Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Horse Trekking
Unlike some other parts of the world, where beginners get led by the nose around a pad-
dock, horse trekking in NZ lets you loose in the countryside. Expect to saddle up on farms,
in forests, along beaches, and up into the hills amid
Hobbit
-worthy scenery. Rides range
from one-hour jaunts (from around $50) to fully catered overnight and multiday treks.
Used to transport people, carry goods and work the land, horses were an integral part of
early NZ life and have left a legacy of horse-loving folk offering equine adventures all over
the country. For info and operator listings, search 100% Pure New Zealand
(
www.newzealand.com
)
or pop into the local visitor centre.
Kayaking
With over 15,000km of coastline NZ is a paddler's haven, and sea kayaking is a fantastic
way to see the coast and get close to wildlife you'd otherwise never see.
There are endless great spots for kayaking, readily identifiable by the presence of the ubi-
quitous boat-hire kiosk. Notable areas include the Hauraki Gulf (particularly off Waiheke
and Great Barrier Islands), the Bay of Islands and Coromandel Peninsula on the North Is-
land; and the Marlborough Sounds, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Mana-
pouri on the South Island. The ultimate kayak adventure is an overnight trip on the azure
waters of Abel Tasman National Park, camping on secluded, white sandy beaches unreach-
able on foot. Information on guided trips and freedom rentals can be found at
Marine Mammal-Watching
Kaikoura, on the northeast coast of the South Island, is NZ's nexus of marine mam-
mal-watching. The main attraction here is whale-watching, but this is dependent on weather
conditions, so don't expect to be able to just rock up and head straight out on a boat for a
dream encounter. The sperm whale, the largest toothed whale, is pretty much a year-round
resident, and depending on the season you may also see migrating humpback whales, pilot
whales, blue whales and southern right whales.
