Water Sports in New Zealand

Experience the adrenaline-pumping excitement of high-speed turns and spins during a 45-minute jet boat ride across Lake Rotorua. Then, to help you recover from the exhilaration of jet boating, follow up with a relaxing soak at Manupirua Thermal Springs, a stunning boat-accessible location at the edge of Lake Rotoiti. Soothe your nerves with a soak in six mineral hot pools then cool off in the lake.

Take a jet boat ride on the Shotover River during an extreme 25-minute ride, and make use of transport from Queenstown. Experience adrenaline-fueled fun as the jet boat skims the water's surface at high speed and fishtails into 360-degree spins. Hold on tight as the captain maneuvers the jet boat over rapids and through narrow canyons during one heart-pounding adventure you won't soon forget.

Enjoy a scenic rafting tour on the Rangitaiki River during a laid-back 6-hour tour from Rotorua. Travel over Grade 2 white-water rapids on a gentle ride past tumbling waterfalls, sheer rock cliffs and forest-clad river gorges as you relax and take in the scenery. The rolling rapids make this an ideal trip for families and those looking for a more relaxed experience. Includes lunch, gear, paddling instruction and a hot shower with hotel pickup and drop-off.

Experience the elation of Rangitaiki River white-water rafting over Grade 3 and 4 rapids on this 6-hour adventure for physically active participants. You'll bounce over whirling white water on a thrilling run through the stunning river valley, including a section of flat water where you can relax before lunch and a hot shower. Includes gear, paddling instruction, and hotel pickup and drop-off from Rotorua.

Enjoy a thrilling combo of 2 of Taupo's best water activities. You'll have the time of your life with each adrenaline-charged experience: Spin out to Huka Falls on a Waikato River jet-boat ride and go whitewater rafting on the Tongariro River. With professional guides and all equipment provided, you'll see all angles of Taupo's great outdoors.

Shoot the grade II and III rapids on the Kawarau River with a guide on this half-day tour from Queenstown. Even beginners will feel safe and comfortable with expert supervision and instruction, as well as all provided equipment included. Take a swim through a rapid, jump off a cliff, and learn about the natural environment on this family-friendly trip that includes plenty of calm spots for splashing and floating.

Experience the adrenaline-pumping rapids of the Shotover River, which runs through Skippers Canyon. Start your half-day trip from Queenstown with a coach drive into the steep canyon via historical Skippers Road, famous for its gold-mining past. The tranquil waters of Deep Creek soon give way to exhilarating white-water rapids, but rest assured you'll be rewarded with a sauna and hot shower afterward.

Amp up your Queenstown adventure by white-water sledging down the Roaring Meg section of the Kawarau River! Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush as you lie on a purpose-built riverboard that allows you to steer through the rapids, waves and whirlpools before you catch your breath in a flat section. No previous experience is necessary, just confidence in the water as you're accompanied by a guide. Wetsuit, booties, helmet and fins are included on this small-group experience, limited to 10 people.

Blast around Lake Rotorua on a jet boat tour! An expert driver spins you around on an adrenaline-infused adventure and delivers you at top-speed to all of the iconic landmarks. Experience 30 action-packed minutes of family-friendly fun as you hear live narration on the history of the area. Select from multiple departure times; spray jackets included.

Soak in the thermal spring-fed pools of Lake Rotoiti and paddle into a glowworm cave on a half-day kayak tour from Rotorua. With an expert guide, explore the tranquil waters of the mountain lake as you take in the stunning scenery in the Bay of Plenty region, and experience caverns and hot springs accessible only by water. Kayak equipment and a light snack are included.

Take a thrilling helicopter ride and white-water rafting trip down the Shotover or Kawarau rivers. This Queenstown heli-rafting adventure for adrenaline junkies departs in winter as well as summer. Soar through Skippers Canyon and raft from Deep Creek or Boulder Beach on a rollercoaster ride through white-water rapids. You'll learn rafting techniques from your expert guide and have the use of a sauna and hot shower afterward.

Dive deep into the waters of Lake Wakatipu and explode into the sky as a passenger in the thrilling Seabreacher X watercraft. Brace yourself for stunts and high speeds in this unique 'shark machine', one of the only ones operating commercially in the entire world. Experience exciting side-rolls, long dives and 360-degree spins in this private thrillride - each ride is one-on-one with your pilot.

There are few more unique ways to see the Bay of Islands than catching the wind and parasailing high above the water. See the Bay's towns, forests and islands - all the way out to Cape Brett's famous Hole in the Rock - from the sky on this aerial adventure. Take to the skies with your friends or family on tandem or triple flights. Your children can even go parasailing - this adventure is suitable for all.

Spend a magical evening kayaking on Lake Rotoiti, where you'll visit glowworm caves and have plenty of time to soak in natural hot springs before a barbecue picnic dinner. Paddle for two hours with an expert guide into lakeside caves only accessed by boat to see glowworms and crayfish, then revel in the sunset reflected on the tranquil waters. Instruction, equipment and round-trip hotel transport from Rotorua are all included.

This Queenstown rafting trip on the Kawarau River takes you on a thrilling ride over Class II and III white-water rapids. You'll learn paddling techniques from an expert river guide who leads you down the scenic river, which drains Lake Wakatipu. You may feel like you're in Middle-earth, as the Kawarau River starred as the River Anduin in 'The Lord of the Rings' movie trilogy. After, warm up with a sauna and hot shower. No experience is necessary of this half-day tour, suitable for all fitness levels.

This Kaituna River rafting adventure in the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve promises plenty of thrills! With an expert guide at the helm, you'll paddle through Class 5 white-water rapids of the Kaituna River, including an awesome 21-foot (7-meter) drop down Tutea Falls, the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. Accessible to adventurous beginners, this 3-hour tour includes a safety briefing with paddling instruction, all necessary equipment and round-trip hotel transport from Rotorua.

Explore the serene waters of Lake Mapourika in New Zealand's glacier country on this 3-hour kayak adventure from Franz Joseph Glacier. Paddle with your guide out onto Lake Mapourika, widely considered one of western New Zealand's most scenic spots. Enjoy uninterrupted views as your guide explains the region's fascinating geology, and marvel at the way the mighty Southern Alps are mirrored perfectly in the calm waters. Head into the estuaries of the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, and discover some of the country's oldest untouched rainforest as native birds sing overhead.

Be enchanted on a Kaikoura dolphin swim during a 12-hour day trip from Christchurch. Travel via the rolling hills of North Canterbury to the rugged Kaikoura coastline, a whale-watching paradise where you'll board a sightseeing boat and dive into the Pacific Ocean with a provided wetsuit and snorkel. Swim alongside dusky dolphins in their natural habitat and learn from your guide how to encourage interaction with one of nature's most graceful and curious sea mammals.

Experience heart-racing fun on an exhilarating Queenstown jet-boat ride. The expert captain races across Lake Wakatipu, navigates tricky turns on the Kawarau River and speeds through the milky waters of the Shotover River. Grab hold of your seat as the jet boat makes 360-degree spins and fishtails on a rollercoaster ride over the water. You'll cover more ground in less time, and receive a complimentary entrance ticket to Queenstown's Underwater Observatory.

Access remote wilderness areas on this Queenstown jet-boat tour across Lake Wakatipu and down the Kawarau River. The high-speed 1-hour ride is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping as your expert driver maneuvers into 360-degree spins, performs fishtail turns and navigates between narrow canyon walls. Snap photos of your scenic surroundings, including the Remarkables mountain range, and watch bungy jumpers plunge from the Kawarau Bridge. You have several tour times to choose from throughout the day.