Adventure travel guide to Australia and New Zealand

Travelling to the adventure capitals of the world can leave you feeling spoilt for choice. Here are a few handy tips to help you on your way!

If you’re looking for an adventure, Australia and New Zealand are the perfect choice. There’s very little you can’t do here. So whether you want to try a spot of scuba diving or jump out of a plane, this is definitely the place to do it.

But where to begin? Australia and New Zealand are so pack full of adventures that it’s hard to decide just what the best bits are. Naturally we’ll try our best, but remember; there are hundreds of other fantastic adventures waiting to be discovered there, so this guide is just a starting point.

New Zealand

Let’s kick off the New Zealand section of the guide with a spot of scuba diving in the Bay of Islands. Submerged in these deliciously clear waters, you’ll see the world as you’ve never seen it before. And as well as some exotic marine life, you’ll find caves and even shipwrecks - which makes this a truly memorable experience.

A trip to White Island is also a must. The volcanic landscape is simply stunning and there’s something quite incredible about being this close to an active volcano. While you’re here, you’ll get the chance to trek over the day’s “safe zones”, passing geysers, hot rivers and sulphur deposits as you go. And it’s all bare foot because the sand is so erosive it could damage your boat.

And what trip to New Zealand would be complete without a visit to the Waitomo Caves? It’s experiences like these that the word adventure is made for. After abseiling down a 100 metre cliff, you’ll arrive in the caves. And that’s only the beginning. Climbing, swimming, wading and even blackwater rafting will follow, making this one of those unforgettable experiences that you’ll want to share with anyone who’ll listen.

If you don’t mind the cold, a walk over the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers could be your next adventure. Not only will you see some fantastic views, but you’ll be stood on top of the only glaciers in the world that’s still growing. Is that really an adventure activity I hear you say? It sure is. Only experience mountaineers can go it alone, so you’ll need special equipment and a guide if you want to do it

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Queenstown is New Zealand’s adventure capital. You can try your hand at a whole range of activities here, including everything from bungee jumping to white water rafting, sky diving to speed boating. So if you want to fill every day with adventure – head for Queenstown. Oh, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy was set here too.

Australia

Back to scuba diving and Australia has some fantastic opportunities too. The Great Barrier reef is famed the whole world over, so it’s hardly surprising that it’s one of the top diving hotspots. One that you might not be familiar with, however, is the Nigaloo Reef.

It’s the crowning jewel of the Nigaloo Reef Marine Park and gives divers the unique opportunity to dive with whale sharks. These stunning creatures can grow to a massive 18 metres in length but luckily, they’re no threat to humans. Still, it takes a brave traveller to swim alongside them.

If you’d rather take a dip with something a little cuter, head for Baird Bay on the west coast of South Australia. Here you’ll have the chance to swim with sea lions - an altogether more playful set.

Now how about a bit of rock climbing on Australia’s best-known landmark? That’s right, you can take a trip to the top of Ayers Rock – the hard way. So if you want to give climbing a go, there couldn’t be a better place to start.

You’re probably wondering why it hasn’t come up already, but of course, surfing is an essential activity in Australia. The coast is stunning wherever you are but there are some beaches that are just perfect for surfing. Bells Beach, Bondi Beach, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast are just a few examples – but you won’t know how good they are until you’ve tried them.

And finally, don’t forget to take a trip to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It offers some fantastic views over the city and will give you some great memories.

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