For those who may not have the stamina to go hiking or bicycling or who don't really enjoy horseback riding, now there is a new way to explore Kauai's wilderness: All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) tours. Each person is given one of these four-wheel-drive vehicles resembling an oversized motorcycle. Don't think this is for the weak, either. Wrestling with an ATV and learning how to steer, shift gears, maneuver over ruts in the dirt, and charge up and down hills takes some instruction and practice. That's partially why we recommend Kipu Ranch Adventures (tel. 808/246-9288; www.kiputours.com)??they emphasize safety. They start out with a lesson on flat ground, making sure everyone on the tour feels comfortable maneuvering and shifting gears on the 300cc or 350cc Hondas. Off you go on the tour. After about 10 to 15 minutes of pretty easy riding, they take you to a hill, a very steep hill that has all kinds of ruts and bumps. Patiently, they teach each person how to ride down hills and over ruts and bumps. Everyone practices, until the instructors give the okay to proceed. Once you have passed this torturous hill test, the rest of the 3-hour tour is a breeze. The second reason we recommend this company is that they are the only operator on a 3,000-acre private property never before opened to the public. Here's your chance to see a part of Kauai that even local residents have not seen. Extending from the Huleia River to the top of the Haupu Mountains, this property has been the filming site for numerous movies (Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Outbreak, Six Days and Seven Nights). The tour provides helmets, safety glasses, snacks, juice, water, fruit, and a stop over a swimming hole with a swinging rope. For those who would rather leave the driving to someone else (or who are ages 6?15), they have a "mule," a four-wheel-drive Kawasaki that holds up to three passengers. Cost for the ATV tour is $105; the mule is $105 for adults, $70 for children 6 to 15, and $88 for seniors over 65.
