Above or below, there are WATER-BASED ACTIVITIES for everyone

Get above, below or on the water

WATER ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

Surf Highway 45, Taranaki | credit: Rob Tucker

Whale watching | credit: Whale Watch, Kaikōura

Given our 15,000-kilometre coastline and the fact none of us live further than 120 kilometres from the sea, it’s little wonder New Zealand is a nation of water babies.

If an occasional beach walk is the extent of your ocean activity, here are a few ideas to push you out of your comfort zone – above, on and below the water. From catching waves to watching whales, there’s something here for everyone. Dive or snorkel the Poor Knights

Described by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive spots in the world, the Poor Knights Islands off Northland’s east coast are a wonderland for divers and snorkellers. The remnants of a group of ancient volcanoes, the islands in this marine reserve have been shaped by the ocean into a network of tunnels, arches and caves, around which sea life flourishes. The easiest way to get to the islands is with a Tutukaka-based dive charter company. Kayak Auckland

Te Ara Moana (the sea-going pathway) is a self-guided five-day sea kayak trail that will take you 50 kilometres along Auckland’s south eastern coastline. Paddling between eight and 14 kilometres a day, the trail offers stops at five regional parks with overnight stays in beachfront camping grounds. Visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nzto book campsites and find out more. Learn to surf in Taranaki

State Highway 45 isn’t called Surf Highway 45 for nothing. Home to some of the country’s best surf breaks, Taranaki is a great place to learn to surf. Most surf lessons start with pop-ups on the sand and pointers on reading the waves and staying safe in the ocean, before learning how to position yourself on the board. Then it’s time to brave the waves and get wet! Learn to sail in Wellington

Why not put the capital’s wind to good use and learn to sail? You won’t master it in a day, but there are plenty of companies and clubs offering a series of classes to progress you from novice to crew member. Before you know it, you’ll know a bowline from a reef knot. Whale watching in Kaikōura

What could be more exhilarating than an up-close encounter with a giant sperm whale? New Zealand’s only vessel-based whale watching company, Whale Watch’s

Poor Knights Islands, Northland | credit: Alistair Guthrie

Doubtful Sound, Fiordland | credit: Destination Fiordland

95 per cent success rate means they guarantee an 80 per cent refund if your tour doesn’t see a whale. There’s a good chance you’ll encounter other wildlife too, including dolphins, seals and sea birds. Go to whalewatch.co.nzto find out more. Cruise Doubtful Sound

If you feel like getting away from it all in style, you can’t go past an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. Picture this: you drop anchor in a sheltered cove, go exploring if you feel like it, enjoy a three-course dinner with a glass of wine before a spot of stargazing and retiring to your private cabin.