If I\u2019m travelling somewhere new, I want to see things that I couldn\u2019t see at home. If these things are tall<\/a>, I want to climb them; if they are filled with water<\/a>, I want to swim in them. Full immersion is \u2013 often, quite literally<\/a> \u2013 the goal. <\/p>\n Recent research from Pure New Zealand<\/a> suggests I\u2019m not alone. It found 53 per cent of surveyed Brits identify as \u201cmaxx-packers\u201d \u2013 people who want to cram as many activities into their forays abroad as possible<\/a>. Bonus points for anything that spikes the heart rate. <\/p>\n This might explain the rise of the \u201cruncation\u201d<\/a> \u2013 a growing trend in which people head abroad with the primary aim of taking part in a race<\/a> or running<\/a> event. The rest of the stay is invariably filled with similarly high-octane activities.<\/p>\n But is this enjoyable, or an energy-sapping way to spend your annual leave? As an avid exerciser who has stuck to traditional city breaks in the past, I headed to New Zealand<\/a> to find out \u2013 and run 50-plus kilometres up a mountain<\/a> in the process. <\/p>\n My New Zealand runcation road trip <\/p>\n To nail the maxx-packing spirit, Pure New Zealand set me up with a GO Rentals<\/a> car (an integral ingredient) and created a 13-day road trip<\/a> around the country\u2019s South Island<\/a>, complete with an itinerary fit to burst. I then tacked on an extra seven days of solo travelling. <\/p>\n The run, a 50km trail race containing 2,600m of climbing, would take place on day nine in the Central Otago region \u2013 near New Zealand\u2019s most inland point. Before then, I would whizz down the east coast, stopping at the quiet coastal town of Timaru and New Zealand\u2019s \u201cwildlife capital\u201d Dunedin. <\/p>\n In the aftermath of the race, I was to head to the adrenaline junkie\u2019s paradise that is Queenstown<\/a>, before returning to Christchurch via Glenorchy, Te Anau, Wanaka and Akaroa. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Race day<\/p>\n The Northburn 100 is an annual ultra race in which competitors tackle mountainous routes of up to 100 miles. I opted for the 50km race \u2013 or the \u201cfun run\u201d, as race director Terry Davis fondly referred to it. <\/p>\n This is many people\u2019s nightmare holiday activity, and I get that. But for me, someone who sneaks off first thing on group trips to squeeze in a run or bodyweight workout, it was fun to have my favourite pastime upgraded to a priority. <\/p>\n When carving out core memories on holidays, I often don\u2019t realise just how special they are until they\u2019re in the rear-view mirror. But throughout this race, I was acutely aware I was doing something I would never forget. I wanted immersion, and as I lumbered up mountains and chatted to fellow runners while leaping across a gurgling stream, I realised my wish had been granted. <\/p>\n Read more: \u2018Suffering is the prize\u2019: Why I took part in one of the world\u2019s hardest 50km trail races<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Sports nutrition <\/p>\n If there\u2019s one thing runners love \u2013 other than the obvious thing \u2013 it\u2019s baked goods. New Zealand, it turns out, has fantastic offerings on both fronts \u2013 the pies are a highlight, with each town boasting its own delicious creations. <\/p>\n For the best baked goods, I recommend U-Bake<\/a> bakery on the outskirts of Timaru, an east coast town roughly two hours\u2019 drive from Christchurch. <\/p>\n I received a warm welcome from the owner, Simon Bruce, who stepped out of the kitchen to deliver a firm handshake. After loading me up with prize-winning hot cross buns, a filled baguette the size of my arm and the best pie I\u2019d ever eaten, he removed his flour-laden apron and said: \u201cYou seem like a good guy, fancy a tour?\u201d <\/p>\n What followed was not a whistle-stop whizz around tourist hotspots. It was a two-hour guide to Timaru\u2019s lesser-known gems, complete with amusing anecdotes and even a brief visit to his house.<\/p>\n This story sums up my New Zealand experience: friendly people, tasty pies, adventure, and fun. And while this was undoubtedly a highlight, it wasn\u2019t an isolated incident. <\/p>\n At sunset, you can also see Little Blue Penguins scurry across Timaru\u2019s beach to return to their nests from the sea, which I think warrants a visit to this often overlooked town.<\/p>\n The greatest attractions cost nothing<\/p>\n If you choose a runcation, chances are you favour excitement over relaxation on your holidays. Luckily, New Zealand is the ultimate playground, and there is no age limit. <\/p>\n Many activities on this list cost money, and they are undeniably fun. But my favourite days came at the cost of a bit of petrol and a supermarket sandwich.<\/p>\n W\u0101naka demonstrated this best. The lakeside resort town offers a chilled alternative to the adrenaline-fuelled energy of traveller favourite Queenstown, but still delivers screensaver good looks and fantastic food options \u2013 Big Fig<\/a> and The Food Truck Park<\/a> offerings were personal favourites. There is also plenty to keep adventurous sorts busy. <\/p>\n A morning dunk in Lake W\u0101naka is a refreshing way to start the day, and the nearby hikes are tough to beat. The 10km Rob Roy Glacier Track, a one-hour (and bumpy) drive from W\u0101naka, was my pick of the bunch. <\/p>\n A bouncing swing bridge leads into Mount Aspiring National Park, where beech forests shield you from the sun as you climb. Eventually, you emerge from the trees to a view of a hanging glacier and too many waterfalls to count \u2013\u00a0an idyllic spot for the aforementioned supermarket sandwich. <\/p>\n If you want more of a challenge, you can tackle Roy\u2019s Peak, which delivers largely unparalleled views as a reward for a long, steep climb. However, having emerged from an ultramarathon a few days prior, the more gentle inclines of the Glacier Track sounded more appealing to me. <\/p>\n On the way back from the Rob Roy Glacier Track, you can also find Wishbone Falls \u2013 a small waterfall that splits in two courtesy of protruding rocks, bending sunlight into an ever-present rainbow. It\u2019s hard to tell people you swam in a waterfall, under a rainbow, without sounding a tad braggy, and it\u2019s not one to be missed. <\/p>\n A tour with a twist <\/p>\n I woke early on my first full day in New Zealand and drove 20-or-so minutes to Sumner Beach \u2013 Christchurch\u2019s picturesque seaside suburb. There, I met Traverse Trails<\/a> founder Andy Annable for a running tour of a pretty nearby headland. <\/p>\n I find exercise, like alcohol, has a knack for sending inhibitions packing. As soon as my heart rate was raised, I was jabbering away to Andy about everything from local customs to childhood memories \u2013 an atmosphere at odds with the polite quietness of a classic boat or bus tour. This, he says, is why his groups tend to forge such strong bonds on their multi-day adventures. <\/p>\n When the hills became hard, we walked; when a view was too good to miss, we stopped to take pictures; when stomachs rumbled, Andy\u2019s Mary Poppins-esque backpack produced an endless supply of snacks. No land speed records were under threat, but it was one of the most enjoyable 10km runs I\u2019ve ever done. It was also a good way to get the legs going post-flight without exhausting myself ahead of the race in 12 days\u2019 time. <\/p>\n The adventure capital of the world <\/p>\n If you were to draw a Venn diagram of runners and thrill-seekers, I\u2019d wager there would be a considerable mid-section. That\u2019s why I would recommend making a beeline for Queenstown \u2013 the \u201cadventure capital of the world\u201d \u2013 after your race is run. A stay at Coronet Ridge Resort<\/a>,<\/a> a stunning alpine-style wellness retreat on the outskirts, makes a good celebratory treat when tending to tired legs. <\/p>\n The big three activities in Queenstown are bungee jumping, jet boating and white water rafting, and my itinerary ticked every box. The first, white water rafting with RealNZ<\/a> was an instant winner. Racing through rapids, with the option to tip into the water and tombstone off rocks at points during the course, felt like a refreshingly relaxed approach compared to the red tape that often surrounds outdoor activities. <\/p>\n Next came the bungee. I had opted out of the full jump at AJ Hackett<\/a>\u2019s Kawarau Bridge bungee \u2013 the world\u2019s first commercial site \u2013 and instead plumped for the relaxing-sounding \u201cswing\u201d. When I arrived, I found this was less of a swing and more of a seat attached to bungee cords, which was winched out over a canyon then dropped from 141 feet. <\/p>\n It was, in a word, awful. My lungs felt like they were going to shoot from my mouth, but what came out instead was a series of expletives not suitable for these pages. Then, in milliseconds, it was over. People who enjoy being chucked off a cliff or bridge will love this, but it\u2019s not for me. <\/p>\n Later the same day came a trip to Oxbow Adventure Co<\/a> for a jet sprint boat experience. On a private man-made lake, the boat accelerates from nought to 100kmph in two-and-a-half seconds, careering around small islands to deliver four g-forces. It\u2019s over in the blink of an eye, but it left me grinning like an excited schoolboy. <\/p>\n However, my top activity in the town was not one of the big three. Instead, it was Queenstown Luge<\/a> \u2013 a 1.6km mountaintop downhill track for gravity-powered go-karts. If you\u2019ve ever played Mario Kart and wished it was real, this is a dream come true. <\/p>\n Real culture outside of museum walls <\/p>\n New Zealand has a fascinating history. Due to its remote location, it was the last major landmass to be settled by humans. In the 13th century, East Polynesian travellers arrived in huge open-topped canoes called waka hourua, establishing what would become M\u0101ori culture. <\/p>\n To learn more, I headed to a site just outside Timaru for a M\u0101ori rock art tour<\/a>. I met my guide and followed her in my car down a dirt track, eventually turning a corner into one of the most beautiful places I\u2019ve ever visited. <\/p>\n The space has been repopulated with indigenous plant species. Lush grass paths wind through the middle, taking you to a series of caves containing preserved examples of rock art, including an enormous piece which depicts the M\u0101ori creation story. <\/p>\n A few days later, I travelled to the seaside village of Karitane, further south on the east coast, for a M\u0101ori Pa experience<\/a>. Here, my guide took me to the Huriawa peninsula and taught me about the colourful past of this former fortified settlement. <\/p>\n I said at the start that full immersion was the aim of this trip. Rarely did it feel closer at hand than when learning about the founders of the country and its culture. <\/p>\n Sea lions, penguins \u2013 and stunning scenery<\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s fascinating history extends to its wildlife. As an island nation, its only indigenous land mammals are a smattering of bat species, with birds dominating the country until Europeans arrived with the likes of livestock, rabbits, stoats and weasels. <\/p>\n Dunedin has been dubbed the \u201cwildlife capital of New Zealand\u201d, and there is no better place to learn more about the nation\u2019s animals. <\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The-Independents-fitness-writer-Harry-Bullmore-having-finished-the-Northburn100-race-in-New-Zealand..jpeg\")
The pride and satisfaction I felt at the finish line of the Northburn 100 race was like nothing I\u2019d ever experienced (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"U-Bake\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Posing-for-a-picture-with-Ubake-bakery-owner-Simon-Bruce.jpeg\")
U-Bake\u2019s pie made such an impression that it caused a two-hour detour on the way back to Christchurch Airport (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"Where](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/That-Wnaka-Tree-(left)-and-the-swing-bridge-at-the-start-of-the-Rob-Roy-Glacier-Trail-(right).jpeg\")
Where the action is: morning swims and hikes are among the reasons New Zealand is tough to beat for action (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The-view-at-the-end-of-the-Rob-Roy-Glacier-Trail-(left)-and-swimming-at-Wishbone-Falls.jpeg\")
The view at the end of the Rob Roy Glacier Trail (left) and swimming at Wishbone Falls (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"Such](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The-running-tour-on-the-outskirts-of-Christchurch-New-Zealand.jpeg\")
Such is exercise\u2019s power to lower inhibitions that we even picked up a bonus runner along the way and immediately started chewing the fat (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"I](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The-swing-at-the-Kawarau-Bridge-bungy-centre.jpeg\")
I found bungee jumping in any form is not for me, but jet boating is a lot of fun (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The-Skyline-Luge-in-Queenstown.jpeg\")
For me, the gravity-powered go-karts of Queenstown\u2019s Skyline Luge trumped the bungee jumping and other extreme activities (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The-rock-art-tour-on-the-outskirts-of-Pleasant-Point-near-Timaru.jpeg\")
The rock art tour on the outskirts of Pleasant Point, near Timaru, was one of the high points of my trip (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n
![\"Insightful](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Harry-Bullmore-on-the-Clearwater-Wildlife-Tour-of-the-Otago-Peninsula-just-outside-the-New-Zealand-c.jpeg\")
Insightful anecdotes, wildlife galore and stunning views \u2013 the Dunedin wildlife tour was a must-see for me (Harry Bullmore\/The Independent)<\/p>\n