Guided heli-hiking

It may not be cheap, but how often do you get to land on a glacier and go for a professionally guided wilderness walk? The good news is, if the walking part doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are options available where the entire trip takes around 25 minutes. You can just land on a glacier and have a quick look around. The benefit of heli-hiking, if you do hike, is you get to those spots that would take a huge amount of commitment to reach otherwise.

Whitewater rafting

You don’t have to go all out – you can pick a trip on class II or III rapids, which are rated gentle to moderate. It’s another fantastic way to see parts of our country from a totally different perspective. What’s more, there are so many rafting options available throughout the country; there’s bound to be one near you somewhere. Make sure you check in on the level of swimming ability required with the operator first.

Scenic quad biking

There are options that offer complete instruction and some that provide side-by-sides instead of quad bikes, meaning you could even bring a grandkid or two along with you! Quad biking is a great way to trek through farms, river trails, alpine high country, native forests and coastlines that are off the beaten track. And once again, your fitness isn’t as crucial as some other adrenaline activities. There are options from daytrips through to multi-day adventures.

Off-road 4WD tours offer a similar way to get some thrills while exploring more rugged terrain. Many of these tours don’t require your own vehicle, allowing you to enjoy the trip as a passenger.

If you’d likely something less undulating, perhaps a rail cart trip near Taumarunui with Forgotten World Adventures might be more your thing.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking doesn’t have to mean hair-raising technical rides with the risk of a broken bone. There are easier, fun tracks around the country that cater for everyone and can still get the heart pumping. There are even Department of Conservation tracks (and others) available where you can bike between huts and stay the night too. You can start gently and then build up your thrill level as your experience grows.

Project your retirement income.

The fine print

Remember to tailor your adrenaline-pumping activity to your abilities, check in with your doctor first if you need to and double-check your insurance just in case. But equally importantly, don’t rule out a particular activity you would like to try just because of your age or ability. Often, tour operators have ways they can accommodate your needs and are happy to chat.

Resources

100% Pure New Zealand

Department of Conservation

NZ Cycle Trails