Active Pursuits

In Queenstown

There's no doubt Queenstown has more crazy, boundary-testing activities per square mile than anywhere else in New Zealand.

Biking -- Queenstown Bike Hire, 23 Beach St. (tel. 03/442-6039), rents road and mountain bikes, tandems, and scooters; ask for a map that details the popular rides around town. Outside Sports, 36 Shotover St. (tel. 03/441-0074; www.outsidesports.co.nz), rents road and mountain bikes. It also supplies mountain-bike trail maps. Rentals range from NZ$50 to NZ$120 (US$35-US$85£18-£43) per day. Serious mountain bikers should consider the guided tours provided by Gravity Action (tel. 03/442-5277; www.gravityaction.com), and Vertigo Bikes (tel. 03/442-8378; www.heli-adventures.co.nz).

Bungy Jumping -- There are four bungy-jumping sites in Queenstown. So what's the difference between them all? A. J. Hackett Bungy (tel. 0800/286-4958 in NZ, or 03/442-4007; www.bungy.co.nz) now operates them all.

Kawarau Suspension Bridge, at 43m (140 ft.) high, was the world's first commercial bungy operation, and since it was the "original," it seems to hold a special place in jumpers' hearts. It's great for water touches in the Kawarau River and is 23km (14 miles) from Queenstown. The full package, including jump, T-shirt, video, photos, and transport, costs NZ$150 (US$106/£54). Allow 1 to 3 hours. At the top of Bob's Peak, The Ledge is 47m (155 ft.). This is what you might call an urban bungy experience that has two angles -- the Wild Side and the Mild Side. You can also jump at night. You'll pay NZ$150 (US$106/£54) for the jump, a T-shirt, and the gondola ride; allow 1 hour. The Ledge Sky Swing also operates here and costs NZ$100 (US$71/£36). The Nevis Highwire Bungy is Hackett's newest venture. At 134m (440 ft.) over the Kawarau River, it takes over from the Pipeline as the tallest bungy site in New Zealand. The full pack here costs NZ$210 (US$149/£76). The Thrillogy is a three-jump combo for NZ$350 (US$248/£126). The minimum age for all bungy jumps is 13.

Canyoning -- 12 Mile Delta Canyoning (tel. 03/441-4468; www.xiimile.co.nz) does half-day trips for NZ$145 to NZ$225 (US$103-US$160/£53-£81). Allow 3 hours, 1 1/2 of them wet. It also offers a heli-canyon combo.

Fishing -- The visitor center can advise you on several recognized trout-fishing operators with prices ranging from NZ$85 (US$60/£31) per hour to NZ$800 (US$567/£289) for a full day. Queenstown Fishing Guides & Charters (tel. 03/442-5363; www.wakatipu.co.nz), offers lake trolling, fly-fishing, and lure fishing. Or try Over The Top Fly Fishing (tel. 0800/123-359 in NZ, or 03/442-2233; www.flynz.co.nz) for a truly out-of-the-way guided heli-fly-fishing experience.

Fly by Wire -- This odd new adventure fires you away from the earth at speeds up to 170kmph (105 mph). Fly by Wire (tel. 03/442-2116; www.flybywire-queenstown.co.nz) charges NZ$150 (US$106/£54) for 5 minutes of excitement while strapped into a rocket, which is attached to a strong wire. Minimum age is 15. Watch the video at Network Car Rentals, on Shotover Street, to see what you're getting yourself into.

Golf -- The ultimate in Queenstown golf is Millbrook Resort, Arrowtown (tel. 0800/800-604 in NZ, or 03/441-7010; www.millbrook.co.nz), where you'll pay NZ$145 (US$103/£52) for the par-72, Bob Charles-designed course. Carts, equipment, instruction, and a free shuttle from Queenstown are available. The 18-hole Queenstown Golf Club, Kelvin Heights (tel. 03/442-9169; www.queenstowngolf.co.nz), is a full-service course with NZ$65 (US$46/£23) greens fees and NZ$65 (US$46/£23) for club rental.

Horse Trekking -- There are a number of horse-trekking operators who charge from NZ$50 to NZ$120 (US$35-US$85/£18-£43). Moonlight Stables (tel. 03/442-1229; www.moonlightcountry.co.nz) is on the 325-hectare (800-acre) Doonholme Farm, 15 minutes from Queenstown. Well-mannered horses and experienced guides offer full- or half-day treks through spectacular landscapes and deer farms. Shotover Stables (tel. 03/442-9708), is just 6 minutes out of town at Arthur's Point.

Hot-Air Ballooning -- Sunrise Balloons (tel. 0800/468-247 in NZ, or 03/442-0781; www.ballooningnz.com) will give you a memorable experience floating silently over the Wakatipu Basin at dawn. The price -- NZ$345 (US$245/£125) for adults, NZ$225 (US$160/£81) for children under 12 -- includes a champagne breakfast after landing.

Jet-Boating -- Shotover Jet (tel. 0800/746-868 in NZ, or 03/442-8570; www.shotoverjet.com) is perhaps the best-known operator and the biggest adrenaline rush. You'll pay from NZ$109 (US$77/£39) for adults and NZ$69 (US$49/£25) for kids ages 5 to 15 to blast through narrow rocky canyons in as little as 10 centimeters (4 in.) of water for 30 minutes. Kawarau Jet (tel. 0800/529-272 in NZ, or 03/442-6142; www.kjet.co.nz) departs from the main town pier and skates across Lake Wakatipu to the Kawarau and Shotover rivers. The 45- to 60-minute trip costs NZ$90 (US$64/£32) for adults, NZ$50 (US$35/£18) for children.

Luge -- The Skyline Luge (tel. 03/441-0101; www.skyline.co.nz) is nearly 1km (1/2 mile) of downhill fun for NZ$7 (US$5/£2.50) per ride per person. Various packages on offer include several rides and gondola transport. It operates from 9am to dusk; tickets are available from the Skyline Gondola terminals.

Parapenting/Hang Gliding/Paragliding -- Queenstown Paragliding School (tel. 0800/727-245 in NZ; www.extremeair.co.nz) will give you a day's course in the basics for NZ$195 (US$138/£70). There are approximately 15 tandem parapente operators, most working above the gondola on Bob's Peak; prices are NZ$180 to NZ$250 (US$129-US$178/£65-£90) for an introductory tandem flight.

River Boarding/River Surfing -- If you thought surfing was restricted to the ocean, forget it. Now you can cling to a specially designed boogie board, don a helmet, and go for it down churning river rapids. Serious Fun River Surfing (tel. 0800/737-468 in NZ, or 03/442-5262; www.riversurfing.co.nz) goes down a 7km (4-mile) stretch of the Kawarau River for NZ$150 (US$106/£54). You'll progress from flat water to Grade IV rapids with instruction as you go along. No experience is necessary, but confidence in the water is. Trips are conducted from October to May.

Rock Climbing -- The Rung Way (tel. 03/450-2119; www.rungway.co.nz) has a carefully constructed Via Ferrata system of rungs, ladders, and wire ropes in high rocky places that will test the best of you. It's a fully guided experience at three different levels of ability, priced from NZ$150 (US$106/£54) for 3 to 5 hours.

Skiing -- From late June to September, the international ski crowd flocks to Queenstown to enjoy the accessible slopes of Coronet Peak; the least-crowded slopes of the Remarkables; the best family fields at Cardrona; and the most challenging slopes at Treble Cone. For the ultimate rush, try a day of heli-skiing or heli-boarding with Harris Mountain Heliski (tel. 03/442-6722; www.heliski.co.nz), HeliGuides (tel. 03/442-7733; www.flynz.co.nz), or Glacier Southern Lakes Heliski (tel. 03/442-3016; www.heli-flights.co.nz).

Skydiving -- For NZ$245 to NZ$395 (US$174-US$280/£88-£143), NZONE (tel. 03/442-5867; www.nzone.biz) will fly you over awesome scenery and then drop you out to fall at speeds of up to 200kmph (124 mph).

Walking -- Three well-known multiday walks start in the Queenstown vicinity: the Routeburn, the Greenstone Valley, and the Grand Traverse Tracks. Each starts near the little township of Glenorchy, at the far end of Lake Wakatipu, 47km (29 miles) from Queenstown. It's also possible to sample these great walks by going in several hours and back out again on the same day. Alternatively, you can do the Routeburn Encounter Guided Day Walk (tel. 0800/768-832 in NZ, or 03/442-8200; www.ultimatehikes.co.nz) from November to April, with transport from Queenstown provided. The track rises 230m (755 ft.) over 6.5km (4 miles) and is suitable for reasonably active people. Take warm and waterproof clothing and good boots.

The Department of Conservation Information Centre, 37 Shotover St. (tel. 03/442-7935), open daily from 8am to 8pm, can furnish details on short walks around Queenstown as well as those farther afield. There are at least 10 walks of 1 to 8 hours in and around town. There are also several excellent walks around Lake Wakatipu, including the pleasant and easy Bobs Cove Track and Nature Trail, which starts 14km (9 miles) from Queenstown on the road to Glenorchy.

Experienced naturalist Richard Bryant of Guided Walks of New Zealand (tel. 0800/455-712 in NZ, or 03/442-7126; www.nzwalks.com) specializes in treks with nature interpretation. He offers half- and full-day options with a maximum of seven people, costing from NZ$100 to NZ$350 (US$71-US$248/£36-£126).

There are also pleasant walks and trails in and around Arrowtown. Pick up the Department of Conservation brochure, which details all these walks, their conditions, and fitness requirements. For weather forecast information, call MetPhone (tel. 0900/99-903 in NZ; www.metservice.co.nz).

White-Water Rafting -- The Shotover and Kawarau rivers are top spots for white-water rafting. The Kawarau trips are generally better for those who are rafting for the first time. The Shotover trips are much more challenging and are usually accompanied by safety kayaks. Challenge Rafting (tel. 0800/423-836 in NZ; www.raft.co.nz) charges NZ$155 (US$110/£56) for its Shotover raft trip and NZ$145 (US$103/£52) for the Kawarau trip. Mention Frommer's and you'll get a 10% discount when booking direct. Queenstown Rafting (tel. 0800/723-846 in NZ; www.rafting.co.nz) operates similar trips priced from NZ$139 (US$99/£50). Extreme Green Rafting (tel. 03/442-8517; www.nzraft.com) is a smaller operator with more competitive prices. It also has an Upper Shotover Scenic option, which includes a flight or drive to the top of the river. This full-day outing is a passive rather than high-adrenaline activity, suitable for all ages and levels of fitness.

Money-Saving Combos -- If you want to try a variety of activities, look into money-saving combos. Most booking agents around Queenstown can fill you in on all the details and several adventure operators have their own money-saving combinations. Info & Track, 37 Shotover St. (tel. 03/442-9708; www.infotrack.co.nz), can tell you about packages such as the Shotover High Five, which combines the Shotover Jet with a helicopter ride to Skyline for luge rides, the Kiwi Magic movie, and a gondola ride down. Queenstown Combos (tel. 0800/423-836 in NZ, or 03/442-7318; www.combos.co.nz) has about 14 different packages and can make reservations for you. Prices start at NZ$210 (US$149/£76). Mention Frommer's and you'll get a 10% discount if you book direct. Action Combos (tel. 0800/723-8464 in NZ, or 03/442-9792; www.rafting.co.nz) offers a range of rafting-based combos that include bungy, helicopter rides, and jet-boats.

In Nearby Glenorchy

Glenorchy is a tiny village surrounded by rugged high country, mountains, glacier-fed lakes, and ancient beech forests -- The Lord of the Rings country, in fact. Much of the filming was done in this remote area. It's also the latest hot spot in southern tourism. Just 40 minutes away, it's now a base for several tour operators, all of which offer transport from Queenstown.

Funyaking -- Sitting in an inflatable Canadian-style canoe and floating downstream at 8kmph (5 mph), enjoying the scenery, is my idea of a sensible adventure. With Funyaks (tel. 03/442-9992; www.dartriver.co.nz), you'll jet-boat up the Dart River for 75 minutes (or you can go by 4WD vehicle, if you prefer), then canoe back down to Glenorchy in stable inflatable canoes. No need for daredevil confidence -- it's a family trip guaranteed to please everyone. The price is from NZ$265 (US$188/£96) for adults, NZ$199 (US$141/£72) for children ages 3 to 15, and includes transport, guides, and lunch.

Horse Trekking -- The Dart Stables (tel. 0800/474-3464 in NZ, or 03/442-5688; www.dartstables.com) has exclusive riding territory in the high country of the 200-hectare (500-acre) Wyuna Station and sole rights to trek through Department of Conservation areas. Treks are available for all abilities and range from 2 hours to overnight excursions, priced from NZ$125 (US$89/£45) per person.

Jet-Boating -- Dart River Safaris (tel. 0800/327-8538 in NZ, or 03/442-9992; www.dartriver.co.nz) provides one of the best jet-boating experiences in New Zealand. The Safari combines jet-boating with walks in ancient forests and visits to The Lord of the Rings sites at Paradise. It departs Glenorchy daily at 9am and 1pm. Allow 6 hours in total and expect to pay NZ$189 (US$134/£68) for adults and NZ$95 (US$67/£34) for children ages 3 to 15.

Walking -- Glenorchy is the departure point for the Routeburn, the Greenstone and Caples, and the Rees and Dart tracks, all of which are internationally renowned. Get information at the Department of Conservation, Glenorchy Visitor Centre (tel. 03/442-9937; www.glenorchyinfocentre.co.nz).