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Top Adventure Activities in Queenstown, New Zealand In 2024

Amy — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:23:12 +0000

Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, offering thrill-seekers endless opportunities to get their adrenaline pumping. Nestled amongst towering mountains and set on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, this resort town is a paradise for adventure lovers. From heart-pounding bungy jumps to breathtaking skydives, Queenstown has something for everyone. In this article we talk about Top Adventure Activities in Queenstown, New Zealand In 2024.

If you’re planning a trip to Queenstown and want to pack in as much adventure as possible, here are the top 10 activities you simply must try:

Bungy Jumping

No trip to Queenstown is complete without experiencing the adrenaline rush of bungy jumping. AJ Hackett Bungy pioneered commercial bungy jumping right here in Queenstown back in the 1980s, so this is the birthplace of bungy. Today you can choose from several bungy sites around Queenstown including the famous Kawarau Bridge where it all started. With jumps from 43 meters to an insane 134 meters, get ready for the thrill of a lifetime!

Jet Boating

Jet boating is another iconic Queenstown activity you don’t want to miss. Powerful jet boats specially designed to operate in shallow waters allow you to experience the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers at breathtaking speeds, doing 360 degree spins that will leave you dizzy. With pure adrenaline pumping through your veins, jet boating is sure to get your heart racing!

Skydiving

Few things can match the rush of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, and in Queenstown you can take your pick of epic skydives. From jumps of 9,000 to 15,000 feet with views of snow capped peaks and the winding Shotover River, an experienced instructor will guide you through this unforgettable free fall adventure.

Paragliding

See Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu from new heights with a tandem paragliding flight. After a scenic gondola ride up Bob’s Peak, you’ll run off the side of a mountain and soar over breathtaking alpine scenery with your experienced pilot. Landing gracefully on grass near the gondola complex, paragliding is a peaceful yet thrilling way to admire Queenstown’s majestic landscape.

Rafting

Whether you prefer a relaxing float or an action-packed ride through grade 5 rapids, Queenstown has rafting adventures suited for all levels. Historic Skippers Canyon with its spectacular vertical schist rock walls is a popular rafting spot, as is the Shotover River. Multi-day rafting trips allow you to soak up remote scenery as you camp riverside after an exhilarating day of rapids.

Canyon Swinging

Canyon swinging combines the gut dropping free fall of bungy with the adrenaline pumping swing of a giant pendulum, making it one of the most terrifying thrills around Queenstown. After leaping off a ledge, you’ll free fall for several seconds before the rope catches you and you swing back and forth over the rocky canyon below. With over 10 different jump styles to choose from, canyon swinging is not for the faint hearted!

Mountain Biking

Queenstown’s rugged alpine setting makes it a world class mountain biking destination, with endless singletrack trails winding through breathtaking landscapes. Test your skills on downhill tracks and flowing cross country trails with backdrops of craggy peaks and lush native bush. Rent a quality bike or join a guided tour to discover epic rides like the Moonlight Track while soaking up Queenstown’s phenomenal scenery.

Ziplining

If flying through forest canopies hanging from a cable sounds like your idea of fun, you’ll want to try ziplining while in Queenstown. Several courses allow you to glide from platform to platform high in the treetops, giving you a bird’s eye perspective of the beautiful scenery. With dual lines allowing you to zip alongside a friend or loved one, ziplining is a social yet adventurous activity for all ages.

4WD Off-Roading

Venture into Queenstown’s remote backcountry by 4WD to areas only accessible to high clearance vehicles. Bump along Gibbston River’s rocky riverbed, tackle challenging hill climbs in the mountains, drive alongside crystal clear streams, and take in gorgeous high country vistas only visible from hard to reach locations. Add in some wine tasting at nearby vineyards and 4WD off-roading makes for an unforgettable day.

Helicopter Tours

One of the most thrilling ways to admire Queenstown’s astounding alpine scenery is by helicopter. Soar over the Remarkables mountain range and pristine Lake Wakatipu, land on remote peaks, or touch down on glaciers for an exhilarating ride you’ll never forget. Several tour options are available, from quick 10 minute flights to longer trips with snow landings – just be sure to have your camera ready!

With non-stop adventures like bungy jumping, rafting, skydiving and beyond, Queenstown offers limitless ways to get your pulse racing. Whether you’re a hardcore thrill seeker or just looking for a bit of holiday excitement, nowhere else on Earth packs more adrenaline fueled activities into such spectacular natural surrounds as Queenstown. So come ready to push your personal limits and tick off some of the most incredible adventures you’ll ever experience. I sincerely hope you find this “Top Adventure Activities in Queenstown, New Zealand In 2024” article helpful.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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Diving Great Barrier Reef | All You Need To Know

Amy — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:35:37 +0000

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and is made up of 900 islands over 2,300 kilometres. A trip to Cairns would not be complete without a visit to the reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is a diverse ecosystem made up of over 400 types of coral and over 1,500 fish species. It has some of the most extensive coral formations I’ve ever seen in reefs across the world. To miss the reef you’d be missing one of our world’s natural wonders – it’s worth it! Boats leave for the outer reef every day. However, during COVID there’s less tourists around so less boats visiting the reef. There’s never been a better time to support local tourism and see this world heritage wonder.

When I arrived in Cairns, I made a number of calls to local dive companies to help inform my decision on which company to dive with. I enquired about cost and what that included. Some companies provide lunch – it’s worth asking what kind of lunch. I like to understand how many people will be on the boat, how many divers are scheduled to go diving and how many groups are being proposed. It’s a good idea to understand if you’re a beginner diver you’ll get the extra attention you deserve. If you’re a more experienced diver, it’s nice to go with an experienced group. As someone who often suffers from sea sickness I like to understand how big the boat is and what the weather forecast is.

It’s important to understand where the boat plans to go. Will it be an off shore dive or somewhere closer to Cairns? To experience the Great Barrier Reef you should expect about a 90 minute boat ride to the reef.

I ended up choosing TUSA Dive and was really happy with my experience. The captain and the entire crew were very helpful and had safety top of mind. The boat was comfortable for the journey out to the reef, but also provided a lot of room to spread out during the day.

TUSA have access to over 16 outer reef dive locations meaning there is plenty of flexibility depending on weather conditions.

Coral trout

Diving Great Barrier Reef will cost about $200 for two dives. This is very consistent across the diving companies. That will usually involve a full day on the reef, lunch, water and reef safe sunscreen.

TUSA also has a photographer and marine biologist on board. They offer photo packages for a reasonable fee. The photos included in this blog post are courtesy of TUSA.

If you are not a certified diver that shouldn’t stop you from visiting the reef. The majority of boats visiting the reef do take snorkellers. You can also see if the dive company offer discovery dives. These are beginner or introductory dives for those with little to no experience. It’s a great way to experience the reef and get a bit of extra help.

Sea anemones with resident clown fish

While there are over 1,500 fish species and 3,000 coral species you can expect to see a lot of diversity.

I’ve been diving for over ten years now and fortunate enough to experience many dive spots in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Australia. I’d have to say though in all my diving experiences I’ve never seen such extensive coral formations and varieties. There were many varieties I’d never seen before.

The next few photos captured by TUSA, show the wildlife, fish and coral I was fortunate enough to see while diving Great Barrier Reef.

Sea turtle

Green turtles are the most common of the six turtle species that are found on the Great Barrier Reef.

Diving with clown fish or ‘nemos’

A clear highlight was being able to see clown fish in their anemone – which is their home. While the sea anemone is poisonous, the clown fish is the only species that can survive the sting of the anemone.

Giant Clam

Giant clams (above) are a mollusc and can weigh up to 200 kilograms.

The cuttle fish below change their colouring to blend into their surroundings to hide from predators or bright colours to attract a mate.

Cuttle fish

The reef is sadly declining in size and health. This is due to a number of factors such as coral bleaching, pollution and predators like the crown of thorns starfish. This doesn’t mean you won’t have a fantastic experience but it should place a greater influence on your decisions while enjoying this natural wonder.

Please remember these golden rules:

Don’t stand on or touch the coral
Use reef safe sunscreen
Take your rubbish with you
Respect the wildlife and give them space

For help planning your Far North Queensland adventure, check out my other resources:

12 things to do in Cairns

Amy

followthesunseeker.com

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