Bungy jumping towards the Kawarau River in Queenstown, New Zealand © Alexandra1977 | Dreamstime
Back in the 1980s, A. J. Hackett brought the Vanuatu tradition of land diving to New Zealand, performing the first amateur bungee jump off the Auckland Harbor Bridge. Since then, New Zealand, and specifically Queenstown, has become a cultural hub for the world of extreme sports. Here is our Top 5:
Whether you are looking for a peaceful ride down or a heart-pumping flight, paragliding offers gliders breathtaking rides over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range. G Force Paragliding is the city’s oldest tandem paragliding company, taking up beginners and experienced paragliders alike.
Paragliding and bungy jumping might be an adrenaline rush, but to get into a truly adventurous spirit, try offroading. Nomad Safaris provides personalized tours through the New Zealand back-country, exploring historic gold mines and film sets for Lord of the Rings. Guests can ride in one of the company’s four-wheel drive vehicles or explore on a caravan of quad bikes.
Inspired by the Vanuatu ritual of Naghol, A. J. Hackett’s cultural appropriation has become the worldwide phenomenon known as bungy jumping. Hackett’s company is still operating today, taking people to jumps off the Kawarau Bridge, the Skyline Gondola and over the Nevis River, which is the highest bungy jump in New Zealand at 134 meters.
You might have heard of heli-skiing, but for summertime trekking take a heli-biking trip up one of Fat Tyre’s five courses and enjoy a fun ride down the mountain. A pilot gives you an amazing view of mountains around Queenstown before you are dropped off for a downhill ride that can get pretty fast.
If you consider white-water rafting to be little more than paddling a boat, you might want to consider river surfing. Armed with nothing more than a wetsuit and bodyboard, companies like Serious Fun Riversurfing will send you down the Kawarau River for up to six kilometers of rapids.
Read This Next
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedHotel
Oct 27, 2026Experience New York City in True V.I.P. Fashion at This Hotel
Travelers looking to experience the glitz and glamour of old-school Manhattan will want to look to Hotel Seville NoMad and its just launched Gilded Getaway package.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Destinations / Europe
Oct 27, 20266 Must-See Sites in Bratislava, Slovakia
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here are six must-see sites in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Hotel
Oct 27, 2026YOTEL, Hilton Uncover Just How Well Guests Sleep
How confident are you in your sleep? Some participants actually put it to the test recently at a gathering by YOTEL and Hilton at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The experience invited commuters and travelers to exchange their previous night’s sleep scores for rewards … and the findings were eye-opening.
Sponsored Content
The Province That Surrounds Seoul — And Outshines It
Skip the Seoul Crowds. The Real Korea is in Gyeonggi.
Hotel
Oct 26, 2026Four Seasons Hotel Boston Introduces City Suites Collection
Four Seasons Hotel Boston recently unveiled its City Suites Collection, 11 newly designed suites to meet the rising demand for apartment-style luxury accommodations for long-term stays, available with monthly rates.
ShareThis