Why You Need To Add New Zealand To Your Bucket List Right Now

Rent a car and take off in any direction to find hidden gems and bucket list activities. New Zealand is bursting with beautiful landscapes from glaciers in the West, steep mountains and deep fiords in the South, volcanoes and geothermal activity in the North, and world class surf beaches in the East. 

1. Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Soar over glacier lakes, mountains, valleys, and stunning landscapes before boarding a ferry to cruise down the Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. 

2. AJ Hackett Bungy

Choose from four unique bungy locations in New Zealand to experience an adrenaline rush you won't stop talking about. (Pictured: Kawarau Bridge Bungy)

3. Franz Josef Heli-Hike

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Take a helicopter to the top of Franz Josef Glacier and learn to use crampons to walk on the ice. Stop and fill up your water bottle with fresh glacier water and squeeze your way through ice tunnels along the way. 

4. Castle Hill 

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Embark on a quest to practice your climbing and bouldering skills in Lord of the Rings territory. 

5. Mount Cook National Park

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

You will be reaching for your camera around every turn of this 5 kilometer trek. The Hooker Valley Track leads you along the Hooker River, across three swing bridges, and ends at the glacier lake with amazing views of Mount Cook in the distance. 

6. Zorb

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Jump in with a friend or race side-by-side while slipping and sliding around in a giant plastic ball. 

7. White Water Rafting

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Barrel down one of the highest commercially rafted waterfalls in the world and pray your raft doesn't flip! 

8. Wai-O-Tapu

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Check out the geothermal sights in Rotorua. Walk along craters, mud pools, and hot springs, and marvel at the bright green Devil's Bath and the Artist's Pallette (Pictured).

9. Skyline Luge

Take off downhill on this fun, fast-paced activity the whole family will love. If you have the need for speed the luge is for you! 

10. Lake Tekapo

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Take in the inspiring view from the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore of Lake Tekapo. Watch the sunset or do some stargazing next to the crystal blue lake.

11. Cave Stream Scenic Reserve

Photo: Courtney Clemmons

Grab your torch and walk through the cave passage which meanders and twists in pitch darkness for 594 meters. 

12. Skydive

You can't leave the adrenaline capital of the world without jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.