Taking it to the world: the 5+ Auckland Adventures have gone global! Part 1:

whereintheworldsar
Aug 14
4 min read

Updated: Aug 22

First, let's explore some Whitewater Rafting, Snow Sports and Bike (Cycle) Trails, so grab your GoPro and your sense of adventure...

River rafting the Nile, Africa adventures — Whitewater Rafting, The Source of the Nile River, Jinja, Uganda.

Whitewater Rafting:

Jinja, Uganda is a bit of an adventure playground which gave me an opportunity to ride some rapids on the mighty Nile River, and at its source! The White Nile originates in Lake Victoria, which is situated in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. As one of the longest rivers in the world, at over 6,650km long, the Nile flows from here to the Mediterranean Sea and although we didn't make it that far, we still had an amazing amount of fun. The rapids gave us some thrills and spills and lots of laughs. A buffet lunch was supplied on an island in the middle of the river and all the gear, safety equipment and transport, plus photos, were supplied by the tour company. A great experience and thoroughly recommended. All skill levels and grades are on offer here as well as other water and land adventures, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

The Colorado River, USA is also a great place to Whitewater Raft and another fantastic area for some fun and adventure. I was staying in the Frisco area and drove about 80 minutes to Buena Vista to check-in for a Browns Canyon Rafting Trip, with Performance Tours. Graded 3+, it was in Browns Canyon National Monument and I chose it for its scenery, as much as for the excitement. Everything was provided and it was a fantastic experience. There are many operators on the Colorado River and you can choose longer trips, different areas of the river, more days of rafting, higher grades or more scenic.

Or for something a bit different, try the river-rafting sunset trip on the Tiber River, in Rome, not a grade 5 for sure, but a unique way to see this ancient city... and, in typical Italian style, pizza and wine was included!

Snow Sports:

Toboggan Run, Winter Park, Colorado.

Whilst not an indoor ski park, like Snow Planet in Auckland, Winter Park, Colorado, USA is an amazing place to ski, toboggan or participate in any snow adventure and with more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, a much bigger area to play in. This area is known for its snow and its mountains, so take the train from Denver, for the ease of arriving without the traffic congestion. Your accommodation is close by or on the mountain, all transport and gear hire is right at your fingertips at the base of the ski area and the ski field is fantastic, with all grades and levels catered for.

South Dakota, USA was another fun place to enjoy snow sports and I got the opportunity to ski at Terry Peak Ski Resort, at Lead, in the Black Hills area, plus have a go on a snowmobile at Spearfish Canyon and WOW, what a fantastic experience. I thoroughly recommend it and thank my friend Tracy for giving me the opportunity, plus the added bonus of visiting the 172m Crazy Horse Memorial carving in the Black Hills, and the 18m granite carving of the heads of the four United States Presidents, at Mount Rushmore. Truly another dream come true to look up at this iconic sculpture.

Bike (Cycle) Trails:

I have hired mountain bikes, actually all sorts of bikes, in many countries across the globe, because I love the thrill of exploring on a bike, the fresh air, the exercise and the unique perspective. So here's a couple of the highlight places that I have enjoyed around the world with a bike rental:

It was really the beginning of my solo-female travels so I have to start in New Zealand, and give a big thumbs up for the Otago Rail Trail. In the South Island of New Zealand, this iconic trail was the birth place of NZ's rail trails and it is a fantastic ride. 150Km riding between Hyde and Middlemarch, it runs along an old railway line and it is worth every kilometre that you pedal. Not a biker? That's okay, it's still a doable ride as you get to break up the journey over as many days as you choose, with accommodation facilities enroute. Still not convinced? No problem, hire an e-bike and use the motor power whenever you need to do so. On a tour, all equipment is provided plus the bonus that your meals, accommodation and transportation is taken care of; all you need do is ride.

Lake Bled, Slovenia. It's a beautiful ride around the lake, and very easy. You can stop and have some lunch on the way or do the circuit at your own pace.

Vail Trail, Frisco, Colorado, USA. Hireage included a drop-off to the beginning of the trail and I was then able to ride the 24km back to the centre of Frisco. Fun and generally easy, if you have a moderate level of fitness, it follows the route of the old Highway 6, with beautiful scenery, options to stop for a bite to eat and fresh mountain air.

The New Forest, United Kingdom. A perfect way to get around and be out amongst the free-roaming horses and the beautiful scenery. Hire a bike from your accommodation place, as I did, or at Lyndhurst. Really, you can choose your own tracks and make it as long and as difficult as you want, or easier if that suits your schedule and fitness. With over 160kms of car-free cycle trails, there is plenty on offer here.