There’s something about the majesty of a glacier that you can’t quite get the full effect of from the ground level, separated by a fence and the cracking glacier a few meters away.

Sure, the vistas and viewpoints provide great photo opportunities, and the hike is quite rewarding, punctuated with cascading waterfalls and framed by gorgeous mountains.

But in order to really get up close with a glacier, to really appreciate and understand it, one has to touch it.  That’s where a helicopter tour comes in.  Of all the New Zealand glaciers, Franz Josef is one of the best to see in person, fly around, and land on.  Blades swirling, clouds parting, helicopter tours of Franz Josef Glacier provide viewing opportunities like this:

The best part of the experience is landing on top of the very glacier that otherwise can only be viewed from a distance at the ground level.  Walking carefully to avoid slippage, the feeling of standing on top of a glacier and taking in the full vista is astounding.

New Zealand truly is spectacular, as is getting to know a glacier up close and personally.  For snow lovers, this is yet another notch to add to the travel experience belt.

*Thanks to Fox & Franz Josef Heliservices for the opportunity to see the glacier up close and personal.

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So, now that I think about it, the kids in this story are probably smarter than we were.

The new drinking game in New Zealand that’s scaring parents and pissing off park rangers is called Possum. Basically, students climb into trees and then drink until they fall out (the full story can be found here). Apparently park managers are more upset about the mess (trash, vomit, and urine) than they are worried about people getting hurt.

Is that really fun? Well, when you’re young and intelligent as me and my friends were, a lot of things sound fun.

But, lets be honest, were you any better?

Lead photo by Oneras

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Surf through some  last minute hotel deals and pack your bags with waterproofs and hiking boots, this is going to be wild. New Zealand is a really diverse country. It’s home to the clearest rivers, the most awesome mountains, and to national parks spewing sulphur and covered in giant ferns like the ones in Jurassic Park. Aside from the greenery and volcanic activity the diversity includes, it makes it a perfect adventure travel destination.

New Zealand has operators who facilitate all kinds of adventure sports such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, skydiving, mountain climbing, heli-biking, and canyoning, to name a few.

In the Peel Forest, 150 kilometres south of Christchurch, you can go white water rafting in grade 5 rapids. A large amount of water flows from the Rangitata Basin into the valley and reaches grade 5 at the point where the gorge narrows sharply. There’s an optional jump from here off a ten-metre cliff.

In Queenstown, a great nightlife destination, not only can you see beautiful sunsets over a mountain where Lord of the Rings was filmed, you can go heli-biking–take a scenic helicopter ride to the top of and ride down all the way.

Next, why not skydive from 12,000 feet over Lake Wakatipu. You must do a tandem skydive unless you pull some strings (ha) so you’ll be harnessed to a qualified instructor.

After that you can fling yourself over the Shotover Canyons in what is possibly the world’s highest extreme swing. You’ll be flung over 100 meters on two identical ropes. You’ll be safely harnessed and there’s the option of ‘jump lessons’ if you’re nervous.

Just outside of Queenstown are the beautiful sky-coloured waters of the Kawarau River. You can bungee jump from the bridge that spans it. The bungee jump also comes with the option of being dunked into the water headfirst up to your waist.

In Doubtful Sound, you can take extended sea-kayaking tours. You’ll see seals and Fiordland crested penguins, which are called Tawaki by the Maori people of New Zealand.

If you want to book just one central hotel and travel to all these places, there are numerous options. Many people come also to New Zealand and actually purchase Campervans for the duration of their stays. There are numerous websites and billboards where you can find these vans and at the end of the trip you can sell your van when you are finished your own.

Another option is to rent a car for a week and go back and forth. If you only want to do a couple of the activities, this might be a good option. Otherwise you can book with a tour that includes accommodation and travel (of which there are many) and just book a hotel for either end of your adventure tour.

As long as you’re burning off calories doing adventure activities, it’s worth mentioning that New Zealand produce fantastic savoury pies. You’ll find them everywhere – even in petrol garages on the road.

About Guest Writer Sophie Collard
Sophie Collard (@QunoSpotter) is a travel writer who you’ll find writing about the many elements of travel in various different places. She writes the blog qunospotter.uk which spotlights overland travel. She’s travelled over rails in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. She once watched a guy being told he couldn’t bungee naked in New Zealand.

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