New Zealand didn’t get the title of ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ for promoting daring sock classes. No, sir, this title comes from the design of high mountains from which glaciers slide, vast rugged gorges and lakes, and open spaces that make the whole country look like a giant’s Adventure Park. And extreme sports fans can’t help but heed the call and want to holiday in New Zealand and particularly the South Island.
Bungee jumping, in its modern form, was invented in New Zealand, making it the perfect introduction to any New Zealand holiday. So was blackwater rafting, but this playground is also known for its extreme activities: jet boating, whitewater rafting, heli bungy, tandem paragliding, tandem skydiving, heliskiing, snowkiting, snowboarding, sand yachting , zorbing, spherical, rock climbing and rappelling, canyoning and more gentle pastimes, kayaking, cycling or mountain biking and trekking – all are worth considering when planning a holiday in New Zealand.
This South Island extreme adventure itinerary is an extremely scenic template on which to base your own extreme New Zealand holiday.
Day 1: Wellington — Nelson Many New Zealand holidays begin in Wellington, North Island, and from there cross the Cook Strait, passing between the Marlborough Sounds and Nelson, perhaps fishing, kayaking or wreck diving. in your way.
Day 2 & 3: Abel Tasman National Park An unmissable part of any New Zealand holiday, days in Able Tasman National Park are for kayaking and walking in extremely beautiful surroundings.
Days 4 – 6: Through the blowholes at Punakaiki to Franz Joseph Glacier On the way through Punakiki to Franz Josef, stop at Pancake Rocks, eroded rock formations that provide a very impressive ocean view. blowhole action – and it’s not something most New Zealand holidays have time for – then spend a couple of days around the glacier crossing the county quad biking, ice climbing or rafting – or even heli-rafting – in the river. The face of the Franz Joseph Glacier is constantly changing, it is one of the only advancing glaciers in the world (it can move up to 70cm per day) and the hike to its ice fields and icefalls is through a temperate rainforest, which rises almost 2500 m in less than 12 km. If the half-day trek up the glacier, over its ice fields along the way, sounds too easy for your extreme New Zealand holiday, go for the helicopter trek option: you do the work along the way and then get lifted. about some spectacular scenes, destined to be a highlight for New Zealand holidays.
Day 7: Lake Wanaka In winter, Lake Wanaka is the ultimate destination for a winter sports holiday in New Zealand, go ahead, skiers! cross country and otherwise snowboarders! for the snow park and ice climbers. In summer it’s time to fish, swim, boat and of course enjoy a New Zealand speedboat holiday.
Days 8 – 10: Queenstown & Milford Sound Queenstown has been referred to more than once as ‘the adventure capital of the adventure capital’. This city has the original commercial bungee jumping, as well as one of the highest. If that’s not high enough, go skydiving! Or try something new on your New Zealand holiday and indulge in the Shotover Canyon Swing, it’s like a big fairground attraction, go bungee jumping on a tightrope, try canyoning or helicopter mountain biking. There are many sports where New Zealanders like to add the word ‘heli’ at the beginning. In winter, there are also extreme winter sports to keep you entertained in Queenstown. Milford Sound is nearby if you prefer extreme water sports.
Day 11 – Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook Climbing Mount Cook or up it by helicopter is one of the highlights of spending your New Zealand holiday, either way this snowy peak is a spectacular sight, but for a view extreme skydiving on it.
Day 12: Christchurch Surf, raft in the Rangitata Gorge or recuperate.