New Zealand is known as the adventure capital of the world. And Auckland certainly lives up to the reputation with plenty of terrifying adventure activities to choose from.
FourForty Mountain Bike Park is epic. They can rent you everything you need for a good time. The trails are suitable for intermediate and advanced riders. This is a world class mountain bike facility. There’s shuttles to take you up the hill and gravity to take you down again.
Snowplanet is an indoor ski slope in Silverdale 20 minutes drive from downtown Auckland. Try skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing and enjoy the 7Summits Restaurant and bar. Great fun for the whole family. The terrain park offers a challenge to riders of all levels making it one of Auckland’s best activities.
Wero White Water Park is man made whitewater rafting and kayaking at it’s best. This is an awesome activity. With rafting activities suited to young children and adults alike with a optional 10m waterfall, Wero has something for everyone. You’re going to get wet if you come here so be prepared.
EcoZip Adventures is great fun but you’ll need to have a head for heights or be looking to challenge yourself, it’s really high. This is actually pretty scary for adults as well as kids but it is great fun. Take the ferry to Waiheke and EcoZip can pick you up from the wharf. A great day out. Or you can stay the night on Waiheke.
This is a great activity for bogans, and for those with bogan tendencies. Up to 12 people race at once so it’s great for groups. The perfect activity for anyone who like to go fast while going sideways.
If you like to go fast Hampton Downs is the place for you. It’s a bit of a drive from downtown Auckland but you won’t find a better go-kart track than this. These karts are really fast, take a group of friends and unleash the tiger within.
The best way to experience the rivers and canyons is to abseil down them. AWOL adventures have been taking people canyoning for more than 10 years and haven’t lost anyone yet. This is an amazing experience, beautiful scenery and some really scary drops.
You can go skydiving anywhere, but your here – in Auckland. So stop making excuses and do it already. Book it now. It’s on everyone’s bucket list and Auckland has magnificent scenery and great health and safety so make today the day you finally give it a go and tick it off that list.
Auckland’s finest skatepark. Learn to skate, smoke, and swear. Pro tip – take a swim off the steps at Wynyard Quarter if it gets to hot in summer. You’ll need your own board but there’s a great skate shop over right next to the park.
Rixon Cable Wakeboarding park offers something for everyone from beginners to pros.
Get out on the harbour and get wet with Auckland Jet Boat Tours. They’ll take you for a spin and show you more habour in less time than any other boat trip.
Climb to the top of Auckland’s iconic harbour bridge with Auckland Bridge Climb. Suitable for age 7 and up. Bring a head for heights and some sensible shoes.
If climbing the bridge doesn’t get your heart pumping then this surely will. You can bungy jump from the Auckland Harbor Bridge.
Try something a little more natural. Piha Surf School can teach you everything you need to know to catch a wave. If you already surf they can rent you a board and wetsuit.
Why just admire the view from the Sky Tower when you can jump off. Attached to a cable, totally safeish. What an adventure!
To chicken to jump off the Sky Tower? Then this may be the next best thing. Sky Walk gets you right on the edge in almost complete safety. You’ll have a blast. Auckland’s highest adventure activity.
This one is a different kind of adventure. Less adrenaline than some of the others but seeing a big whale up close is a real thrill. Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf has a year round population of bryde’s whales (a close relative of humpback whales). There are also bottlenose and common dolphins year round. Migrating humpback whales, pygmy blue whales and the occasional sperm whale. There are also frequent visits from Orca pods. Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari is not cheap but it is totally worth the money and more. If you’ve never seen a whale before it is an unforgettable experience. Do not miss this activity. Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari leaves from Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour daily.
Bring a change of underpants. Spookers haunted theme park will literally scare the shit out of you. You’ll sleep with the light on for weeks after this. It’s R16 so not really for kids. It’s housed in an old mental asylum adding a slightly more realistic edge to the fear. A different kind of adventure activity but trust me it will get the heart pumping and the bowels moving.
Rainbows End is a Theme Park with over 20 rides and attractions. Adventure seekers will love the big 5 thrill rides. The perfect family adventure in Auckland.
An old school waterpark, it’s like going back to the 1980s. These hot pools are a little run down but are still awesome fun. They have two great waterslides. And because they haven’t yet discovered health and safety, they’ll still let you make a chain and slide down together.
For even more adventure try nudie night. Yup that right, on the first and third Thursday of every month, they really do have nudie night, in fact it runs all day. They call them Naturist Swim Days, I call it an adult adventure.
Rocket Ropes is another great activity located near Auckland Airport next door to Butterfly Creek. It’s is great for adventurous older kids and teenagers. If your scared of heights then this will be a challenge.
Sea Kayak to Rangitoto, watch the sunset, then paddle back towards the city lights. It’s one of the more placid adventure activities in Auckland, but believe me it’s an adventure you will enjoy. The tours are guided so you don’t need to navigate. You do need to be reasonably fit as you will be paddling.
Sailing is a rich man’s sport but here in Auckland you can crew a real America’s Cup yacht in a match race for only $205 per per person. That’s a lot less than it cost Larry Ellison, who rumor has it spend 115 million in 2013. $205 per person seems a bargain in comparison for one of the most unique adventure activities in Auckland.
Tree Adventures offers a variety of obstacles and ziplines through the trees of Woodhill Forest. Not for the faint of hart, this is a real adventure for anyone who is scared of heights.
Quad bike tours lets you race through the forest and blast along the open beach. This is a great experience for those who have never ridden a quad before. Full instruction is provided making it one of of the best adventure activities in Auckland.
Bring your own 4×4 and take it for a spin offroad. We do not endorse bringing your rental 4×4 here in any way (wink wink). Bring the kids or grab your mates and get muddy. This is serious fun, with a variety of courses to suit your vehicle. If you choose the right track this is suitable for many suburban 4×4’s that never normally go off road.
New Zealand’s oldest Marine Reserve offers some excellent snorkeling. You can bring your own gear or hire it. There’s also a glass bottom boat (book in advance) or kayak hire. The waters not super warm so if you want to really enjoy it bring a wetsuit.
Holy shit – If you’ve got four grand to spare you can take a ride in a Supermarine Spitfire WW2 fighter plane. Also available are a Mustang and a Kittyhawk which are a little cheaper at $2,800 for a ride but really why would you not want to go in the Spitfire.
If old planes don’t get your heart pumping this surely will. Xflight offers extreme aerobatic flights that will scare the shit out of anyone except the most seasoned test pilot. This is a seriously terrifying experience.