The 10 most fun outdoor activities to do in New Zealand you should know about
Are you ready for some adrenaline and a good time in the outdoors? New Zealand basically calls all the outdoor and adventure lovers. The list of fun activities to do while travelling the country is long and one experience seems to beat the other. Whether you love an exciting adrenaline kick or to spend an unforgettable day close to nature – New Zealand has it all. If you are planning on visiting the country anytime soon, make sure to add those 10 fun outdoor activities in New Zealand on your list.
Besides the actual beauty of the country and the incredible landscapes, those things to do will definitely not be forgotten. Plus, you get an even closer New Zealand experience and could tick off a few things from your bucketlist (if you dare to do them, of course). But see for yourself:
A sky dive: jump out of a plane over New Zealand – a daring outdoor activity
A sky dive is probably one of the adventures a lot of people dream about. And yet at the same time, an adventure everyone has a lot of respect of. Yes, jumping out of a plane really does take a lot of courage and you need to take a giant step out of your comfort zone.
But still, this is one of the top fun outdoor activities in New Zealand if you are looking for the ultimate adventure. A sky dive is a popular adventure in the country and many travellers decide to book in for that absolute adrenaline kick. There are actually quite a few places where you can sky dive and each is offering a different view. Yes, of course, if you dare to jump out of a plane you do want to choose the jump with the best view.
Among the most popular places are the sky dives over the Lake Taupo, Queenstown or Abel Tasman. Other possibilities are the Bay of Islands, the Glaciers on the South Island and of course Wanaka. The cheapest sky dive is Lake Taupo which makes it ideal for budget travellers. The Bay of Islands offers a unique view over all the different islands and the ocean. If you cannot get enough of the mountain views, you should choose between Wanaka, Queens Town or the Fox Glacier.
Yes, a sky dive might be an expensive adventure but still, this is a once in a lifetime experience you absolutely cannot miss.
A bungee jump near Queenstown – ready for the craziest fun outdoor activity in New Zealand?
Let´s just continue with another daring adventure on the list: a bungee jump. Did you know that New Zealand has the third highest jump in the world? It is located close to Queenstown on the South Island and you are jumping over the Nevis River. 134 meters and an absolutely crazy experience.
If you dare to jump, this might be the most memorable moment of your time in New Zealand. Of course, this is not a must-do, but still, it cannot be missing on the list of the craziest and fun things to do during your travels.
Go on a kayak tour and explore New Zealand from the water
How about going on a kayak tour in New Zealand? The beautiful beach areas and the hidden bays make the country the ideal place to rent a kayak and explore from the water.
The probably most famous place to do so is the Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island. The area is simply made for water activities. Plus, some of the beaches and islands can only be reached by kayak. You can book a day tour and check out the area. Especially on a sunny day you can easily combine the kayaking with some relaxation by the beach. With a little luck you will feel like being all by yourself on one of the tiny islands in front of the coast.
The Bay of Islands is also famous for scenic kayaking routes. On Lake Rotorua or Lake Taupo, you can as well join a kayak tour and spend a day on the water.
Go on a multi-day hike and spend some nights in nature
Hiking cannot be missing on the list of fun outdoor activities in New Zealand. The incredible landscapes and the beautiful mountain areas are calling every traveller to go on a hike. If you are looking for an even deeper and more memorable experience, you should check out the multi-day hikes in the country.
Spending a few days and nights close to nature and in a remote part of the country does sound like a real experience. And yes, it is. There are a few routes on both the islands which take you several days to finish. If you love to be close to nature and have some quiet time hiking (alone or with friends) this is the best thing to do.
These are the most famous and most beautiful multi-day hikes in New Zealand:
- The Tongariro Northern Circuit (North Island)
- The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, Te Urewera (North Island)
- The Kepler Track (South Island)
Most of the multi-day hikes in the country are called the Great Walks. You might want to check them out for the best scenic views. Be aware though, that you need to book a hut for the accommodation while hiking. You should do that in advance as some of the Great Walks are quite popular and book out fast.
Do a day hike – a fun outdoor activity to get the most impressive views of the New Zealand landscape
If you are not up to do a multi-day hike, do not worry. There are plenty of day hikes which lead you to breathtaking views as well. Especially on the South Island, there are beautiful hikes you need to put on your list.
The Roy´s Peak in Wanaka is a must-do for anyone visiting New Zealand. The Mount Cook Hooker Valley Track leads you to the foot of the country´s highest peak. And the Ben Lomond near Queenstown is known for some of the best views you can get.
And even if you are not into hiking at all, if you are travelling the country, this needs to be on your list of fun outdoor activities in New Zealand. There is no other way to experience the country and its beauty in a better way. Promise!
Go jet skiing in the Bay of Islands – a fun outdoor activity in New Zealand on the ocean
You want to have some real fun? Are you ready for a next adrenaline kick? If yes, you should check out jet skiing. For sure, you have seen the jet skis before or even tried it out. But did you ever do it in such a beautiful scenery? Probably not.
The Bay of Islands is known, well… for the multiple islands spread all around the bay. Each island has a hidden beach or a bay which you can check out on your jet ski.
Fun is guaranteed, especially if you do the tour with friends. With a little luck, you might even spot some dolphins. Can it get any better?
Camp out in nature, at the beach or in the mountains
As you might know, New Zealand is made for road tripping and camping adventures. Therefore, camping out in nature is on the list of fun activities to do for the ultimate adventure. If you are travelling in a van, this is your daily life.
Most of the camp grounds (especially the free ones) are located outside of the cities and in the middle of nature. This can mean you spend the night directly by the beach or somewhere in the mountains or the forest.
Shower in the rivers, have dinner at the beach and wake up in the most beautiful surrounding – camping in New Zealand is the best thing to do if you are looking for an outstanding experience and want to get closer to nature.
For more information on road tripping in New Zealand and why this is your best choice, click here.
Star gazing – see the most beautiful night sky in New Zealand
If you love the night sky, you will love New Zealand. Especially in the rural areas, away from the cities, you will be able to enjoy an incredible night sky. It is therefore reasonable, that star gazing is among the best fun activities to do in New Zealand for the ultimate adventure.
If you want to learn more about star gazing and even book a tour, you should check out Lake Tekapo on the South Island. But you know what works as well? Simply look up to the sky before going to sleep on your road trip.
Book your own rafting adventure and explore the strong rivers of the country
And almost last but not least on the list of fun outdoor activities in New Zealand is rafting. For some people, this really is one of the most fun things to do. And even if you have not tried it yet, you should do so. Why? Because rafting in New Zealand really guarantees a lot of fun.
The best places to go rafting are the Tongariro River, the area of Queenstown and Rotorua.
Sandboarding on the dunes of the 90-miles beach near Cape Reigna
Have you ever heard of sandboarding? It is basically the same as surfing, but simply not on a wave but on sand. Yes, it is exactly as crazy as it sounds. The dunes at the 90-mile beach in the Northland are made for sandboarding and call for an unforgettable time.
You can easily combine the activity with a visit to Cape Reigna, the most Northern point of New Zealand. And on the way back, make sure to stop at the giant sand dunes and rent yourself a boat. Depending on the time you arrive, you can either rent a board directly at the parking lots of the dunes (the rental closes at 5 pm though) or you can find a rental along the main road.
If you try this out, an hour full of laughing and fun is absolutely guaranteed. Plus, this is a unique thing to do in New Zealand that you will for sure not forget.
