New Zealand’s North Island and South Island offer breathtaking scenery, with mountains, fiords, rivers, beaches, hiking trails and more. This is a prime destination for anyone seeking adventure on vacation, with something to suit everyone of any fitness level. Imagine taking in New Zealand’s beauty while having an adventure of a lifetime. Read on to find out more about what this beautiful country has to offer in the way of an adventure vacation.

Exploring New Zealand

• Horse trekking

One beautiful activity for the whole family is horse trekking, with recommended locations like Muriwai Beach near Auckland on North Island. If you’ve never tried horse trekking before, it is a wonderful experience. Meanwhile, depending on your own personal speed, you can gallop along the black sand beach of Muriwai, or gently trot along the sand before entering the beautiful Woodhill Forest.

• Hiking trails

As for hiking, New Zealand has many well-established hiking trails, known locally as the Great Walks. One special location for hikers is Fiordland National Park, along with Abel Tasman National Park and the lovely Marlborough Sounds.

• Biking in New Zealand

For a biking adventure, New Zealand also has well-maintained biking trails. Among the best are the new Twin Coast Cycle Trail, the Otago Central Rail Trail and Queen Charlotte Track. Each trail is suitable for all fitness levels and ages, which makes this a perfect family adventure.

Kayaking and canoeing adventures

An excellent choice of adventure is kayaking or canoeing adventures and one perfect place is the Bay of Islands in North Island. Here, the whole family can paddle around, exploring the islands, stopping off every now and then for a rest. Alternatively, sea kayaking in Paihia, Northland is a great adventure. Alternatively, the Whanganui River Journey is the only canoeing option that is part of New Zealand’s Great Walks network mentioned under hiking above.

Combine kayaking with walking in New Zealand

Having two adventures at the same time is a wonderful option on a vacation in New Zealand. In fact, Abel Tasman National Park and the Queen Charlotte Track are both popular for combining kayaking with walking, while gaining a different perspective on an adventure vacation.

Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton hiking adventure

Fans of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies can’t visit New Zealand without making a visit to the movies’ film set. Peter Jackson filmed the movies here and the magnificent scenery of the country was perfect for Middle Earth and The Shire.

On a hiking adventure, visitors can stroll through the gorgeous scenery known from the movies, visiting The Shire, Mount Doom and the Misty Mountains. Along the way, they can follow in the footsteps of Frodo, Sam and their friends

Admittedly, many of the original film sets are now gone, but Hobbiton still retains its quaint charm in the little Hobbit houses to this day. Moreover, a hike to the Misty Mountains, the Weta Caves and Edoras allow a visit to Helms Deep, Rivendell, Lothlorien and Isengard. Meanwhile, if a visit is timed carefully, you could even be there on the annual International Hobbit Day in September.

Ski Adventure in New Zealand

For those who love skiing, New Zealand offers some of the best snow conditions in the world. Skiers can enjoy the top ski and snowboard fields on South Island, including Mount Hutt, Ohau, Cardrona, the Remarkables, Treble Cone and Coronet Peak.

Moreover, North Island also offers an excellent ski experience at the Whakapapa and Turoa Ski Areas in Tongariro National Park.

Whatever your preference, enjoy a true adventure in New Zealand, taking home the best memories for the whole family.