Water Activities

In the island nation of New Zealand you’re never far from the ocean, and with over 180,000 kilometres of rivers plus a myriad of sparkling New Zealand lakes, boating is a way of life.

In New Zealand you can enjoy water activities year-round, and activities such as diving are actually most spectacular during the winter months when the water is clearest! You can hire everything from wetsuits and surfboards to canoes, charter yachts and sail boats, and of course join guided tours. Discovering New Zealand doesn’t end with land activities – there’s much more to do out in New Zealand’s oceans, rivers and lakes.

Jet Boating & Jet Skiing

A popular adrenaline-pumping NZ water activity is jet boating. Designed in New Zealand by William Hamilton in the 1950s, the jet boat was the answer to the problems of traversing shallow and fast-running rivers. Today, jet boat operators take you on thrilling jet boat adventures through narrow river gorges and water channels, almost brushing against shingle banks and rock faces! Get ready for 360-degree spins and exhilarating rides! New Zealand jet boating is suitable for all levels of fitness and all ages, and life jackets, helmets and waterproof gear is provided. Some of the best-known jet boating trips take you to the Kawarau River, Buller River and Dart River in the South Island and to the Waikato River, Rangitaiki River and Whanganui River in the North Island. If you want to move the action to New Zealand’s coastline you can choose from numerous jet skiing tours. Jet skis are readily available for hire and are a great way to explore New Zealand beaches, bays and inlets.

Cruising & Sailing

A great way to see New Zealand from a different angle is by boat. Go island-hopping in the Bay of Islands, join an Auckland Harbour dinner cruise and catch a ferry to one of the islands or go for a sunrise cruise on Lake Rotorua! When in Queenstown, board the vintage steamship T.S.S. Earnslaw for a trip on Lake Wakatipu, and further south you can explore Fiordland’s pristine waterfalls on a multi-day cruise. Sailing is especially popular around Auckland, the City of Sails! Book your New Zealand sailing course or even participate as crew on an actual America’s Cup yacht! Another highlight is a sailing trip around the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds or along the golden-sand coastline of Nelson.

Kayaking, Canoeing & Punting

Kayak and canoe adventures are available all over New Zealand and are activities not to miss out on. It’s a great way to get up-close with penguins, seals, dolphins and other wildlife, and guided kayaking and canoeing trips are readily available. The Bay of Islands, The Coromandel and Marlborough Sounds are all perfect for sea kayaking, while overnight kayaking trips in Nelson’s Abel Tasman National Park and the calm waters of mystical Fiordland are truly unforgettable. After paddling peacefully along New Zealand’s coastline you have the opportunity to step it up a notch. Why not join a white-water kayaking trip on waterways such as the Rangitaiki, Wairoa and Kaituna Rivers in the North Island and the Buller, Hurunui and Kawarau Rivers in the South Island?

The Whanganui Journey is classed as one of New Zealand’s Great Walks even though it’s travelled by canoe and it’s a scenic and wildlife-spotting highlight, with canoes providing the only access to the heart of Whanganui National Park. For a different take on water activities combine Maori culture with canoeing and join a guided canoe expedition in a traditional Maori waka, or try punting on Christchurch’s Avon River in a romantic Edwardian punt!

Diving & Snorkelling

Due to clear water and a mix of currents from the Antarctic and the tropics, New Zealand is a premier snorkelling and scuba diving location, especially from February through to June. There are numerous NZ marine reserves, such as Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, that offer an amazing array of fish. Popular New Zealand diving locations include Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park and White Island in the North Island as well as Fiordland, the Marlborough Sounds and Stewart Island in the South Island. In the Cavalli Islands you can dive the famous wreck of the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior, while Kaikoura and the Bay of Plenty offer the underwater thrill of shark diving! For beginners, diving instruction and diving certification courses are available; experienced divers should bring their Diver’s Certification Card. Snorkelling is especially spectacular in the crystal-clear waters of The Coromandel, around Goat Island and the reefs of White Island. In the South Island, Tonga Island Marine Reserve in Abel Tasman National Park, dolphin paradise Akaroa, and Fiordland are top snorkelling locations, although you’ll have more need for a wetsuit the further south you go. Snorkelling and diving gear is readily available for hire throughout New Zealand.

Fishing & Angling

Fishing and angling are very popular New Zealand activities, attracting anglers from all over the world. The Bay of Islands is one of the world’s foremost big game fishing destinations, with potential catches including Striped and Blue Marlin, tuna, sharks and Yellowtail Kingfish. Join a deep-sea fishing expedition and try your luck at salt water big game fishing! Inland, New Zealand’s lakes and rivers are perfect for Brown and Rainbow Trout fishing in Rotorua, Taupo, Canterbury and Southland, and the West Coast and Canterbury are also famous for salmon fishing. Book an experienced fly fishing guide who will let you in on local secrets and fishing spots, or combine your fishing trip with a relaxed boat cruise on New Zealand’s crystal-clear waterways. At night you might want to stay at one of New Zealand’s fishing lodges, ranging from wilderness lodges to idyllic retreats exclusive to anglers. A fishing licence is required and regulations govern quantities and minimum catch sizes, all specified on www.fishandgame.org.nz.

Black-water and White-water Rafting

Rafting the fast-running rivers of wild New Zealand landscapes is a great adrenaline-pumping water activity. Popular white-water rafting locations include the Wairoa River in the Bay of Plenty, Tongariro National Park and Rangitata River in Canterbury, and you can choose from all rapids grades. Rafting trips ranging from five-day tours to two-hour rafting expeditions are led by experienced, qualified rafting guides, who abide by the strictest of safety codes. Your rafting gear and clothing is provided. Note that some rafting operators may have age restrictions for safety reasons. A whole different rafting experience is black-water rafting or tubing on underground rivers. Take on the rapids in the darkness of underground caves, a great thrill! You can experience black-water rafting or tubing at the North Island’s famous Waitomo Caves or the South Island’s Dragons Cave near Greymouth. Again, all rafting gear is provided and you’ll be looked after by experienced rafting guides.

Sledging & Dam Dropping

Sledging is a form of rafting where you get right into the water with just a board to keep you afloat and it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. New Zealand sledging operators provide flippers, helmets and padded wet suits, and of course your polystyrene sledge or modified boogie board. You’ll get extensive training before venturing into the rapids and whirlpools of turbulent rivers, and your sledging guide will make sure you’re able to control your sledge in the face-buffeting waves. Queenstown’s and Wanaka’s rivers are especially popular for sledging, and on Taranaki’s Waingongoro River you can combine sledging with dam dropping. Dam dropping is the bungy jumping equivalent of river sledging and adds an extra thrill to your sledging experience as you drop down metre-high dams!

Surfing

New Zealand is a great surfing destination, with a huge variety of different breaks around the coastline. Piha on Auckland’s west coast is a Mecca for surfers as is the beach village of Raglan in the Waikato. Northland offers great surf beaches, especially on the Tutukaka Coast. Whangamata in The Coromandel is a major drawcard for surfers, while the Bay of Plenty is home to a long arc of surf beach perfect for surfing beginners and pros alike. Gisborne offers easy access to numerous surf beaches and Taranaki is renowned for offering great surf no matter what the prevailing wind. In the South Island, Kaikoura and St Clair Beach in Dunedin are popular surf spots although you’ll need a wetsuit. Apart from regular surfing you can have a go at kite surfing and wind surfing. Surfing gear and surf boards are readily available for hire, and you can take surfing lessons all over New Zealand.