Photo Credit
Ian Trafford
Choose an adventure activity and New Zealand likely has world-class terrain to match. From Milford Sound at the bottom of the South Island to Ninety Mile Beach at the top of the North Island, New Zealand offers an abundance of hiking, skiing, mountain biking, cycling, kayaking, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, and more. The country is full of mountains, temperate rainforest, pristine rivers, and over 15,000 km of coastline ripe for adventure.
Beyond the incredible scenery, New Zealand is easy. The locals are friendly and both the North and South Islands have a consistent infrastructure of outdoor shops and guides. The country is big enough that you can take a lengthy action-packed trip but small enough that you won’t feel overwhelmed. There may not be a better all-around adventure destination.
Below is a compilation of adventure activities in New Zealand. Each has an overview of that sport in New Zealand as well as the best places to go. Depending on the type of trip you prefer, guided or unguided, each activity has a list of guides and tours and a separate list of independent rental shops.
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