Adventure

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Adventure

New Zealand's landscape and temperate climate lends itself to outdoor activity.

New Zealand is renowned for its range of adventure activities, including bungy jumping, jetboat riding, rafting and skiing.

But adventure means different things to different people, and the best aspect of the New Zealand adventure scene is that it provides activities rated from 'soft' to 'extreme' - from hiking and waterskiing, to mountain climbing and caving.

New Zealand's adventure tourism industry makes the most of a landscape surrounded by sea, criss-crossed by rivers and lakes, covered in native bush and with a central spine of spectacular snow-capped mountains. There's something for everyone who enjoys the outdoor lifestyle and the special sense of freedom the relatively sparsely populated land provides.

View these and more downloadable Adventure images from Tourism New Zealand's Image Library.

Once there was gold in the mountains; today there's autumn gold in the trees.

Central Otago in autumn is a land of gnarled brown hills, golden foliage and bright blue skies. Here pinot noir grapes thrive in the stony soil and visitors can choose to spend their days sampling the wines, hiking in the hills or kayaking on the lakes. This region is rich in gold mining history – try your luck with a gold pan!

Photo credit: David Wall

In the Southern Alps, mountain bikers get high on the scenery.

If your fitness level is as high as the terrain, you'll discover that alpine mountain biking is nothing short of amazing. Gorgeous scenery assaults the senses whenever you’re able to take your eyes off the track in front of you. Waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and massive river valleys are some of the sights to look forward to.

Photo credit: Gilbert van Reenen

Express chairlift to adrenalin-filled adventure

A winter skiing or boarding adventure in the Southern Lakes region is a great way to appreciate the South Island's natural assets. Modern chairlifts, snowmaking technology and grooming machines all work to enhance the opportunities offered by the region’s abundant winter snowfall and stunning alpine landscapes.

Photo credit: Lake Wanaka Tourism

At the world's best-loved Bungy site, you can choose from a number of options; topple over backwards, forwards, with another person, spin or somersault. Kawarau Bridge Bungy is also the only Bungy in Queenstown where you can choose to bob above the water, touch it, or be fully immersed.
Photographer: AJ Hackett Bungy

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