Herding sheep with the shepherdess and her dogs at Flockhill Lodge, New Zealand<\/p>\n
Fallon <\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s greatest luxury may be the extraordinary access it offers to nature and spectacular scenery. During a recent 15-day trip to the country, I uncovered endless opportunities for outdoor experiences\u2014but the three best ones were not only memorable, they also came padded with luxurious amenities. The perfect outdoor experience blends a bit of thrill with stunning scenery, a moment of discovery and no small bit of physical effort–followed by an incredible meal and warm hospitality. These top three outdoor adventures deliver the dramatic scenery and friendly charms that define New Zealand but with five-star panache. Before you begin any outdoor adventure in New Zealand there are a few important packing and preparation details to bear in mind. <\/p>\n
What To Pack For Outdoor Adventures in New Zealand<\/p>\n
Hiking shoes\u2014or any waterproof footwear\u2014are a must. Terrain is unpredictable so it\u2019s best to be in a solid pair of shoes that can withstand everything from water to rocky trails. The UV light in New Zealand is fierce and sunscreen\/sun protection is essential. A cold winter day with bright sun can still yield a nice sunburn in New Zealand. Bring a hat, pack mineral sunscreen and always have it on hand wherever you go. Always bring enough water on any adventure, especially in the alpine region where altitude can dehydrate you quickly. The good news is there a no toothy, fearsome predators here. As someone who has hiked extensively throughout the American West, the lack of bears, mountain lions and snakes in New Zealand is liberating; it makes traipsing across the landscape a joyful delight. The biggest nuisance might be rabbit, possum or ferret so leave the bear spray, whistles and bells at home. While these pests won\u2019t ambush you, they are considered invasive pests to New Zealand and you\u2019ll often see traps to mitigate their populations.<\/p>\n
Top Outdoor Adventures in New Zealand for 2026<\/p>\n
Herd Sheep with a Local Shepherdess<\/p>\n
A day watching sheep dogs work their magic is reward in and of itself and it is a must-do activity in New Zealand, where sheep outnumber residents. The ultimate sheep herding experience (or Farm Tour as they call it) might well be at Flockhill Lodge<\/a>, a relatively new ultra-luxury resort in Canterbury, just an hour or so from Christchurch. Located on a working sheep station, the animals far outnumber people here with a herd of 10,000 sheep spread across 36,000 acres and a team of 70 staff that takes care of 36 guests. The menu of outdoor activities and adventure offerings is extensive (fly fishing, heli-sking, hiking, cycling), but not to be missed is the Farm Tour which is a rather understated description of the immersive full-throated farm experience that awaits. It\u2019s more of a two-hour farm reality show as guests accompany members of the farm team on daily rounds. We donned the complimentary gumboots and jumped in a four-wheeler–along with the herding dogs\u2014for a chance to witness an official Kiwi Muster, aka sheep herding. Riding across pasture and grazing land to a clutch of sheep, our shepherdess\/farm guide worked the dogs with a series of whistles with one dog acting as the \u201ceye\u201d directing the flock and another acting as the \u201cmuscle\u201d barking and pushing them to move. It\u2019s authentic genuine fun, and can take a fair bit of time depending on the sheep\u2019s antics. Afterwards we stop at the shearing barn to witness some fascinating sheep gymnastics as the farm team shear rams for breeding season. The best, five star luxurious part about all of this is popping off the muddy gumboots and returning to the pampered fold of Flockhill Lodge, sinking into a fireside chair, sipping some New Zealand sparkling wine and savoring a meal at Sugarloaf<\/a> from Flockhill\u2019s acclaimed Chef Tyler Cullen. <\/p>\n Off-road through one of the nation\u2019s most impressive wildlife sanctuaries <\/p>\n View of the bay from Cape Sanctuary<\/p>\n Cape Sanctuary<\/p>\n Cape Sanctuary<\/a> is New Zealand\u2019s largest privately owned and funded conservation project with over 6,000 acres of restored habitat and home to thousands of sea and forest birds including little blue penguins, kiwi (they now boast a population of 600 kiwi) and the endangered Takahe. The habitat is open to specially guided flagship tours with curated offerings; the half-day tours are available for private groups of up to five guests and debut this September. <\/p>\n During my visit we four-wheeled across the Ocean Beach Wilderness area stopping along the way to feed endangered takah\u0113 and k\u0101k\u0101riki. The journey is bumpy and potentially messy, and you\u2019ll scale some serious switchbacks to get to the clifftop, so leave the fancy shoes at home. The views are reward enough\u2014out to Kidnappers Bay and beyond, but best of all is the clifftop enclosed site that is home to their sea bird restoration project. Bird lovers will appreciate the opportunity to see tuatara, giant w\u0113t\u0101, and takah\u0113. <\/p>\n The five-star portion of this adventure is a new offering compliments of nearby winery, Craggy Range<\/a>. The team at Cape Sanctuary is partnering with the winery to offer a luxurious picnic of special bites from the Craggy Range restaurant along with a selection of fine wines. This gourmet feast is enjoyed under a canopy of Kauri trees with views spanning over native forest, farmland and sand dunes. It\u2019s worth noting that since 2006, close to one million native trees have been planted in the Ocean Beach Wilderness Area, and the efforts here have only just begun.<\/p>\n Hike Te Mata Peak <\/p>\n Amazing sunrise at Te Mata Peak, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.<\/p>\n getty<\/p>\n There are several options for hiking the iconic Hawke\u2019s Bay peak at Te Mata Trust Park, but the most fulfilling is the Giant Circuit<\/a>, a 3.2 mile loop that takes 2 to 2.5 hours with roughly 1000 feet of elevation gain. Expect stunning 360-degree views of the Heretaunga Plains, Ruahine and Kaweka ranges and Cape Kidnappers once at the top of the peak. If you prefer not to hike the whole way up, you can also drive directly to the summit on Te Mata Peak Road to access the shorter trails. The trail, while steep and challenging at times, reveals much about the diversity of New Zealand\u2019s flora and fauna and includes a beautiful grove of 137 California redwood\u2014as well as the occasional flock of roaming sheep. <\/p>\n