Overview

Being a group of narrow islands with almost 10,000km of coastline, New Zealand offers unparalleled opportunities for ocean sports, while the many lakes and rivers provide another arena for recreation in and on the water.

Canoeing and Kayaking

Very popular, canoeing and kayaking are practised both on rivers and lakes and in sheltered ocean waters. The most popular canoeing river is the Whanganui.

Jet Boating and Jet Skiing

The Shotover, Kawarau and Dart rivers in the South Island are the most famous jet boating localities with the Whanganui, Waikato and Whakatane rivers in the North.

Surfing

Any beach exposed to the open sea will offer surfable 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, as can Ahipara-Ninety Mile Beach.

Diving

Scuba diving, skin diving and snorkelling can be enjoyed around much of the New Zealand coast.

Yachting

The Hauraki Gulf (Auckland), Port Nicholson (Wellington), Lyttelton Harbour (Christchurch) and Otago Harbour (Dunedin) are all popular yacht basins, at their best in summer.