Sports and leisure activities New Zealand

Budget & Tips

If there's one activity for which the country is king, it's hiking! And it's everywhere, and it's (almost) always free.

A quick trip to the local tourist office and you'll come away with plenty of ideas for walks.

The DOC (Department of Conservation: www.doc.govt.nz/) website also has a search engine and interactive map to find walks in your local area. Mileage, estimated time and level of difficulty will be specified on each occasion.

There's never any charge for hiking, even in national parks. You will, however, have to pay for the "huts" if you want to stay for several days. For standard huts, tickets must be purchased in advance at a DOC office or tourist office, then deposited in the box provided in the hut or given to the ranger if there is one on site (huts on the most popular trails must be booked online).

What's very local

New Zealand is famous for its outdoor activities! When the fine weather returns, you'll see people taking to the trails, the skies, the seas or the waterways.

In addition to hiking, which attracts tourists and locals alike, mountain biking is a very popular sport. If you'd like to try your hand at a particular trail, or explore a particular region or town, you can rent a bike.

When it comes to water sports, surfing is very popular. If you don't have a board, you can easily rent one from local clubs, or even take a few lessons if you're new to this emblematic sport. New Zealand is a good place to learn if you've never tried it before.

Kayaking and rafting are two other must-do activities, and you can take a guided expedition to discover sea and river corners.

Diving enthusiasts will also find something to their liking, particularly in the north of the country, in the Bay of Islands, where the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior lies.

As foraerial activities, the country is also a great playground for paragliders, parachutists and other daredevils. If you've got the budget, you can also treat yourself to a scenic helicopter flight or, less common but just as spectacular, a glider flight.

And let's not forget the legendarybungy jump, born here on Kiwi soil! If you've always wanted to try it, but never dared, it's now or never...

Your documents please

Most activities can be practiced without a license or previous skills. However, if you have a qualification that allows you to practice at a more advanced level than beginner, remember to bring it with you to prove your experience!

To be booked

If you want to spend several days hiking the most popular trails, it's imperative to book thehuts in advance. Make sure you book well in advance for the Great Walks (the 11 best-known and most popular trails), which are often snapped up as soon as bookings open.

For other activities requiring guides (rafting, cave exploration, themed tours, guided kayak tours, wildlife observation...) it's highly advisable to book in advance if you're arriving during the high season. Activities are often run in small groups, so they sometimes sell out quite quickly.

Main events

There are no major international events in New Zealand, except perhaps rugby matches! Even when it's just a friendly, when the All Blacks play, stadium tickets are expensive and go fast! The Black Ferns, the women's team, have also enjoyed growing popularity since winning the 2022 World Cup.

If you're in the country during a World Cup, be sure to catch the matches broadcast in the bars! Rugby is like a religion here, and it's a great cultural experience to witness this fervor.

Another unique event that falls a little outside the "regional event" category would be the WOW - World of Wearable Arts festival, which takes place in Wellington every September. Internationally renowned designers take part, and people travel from all over the country, and even Australia, to attend the shows.

Tourist traps

The "tourist-grabbing" mentality has not yet really taken hold in New Zealand, and we hope that it will remain so! For the same service, there is little variation in price between two companies. We are on standard rates and it is globally useless to move heaven and earth to find the cheapest rates, it would be just a waste of time.

The exception to this would be the huts on the Great Walk or popular trails; these are maintained by local taxes, so international travelers pay more than citizens to use them.