Lonely Planet Chooses 33 NZ Thrills for “1000 Ultimate Adventures”

New Zealand has 33 of the world’s 1000 Ultimate Adventures, according to global travel authority Lonely Planet.

Published this month, Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Adventures features 100 “Top 10 Lists” that bring together the world’s most captivating activities and inspirational challenges.

Thirty-three New Zealand adventures are included in the book’s collection of thrilling travel ideas. The following is a breakdown by region:

Auckland

Best City Hikes: Coast to Coast Walk, Auckland

Bay of Islands & Northland

Best Adventures in Trees: Kauri Coast

Christchurch & Canterbury

Best Four-Legged Adventures: Horsepower, Canterbury
Best Marine Encounters: Swimming with Dolphins, Akaroa Harbour
Coldest Adventures: Kayak Tasman Lake
Most Spectacular Rock Climbs: Castle Hill

Dunedin & Otago

Classic Rides for Casual Cyclists: Otago Central Rail Trail

The East Coast

Best Pooch Pursuits: Bikejoring, Napier

Fiordland & Southland

Best Hidden Huts & Shelters: Supper Cove Hut, Dusky Sound
Best Hut-to-Hut Tours: The Milford Track
Best Treks with Killer Views: The Milford Track
Best Ultra Runs: Kepler Track Run, Fiordland
Endangered Encounters: Kakapo Recovery

Marlborough & Nelson

Best Animal Adventures: Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Best Marine Encounters: Diving with Fur Seals, Kaikoura
Epic Sea-Kayak Paddles: Abel Tasman National Park
Wildest Swims in the World: Wild Dolphins, Kaikoura

Queenstown & Wanaka

Best Adventures in the Buff: Bungy Jump, Queenstown
Best Beginners’ Climb: North-West Ridge, Mount Aspiring
Downhill Dashes: Nevis Bungy, Queenstown
Sensational Snowshoe Escapades: Queenstown

Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty

Hottest Volcanic Ventures: Whakaari (White Island)

Taupo & the Central Plateau

Boy’s (and Girl’s) Own Adventures: “Mordor”, Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Greatest Zip-Line Experiences: Mokai Gravity Canyon Flying Fox, Taihape

Waikato & the King Country

Craziest Caves: Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Famously Adventurous Destinations: “Middle Earth” near Matamata

Wellington Region

World’s Most Remote Capital City: Wellington

The West Coast

Best Hidden Huts & Shelters: Mungo Hut, Westland
Greatest Airborne Adventures: Heli-Hiking at Franz Josef Glacier

Multi-Region

Longest Treks: Te Araroa Trail
Most Magnificent Coast-to-Coast Missions: Coast to Coast Race, South Island
Mountain Biking’s Meccas: North Island
Top 10 Adventure Nations: New Zealand

1000 Ultimate Adventures is the third volume in Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate… series, which also includes the best-sellers 1000 Ultimate Experiences and 1000 Ultimate Sights.

LONELY PLANET’S 1000 ULTIMATE ADVENTURES
352pp, full-colour, 210mm x 165mm, paperback
RRP: NZ$39.99
Available now from all good bookstores

NOTES TO EDITORS

Want to know what we say about a particular NZ adventure? We can email you the relevant page(s).
Free extracts and selected images are available with permission.
Review copies are available on request.


Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/press/2013/08/23/lonely-planet-chooses-33-nz-thrills-for-1000-ultimate-adventures/#ixzz2clpSl6Rr