you’ll get the chance to try rafting around the resort town of Queenstown, Christchurch and on the West Coast. Some operators offer a combined helicopter and rafting experience. You can also try black water rafting through underground caves.
Jet Boating:
The jet boat was developed in the 1960s by New Zealand farmer William (Bill) Hamilton, to allow navigation of the shallow Canterbury rivers. However, enterprising New Zealanders soon realised its potential as an adventure activity.
Sit back, buckle yourself in and feel the acceleration. A New Zealand jet boat ride will take you powering through narrow river gorges, almost brushing against sheer rock faces; or skimming across the surface of water channels that weave through the shingle banks of braided rivers
Jet boating is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness, and can be enjoyed the whole year round. Some of the most exhilarating trips are available near Queenstown and Canterbury. Other areas include the Buller and Makarora regions in the South Island and the Rangitaiki, Whanganui and Waikato Rivers in the North Island.
Kayaking – Salt Water:
Exploring New Zealand’s magnificent coastline by paddle power is an exercise and pure enjoyment. You can discover the coastal regions of national parks. You can paddle around islands and along fiords. You can even paddle a traditional Maori waka.
In the South Island, sea kayaking experiences can last half a day or several. Meander through the Marlborough Sounds, where waters are sheltered and people are few; follow the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park and hope for encounters with seals, dolphins and orca; get a sea level view of a fiord; or find your way around Okarito Lagoon, where you’ll see all kinds of wading birds.
In the North Island you can embark on a sea kayaking safari around the Bay of Islands, Waiheke Island or Wellington harbour. Sheltered water experiences can be found on the Hokianga and Tauranga Harbours. Paddling around a marine reserve, such as Goat Island, is always fun – beach your kayak and go for a snorkel.
Kayaking – Fresh Water:
Our most famous fresh water canoeing experience involves the Whanganui River, the longest navigable waterway in the country. Safaris down the river can take anywhere between one and five days. There are numerous rapids, but even beginner paddlers can navigate the river safely. Other river safaris – both calm and white water – are staged on the Rangitaiki, Mohaka and Waikato Rivers in the North Island and the Dart, Clutha and Kawarau Rivers in the South Island.
Lake kayaking adventures are an easy way to master the art of self-propulsion. On Lake Taupo you can paddle to see Maori rock carvings; Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau deliver you into the heart of national park wilderness; and steaming geothermal activity will keep you enthralled around Rotorua’s many crater lakes.
Like a jet aircraft, a jet boat has no external propeller. Instead, it squirts water out at high speed just below the surface behind the boat. This allows the boat to operate in depths of only a few centimetres.
Food and Wine
Wairarapa region
There’s a lot of dramatic coastal scenery in the Wairarapa and a drive to Cape Palliser where you can sometimes see seals and penguins makes a great day trip. Well known Wellington restaurateur Marcus Darley has opened a terrific boutique hotel in Greytown called The White Swan Country Hotel. It’s close to the Martinborough vineyards and has 11 uniquely decorated rooms plus it serves unpretentious New Zealand cuisine using lots of locally sourced produce.
The Wairarapa is a relative newcomer on the New Zealand wine scene.
Wine from Te Kairanga Vineyard in the Wararapa, one of 26 wineries in the Wairarapa region.
In the late 1970s, scientists in the capital, Wellington, looked for an area with untapped potential for winegrowing. They discovered Martinborough, north of the city, which their research indicated had sufficient heat to ripen most grape varieties and sunny, relatively dry autumns.
Less than 30 years later, some of the country’s most prestigious wines flow from Martinborough, the most famous wine district in the Wairarapa region. Palliser Estate, Dry River, Martinborough Vineyard and Ata Rangi produces some of New Zealand’s greatest pinot noirs. If you taste a Martinborough pinot noir, its fullness of body and ripeness reflect the relative warmth of this North Island district. It is fascinating to compare a Martinborough pinot noir with an example of the same variety from Central Otago. Grown 800km apart, the wine styles are clearly different, with the Martinborough wine more muscular, spicy and firmly structured.
The Wairarapa is an incredibly versatile region, producing good merlot, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc, riesling and pinot gris.
This is picture postcard New Zealand, the epitome of the traditional image of New Zealand as a beautiful green farming nation. But it’s not just sheep you’ll find here, there’s venison and a growing boutique seafood industry plus a wild, rugged coastline. The Wairarapa is a great farming area known for its beef and lamb. New Zealand is a major world supplier of farmed venison and it’s one of my favourite meats as it’s very lean and flavoursome. I poached a fantastic haunch of venison for about three hours in a large pot with hay, a good local pinot noir, vegetables and thyme and it was truly delicious – wrapping a little bacon around it can also help to keep the venison moist.
Maori Culture
Indigenous Culture
The Māori people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1000 years ago. Today, Māori make up over 14 percent of the population. Their language and culture has a major impact on all facets of New Zealand life.
Fishing Up An Island
The creation of New Zealand is described by the legend of Maui. This god managed, among other things, to harness the sun in order to make the days longer. However, his biggest claim to fame was his fishing up of the North Island, which is described as Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui).
A look at an aerial map of the North Island will show how closely it resembles a fish. Māori believe the far north to be the tail of the fish and Wellington Harbour the mouth. Māori describe the South Island as Maui’s waka (canoe) and Stewart Island (Rakiura) as his punga (anchor).
Rich and Varied
Māori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practised throughout the country.
Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Māori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.
Māori Protocol
Being a tribal Polynesian people, Māori have a unique protocol. The best place to observe it is on a marae (Māori meeting grounds). Many tourist operators in New Zealand organise visits to marae.
A powhiri (formal welcome) at a marae begins with wero (challenge) A warrior from the tangata whenua (hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests). He may carry a spear (taiaha) then lay down a token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri will pick up to show they come in peace.
Some kuia (women) from the tangata whenua (hosts) will perform a karanga (call/chant) to the manuhiri. Women from the manuhiri will then respond as they move onto the marae in front of their men.
Whaikorero — Speeches of Welcome
Once inside the wharenui (meeting house) on the marae, mihimihi (greetings) and whaikorero (speeches) are made. To reinforce the good wishes of the speeches, waiata (songs) may be sung. It is usual for the manuhiri then present a koha (gift) to the tangata whenua after greeting the hosts with a hongi — the ceremonial touching of noses. After the powhiri, kai (food) may be shared.
Te Reo Māori — the Māori Language
The visitor to New Zealand will become immediately aware of the Māori language as the vast majority of place names are of Māori origin. At first, visitors may be puzzled by the seemingly impossible- to-pronounce names. In fact, Māori has a logical structure, and, unlike English, has very consistent rules of pronunciation.
Stories and Legends
Māori is an oral culture rich with stories and legends. The Māori creation story describes the world being formed by the violent separation of Ranginui, the Sky Father, and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, by their children. Many Māori carvings and artworks graphically depict this struggle.
Welcome to the Powhiri
A powhiri (formal welcome) at a marae begins with wero (challenge) A warrior from the tangata whenua (hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests). He may carry a spear (taiaha) then lay down a token (often a small branch) that the manuhiri will pick up to show they come in peace. Some kuia (women) from the tangata whenua (hosts) will perform a karanga (call/chant) to the manuhiri. Women from the manuhiri will then respond as they move onto the marae in front of their men.
