| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67 | 58 | 3.10 |
| Feb | 67 | 57 | 3.10 |
| Mar | 65 | 56 | 3.40 |
| Apr | 61 | 53 | 3.90 |
| May | 56 | 49 | 4.80 |
| Jun | 53 | 46 | 4.90 |
| Jul | 51 | 45 | 5.50 |
| Aug | 52 | 45 | 4.80 |
| Sep | 55 | 47 | 3.90 |
| Oct | 57 | 49 | 4.10 |
| Nov | 60 | 51 | 3.50 |
| Dec | 64 | 55 | 3.50 |
My harness secured and my grip firm, I stepped off the parapet and into the air. Queenstown was a thousand feet down, rushing toward me; the wings of my glider knifed through the wind.
There's no mistaking the thunderous rumble of Grade 4 rapids: it fills the air around us, ringing in our ears and making us clench our paddles that much tighter. Our adrenaline surges and heart rates soar as our guide begins shouting directions: "Forward paddle ... work together, mates, work together!" Cool fresh spray douses the boat, soaking our heads and, like a leaf in a whirlpool, our rubber raft is snatched by the current and pulled through the fast-flowing, rocky bottom section of the Motu River.
We fight through each turn, shouting commands and encouragement to each other above the roar of the rapids. Soon the current relaxes its grip and we drift pleasantly through the forested canyon, the water's hiss giving way to the cries of birds somewhere in the tree cover. Already we're looking ahead, eager to take on the next stretch of white water.
With a lifetime of physically tasking experiences in New Zealand's diverse wilderness areas, Mark Everard has earned the reputation as one of the country's best outdoor guides. An accomplished athlete, Everard tests his skills both in organized sports and in the wild, including mountain climbing, marathon running, white-water rafting and cross-country quad biking.
Arrive and transfer for a flight to Rotorua. Fish for trout at Lake Tarawera and take a relaxing soak at Hot Water Beach, where you can stretch out in the thermal-spring-heated sand.
Helicopter to the remote Motu River, which has carved a spectacular 60-mile gorge through the Raukumara Range, with its native New Zealand forest. Seated in four-person rafts, take on the quieter upper reaches before graduating to Grade 3 and 4 whitewater challenges, with overnights at riverside camps along the way. After tackling the White Rapid, Jet boat to the Bay of Plenty where you are met and transported by helicopter back to Huka Lodge.
Hike the 10-mile Tongariro Crossing, one of the world's most scenic and invigorating one-day treks. With fantastic views and live volcanic scenes, the trail leads a mile above sea level, past the Soda Springs, Blue Lake and Red Crater.
New Zealand gave bungee jumping to the world, and no visit to Queenstown is complete without a jump from The Ledge, a parapet jutting from Bob's Peak high above the town; choose a "mild" jump or an extreme plunge of more than 15 stories. From here, you may also Parapont straight from Bob's Peak.
Prepare for an unforgettable helicopter flightseeing adventure through snow-covered mountain peaks to Milford Sound, where you kayak one of the most scenic areas on Earth, with opportunity to see seals and dolphin.
Drive by four-wheel-drive vehicle to nearby pristine streams and rivers, where you test your skill at fly-fishing for brown and rainbow trout. The following day, choose from an array of activities possible only through off-road driving, including canyon swings and mountain biking.
Depart Queenstown for a flight to Auckland, where you catch your flight home.
