Far-flung lakes
Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand
Being required to choose just one lake in New Zealand that’s great for activities is simply not fair, but we settled on Lake Taupo and can only suggest that if you do visit, make sure you have time for Wanaka and Queenstown on the South Island too! But if you want air, land, and water-based adventure surrounded by dramatic volcanoes, forests and mountains, Taupo is second to none. Bungy, skydive, jetboat, hike, mountain bike, raft, climb, parasail, wakeboard, kayak... the list goes on!
www.laketauponz.com/sights-activities.html
Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona, US
Lake Powell, in the popular Glen Canyon Recreational Area, is the second-largest man-made lake in the US, and its sheer, red-rock canyon walls and sparkling clear blue water provide the setting for an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. Activities include, among others, waterskiing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing/rapelling and river running, all of which can be enjoyed while exploring the 96 canyons and 1,960 miles off shoreline – longer than the entire west coast of continental America!
www.utah.com/lakepowell/
www.powellguide.com
Hartbeespoort Dam, North-West Province, South Africa
Whether you’re on safari or simply visiting South Africa for a holiday, satisfy your desire for activity with a visit to Hartbeespoort Dam. Surrounded by the spectacular Magaliesberg mountain range, it is a water sports destination of note, catering for parasailing, windsurfing, yachting, waterskiing, and jetskiing enthusiasts. For those who wish to take in the vistas from the air, the Dam also offers paragliding, hang-gliding and hot air ballooning. There is also a reminder of how close to nature you are with hikes, rambles and a snake park!
www.hartbeespoortdam.com
Lake Villarrica, Cautín Province, Chile
Lake Villarrica shares its name with the smouldering, snow-capped volcano (one of the ten most active in the world!) that dominates the skyline, and the surrounding terrain is speckled with hot springs and black sand beaches. This natural wonder offers hiking, trekking, mountain biking, horse-riding, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, white-water rafting and even skiing. Journey Latin America (www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk) can arrange a tailor-made four-night stay at the Park Lake Hotel for £512 per person.
www.chile-travel.com/vilarica.htm
The Dead Sea, Jordan Valley, Jordan
What could be more thrilling than to get your kicks in an area steeped in thousands of years of history? The waterways, hills and valleys that lead down to the Dead Sea form a natural playground for outdoor activities, from hikes to horse rides to challenging climbs. Don’t forget a life jacket as you hike up the Wadi Mujib gorge following the river through narrow, 50-metre high channels, tackling more and more challenging waterfalls as you progress. And for relaxation, bathe in the same thermal springs that Herod the Great did
all those years ago!
www.visitjordan.com
Being required to choose just one lake in New Zealand that’s great for activities is simply not fair, but we settled on Lake Taupo and can only suggest that if you do visit, make sure you have time for Wanaka and Queenstown on the South Island too! But if you want air, land, and water-based adventure surrounded by dramatic volcanoes, forests and mountains, Taupo is second to none. Bungy, skydive, jetboat, hike, mountain bike, raft, climb, parasail, wakeboard, kayak... the list goes on!
www.laketauponz.com/sights-activities.html
Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona, US
Lake Powell, in the popular Glen Canyon Recreational Area, is the second-largest man-made lake in the US, and its sheer, red-rock canyon walls and sparkling clear blue water provide the setting for an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. Activities include, among others, waterskiing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing/rapelling and river running, all of which can be enjoyed while exploring the 96 canyons and 1,960 miles off shoreline – longer than the entire west coast of continental America!
www.utah.com/lakepowell/
www.powellguide.com
Hartbeespoort Dam, North-West Province, South Africa
Whether you’re on safari or simply visiting South Africa for a holiday, satisfy your desire for activity with a visit to Hartbeespoort Dam. Surrounded by the spectacular Magaliesberg mountain range, it is a water sports destination of note, catering for parasailing, windsurfing, yachting, waterskiing, and jetskiing enthusiasts. For those who wish to take in the vistas from the air, the Dam also offers paragliding, hang-gliding and hot air ballooning. There is also a reminder of how close to nature you are with hikes, rambles and a snake park!
www.hartbeespoortdam.com
Lake Villarrica, Cautín Province, Chile
Lake Villarrica shares its name with the smouldering, snow-capped volcano (one of the ten most active in the world!) that dominates the skyline, and the surrounding terrain is speckled with hot springs and black sand beaches. This natural wonder offers hiking, trekking, mountain biking, horse-riding, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, white-water rafting and even skiing. Journey Latin America (www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk) can arrange a tailor-made four-night stay at the Park Lake Hotel for £512 per person.
www.chile-travel.com/vilarica.htm
The Dead Sea, Jordan Valley, Jordan
What could be more thrilling than to get your kicks in an area steeped in thousands of years of history? The waterways, hills and valleys that lead down to the Dead Sea form a natural playground for outdoor activities, from hikes to horse rides to challenging climbs. Don’t forget a life jacket as you hike up the Wadi Mujib gorge following the river through narrow, 50-metre high channels, tackling more and more challenging waterfalls as you progress. And for relaxation, bathe in the same thermal springs that Herod the Great did
all those years ago!
www.visitjordan.com
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