Adventure sports in South Island

Adventure Hubs

The South Island's adventure hubs center on the Southern Alps and Queenstown's river systems. The Remarkables and Coronet Peak offer extensive ski terrain, including night skiing and big-mountain bowls. Nearby, the Shotover Jet navigates narrow rock canyons at high speeds. Further north, Mount Hutt provides the highest altitude and one of the longest ski seasons in New Zealand. For aerial perspectives, G-Force Tandem Paragliding operates from Bob’s Peak, overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountain ranges.

Adventure Hubs — Map

U3204500 / cc-by-sa-4.0

A

The Remarkables Ski Area

Big-mountain ski field featuring 449 hectares of terrain across three mountain bowls, including learner slopes, terrain parks, and black diamond chutes. The area also served as the filming location for Dimrill Dale in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Kiwi Discovery Queenstown / cc-by-2.0

B

Coronet Peak Ski Area

The country's first commercial skifield featuring rollercoaster terrain and wide-open trails for all skill levels. Winter operations include night skiing and sunrise sessions, while mountain biking is available during summer months.

Pseudopanax / Public domain

C

Shotover Jet

Jet boat attraction featuring high-speed rides through narrow river canyons. Owned by Ngāi Tahu, the experience combines adventure with natural scenery.

D

Mount Hutt Ski Field

Located near Methven at 2,086 meters, this ski field offers the highest altitude and one of the longest seasons in New Zealand. The terrain features wide-open runs with views extending across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean.

Oren Rozen / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

G-Force Tandem Paragliding

Enjoy an amazing tandem flight with an instructor. You can choose from two types of flights: either a relaxing glide or an adrenaline…

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