If romance isn’t quite your cup of tea, why not opt for an adrenaline-packed honeymoon instead? New Zealand offers endless thrilling and breathtaking adventures that are sure to get the adrenaline going while creating romantic memories you will treasure for life?
No matter where your interests lie – glowworm caves, seals lazing around in the sunbather area or making your way towards Hobbiton movie set – there’s something here for everyone!
Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
One of the most memorable adventures you can experience in New Zealand is visiting the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves – considered some of the most stunning underground caverns worldwide. Being immersed in darkness surrounded by hundreds of glowing worms is truly remarkable and something truly amazing awaits you there!
Waitomo caves feature glow worms called Arachnocampa luminosa that emit blue light through capsules at their tail ends, simulating an electric starry night sky effect when covering an entire cave ceiling with them.
Glowworms are highly sensitive to light, and will turn off when exposed to it, so visitors to a cave should wear dark clothing and turn all lights off so as to appreciate the beautiful displays of shimmering blue glowworms without disturbing them. This way they can enjoy them fully without disrupting them!
Glow worm tours run every half hour from 9am to 5pm and cost $49 NZD per adult ticket. There are also family, group, and combo tours available as part of Waitomo region’s Ruakuri and Aranui Cave tours.
Redwoods Treewalk
Rotorua’s Redwoods Treewalk offers visitors an unforgettable New Zealand experience that allows them to safely navigate their way through forest canopy in complete safety and security. Since opening its eco-walk at Whakarewarewa Forest in 2015, this attraction has quickly become one of the must-do attractions during their visit to Rotorua.
This 700 meter long walkway consists of 28 suspension bridges which span 27 majestic 120-year old Redwood trees for an unforgettable bird’s-eye perspective of the forest, leaving visitors speechless.
At night, the Forest comes alive and the Treewalk becomes even more magical with its lit pathways and illuminated lights. This family-friendly attraction provides an amazing glimpse of nature that may otherwise remain unseen.
Forest adventures are an ideal date activity for couples looking for an escape from city life and relax together while taking advantage of what New Zealand has to offer. The forest adventure offers relaxing atmosphere that couples will appreciate while experiencing some of its finest offerings.
Lonely Planet recently recognized this remarkable experience by awarding it the second-best forest canopy walkway worldwide, making New Zealand the only attraction on their list. This was no doubt thanks to world-renowned light designer David Trubridge’s intricate lantern designs for this amazing attraction.
Whale Watching
Whale watching in Kaikoura is an unforgettable way to mark a bucket-list experience off your list, and there is no better place than this coastal town for doing just that. Whales once hunted near-extinction are now flourishing freely in their natural environments and it is truly inspiring seeing these majestic mammals thrive here – Sperm whales can often be spotted year-round while orca and humpback whales tend to arrive between December and March.
This region boasts an abundance of marine wildlife, such as dolphins. You’re more likely to spot bottlenose and common dolphins throughout the year and more rare Hector’s dolphins during summer months; your chances are also increased if your tour takes place early morning when conditions tend to be calmer.
All whale watching tours here are offered by local companies who take seriously the welfare of marine wildlife, using catamarans designed with whale welfare in mind and built to minimize underwater noise interference with their echolocation abilities. And for something extra spectacular, consider taking a helicopter whale and dolphin tour, offering stunning aerial views of these amazing mammals!
Onsen Pools in Queenstown
After conquering Queenstown hikes or zipping along in a jet boat through river canyons, nothing beats relaxing in a private hot pool with incredible views – and while this might not be the most affordable experience, it certainly makes up for it!
At 162 Arthur Point Road, Onsen Hot Pools is an incredible hidden treasure where you can unwind for an hour or two and recharge. Offering stunning mountain range and Shotover river views, its best feature is its complete solitude; just you and the hot pool room for yourself to enjoy the experience – even more romantically and uniquely romantic than expected if requested at booking time with candles and aromatherapy treatments to enhance it further!
Since 2007 these pools have been opened with the goal of introducing Japanese bathing traditions with a Kiwi flair to New Zealanders, making for a popular skier and local destination looking for relaxation after their adventures. Choose between three packages depending on how long you want to stay (the Original Onsen being their cheapest) as well as whether or not you would like spa services as well.
I would strongly advise booking an evening soak if possible, as you can sit back and take in the stunning sight of watching the sky turn pink as the mountains illuminate beneath the stars – truly an unforgettable experience that you won’t soon forget!