New Zealand is a country of vast beauty. Glacial mountains, lush forests, gushing rivers, hot springs, spouting geysers, rolling green hills, and beautiful beaches are all home to a wealth of wildlife and some of the most unique species on earth. This wild landscape attracts thrill seekers and adventure travellers who come to get their adrenalin pumping. From bungee jumping to black water rafting, jet boating to sky surfing, parasailing to heli-skiing, New Zealand has got it all.

The country’s reputation in extreme sports extends back to 1988 when the world’s first commercial bungee jumping site was established at Queenstown. Its roots in adventure tourism can be traced all the way back to Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

A paradise for lovers of high mountains and the outdoors, Mount Cook National Park is situated in the central-west region of the South Island. Known as Aoraki in Maori meaning the “Cloud Piercer”, Mount Cook is the largest mountain in the country at 4130 metres high. It is absolutely spectacular. The park is home to most of New Zealand’s highest mountains with perennial snow covering about 30 per cent of them, making it a popular place among skiers, mountaineers and the like.

For such a small country, it’s very big on things to do and see. There are wonderful hotels, fabulous vineyards, impressive architecture, fascinating history and culture, delightful restaurants and sidewalk cafes, friendly people, hip cities and oodles of nature. It offers just about everything any travellers could want or need. If you are seeking an enjoyable, fun, adventure filled holiday where the locals are some of the friendliest folk around, then you need look no further than this fascinating country.