Outdoor Activities in South Island

Hike a section of the Routeburn Track, one of the New Zealand Great Walks, on a guided day trip from Queenstown. This premier tramping trail is located in Mt Aspiring National Park, part of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Te Wahipounamu. You'll trek at a moderate pace up a gradual incline toward the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, learning about the regional flora from your informative guide. Numbers are limited to 12 on this small-group tour, which includes snacks, lunch and round-trip hotel transport by mini-coach.

Take a 3-hour guided hike to the terminal face of Franz Josef Glacier, scrambling along an exclusive pathway over the riverbed of the mighty Waiho. During the interpretive valley walk to the glacier, your guide covers the geographical features of this magnificent alpine landscape. Upon reaching the viewpoint, you're treated to an up-close look at the advancing glacier. Numbers are limited to 13 people per group for a more personal experience.

This tour is great for photographic opportunities, to walk a beautiful bush track and is especially targeted for people who want to get up early and enjoy the morning sun. The adventure begins before the sun rises.Watch the sunrise take some great photos and while you are getting that great photo shot, breakfast will be on its way, this will get you going.Complimentary snacks and hot drinks along the way.

Combine two of the world's most exciting sports with one of the world's highest takeoff points on this tour from Coronet Peak. Experience the thrill of both paragliding and hang gliding, riding tandem with an expert instructor. Transportation from downtown Queenstown included.

Experience New Zealand's South Island from the air on a 3-hour sky diving tour from Wanaka. The plane ride to jump altitude offers views of the Southern Alps, Mt. Cook, Mt. Aspiring, the Clutha River, and several lakes. Then, securely strapped to your guide, you'll jump from 12,000 feet (3,658 meters), and experience both the thrill of the free fall and the peace of drifting down to earth when the parachute opens. Your tour includes guide, air tour, and hotel pickup and drop-off from central Wanaka.

Get introduced to one of New Zealand's Great Walks with a 2.5-hour hike on the Routeburn Track. This half-day tour departs Queenstown for the awe-inspiring scenery of Mt Aspiring National Park. Walk across a swing bridge and follow your guide at a relaxed pace through a beech forest lush with ferns and mosses. Experience the tranquility of the Routeburn River and its waterfalls while you learn about native birdlife and cultural history.

One of the most protected natural sites in New Zealand, the Franz Joseph Glacier is a wilderness of deep crevasses and frozen ice. On this round-trip eco-tour from Franz Joseph, travel lightly through the native rainforest with all equipment provided and admire uninterrupted views over the Waiho River and the Franz Josef Glacier. Enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour - limited to six people.

Soar above the mountain scenery of Wakatipu on a tandem paragliding flight that takes off from Coronet Peak, the highest commercial take-off point in Queenstown. With an expert pilot to guide the paraglider, you'll have a bird's-eye view of the whole region, covering 2.5 miles (4 km.) as you fly from Coronet Peak to the landing site. This small-group paragliding experience is limited to 8 travelers per booking for personal, high-quality service.

Get up close to nature and explore one of the top spots on New Zealand's South Island on this half-day Milford Track guided walk. Take a boat ride across Milford Sound to Sandfly Point with your guide and admire soaring cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Hike along the banks of the Arthur River and Lake Ada, and enjoy panoramic views over the pristine countryside. Admire the mighty Giant's Gate waterfall from the swing-bridge over the river and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 12 people.

The sunken river valleys, forested cliffs, and sandy bays of the Marlborough Sounds are one of the best places in New Zealand to spot dolphins in their natural environment, but increased tourism can often put wildlife at risk. This 4-hour cruise from Picton is run by certified Department of Conservation operators, allowing you to interact with dusky, bottlenose, and orca dolphins in a safe, fun, and eco-friendly way.

Observe yellow-eyed penguins in their nesting habitat on a small-group tour from Dunedin to the Otago Peninsula. Hear informative narration about this wildlife sanctuary and enjoy great photo ops from various lookouts. First, take a sightseeing tour of Dunedin's main landmarks including the University of Otago and Dunedin Botanic Garden. Upgrade your experience with a 1-hour stop at the Royal Albatross Center for a look at a royal albatross colony nesting area with a specialist guide. Includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel or cruise port.

Whether you're a fishing fanatic or a complete novice, this fishing charter experience is enjoyable for all. After a central Queenstown pickup, you'll join experienced skippers for an adventure on Lake Wakatipu. You won't have to worry about bringing equipment with you as everything is provided. Your skippers will give you expert tuition on different fishing techniques, and you'll gain access to incredible panoramic views that you wouldn't see otherwise.

Soar above Queenstown on a hang gliding adventure from the Coronet Peak ski field. Available during summer months (September to April), this tandem hang gliding tour takes off from the area's highest commercial flight site. Pair up with a qualified guide - a New Zealand paragliding champion - and enjoy a stunning and scenic flight. Round-trip transport is included with your 2-hour experience.

Explore the landscape around the Franz Josef glacier and New Zealand's rugged West Coast on a 2-hour ATV tour from Franz Josef village. Take in the mountains and rainforest of the Southern Alps as you go offroad and follow paths carved by ancient glaciers paths in the wilderness. Your guide leads you through the rainforest, riverbeds, grasslands, and mud on a thrilling tour that includes use of ATV equipment and wet weather gear.

This tour is great for photographic opportunities, to walk a beautiful bush track and is especially targeted for people who want to get up early and enjoy the morning sun. The adventure begins before the sun rises. This tour can definitely be private, same price just give us a ring. Watch the sunrise take some great photos and while you are getting that great photo shot, breakfast will be on its way, this will get you going.Complimentary snacks and hot drinks along the way.

Enjoy an authentic fishing adventure on Lake Wakatipu with this 3-hour Queenstown fishing charter. Head onto the calm waters of Lake Wakatipu and enjoy panoramic views over the spectacular mountain scenery. Pick up helpful tips from your guide and gain insight into the many different fish species thriving in the lake. Master a range of fishing techniques including jigging, spinning and trolling, and watch your line for a nibble from the trout and salmon swimming below. Haul in your catches, then either release them back or keep them for dinner!

Soar high over the South Island by hang glider on this 2-hour Coronet Peak tandem hang gliding experience in Queenstown. Head from Queenstown up into the ski fields of Coronet Peak and meet your hang gliding pilot.  After a full safety briefing, climb into your hang glider and catch the thermals to soar up into the skies above. During your hang gliding experience, enjoy magnificent views over the Wakatipu region's lakes, rivers and mountains as your pilot explains the technicalities of flight, and gain insight into how your glider works.

Take off from one of the highest commercially available points in Queenstown on this tandem paragliding experience. Fly with an extremely experienced guide for aerial views of Queenstown and the surrounding countryside, including Coronet Peak. Flight time is about 15 minutes; all necessary equipment provided.

Let a guide navigate the once-treacherous Skippers Canyon on this 4WD tour, round-trip from Queenstown. The route affords dramatic views over the Wakatipu Basin and Shotover River Valley. You'll cross Skippers Bridge into the namesake township and stop at Deep Creek to try your hand at gold panning. The 4-hour trip includes light refreshments and hotel pickup.

Paraglide over a wintry Queenstown landscape on this tandem paragliding tour from Coronet Peak. Safety and security on this adrenaline-fueled activity is ensured by the guide, a paragliding champion with decades of experience. After instruction and takeoff from the ski field, get views of the Wakatipu area on a 20-minute flight. Round-trip transportation from a central Queenstown meeting point is included.