3 Ways to Get Your Adrenaline Fix in New Zealand

New Zealand is known as a country of extreme beauty with rugged mountain ranges, crystalline lakes and endless miles of lush greenery. With so much wilderness waiting to be explored, it’s no wonder the country is known as the home of adventure tourism.

While you can take it easy and enjoy a leisurely hike or a relaxing cruise, there are also plenty of unique ways to enjoy a high-stakes adventure. Read on to discover three of the best ways to get your adrenaline fix New Zealand style.

Rafting

The interiors of the islands making up New Zealand are a nest of impressive mountain ranges and dense forests, which equate to wild mountain rivers for those seeking an adventure. Rafting is a popular activity for locals and visitors alike, and you can do anything from a leisurely float down a quiet, Grade 1 stream or head for one of the roaring rapids that go all the way up to a Grade 5 for a wild whitewater rafting experience. One of the most popular white water rafting destinations is Tongariro River, with three different sections ranging in difficulty from Grade 2 to Grade 4.

The Tongariro River Rafting Company offers a variety of rafting excursions, including multi-day rafting adventures that include all the food, accommodations and equipment you will need throughout the trip.

Canyoning

Canyoning is another popular pastime in New Zealand, one that can be done at various locations around the country. It involves getting down and dirty with the canyons found throughout the country’s wilderness regions. With a mix of climbing, jumping, abseiling, swimming and good old-fashioned exploring, you get to leap off waterfalls, slide down rocks and explore the nooks and crannies of the country’s canyons and the streams and rivers running through them.

Some of the most popular destinations for canyoning can be found near Auckland, Coromandel and Wanaka. Raglan Rock Adventure Company offers a unique experience taking you out after dark for glowworm canyoning on Mount Karioi. This tour outfitter takes care of everything from providing the equipment and instruction to taking great pictures during your adventure.

Heli-Skiing

For the ultimate adrenaline rush, head to the highest snow-covered peaks in New Zealand for a heli-skiing adventure. A helicopter takes you to the tops of mountains where you’ll find the purest, freshest powder to drop into and forge your own trail down the mountain. The rush of dropping out of the sky and landing on top of the world combined with the freedom of making your own path through virgin terrain is an excitement that can’t be duplicated. Harris Mountains Heli-Ski has been facilitating this one-of-a-kind adrenaline rush for more than five decades.