Danny de Hek

What’s the easiest way for humans to fly? Without a doubt it’s parapenting. Parapenting is a wonderful adventure sport that inspires a great feeling of freedom, floating on the breeze under a controlled descent to mother earth.

So you’ve done the white water rafting thing and it was a breeze, right? Well now it’s time to get right into the water for some serious mind-blowing fun. River sledging is the most basic, hands on, ‘face in the water’ style of white water rafting. All you need is your swimsuit and an absolutely positive can-do attitude.

Imagine a thrilling roller coaster ride with the added fun and fear factor of tumbling white water rapids. White water rafting is hugely popular in New Zealand. The country has 1500 rivers, many of them accessible by road, and commercial rafting operators have sought out the most diabolical dancing waves.

It’s an incomparable sensation to be high on a wall, moving with precision on the edge of space. Your concentration is focused on a crucial move and in that one perfect moment you deftly swing up and lock onto the handhold.

New Zealand’s coastal waters offer some of the best underwater diving in the world. Our deeply indented coastline is actually longer than that of the United States. Add to this the fact that nowhere is more than two hours drive from the sea, and it becomes obvious why this is such an aquatic-centred nation.

Skydiving takes you as high as you can go in terms of adrenalin-pumping adventure sports. Nothing can prepare you for the phenomenal force of slipstream air on your face as you lean out the aircraft door, think briefly about backing out of the jump, and then plunge into space to free fall for 45 seconds at around 180 kph.

Come on a long joyride inside super tubes and perfect peeling waves at Raglan, our hottest surf spot. This famous surfing nirvana has steep, full-on wave sets that promise to get you fully amped on the longest ride of your life.

Let the show begin for the entertainment of kids from four to ninety four. New Zealand has a top selection of theme and leisure parks for your enjoyment. Auckland’s Rainbow’s End stands out for its variety of attractions, including the dreaded Fear Fall, Pirate Ship, Cam Am Cars, Log Flume ride.

Catch the wind at any New Zealand beach, which is exposed to our invigorating sea breezes. Windsurfing is a growing adventure sport with thousands of Kiwi adherents following the perfect wind around the coast. Visitors can do the same as New Zealand is well endowed with surf shops at beach resorts where you can hire windsurfers.

Here’s a burgeoning adventure thrill sport that’s on a roll. Zorbing is a unique Kiwi invention that is not only ‘off the wall’ but seems to also be off an alien planet. Zorbing originated in New Zealand in the 1990’s as a novel invention by two Kiwis looking for a new adventure challenge.

Come downunder for some thrilling downhill skiing on fresh deep powder snow. New Zealand is an increasingly popular international ski destination. Our June to October season coincides with the Northern Hemisphere summer, so many competitive ski teams use our slopes for off-season training.

If you enjoy high level excitement then why not step boldly over the edge of a near-vertical rock face? Abseiling (or rappelling) is a classic outdoor adventure challenge, which anyone can enjoy. You don’t need experience to enter this vertical world, just a desire to overcome a natural fear of heights and give it a go.