Kayaking

A guided New Zealand kayaking tour can take you anywhere from the crystal clear waters in Abel Tasman National Park to the sheltered Marlborough Sounds, or the towering grandeur of the fiords to open water safaris around, for example, the Bay of Islands and Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Paddle with dolphins; paddle around a marine reserve and jump in for a snorkel; paddle a Maori waka (yes, you can).

For fresh water kayaking try the Whanganui River, the longest navigable waterway in the country. It has a fair number of rapids but even beginner paddlers can navigate the river safely. For the thrill of whitewater try the Rangitaiki and Mohaka in the North Island or the Clutha and Kawarau in the South Island. And if you would like something a little more tranquil, lake kayaking is an easy way to master the art of paddling. On Lake Taupo you can paddle to see Maori rock carvings while on Rotorua’s crater lakes you’ll get a fresh view of the steaming geothermal activity that is the heart of this place.