When I told my mom I was planning a story on adventure tourism through New Zealand, I reassured her that bungy jumping was out of the question. Why would I want to leap off a platform tied by my feet like a fish on a hook? But in Queenstown, rightly known as the adventure capital of the world, bungy jumping has a cult-like following. On the streets, backpackers sport black and yellow shirts that tell anyone with eyes that they’ve just completed the storied Nevis bungy, a 13...

The Franz Josef is one of hundreds of glaciers in New Zealand but it gains ...

One minute we’re coasting down the Rangitikei River, taking in the lush green hills and valleys flanking the crystal clear water. The next, we’re paddling at full force as our raft plummets down a grade five rapid. The boat is nearly vertical, then submerged beneath the crashing water, and when we come up we’re gasping for breath and hungry for more.

This is white water rafting, River Valley style. River Valley Adventures is a family owned company that sends about 5,0...

Mission: Mount Tongariro alpine crossing, New Zealand, rated the best one day trek in New Zealand and one of the top 10 day treks in the world.

Distance: 17.78 kilometres to the 1886 metre high summit of Mount Tongariro

Hollywood movie draw: perfect views of Mount Ngauruhoe, aka Mount Doom from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Difficulty: High

Bragging rights: endless.

So we’re off. After an hour bus ride from Taupo on the north Island, myself and three fellow travellers...

Just as stunning as the rolling New Zealand landscape is what lies underground. In the little town of Waitomo in the north island, the main attraction is the massive tangle of caves and underground rivers which are home to the infamous glowworms. Many companies have staked their claim on sections of the cave to offer guided tours.

The Legendary Black Water rafting company will test the limits of even the most daring traveller, especially with the five-hour Black Abyss tour...

I’m falling out of a plane from 19,500 feet in the air and I’m not even screaming. I’m terrified but too terrified to scream. Plus I’ve been told that screaming while falling 200 kilometres an hour produces the dreaded flap mouth, which isn’t attractive for anyone who watches the video filming the sky dive. I was held in stunned awe of the green landscape of New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, of the 144 puzzle-piece shaped islands that scatter around the peninsula at the top of the No...