Last night millions of Americans watched contestants on hit TV show The Biggest Loser battle it out against a distinctly Kiwi backdrop. The top-rating show sees contestants competing to fight the battle of the bulge and lose weight through a series of physical challenges. The latest episodes see contestants arrive in the country to experience the unique activities on offer in two of New Zealand’s most popular visitor destinations.
Last night’s episode saw contestants touch down in Auckland and head to the Sky Tower, where they ran up 51 flights of stairs in the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest building (192 m). At the top, contestants could choose to take the fast way down – a thrilling base-jump-by-wire known as the Skyjump! Later, contestants competed in a beach race, spurred on by the chance to win a helicopter ride to winery-clad Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf! – and sailed an America’s Cup racing yacht on Auckland Harbour with Sail NZ.
In the next episode, contestants will visit the adventure capital of Queenstown, a beautiful lakeside resort with a big reputation for offering adrenaline-pumping activities of all descriptions. Here they experience a bungy jump at A.J. Hackett’s Kawarau Gorge jump site – the original home of commercial bungy jumping – as well as a heart-pounding Canyon Swing, rock climbing and river boarding. The winner of the river boarding challenge wins a scenic helicopter ride to iconic Milford Sound in Fiordland.
Incredible adventures against a backdrop of stunning scenery makes for great television viewing, but you don’t have to be a contestant on The Biggest Loser to experience New Zealand for yourself. All of the activities featured on the show are available to any visitor – it’s a great reminder that you don’t have to be a hard-core adrenaline-junkie to challenge yourself and enjoy the unforgettable adventures New Zealand has to offer.