Visit 100% Pure New Zealand and you'll be sold the scenery but also a host of activities that make the most of it; New Zealand equals access to The Great Outdoors. The government actively promotes this image: most Kiwis live within 30 minutes of the coast; there are 14 national parks; you can ski 10 commercial fields; the country has more golf courses per capita than anywhere else; etc. We've been attempting to experience this ideal since our arrival, making the most of the warmer weather to enjoy various outdoor pursuits.

Running round the bays

As one of 10,100 participants in Wellington Round the Bays 2007, I finished in position number 1258. I'd never run 7km before and almost had myself convinced I wasn't going to manage it—at least not without stopping to walk a while. At the gym my "limit" has been 30 min on the treadmill at 11km/h (around 5.5km). Without the machine to pace me, how would I fare on the tarmac? My time was 38min 26sec which, over 7km, is virtually 11km/h! While these figures are by no means exceptional, 3 months previously I couldn't have achieved them. All those visits to the gym paid off!

Bruce finishes the Round the Bays run

A 71km tramp

The Queen Charlotte Track is a 71km walk between Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds in Marlborough, at the top of New Zealand's South Island. Access and accommodation options are good whether you plan to carry your own kit over several days or send it ahead by water taxi while you enjoy a leisurely day walk. A moderate level of fitness is required; again our fitness drive likely enabled us to undertake this (carrying packs) without pain nor injury.

• Read the full story here.
• See the photo gallery here.

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Boat shed, Resolution Bay

Golden sands by sea kayak

Abel Tasman National Park is undoubtedly one of our favourite places in New Zealand. We flew to Nelson (30 mins from Wellington) to join my parents for a few days in their motorhome at Kaiteriteri. In addition to a couple of walks we hired sea kayak doubles, taking about 5 hours (including a lunch break) to paddle from Marahau to round Adele Island on the seaward side, landing at Watering Cove on the mainland, and returning just offshore from the many stunning beaches. We were told this taxing excursion was about 18km and had trouble believing we'd managed it! See the photo gallery here.

Simone takes a break; Mum & Dad check out the beach

Exploring the Wairarapa

The Wairarapa region is separated from the Wellington region by the Rimutaka Range. We've made a couple of visits so far, exploring Greytown (shopping/ dining in the Victorian main street); Lake Ferry (ocean beach walks); Martinborough (fair/ vineyard concert—see below); Cape Palliser (seals/ lighthouse); Putangirua Pinnacles (badlands erosion featured in Lord of the Rings); and Castlepoint (climbing Castle Rock).

Attractions of the Wairarapa

Mountain biking—almost

Entering a competition at the supermarket won us a Giant Upland entry-level mountain bike. By the time your factor in the obligatory helmet, light set, pump, and the hire of a second bike (since we are two) it ceases to be a gift horse. Plus the wide tires make it less than ideal for on-road use, and the lack of suspension less than ideal for off-road use. These factors caused us to pass on the bike rather than get to grips with mountain biking.

A free bike for buying muesli bars (Image © Giant)

More walks around Wellington

We've posted about Wellington walks before (and our tramping around Taranaki and Tongariro). But we haven't stopped exploring the city and environs on foot.

Southern Walkway

The Southern Walkway is let down by poor signage; at several points our path was chosen more by luck than by direction. We caught the bus out to Island Bay and walked "backwards" around to Houghton Bay, admiring the different building styles, and turning inland at this point to reach Kilbirne via Mt. Albert Park and the Zoo. At Hataitai we cut out the last section (having climbed Mt. Victoria previously) by taking the Tunnel to emerge near the Basin Reserve. It was a decent walk so take plenty of water on a hot day because you'd have to go out of your way to buy drinks on-route.

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Interesting architecture around Island Bay

Otaki Forks

To be frank, we didn't enjoy this one. It's a fair trek north from Wellington, and when you get to the turn-off the 19km road (mostly loose gravel and always narrow) seems to continue forever until you reach the carpark at the entrance to Tararua Forest Park. Signage was the worst we've encountered yet: we ended up turning back partly because we weren't sure what path we were on, and because the place failed to excite us.

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Off the beaten track at Otaki Forks

Costal walk from Owhiro

A bit exposed, wind gusts carried the spray from Cook Strait into our backs (and on our return, faces). But we nevertheless enjoyed this walk, taking us first to the Red Rocks (stained with iron oxide) and on to the fur seal colony at Sinclair Head. You can walk either on the 4WD track (firm, but take care) or along the pebble beach (tricky in open shoes).

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A coastal walk to the seal colony from Owhiro

A dose of culture

Being outdoors doesn't have to involve exercise; it can also be experienced sitting or standing around listening to music or watch sports events.

Te Matatini

Te Matatini is the National Kapa Haka Festival, held this year in Palmerston North. Recognised by UNESCO as a unique cultural event, the festival showcases the Maori performing arts. We watched not only haka (the war dance), but poi (using a ball on a string), waiata (songs) and more. After a take-away hangi we ate a huge pile of "iconic" hokey pokey icecream served in a half-melon.

A haka performance at Te Matatini

Bic Runga in concert

Bic Runga has been mentioned on this site before (here and here); Beautiful Collision especially includes some remarkable tracks. On her Acoustic Winery Tour, we went to hear Bic perform (with her sister, Boh) at Alana Estate in Martinborough. We were exposed to a number of tracks that we hadn't listened to before, and there were some real gems (such as Blue Blue Heart, The Be All And End All, and Honest Goodbyes).

Bic Runga pleased the crowd with Sway and more

Rugby

Rugby is the national game so we were more-or-less obliged to go and see the local team, the Hurricanes, in their Rebel Sport Super 14 match against the Bulls from South Africa. It was a slow game with only one try, but the Wellingtonians were triumphant, winning 17 to 9.

Hurricanes vs. Bulls at Westpac Stadium

We've also watched BMX and skating events, cycling, and had the opportunity to see powerboat racing and a dragon boat festival. It all happens in Wellington.