Hike the South Island glaciers

Auckland-bound thrill-seekers will love this. Waiheke Island has ziplines fitted across its vast forested plains, bringing you plenty of views of the coastline as well as showcasing the exquisite native trees in the vicinity. Each of these are 200 metres long, and the company that runs the course offers special tour packages too.

When else will you get the chance to visit a city built around 48 volcanic cones? (They’re all dormant, don’t worry). The most prominent of these resides in Rangitoto Island; the namesake volcano can be seen anywhere in Auckland with a coastal view. You can catch the ferry to the island, to spend the day hiking up the summit. Not only will you get to see a majestic volcano up close, you’ll also be able to catch sight of New Zealand’s largest collection of native pohutukawa trees.

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are definitely majestic sights to see. If you’re not confident mountaineering solo, there are guided tours you can take of each of these icy wonders. Of the two, Fox Glacier is the largest, coming in at 12 kilometres in length and soaring 3,000 metres in height. The neighbouring Franz Josef, by comparison, is 10 kilometres long and descends into the lush Westland National Park.

This is a great way to immerse yourself in the South Island’s most breathtaking mainland landscapes. The Tranzalpine train runs daily, with the scenic trip to Greymouth taking approximately one hour to complete. You’ll start your journey in Christchurch, passing through the exquisite Southern Alps and the Canterbury Plains. For a North Island alternative, there’s always the picturesque Northern Explorer train from Auckland to Wellington.

Embrace the Maori Culture

New Zealand has plenty in store for its visitors. Whether you’re a keen cultural explorer, an adventure junkie, or a nature and wildlife enthusiast, it won’t take long for you to find your happy place in this incredibly diverse country. In fact, here are 13 uniquely Kiwi experiences that all travellers should try at least once.

Or any New Zealand wildlife, really. The kiwi is probably the most recognisable of the lot, with its long nostril and hair-like feathers. You can catch sight of these flightless, nocturnal birds in various zoos and bird sanctuaries across the North and South Islands, including the Auckland Zoo, Zealandia in Wellington, Otorohanga’s Kiwi House and Native Bird Park, Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Queenstown’s Kiwi Birdlife Park.

Since you’re in the country, you might as well verse yourself in local culture and tradition. Each town you’ll pass through will have its own special heritage sites you can explore. Remember, if you are lucky enough to enter a Marae, have a Hangi, or participate in any other kind of local custom, make sure to brush up on the appropriate etiquette and rules.

Rotorua is home to the world’s first Zorbing track. For those who haven’t heard of this before, the Zorb is a giant ball you get into before running along various tracks. The original circuit will take you down a hill, through a zig-zagging obstacle course with many slips and turns.

Sky high surges

Ever wanted to leap off an airplane and land on a powdery ski slope? Then consider making it your mission to fly over snowy alpine ranges of Queenstown, Wanaka and New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt Cook. If you’re Christchurch-bound, there are heli-skiing operators in the town of Methven (just a couple of hours away) that will take you on on a heart-racing trip to the Canterbury region’s iconic Mt Hutt ski field.

Those with an affinity for skydiving will be spoiled for choice when selecting their desired adventure terrains – there are many tours of this kind throughout New Zealand, from tandem leaps to solo plunges. Make the experience more iconic by adding a glacial aspect into the mix: Skydive Franz offers a scenic 360-degree jump down towards Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.

Aquatic adrenaline rushes are a given in an island nation like New Zealand. Whether you opt to immerse yourself in the oceans, canyon gorges, lakes, cave creeks or freshwater rivers, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting active on the waterways.

Water-based thrills

Aquatic adrenaline rushes are a given in an island nation like New Zealand. Whether you opt to immerse yourself in the oceans, canyon gorges, lakes, cave creeks or freshwater rivers, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting active on the waterways.

Kayaking is incredibly popular in the summer months, and you pretty much do it just about anywhere in the country. Some of the top places people opt for include Abel Tasman National Park, Rangitoto Island and Lake Wanaka. Those in the mood for a freshwater alternative should set their sights onto the North Island Whanganui River – particularly Whanganui National Park.

For a motorised rush, try a bit of jet boating. This thrilling ride can be experienced in Auckland, Queenstown and Lake Taupo.

Rafting is another awesome experience to put on your bucket list. Add some underground exploration into the mix by opting for a black water rafting tour of Waitomo Caves, or visit Rotorua to try some white water rafting along the Kaituna River rapids and its gushing waterfall.

Ever wanted to leap off an airplane and land on a powdery ski slope? Then consider making it your mission to fly over snowy alpine ranges of Queenstown, Wanaka and New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt Cook. If you’re Christchurch-bound, there are heli-skiing operators in the town of Methven (just a couple of hours away) that will take you on on a heart-racing trip to the Canterbury region’s iconic Mt Hutt ski field.

A bundle of roped-up adventures

Ziplining is another rope-based activity that you should keep on your radar. You don’t need to look too far out to find the ideal place to glide through: venture into the forests of Waiheke Island to whizz past the trees as you bask at the picturesque Auckland Harbour; head to Rotorua for a three-hour zipline through the massive wilderness; fly through the treetops of Queenstown’s Bob’s Peak to tap into the steepest ziplines in the world; or make your way over to the South Island’s West Coast to immerse yourself in the forests while also catching sight of some glowworms.

Waitomo’s wondrous cave systems are world-renowned – not just for their stunning glowworms, but also for the narrow passageways and awesome limestone formations that make them some of the country’s most desirable spelunkingdestinations.

Nelson is another place that offers plenty of caving opportunities, as well as being an optimal location to try some canyoning. Right on your doorstep you’ve got the canyons surrounding Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park and Mt Richmond Forest Park. Expert cavers should take a look at Harwoods Hole; everyone else should check out the Ngarua Caves on Takaka Hill.

Queenstown and Wanaka are also great go-tos for canyoning. Wanaka in particular is notable for its deep canyon tours that incorporate everything from hiking to swimming, rock climbing and rappelling.