So Much to Experience
New Zealand’s breathtaking panorama of lakes, forest, coastline and mountains adds an unforgettable dimension to outdoor activities of every description.
It is no surprise that New Zealand is such a popular destination – visitors have a wide variety of fantastic activities to choose from, ranging from sightseeing by land, air and sea to the challenge of mountain climbing. Even if your clients’ visit is only brief, make sure they take advantage of some of the many wonderful activities on offer. They could try mountain biking in a pristine forest, heli-skiing on a glacier or taking a white-water rafting or jet boating trip on one of New Zealand’s many rivers. Or they could get close to whales, swim with dolphins, view endangered penguins and migratory seabirds, fly over (or even ski on!) an active volcano or hike through mountain valleys, alone or with a guide.
Choosing What to Do
The hardest part of planning can be deciding what to do. Here are just a few of the many activities to try.
Research by Tourism New Zealand indicates that activities play a crucial role in visitor satisfaction. Fortunately New Zealand’s wide range of activities ensures that you can offer your clients a selection of interesting activities to suit their interests. Encourage your clients to try something new on their New Zealand holiday. Many travellers feel enriched by their visit and this is partly to do with trying new things – including some of the more adrenaline-pumping activities, such as bungy jumping, that push their boundaries and take them out of their comfort zone.Adrenaline Rush Are your clients looking for an adrenaline rush on their holiday? Then you’re sending them to the right place! New Zealand is a thrill-seeker’s paradise and the original home of commercial bungy jumping. Visitors can experience this activity all over the country. Or how about riding an inner-tube on an underground river (black-water rafting)? Most activities can be enjoyed by people at a range of skill and fitness levels.
Boating Visitors can view the landscape from the deck of a yacht, indulge in a dinner cruise, or combine boating with fishing, diving or whale watching. Go island-hopping in the Bay of Islands or take an Auckland Harbour boat tour to see the city lights. Cruise alongside pristine waterfalls in Fiordland or explore alpine rivers in remote backcountry on a high-powered jet boat.
Cycling New Zealanders are keen cyclists and an increasing number of cycle-based activities are becoming available. Some visitors choose to travel the entire country by bike, while others explore a few localities. In Marlborough and Wairarapa, they can take a wine tour by bike. The Otago Central Rail Trail is a hugely popular 150-kilometre cycle trail.
Fishing and Hunting Visitors can try big game fishing in Northland’s Bay of Islands or The Coromandel, or go fly fishing for trout throughout the country. New Zealand also offers waterfowl and trophy hunting. A professional guide will provide your clients with the best local knowledge, arrange permits and ensure their safety.
Flight-seeing Helicopters, fixed-wing or float planes offer scenic flights, fly-fishing and heli-ski packages, air taxi services and charter flights in many locations. Clients could fly over White Island, an active offshore volcano, or spot whales at Kaikoura!
Golf The sport of golf is very popular in New Zealand and there are more than 400 crowd-free golf courses where visitors can play year-round – more golf courses per capita than any other country. Some of these courses are stunning masterpieces of design that keen golfers will love to play.
Skiing and Snowboarding New Zealand is the ultimate destination for skiers and snowboarders. In the North and South Islands there are numerous mountains, and opportunities for downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing and terrain parks for freestylers.
Qualmark Quality Assurance
An excellent way to choose quality activity operators is by looking for the Qualmark. Activity operators that carry the Qualmark as an Endorsed Visitor Activity have been assessed to ensure they meet quality standards in safety, facilities, equipment and customer service – so you can be assured that your clients will enjoy a positive experience.
