Trout Fishing in New Zealand

The centre of trout fishing is Lake Taupo but many lakes and rivers in both island are stocked with introduced brown, rainbow and brook trout.

Lake Rotorua is another favored trout fishing spot, as are the lakes of Canterbury and South and Central Otago and the rivers of the Waikato. Fishing is available all year in Rotorua, Taupo and the Central Otago lakes, and is restricted to October to April in most other districts. The best dry fly waters in the world are said to be in New Zealand, and its fishing guides are of high international standing.

At Rotorua, steelhead fishing in April/May and September/October requires heavy gear while summertime fly fishing between October and April uses lighter lines.

Happy Trout Fishing in New Zealand!!

Windsurfing or Yachting

On many lakes and beaches in New Zealand colorful sails may be seen on any day with light winds as board riders catch the breezes. A wet suit and a buoyancy vest are advisable when windsurfing; any good swimmer who can lift the sail should then be safe windsurfing, although beginners should practice in a onshore breeze, as getting back is then easier than getting out.

The Hauraki Gulf at Auckland, Port Nicholson at Wellington, Lyttelton Harbour at Christchurch and Otago Harbour at Dunedin are all poplar yacht basins, at their best in summer. Charter boats of all descriptions are available around the country, on the larger lakes as well as on the coast. Classic sailing areas include the Bay of Islands, the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf at Auckland, the Coromandel and the Marlborough Sounds.

There are several options; some operators run regular cruises to a set schedule; others offer skippered charters, where you have some control and participation but professionals do the actual work; and for those with some experience, “bare boating” provides a suitable vessel and advice and leaves you to your own devices. Yachting is a thriving sport for all ages.

The joy of rafting in New Zealand

High mountains in New Zealand make fast rivers and these kinds of river are ideal for rafting. There are three varieties of rafting in New Zealand; blue water on calm stretches of river for sightseeing purposes; “black water” through underground caves in Waitomo, Nelson, Marlborough or the West Coast of the South Island; and the main form, “white water” down the rapids of New Zealand’s many rivers.

A number of commercial operators provide anything from a brief adrenalin pumping descent of a couple of rapids to rafting and camping expeditions lasting several days and taking in a large part of the length of some of the longer rivers. Spring and summer are the most popular times, though the sport is available year round. South island rafting rivers are centered on around Queenstown.

If your operator is a member of the New Zealand River Guides Association, this indicates that they comply with the high standards set by this voluntary association.

Riding on a jet boat in New Zealand

Jet boats are invented to operate on the often shallow and difficult rivers of the South Island, and have been a resounding success. The Shotover, Kawarau dan Dart rivers in the South Island are the most famous jet boating localities with the Whanganui and Whkatane reives in the North.

Jet boating on the Shotover River Queenstown can be very attractive because the landscape is really uncommon. Solid rocks are standing firmly at both side of river. The water is blue and at some part of the river you will be covered by the shadow of the rock. The experience of jet boating in this river is really amazing. The landscape is incredible. You certainly should try this experience while you go to New Zealand.

New Zealand and sport activities

Sport and fitness are important elements to New Zealanders as their country’s outdoors is clean and inviting. The climate is also mild and the landscape is so wonderful.

More than 35% of grown up people in New Zealand joined sporting clubs. The Hillary Commission of Fitness, Sport and Leisure for examples, are promoting sport on recreational basis, as well as providing fund for competitive sportspeople.

For golfer from around the world, New Zealand is an ideal destination because there are more golf courses per head of population than any other country. Usually the main season for golf is between March and October because the winter is relatively mild and in summer many New Zealanders prefer to choose water sports.

The most popular team sport is rugby football. The national team is called All Blacks, which members are better known than politicians. Therefore this team is the dream of many of schoolboys.

The main women’s winter sport, and the sport with the second highest player numbers is netball. The national team, the Silver Ferns, has won the world championship several times.

Summer sport faces stiff competition form the recreational possibilities of the beaches, lakes and forests.

Any kind of sport you choose, New Zealand offers you a new climate and atmosphere that you’ll never find in another place.

Dive New Zealand this year

Scuba diving, skin diving and snorkeling can be enjoyed around much of the New Zealand coast, by people adequately trained in the use of their equipment and in safety procedures.

The clear waters are ideal and are close to accommodation. The warmer seas in the north are especially suited to divers. There are many places to choose in New Zealand for diving; The Three Kings islands north of North Cape, the spectacular Poor Knights Marine Reserve off Whangarei, the Bay Islands Maritime and Historic Park are all particularly popular to divers from around the world. Some of those places are protected but in many locations spear fishing is permitted.

Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf with many interesting wrecks at Great Barrier and the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty offer many fine diving on the East Auckland Current. The Sugarloaf islands Marine Park, The Wellington coast, the Marlborough Sounds, Banks Peninsula, the Otago Fiordland, with their protected black coral, each have unique attractions.

Two major wrecks easily visited by divers are the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in the Cavalli Islands. You can access this diving site from the Bay of Island. The other wreck is the world largest easily accessible wreck, the Russian cruise ship Mikhail Lemontov in the Marlborough Sounds.

Choose your site and dive New Zealand this year. It’s going to be fun!

Surfing in New Zealand

Any beach exposed to the open sea will offer surf-able waves in the right weather conditions, though the North Island’s west coast, especially around Auckland, is the best known surfing area. Piha, Raglan, New Plymouth and Wellington can all be surfed year round. Northland has surfing on both coasts.

Many east coast beaches have un-crowded surf. A number of locations in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, especially the famous Mount Maunganui, are also popular surf beaches.

There is hardly a beach in Eastland north of Gisborne which cannot be surfed.

Surfing in the South Islan is mainlah a summer sport; Kaikoura, Christchurch ad Dunedin are the eash coast localities, and although some locals surf on the West Coast the rough weather renders conditions unpredictable.

Fitness, the ability to swim well, and the common sense not surf alone are the main safety factors.