From Queenstown Extreme by 3 Men & Little Lady

Sometimes all travelers want to do is get their hearts racing. Whether you’re a regular adrenaline junkie or just looking for something to do that you’d never dare do near home, extreme sports can hold a certain appeal. Does the thought of tumbling through swirling water pique your interest? How about hurtling through the atmosphere? Ascending slowly up steep mountain rock? Courageous travelers who like to test their limits often find that taking risks yields ample rewards: views of our planet from a perspective they’ve never seen before, exhilarating natural highs, interesting stories to tell their friends, and the unmeasurable reward of feeling more alive.

In New Zealand, the pleasure of adrenaline sports is amplified by the surrounding natural beauty. From its shimmering ocean and lakes to its majestic rolling mountainsides, this country seems to have it all. The picturesque, alpine Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island is one example of a popular town for extreme sports. Brave a bungy jump or skydive here, and you’ll find safe, reliable instructors to help you, but better yet, you’ll be soaring through blue skies against the backdrop of the Remarkables Ranges above and pristine Lake Wakatipu below.

Feel your heart starting to beat a little faster? Here’s a glimpse at some of the exciting options for adventure in this gorgeous destination:

Bungy jumping

New Zealand is considered by many to be the home of modern bungy jumping, as the first permanent commercial bungy site was created on the Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown. This dare-devil sport remains a popular tourist attraction, offering brave partakers to freefall through the air with the stunning New Zealand landscape cascading around them.

Realtravelers 3 Men & Little Lady threw caution to the wind, so to speak, and included bungy jumping in their New Zealand adventures:

“There’s no better cure for a hangover than jumping from 134m with nothing but underwear elastic to keep you from crashing into the rocks below. That’s what we had decided to do to ourselves on the Thursday morning at the Nevis Bungy Jump one of the four highest in the world!” (more…)

Canyon Swinging

Canyon swinging means just what it sounds like: swinging freely across a canyon. Don’t say no just yet, though, because it’s safe, too; jumpers are placed in a full body harness and then attached to a twin rope swinging system before being launched across one of the famous Shotover River Canyons in Queenstown. Jumpers have the freedom to cast off backwards, forwards, upside down, or any which way, providing endless amusement. After a brief free-fall, the ride swings in a gentle arc back and forth while jumpers can enjoy the beauty that surrounds them. At 109 meters above the ground, this is considered the world’s highest swing!

Skydiving

With its gorgeous and varied landscape, it’s no wonder New Zealand is one of the world’s most famous skydiving destinations. Opportunities to partake in this popular urban adventure can be found in Taupo, Queenstown, Auckland, Hastings, Christchurch, Rotorua, and Wanaka. Tandem and independent dives are available, and the instructors here are known for their friendly demeanor and safety consciousness. Travelers often report in their blogs that skydiving is addictive. At the very least, it’s sure to be exhilarating. Try this sport, and you’ll never be the same.

Rock Climbing

This country offers some of the best outdoor rock climbing in the world as well as a myriad of indoor climbing opportunities. Instructors offer classes and tutorials on gear and technique for all levels of ability. The most popular spots for outdoor climbing are Westland, Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring, Arthur’s Pass and Fiordland National Parks, all based in the Southern Alps, but indoor opportunities abound in Queenstown and other cities. For all but the most experienced of climbers, the ideal (and safest) climbing season is generally during the warmer months of November to March.

Abseiling

Abseiling is essentially scaling down the side of a almost vertical mountain face, amounting to a controlled free-fall at varying speeeds. New Zealand’s landscape is perfect for such a sport. The top spots for abseiling in New Zealand are Auckland, Taupo, Waitomo, Christchurch, Wanaka, and of course Queenstown.

Jet Skiing and Jet Boating

With all the picturesque coastline near much of New Zealand’s urban development, watersports are a popular attraction. Jet skis are available for hire in any major town, and guided jet ski tours can take travelers fishing or zipping through through inlets to swim in natural hot pools. Jet boating was invented in New Zealand in the 1960’s and is a great adrenaline rush that’s safe for all ages.

Rafting

New Zealand’s mountainous interior feeds an abundance of swift-flowing rivers running through the landscape to the sea. Whether you prefer a tranquil drifting ride or an exciting, white-knuckled thrill ride through turbulent rapids, you can find what you’re looking for here. Rivers are conveniently graded for their turbulence, and there are several guided routes ranging from a few hours to several days.

Realtravelers 3 Men & Little Lady jumped into a rafting opportunity as well as jet boating:

“Friday was set to be action packed so we got up early and travelled to our river surfing entry point. After putting on freezing cold wetsuits, we were shown the basic techniques to use whilst floating down the river. I think we were all surprised at the speed of the river as we got in, but we quickly mastered the rapids and most had a really good time.

Next we were taken to the Shotover River for the Shotover Jetboat where a 16 seater powerful jet boat took us through canyons and over very shallow water at breakneck speeds. The boat only needs 4 inches of water under the back third of the boat allowing the driver to skim us across seemingly impassable beaches narrowly missing shear rock faces. It was lucky the hand rail was heated because travelling at those speeds was freezing!!”

Skiing and Snowboarding

An internationally popular destination for ski holidays, New Zealand offers great ski and snowboard conditions and world-class facilities in which to enjoy them. Travelers from the Northern hemisphere like to visit New Zealand for its reverse ski season. The variety of snow terrain strikes all who come to partake in these sports, as does the host of heliskiing operators, a fun method of skiing where helicopters are used to lift skiers to the top of isolated stretches of snow.

Gliding and Paragliding

Gliding and paragliding are gentle ways to soar through the air. Lacking motors or extreme speed, they glide on air ducts and wind, moving smoothly along and allowing gliders ample opportunity to take in the surrounding scenery. Along with the Central Otago region, Queenstown is the most prime spot for gliding along the alpine backdrop of the mountains and water. Novices can easily find an instructor who can lead the way and also provide a safe tandem flight experience.

Zorbing

The latest craze in New Zealand, zorbing is a sport that does better with a sense of humor. Participants are secured inside an inner capsule in a large, transparent zorb ball, and then rolled down hills. These innocent balls can reach speeds of around 50 kilometers per hour! Despite the bewildering sound of it, zorbing is actually considered to be quite safe.

ShellyG tried zorbing in Roturua, a popular spot for the sport:

“While Zorbing there are several different options. You can go down a straight 200m hill or a zig zag course, you can be strapped in or not, and you can opt for being unstrapped with a bucket of water. I opted for the recommended zig-zag, free and wet.” (more…)

To try these adrenaline-producing New Zealand adventures for yourself, visit:

Queenstown
Lake Taupo
Wanaka
Auckland
Christchurch
Rotorua
Milford Sound
Hastings

Links to a few popular activity sites:

New Zealand Skydiving School
Ski and Snowboard New Zealand
Hiking and Adventure Tours
Skydiving New Zealand
Zorbing

Useful links for planning a trip to New Zealand:

New Zealand Hotel Reviews
New Zealand Travel Information
New Zealand Map
New Zealand Itineraries
New Zealand Travel Deals
New Zealand Attractions