NZ is blessed with fantastic scenery and natural wonders and obviously the best way to see it is to get out there amongst it. A list of outdoor activities follows but first to really enjoy the outdoors and to have a safe fun expereince please make sure you have the right gear.
Need outdoor gear?
If you are looking for camping or hiking gear then you have a number of options. In terms of quality gear we would recommend Bivoauc and Mountain Designs. Both these outfitters have stores throughout NZ and offer a range of quality gear and equipment. However if this is beyond your budget then Torpedo7 has an online store offering cheap alternatives. Check them out by clicking on their icon to the right.
With 14 National Parks and numerous State Forest Parks New Zealand is blessed by natural wilderness areas. In fact approximately 30% of the country is administered as a conservation estate by the Department of Conservation (DOC). There are thousands of kilometres of hiking tracks and over 1000 public huts, ranging from rock shelters to 80 bed constructions. This is a phenomenal resource and so if you like walking in the backcountry you have come to the right place. In NZ we call hiking tramping. So grab your backpack put on your boots and get out for a tramp while you are here.
There are a number of Great Walks in NZ. These are considered to be the country's premier walking tracks.
While these walks are awesome they also tend to be the most popular. In some cases you actually have to book ahead to reserve your spot at a hut or campsite. Consequently many locals avoid the Great Walks and head off for their own adventure on one of the more remote walks. There are hundreds of options ranging from day walks to 10 day (+) expeditions.
The "if you" section:
If you want to know more about tramping in NZ Lonely Planet have an excellent guide book (Tramping in New Zealand) and the DOC centre in the Ferry Building can help you out with more information. You will also find a number of suitable hikes in some of our GOOT Routes.
If you are going to be doing a lot of backcountry hiking (not on the Great Walks) then consider buying a DOC annual hut pass. These cost $90 and represent amazing value for money if you do lots of trips. Typical backcountry huts cost $5-$10 per night.
If you are heading out into the wilds please get advice first - NZ's weather is very changeable, river crossings are potentially dangerous and it is important to take the right gear.
If you don't feel comfortable going out on your own then there are a number of companies than run excellent tours based around overnight hiking. Check out Active Earth in the North Island and Hiking New Zealand in the South Island.
If you want to know more contact Joe (he used to be a hiking guide and still spends a lot of time in the hills).
If you like hiking clap your hands. Happy tramping!
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There are lots of great mountain biking opportunities in New Zealand. Close to Auckland is Woodhill Forest (www.bikepark.co.nz) which has a variety of excellent single tracks complete with obstacles. It's open late on Wednesday for night riding - sweet. It costs $6 to ride here but the trails are good and there are facilities including coffee and toilets. You can hire bikes as well. Just down the road is Riverhead Forest which also has tracks, although not as well developed. Riverhead is clay based so can be pretty sticky in the wet (unlike Woodhill which is sand based). The Hunua Ranges and Whitford Forests also have tracks. Slightly further a field some of the best tracks in the country can be found in Rotorua. If you like to ride then Whakarewarewa Forest is the place to go.
If you're keen for some mountain biking time in the South Island contact GOOT Partner 'Hatural High'. These folk know a thing or two about cycling in the South and will give you a discount too! www.naturalhigh.co.nz
For more detailed information get hold of a copy of "Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides" by the Kennett brothers. This guidebook contains lists of excellent rides all over the country.
The locals will hate us if we let too many secrets out but if you are into surfing then NZ has some good (and sometimes fantastic) waves. Close to Auckland the West Coast beaches (Piha & Maori Bay (Muriwai)) have waves most of the time, although the quality can vary greatly. The East Coast North of Auckland (Omaha, Tawharanui, Pakiri and Mangawhai) are good spots when there is a swell. The same can be said for the many of the beaches on the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsular (Whangapoua, Whangamata, Waihi etc..). If one is prepared to travel slightly further a field then "Shippies" at the southern end of 90 Mile beach and Raglan have excellent waves. Raglan's Manu Bay is NZ's most famous wave. Mt Maunganui and Gisbourne also have some good spots. In the South Island good waves can be found in Kaikoura, Dunedin and the Catlins. Taylor's Mistake in Christchurch is also worth checking out.
Check out our GOOT Partner, NZ Surf Tours if you want to learn how to surf.
Kayaking is a great way to see NZ from a different perspective. There are many great places to kayak. Hire a kayak from Ferg's Kayaks in Okahu Bay and explore Auckland's waterfront, or do the relaxed paddle to the pub at Puhoi (see 1 day trips). Other excellent kayaking locations include Waiheke Island, the Bay of Islands, Abel Tasman National Park, Marlborough Sounds, Milford Sound and Okarito Lagoon. For an excellent introduction to kayaking do a trip with Northland Sea Kayaking. Another very popular multi-day canoe trip is the one down the Whanganui River.
If you are lucky enough to be here during winter you should definitely hit the slopes. New Zealand has some great mountains and while the snow might not be as good as some of you are used to back home the terrain, views and hospitality are awesome.
In the North Island the best options are Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields. Both of these large (by NZ standards) are located on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu (4.5 hours from Auckland). Whakapapa is more of a skiers mountain but many boarders also like it because it is steep and has so much variety. Turoa is the classic field for snowboarders - flatter but with lots of natural terrain to explore. The town of Ohakune (close to Turoa ski field) is the place to party away the winter nights. Oh and did we mention that Ruapehu is an active volcano! What a great place to ski/board.
In the South Island there is a lot more choice. Both Queenstown (The Remarkables and Coronet Peak) and Wanaka (Cardrona and Treble Cone) have great ski fields. Closer to Christchurch is Mt Hutt, which is another big commercial field. Also in this area around Arthurs Pass are a variety of club fields. On many of them you will need to ride a nut-cracker (find out what that is?) but once you have mastered that you will be rewarded by amazing terrain and very few people. Broken River and Craigieburn are my personal favourites (Joe). Oh and if you ever get the chance try skiing/boarding at Mt Olympus.
Check out NZ Snow Tours if you want to do an organized tour from Auckland.
