Unusual & quirky experiences that are totally unique to New Zealand!
When you come to Velocity Valley and meet the crew, you’ll discover that we’re a fun-loving, energetic bunch! Between zooming around in our Rotorua-famous Shweeb, bungy jumping off a tower and ripping round the jet boat course, we’re into some wacky and wild stuff! We’re also surrounded by farmland filled with some unexpected animals, like ostriches and highland cattle…a sight to see when you’re up high in the Swoop!
But Velocity Valley isn’t the only place to go for an adrenaline rush, or an activity that’s a little weirder than most. We’ve rounded up some of New Zealand’s most famous quirky things to do, so you can avoid any possibility of boredom on your Aotearoa adventures!
The Shweeb Racer – pedal-powered play!
Do you have a bit of a competitive streak and love ingenious inventions? Then you’re going to rock the Shweeb Racer!
The Shweeb is the only pedal-powered monorail track in the world, and we’re proud to have it here at Velocity Valley! Climb into a one-person seat in a clear capsule, with handlebars to grab onto and pedals to push your way to victory. Your nemesis will sit in the exact same set-up on the track opposite – for a race! Challenge a friend, your family or colleagues and see who’ll be the next Shweeb master.
An action shot of a Shweeb race! Who will win…?!
Jetboat thrills in Taupō!
These days, ripping round the sea or a lake by jetboat is pretty commonplace around the world. But did you know that it was a Kiwi engineer who developed the jetboat?
Sir Charles William Feilden Hamilton, born near the small town of Fairlie in the South Island, designed the modern day jetboat because he wanted a nimble vessel to navigate all the twisty, turny, fast-flowing rivers near his home. He actually took his invention through the Grand Canyon!
Now, you can test out this epic invention yourself in a few spots around Aotearoa. If you’re in the North Island for a bit after visiting us, head to Taupō. It’s home to Rapids Jet and Huka Jet, really good options for riding the Nga Awa Purua Rapids near the Aratiatia Dam (Rapids Jet) or spinning and squealing near Huka Falls (Huka Jet)!
Surf the pressure waves of the Nga Awa Purua Rapids, with Rapids Jet!
HydroAttack in Queenstown!
Picture this: climbing inside something that resembles a shark-torpedo, then departing rapidly from the dock at speeds of around 80km per hour, and jumping about 6 metres into the air before plummeting around 2 metres under the surface of the water. That’s an adrenaline rush for sure!
This super interesting, one-of-a-kind ride in Queenstown is called HydroAttack, proudly Kiwi created and owned. Situated just off Lapsley Butson wharf on the lakefront, you can grab a bite after you’ve shaken and stirred yourself up with a shark experience unlike any other!
The vertical jump of a HydroAttack ‘shark’!
Hobbiton in Matamata!
If you haven’t heard of this world-famous movie set, you’ve been living under a rock!!!
Hobbiton is one of the sites where some of the biggest movies ever made were shot – The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit! But even if you aren’t a super fan of the films, you’ll be blown away by all the intricate details that make this an unbelievable place to wander about. Things like the washing on the line outside a hobbit hole being sprayed with silicone so they’re weather resistant and can therefore stay up year-round. Or how one of the life-like trees and its leaves isn’t actually real whatsoever…
The guides pump a tonne of personality into the tours, and the place truly is as quirky as you’d imagine. Finish up with a drink to quench your thirst in the Green Dragon, and you’ve got a perfectly wacky day out.
The picture-perfect and always unique Bagshot Row!
As Kiwis, we’re a pretty smart and savvy bunch, and we also always prioritise having a wicked time. Add any one of these unique experiences to your itinerary of fun and adventure around Aotearoa, and you’ll be set!
