Top 5 Thrilling Adventures in New Zealand Experience heart-pounding thrills such as skydiving over Lake Taupo, white-water rafting on the Kaituna River, discovering the Waitomo Caves, hiking the mountainous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and bungee jumping off Kawarau Bridge.
Top 5 Thrilling Adventures in New Zealand
It appears that when it comes to pushing your boundaries against the elements, Kiwis are the most experienced—whether it’s skydiving, leaping from a bridge, or even falling from a waterfall. This is not surprising, considering their nation is a veritable paradise for thrill-seekers, with its varied terrain and gorgeous scenery. Continue reading to learn about some of New Zealand’s most exhilarating adventure trips, all of which take place in breathtakingly beautiful natural settings.
1. Queenstown: AJ Hackett Bungy
In 1987, AJ Hackett, a Kiwi genius or lunatic, made history by launching the world’s first commercial bungy with an extremely daring jump off the Eiffel Tower while only using his specially designed bungy ropes. He received a short jail term but gained international attention for his daring act.
Hackett launched his bungy enterprise after the Eiffel Tower stunt, taking place at a historic suspension bridge crossing Queenstown’s Kawarau Gorge, one of the world’s most picturesque locations. The Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club, which had adapted bungy from the Vanuatuan practice of “land-diving” with vines, served as his source of inspiration. In 1988, he began operating a commercial bungy business. The new extreme activity proved to be an instant smash, propelling Top 5 Thrilling Adventures in New Zealand sector and its status as an adrenaline capital.
With its current global reach, AJ Hackett Bungy currently has locations all over the world. In Queenstown, it offers zip lines, bridge swings, catapults, and more. Don’t be alarmed; despite over a million leaps, they have maintained an unblemished safety record.
2. Nelson: Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire and Mountain-biking
At the summit of the South Island, in a valley north of Nelson, is Cable Bay Adventure Park, home to the world’s longest flying fox, the exhilarating SkyWire Experience, and top-notch mountain biking. It’s a cage that blasts you and three other people at up to 100 kph over a valley covered with bushes one kilometer away. It’s undoubtedly the quickest way to cross the valley, and you get to do it all backwards while taking in the scenery.
In addition to paintball, quad bike excursions, and a climbing wall, the park offers a top-notch network of mountain biking trails for visitors who prefer a more leisurely but exhilarating experience.
Local advice: Take pleasure in 4WDing, mountain biking, and the Skywire. After that, grab some fish and chips from the park’s cafe and head over to Cable Bay itself to see its ideal semi-circle rocky coastline. It’s an excellent location for swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
3. West Coast: Skydive Franz & Fox
There’s a lot of competition to be the finest skydive in New Zealand, but if you’re going to jump out of a plane, you might as well pick a location with the greatest views. Situated on the west coast of the South Island, Skydive Franz & Fox provides tandem jumps with breathtaking views of the snow-capped Southern Alps, Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, and the stunning rainforest.
The jump heights range from 10,000 feet to the famous 18,000 feet Kea Jump, which is the highest skydive in New Zealand. You will have a 30-minute beautiful flight to reach the jump point, followed by 85 seconds of freefall at 200 kph. After that, you will have a peaceful few minutes while you glide to Earth, giving you plenty of opportunity to admire the surrounding scenery.
The business also provides a range of options for documenting the event, such as having a personal jump videographer record your every response.
4. Rotorua: Rotorua Canopy Tours
Swinging up, down, and through the lush canopy of New Zealand’s old forests is the only way to fully appreciate their astonishing diversity. Rotorua Canopy Tours offers an exhilarating zipline journey through prehistoric forest that is equal parts mind-blowing natural experience and forest restoration endeavor.
After you’re securely fastened, a skilled guide will lead you on an adventure over the tree canopy that includes swing bridges, cliff walks, tree-top platforms, and, of course, up to six ziplines.
Learn about the company’s conservation initiatives, local history, and plants and fauna in between heart-pounding moments of happiness. The organization is also committed to protecting the environment in which they operate.
5. Waitomo: The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co.
Would you like to go rafting? In total darkness, perhaps? The vast Waitomo Caves, located in the center of the North Island, are an underground wonderland with underground rivers and sinkholes. For good reason, the region has long been regarded as one of the top natural attractions in New Zealand.
The Black Abyss adventure, offered by Waitomo’s Legendary Black Water Rafting Co., takes five hours and includes abseiling, zip-lining, underground climbing, and tubing in swift-moving, pure freshwater. On the abbreviated Black Labyrinth tour, you may witness constellations of tiny blue-white glow-worms while floating down a subterranean river, jumping off waterfalls, and lounging in your tube and wetsuit.
Whatever route you choose, the geological wonders and hidden realms waiting to be unearthed from these dim, ancient depths will astound you.
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