If Australia is famous for its beaches, Sweden for its beautiful girls, Brazil for its itsy-bitsy bikinis and Germany for its beer, then there's no question that above all else, New Zealand is famous for its heart-racing, blood-pumping, spine-tingling adventure sports.
All over the country you can experience extreme adventure sports, whether you'd prefer to jump out of a plane, swing down a canyon or reach dizzying speeds on a jet boat. A trip to New Zealand definitely won't be short on adrenalin, and we've put together a list of the best adventure destinations in the country!
Bungy Jumping
If strapping yourself to an over-sized elastic band and throwing yourself from a bridge is what you're into, there's no better place to try this out than in Queenstown, the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping. About half an hour outside of Queenstown, the Kawarau Bridge Bungy remains open, and was the first place that commercial bungy jumping was offered to the public. Of course, bungy has a much longer history than this, finding its origins in an ancient ritual performed by tribal men on Vanuatu by tying springy vines to their ankles and leaping from trees. This ritual was then re-created by a group of men at Oxford University using reinforced cable (they were arrested shortly after) which is how news spread to New Zealand of the activity, and tickled the imagination of A.J Hackett and Henry Van Asch, who made the sport what it is today and opened shop at Kawarau Bridge.
Skydiving
Described as the skydiving capital of the world, you can't go past Taupo if you have the urge to jump out of a plane. The epic scenery, adrenalin rush and clear fresh air of Taupo make it a popular destination---so popular in fact that over 30,000 people venture to the area each year to take the plunge!
White Water Rafting
White water rafting provides an incredible rush, as well as a unique perspective from which to view unspoiled scenery and rugged nature. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, look no further than the Landsborough river to experience this natural high. Located in one of New Zealand's most remote locations and untouched by bustling modernity. You'll shoot past hanging glaciers, lush rainforest and dizzying peaks on your way down-river, getting tossed around just enough to keep your heart in your chest!
There's something truly exhilarating about skimming over a body of water, turning this way and that faster than you can manage a scream of delight. Jet boating is an adventure sport that's gaining momentum all over the world, and especially in New Zealand, where it was invented. If this sounds like something you'd like to do, make sure you do it in Auckland, where you can combine some (blurred) sightseeing with a healthy dose of adrenalin! Take a skim around Auckland's stunning harbour in one of its jet boats and experience what it's like to glide effortlessly above the water. Edmond Wallace
