Best Adventure Holidays

Best Adventure Holidays for the Thrill Seeker in You

Sometimes in life. you just want a bit of adventure. If the thought of lying in the sun and reading a book for a week bores you to tears, then check out these action-packed holidays in countries all over the world. 

From sky diving in Australia to going on a safari in South Africa, read on to discover the best adventure holidays on offer. We fly to long-haul destinations across the globe, so you’re sure to find somewhere adventurous you want to visit. 

Bungee Jump in Auckland  

If you’re going to bungee jump, there’s no better place in the world to be than New Zealand. Ever since the day AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch set up New Zealand’s first commercial bungee operation in 1980s, bungee jumping in New Zealand is almost a rite of passage.  

Auckland, once the country’s capital city, holds the world’s first harbour bridge bungee jump. Not only that, it’s also the only place you can do an ocean touch bungee!  

Suspended over Waitemata Harbour, you’ll take in 360-degree views of the area before leaping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Take an exclusive bridge walk to the purpose-built bungee pod and feel the adrenaline as you plunge 131 feet (40 metres) towards turquoise waters. 

If you enjoy the bungee jump off Auckland Harbour Bridge, you’ll want to visit Auckland’s Sky Tower for more exhilarating activities. Standing at 328 metres tall, the Sky Tower is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere and offers a SkyWalk and SkyJump. Visit New Zealand for one of the best adventure holidays in the world. 

How to get there from Birmingham Airport 

Experience the adrenaline rush of a bungee jump in New Zealand from Birmingham Airport. Check out flights with Emirates or Qatar and enjoy a stop-off to break up your journey. 

Ride Roller Coasters in Orlando

Orlando is famously the theme park capital of the world, so where better to get your adrenaline rushing than on some of the city’s best roller coasters? From Disney World to Hollywood Studios, there is a plethora of pulse-racing coasters to choose from. 

It’s typical to visit a handful of the theme parks whilst you’re in Orlando but if you can only manage one and you want to ride some of the best rollercoasters in the city, we recommended heading to Universal Studios.  

There are so many great rides, it’s hard to pick our favourite but The Incredible Hulk, where Hulk sends passengers soaring up its ‘Gamma Force Accelerator’ tube, is definitely one of them. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, sends you travelling up a 17-story vertical lift hill before being dropped at 65mph, and the Revenge of the Mummy ride, is a coaster in complete darkness. 

If you’re heading to Disney World, scream your heart out on the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster. Hop aboard this enclosed, black-lit, hyper-accelerated coaster. Set to the music of Aerosmith, the ride will have you singing – or screaming – at speeds up to 57mph! 

How to get there from Birmingham Airport 

If you want to experience the fun of Orlando, fly from Birmingham Airport direct to Orlando with TUI or use Aer Lingus with a short stop-off in Ireland’s capital, Dublin.   

Skydive in Perth

You can’t get much more adventurous than chucking yourself out of a plane, hundreds of thousands of feet in the air. Skydiving is at the top of many people’s bucket lists and if you’re going to conquer your fear, you want to choose the best place for it.  

So why Perth, Australia? Well, for the coastal views for one. Western Australia is blessed with stunning beach coastline and favourable weather which makes for a perfect skydive. As well as jumping in Perth’s CBD, you can skydive from Rockingham Beach or Jurien Bay, both offering stunning views for your jump.  

Skydiving is a highly regulated activity in Australia, meaning you are in safe hands for your jump. You can jump from up to 15,000ft in Perth which means over 65 seconds free fall time. In some other countries, you will only get to 12,000ft. After your free fall, you will float under canopy over the wondrous coastline of Western Australia for 5-7 minutes, soaking up spectacular views of Rockingham beach, the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park and the cityscape of Perth. 

How to get there from Birmingham Airport 

Whatever type of thrills you’re after, book flights from Birmingham Airport to Perth. Fly with Emirates and enjoy a quick stop in Dubai before the second leg of the journey or fly with Qatar Airways for a connection in Qatar. 

Safari in Johannesburg

A safari is one of the best adventure holidays you can go on and from Birmingham Airport you can fly to Johannesburg in South Africa, a city that offers many options for safari. From South Africa’s biggest city, you don’t need to travel far to get out into the bush. 

There are plenty of safari parks and game reserves within a four-hour drive of the city. Day-trippers can head to reserves just an hour’s drive away, whilst those looking to spend a few days on safari can go further afield. All these areas are malaria-free, so there’s no need for medication.  

On safari, you can try to spot the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalos), see hundreds of bird species and countless other animals. Typical safaris take a 4x4 but you could pick more adventurous options such as quad biking, hiking, kayaking or even taking a hot air balloon. 

Just a 3½-hour drive away from the city centre, Madikwe is one of the best game reserves near Johannesburg and a top option for luxury safari lodges. It’s the fifth biggest reserve in South Africa and home to all of the Big Five. 

How to get there from Birmingham Airport 

Pick from a range of great airlines that will get you to Johannesburg with a convenient connection including Air France, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.