More than just a blockbuster backdrop

Outdoor adventure

From canyoning and abseiling to jumping off bridges or the Sky Tower, Auckland has many adventure activities.

The city's rugged west coast is the perfect place to try canyoning.

Deep in the heart of the Waitakere rainforest, visitors can abseil down waterfalls, jump off cliffs into deep pools and slide down smooth natural hydro slides. Auckland is home to the Sky Tower, which is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere.

The Sky Tower's three observation levels offer 360-degree views of Auckland as well as the chance to walk around the outside or jump in the air.

The iconic harbor bridge, opened in 1959, provid es other adventures.

Visitors can climb over, under or jump from the spectacular bridge that dominates Auckland's inner harbor.

The world-first harbor bridge bungee-jump operated by bungee originals AJ Hackett Bungy is a safe, fun and interactive way to experience Auckland from another perspective.

Another travel city is Canterbury, which is bordered in the west by the Southern Alps and the east by the Pacific Ocean.

It is New Zealand's largest region with a vast landscape of outdoor nature and adventure opportunities.

Canterbury's landscape is dominated by New Zealand's highest mountain Aoraki Mt Cook and the Southern Alps - a chain of mountains that are bigger than its European namesake. In the air, on water or in the mountains, Canterbury is an adventure and nature haven that provides unique outdoor experiences, including huge sperm whales cruising the Kaikoura coast, dolphins playing in Akaroa harbour, and cheeky alpine parrots entertaining tourists at Arthur's Pass.

Between mountains and sea, Canterbury also offers diverse wildlife and nature attractions.

Its vast plains, coastal landscape, and favorable atmospheric conditions make it one of New Zealand's finest ballooning locations.

One highlight is the national park Aoraki Mt Cook, a world-renowned climbing and hiking destination. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the park and there are 23 peaks over 3,000 meters, including towering Aoraki Mt Cook. Mount Cook village, at the bottom of the mountain, is a base for climbers and hikers.

Hanmer Springs, north of Christchurch, also has adventure and relaxation.

Adventure activities include mountain-biking, hiking trails, trout and salmon fishing, jet boating, bungee-jumping and quad biking. In the country's South Island, the city Christchurch is a center of art and culture. It has more than 700 parks, and also home to two significant annual flower festivals in February and March. Christchurch has a vibrant art scene that covers fine arts, music, theatre, dance and cinema.

One example is the Christchurch Art Gallery, which draws on the best of New Zealand and international artists in exhibitions.

The Canterbury Museum is another place renowned for its imaginative displays of the historical, cultural and natural collections in the South Pacific.

The Christchurch Arts Festival offers a feast of performing, visual and applied arts.

The annual World Buskers Festival is a colorful kaleidoscope of top street performers. And the Court Theatre is New Zealand's foremost professional theater.