Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Extreme North Island
The North Island's astounding natural assets encourage even the laziest lounge lizards to
drag themselves outside and get active. 'Extreme' sports are abundant and supremely well
organised here. Mountaineering is part of the national psyche; skydiving, mountain biking,
jetboating and rock climbing are well established; and pants-wetting, illogical activities like
bungy jumping have become everyday pursuits. While adrenaline-pumping activities obvi-
ously have some element of risk, the perception of danger is part of the thrill. (Just make
sure you have travel insurance anyway.)
Bungy Jumping
Bungy jumping was made famous by Kiwi AJ Hackett's 1986 plunge from the Eiffel
Tower, after which he teamed up with champion NZ skier Henry van Asch to turn the en-
deavour into a profitable enterprise. The South Island resort town of Queenstown is the
spiritual home of bungy, but Taupo, Taihape, Auckland and Rotorua on the North Island all
offer the opportunity to leap bravely into the void on a giant rubber band.
CYCLE TOURING
OK, so cruising around the country on a bicycle isn't necessarily 'extreme', but it is super-popular in NZ, espe-
cially during summer. Most towns offer bike hire at either backpacker hostels or specialist bike shops, with bike re-
pair shops in bigger towns.
The $50-million
Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail
(
www.nzcycletrail.com
/) is a national network
of bike trails from Kaitaia to Bluff, featuring 22 'Great Rides', a similar concept to tramping's 'Great Walks'.
Some sections are still in the developmental stages, but some stages are open: see the website for updates.
Online resources:
»
Independent Cycle Tours
(
www.cyclehire.co.nz
)
»
Paradise Press
(
www.paradise-press.co.nz
) Produces
Pedallers' Paradise
booklets by Nigel Rushton.
Caving
Caving (aka spelunking) opportunities abound in NZ's honeycombed karst (limestone) re-
gions. In the North Island, you'll find local clubs and organised tours around Auckland,
Waitomo and Whangarei.
Useful resources:
