>> CALLING ALL TRAVELERS...

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE INTO EXTREME SPORTS OR LAID-BACK WINE TOURS... OR JUST SIMPLY CAN'T GET YOUR FILL OF DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS SCENERY.

THIS DESTINATION HAS IT ALL.

NEXT UP, NEW ZEALAND'S SOUTH ISLAND ON "SMART TRAVELS."

>> MAJOR CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR "SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS PROVIDED BY... OVER THE YEARS, PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS SHOWN YOU THE WORLD, EDUCATED YOU ABOUT IT... AND INSPIRED YOU TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

EXPEDIA CAN HELP YOU GET THERE, WITH FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND VACATION PACKAGES.

"SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY THE PEOPLE AT EXPEDIA.

>> ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM MEDJETASSIST.COM.

MEDICAL EVACUATION MEMBERSHIP PROTECTION FOR TRAVELERS.

TAKE TRIPS, NOT CHANCES.

"SMART TRAVELS" IS A GRAND TOUR OF THE WORLD'S GREAT DESTINATIONS.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND UNIQUE LOCAL FLAVORS.

NOW TIPS, TRIPS, AND SECRET PLACES ON "SMART TRAVELS PACIFIC RIM."

TRAVEL WRITERS LOVE TO RHAPSODIZE ABOUT FAR OFF LANDS AND EXOTIC DESTINATIONS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND, ALL THE SUPERLATIVES ARE JUSTIFIED.

EXHILARATING LANDSCAPES AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE... AND ENOUGH ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR THRILLS TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED FOR YEARS.

NEW ZEALAND'S SOUTH ISLAND IS LESS POPULATED THAN THE NORTH, AND IT KEEPS A MORE LAIDBACK PACE.

ALONG WITH ITS FASCINATING HISTORY AND MANY GOURMET DELIGHTS, THE SOUTH ISLAND IS CONSIDERED TO BE ADVENTURE CENTRAL BY OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS.

HERE'S WHERE YOU COME FOR RELAXATION, SUN, AND PLENTY OF FUN!

NEW ZEALAND CONSISTS OF TWO LARGE ISLANDS, THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, AS WELL AS MANY SMALLER ISLANDS.

WE'LL BEGIN AT THE TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND IN ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK, AND THEN WE'LL EXPLORE THE CITY OF NELSON AND THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS.

LATER WE'LL MOVE SOUTH TO QUEENSTOWN, THE MECCA OF EXTREME SPORTS.

WITH ITS BALMY CLIMATE, THIS PART OF NEW ZEALAND HAS ALWAYS ATTRACTED SETTLERS.

THE MAORI WERE THE FIRST TO PUT DOWN STAKES HERE.

THEY MADE AN EPIC JOURNEY FROM SOMEWHERE IN EAST POLYNESIA TO NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH ISLAND ABOUT 1,000 YEARS AGO.

LATER, THEY TRAVELED SOUTH TO THESE SCENIC SHORES.

ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK MAKES A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR EXPLORING THE AREA.

THE PARK HUGS A DRAMATIC STRETCH OF COASTLINE ALONG THE NORTHERN TIP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.

AND ALTHOUGH IT'S RELATIVELY SMALL, ONLY 87 SQUARE MILES, IT'S BREATHTAKING.

FAMOUS FOR ITS GOLDEN BEACHES, SCULPTURED GRANITE CLIFFS AND SUB-TROPICAL FORESTS, THIS PLACE FEELS LIKE A TRAVEL BROCHURE COME TO LIFE.

IF HIKING'S YOUR THING, THE PARK'S FAMOUS COASTAL TRACK OFFERS SEVERAL DIFFERENT HIKES LASTING FROM 3 TO 5 DAYS.

WE'VE JOINED UP WITH ABEL TASMAN WAKA TOURS, A FAMILY-OWNED TOUR BUSINESS, TO EXPLORE THE PARK IN A TRADITIONAL MAORI CANOE, OR "WAKA."

>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> AFTER AN OFFICIAL MAORI GREETING... AND A BRIEF ORIENTATION... >> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] AND BASICALLY WHAT I'M DOING IS NAMING OUR WAKA, OK?

>> WE'RE READY TO HIT THE WATER IN THIS BEAUTIFULLY CARVED BOAT.

THE MAORI MIGRATED HERE FROM ACROSS THE PACIFIC IN LARGER VERSIONS OF THESE CANOES.

>> [YELLING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> WAKA CAN RANGE IN SIZE FROM SMALL BOATS USED FOR FISHING OR RIVER TRAVEL, TO VERY LARGE WAR CANOES MANNED BY UP TO 80 PADDLERS.

EARLY POLYNESIAN EXPLORERS USED THE SUN AND STARS, OCEAN CURRENTS, AND THE MIGRATION PATTERNS OF SEABIRDS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE.

>> JUST IMAGINE 150 TO 200 YEARS AGO, MAYBE 10 WAKA LIKE THIS BUT 100 FOOT LONG WITH WARRIORS MAKING THE SAME SOUND YOU GUYS ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW.

IMAGINE 2,000 PADDLES DOING THAT SAME NOISE.

WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME, AWESOME SIGHT.

NOT SO AWESOME IF YOU'RE THE ENEMY.

>> MAORI WERE FEROCIOUS WARRIORS, AND TRIBES OFTEN BATTLED ONE ANOTHER OVER TERRITORY OR FOR VENGEANCE.

THE VICTORS SOMETIMES ENSLAVED THE LOSERS.

>> [YELLING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] FOR AT LEAST 500 YEARS MAORI LIVED ALONG THIS COASTLINE, HARVESTING FOOD FROM THE SEA AND SURROUNDING FOREST.

ENTER THE EUROPEANS.

THE FIRST KNOWN WESTERNER TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND WAS THE DUTCH SEAFARER ABEL TASMAN, HENCE THE NAME OF THE PARK.

IN 1642, TASMAN HEADED FROM INDONESIA IN SEARCH OF A FABLED SOUTHERN CONTINENT AND ANCHORED HIS TWO SHIPS NEAR HERE.

BUT, IN A SKIRMISH WITH THE LOCAL MAORI, FOUR OF TASMAN'S CREWMEN WERE KILLED.

THE DUTCHMEN SOON MOVED ON.

>> [SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> PERMANENT EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT BEGAN IN THE MID 1800s.

THE SETTLERS QUARRIED GRANITE, LOGGED FORESTS AND BURNED HILLSIDES TO CREATE PASTURELAND.

EVENTUALLY, AFTER MOST OF THE PROFITS WERE WRUNG OUT THE LAND, A GROWING MOVEMENT TO PROTECT THIS AREA PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT A PARK.

NOW IT MAKES UNFORGETTABLE SIGHTSEEING, DRIFTING THE DAY AWAY WATCHING THE SEALS ... AND FASCINATING BIRDLIFE.

OUR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE NIGHT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE HEART OF ABEL TASMAN PARK.

THE AWAROA LODGE BLENDS EFFORTLESSLY INTO THE PARK LANDSCAPE.

TOTALLY SURROUNDED BY NATIVE BUSH, THIS IS TRUE SECLUSION.

THERE ARE NO ROADS IN, SO YOU HAVE TO HIKE, FLY OR COME IN BY SEA.

AWAROA WAS BUILT ON THE SITE OF ONE OF THE AREA'S EARLY HOMESTEADS.

IN 1884, WILLIAM HADFIELD BUILT A HOME HERE FOR HIS WIFE AND 9 CHILDREN.

HE WANTED THE BEST SPOT ON THE BAY TO CATCH THE YEAR-ROUND SUN AND GLORIOUS VIEWS.

WITH A PROMISE OF "TOUCHING THE EARTH LIGHTLY," THE LODGE IS A POPULAR CHOICE FOR ECOTOURISTS.

ALL THIS NATURE STOKES MY APPETITE, AND YOU'LL FIND THE FOOD AT ARAWOA TO BE TOP-NOTCH.

IN KEEPING WITH THE LODGE'S ECOTOURIST PHILOSOPHY, ORGANICALLY GROWN VEGETABLES AND HERBS ARE THE STARS OF THIS MENU.

AND DISHES ARE SERVED UP TO CREATIVELY EMPHASIZE NATURE'S MOST INTERESTING TASTES, TEXTURES, AND FLAVOR COMBINATIONS.

THE BAYSIDE TOWN OF NELSON IS A TOP DESTINATION FOR VISITORS TO NEW ZEALAND.

THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT SPRANG UP HERE WHEN THE BRITISH-SPONSORED NEW ZEALAND COMPANY MADE THIS A COMPANY TOWN.

THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY WAS A GRAND SCHEME BY A BRITISH POLITICIAN NAMED EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD.

HIS VISION WAS A COLONY MADE UP OF PEOPLE FROM ALL LEVELS OF BRITISH SOCIETY, AS OPPOSED THE SETTLEMENTS OF TRANSPORTED CONVICTS FOUND IN AUSTRALIA.

WAKEFIELD HOPED TO CREATE A SLICE OF ENGLISH LIFE IN THE PACIFIC.

WELL, THE PLAN FAILED.

PARTLY BECAUSE WAKEFIELD COULD NEVER GET THE RIGHT BALANCE OF UPPER- AND LOWER-CLASS ENGLISHMEN TO MAKE THE MOVE HERE.

BUT A FEW TENACIOUS SETTLERS PERSISTED, AND IN 1858 A ROYAL DECREE MADE THE SMALL TOWN A CITY.

OVER THE YEARS, THE WARM WEATHER AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE ATTRACTED MANY ARTISTS TO NELSON, AND TODAY IT HAS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST VIBRANT ART SCENES.

THE CREATIVE ARTS IN NEW ZEALAND HAVE EVOLVED FROM A FUSION OF CULTURES--MAORI, EUROPEAN, AND ASIAN TO NAME A FEW.

IF YOU WANT EXPLORE YOUR OWN ARTISTIC TALENTS, NEW ZEALAND'S CREATIVE TOURISM PROGRAM MIGHT BE JUST THE TICKET.

CREATIVE TOURISM INVOLVES LEARNING A SKILL THAT'S PART OF THE CULTURE BEING VISITED.

HERE TOURISTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS THAT CELEBRATE THIS COUNTRY'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY.

YOU CAN LEARN EVERYTHING FROM BASKET WEAVING TO BUSH MEDICINE.

I'VE DECIDED TO TRY MY HAND AT BONE CARVING.

>> SO THE MAORI ALWAYS HAVE BEEN DOING BONE CARVING EVEN BEFORE THEY ALREADY CAME 1,000 YEARS AGO TO NEW ZEALAND.

ACTUALLY, CARVING HAS BEEN THE WAY OF MAORI STORED INFORMATION.

IT'S THEIR WAY OF WRITING DOWN HISTORY AND REMEMBERING ANCESTORS.

>> ARE THERE SOME REOCCURRING SYMBOLS?

I NOTICED-- >> OH, ABSOLUTELY, YES.

THERE'S, FOR EXAMPLE, SEE SOME EXAMPLES LIKE THE FISHER KEY IS A VERY TYPICAL SYMBOLISM.

IT STANDS FOR GOOD LUCK ON PROTECTION ON JOURNEYS, ESPECIALLY ON JOURNEYS OVER WATER, AND THE LONGEST JOURNEY'S LIFE.

THE TWIST STANDS FOR INFINITY, ETERNITY, AND THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S LIKE NEVER-ENDING FRIENDSHIP.

>> I BEGIN BY CHOOSING A PATTERN FROM THE MAORI INSPIRED DESIGNS.

>> SO HERE'S A PIECE OF BEEF BONE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT WE USE TO GET STARTED, AND THERE WILL BE A MAGIC TRANSFORMATION FROM THIS TO THE BEAUTIFUL PIECE AT THE END.

>> OK.

SO I DRAW IT ON THE BEEF BONE?

>> YES, PLEASE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> I CUT OUT THE ROUGH SHAPE, AND THEN CAREFULLY GRIND IT DOWN.

>> AND NOW WE DRILL TWO HOLES INTO IT.

FOR THE TWIST, WE NEED A HOLE IN THE CENTER UP HERE AND ANOTHER ONE HERE.

SO WE DRILL A HOLE THROUGH THE BOTH OF THEM.

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF A SCENE FROM THE "MARATHON MAN."

FOR A LITTLE DECORATION, WE'LL GLUE A PIECE OF SHELL TO THE CARVING.

OK, WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE SHELL?

>> SO THE NAME OF THE SHELL IS CALLED IN MAORI LANGUAGE PAUA SHELL.

>> P-A-U-A?

>> P-A-U-A.

>> PAUA, OK. >> AND IT'S A RELATIVE OF THE ABALONE FAMILY.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> YEP, IT'S A LOVELY SHELL.

>> AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE... >> YOU PUT IT ON RIGHT HERE.

>> AFTER IT'S POLISHED UP, THE COLORS REALLY SHINE.

>> WELL, THERE'S A TRADITION WITH BONE CARVINGS.

SOMEONE SHOULD GIVE IT TO YOU THE FIRST TIME, SO THAT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE THE ONE TO PUT IT OVER YOUR HEAD, AND YOU SHOULD GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE SOME WAY DOWN THE TRACK.

'CAUSE IT WILL TAKE UP YOUR SPECIAL ENERGY AND YOU SHOULD PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE SPECIAL IN YOUR LIFE ONE DAY.

>> THANK YOU, STEPHEN.

SO I'M ALL FINISHED.

HERE'S THE BEFORE, AND HERE'S THE AFTER.

MY PERSONAL HANDMADE NEW ZEALAND SOUVENIR.

THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS ARE A SEAFOOD LOVER'S DREAM.

TO SAMPLE SOME OF THE SEA'S BOUNTY, WE'RE TAKING A MUSSEL CRUISE THAT LEAVES FROM THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF HAVELOCK.

DURING THE SUMMER SEASON, WHICH IN NEW ZEALAND IS FROM DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY, A CRUISE OF THE SOUNDS IS AN IDEAL WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND TRANQUILITY OF THIS AREA.

THE BAYS, INLETS AND HIDDEN COVES SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER.

AT ONE TIME, THIS LAND WAS ABOVE WATER.

AFTER THE ICE AGES, SEA WATER RUSHED IN TO FILL THE VALLEYS AND CREATE THIS SINUOUS COASTLINE.

GREENSHELL MUSSELS ARE NATIVE TO NEW ZEALAND AND AREN'T FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

CULTIVATED ON LONG LINES, THEY'RE EASILY RECOGNIZED BY THEIR VIBRANT GREEN AND GOLD SHELLS.

>> NOW, THESE MUSSELS ARE FILER FEEDERS, SO THEY FILTER ALL THE NUTRIENTS THAT ARE IN THE WATER, SO IT'S REALLY PARAMOUNT FOR US TO KEEP THE WATER IN PRISTINE CONDITION.

A MUSSEL FILTERS 15 GALLONS OF WATER EVERY 24 HOURS.

NOW, ALL OUR MUSSELS HERE ARE GROWN IN WHAT THEY CALL SUSPENSION CULTURE.

>> ARE THEY HARVESTED YEAR ROUND OR IS THERE A PARTICULAR SEASON?

>> NO, THEY ARE HARVESTED YEAR ROUND.

THEY TEND TO BE HARVESTED MORE IN THE SUMMERTIME BECAUSE THE WATER'S WARMER, MORE SUNLIGHT, MORE NUTRIENTS, WHICH MEANS THERE'S MORE FEED IN THE WATER FOR THE MUSSELS.

WE SHOULD GO AND TRY SOME, SHOULDN'T WE?

>> LOVELY.

>> GREAT.

YEAH.

PROBABLY BIGGER THAN NORMAL.

>> OH!

>> HEY?

>> MMM-MMM-MMM!

MMM!

MMM!

THESE ARE GREAT!

>> HA HA!

>> WOW!

FOR A TRUE "TASTE OF MARLBOROUGH," WASH DOWN FRESHLY STEAMED MUSSELS WITH A GLASS OF LOCAL SAUVIGNON BLANC WINE.

IT'S LOCAL.

THE MARLBOROUGH AREA IS NEW ZEALAND'S BEST-KNOWN WINE PRODUCING REGION.

MORE THAN 70 WINERIES GRACE THIS COUNTRYSIDE, PRODUCING A VARIETY OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED LABELS.

ESPECIALLY POPULAR IS THE SAUVIGNON BLANC GRAPE.

SUNNY DAYS AND COOL NIGHTS COMBINED WITH A LONG RIPENING PERIOD HELP CREATE THESE FLAVORFUL WINES.

GRAPEVINES ORIGINALLY BROUGHT HERE BY EUROPEAN COLONISTS FLOURISHED IN THIS ISLAND SOIL.

ALTHOUGH MARLBOROUGH BUILT ITS REPUTATION ON WHITE WINE, PINOT NOIRS ARE GROWING IN POPULARITY.

WE'RE VISITING THE PICTURESQUE HERZOG WINERY TO SAMPLE SOME OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE.

THIS IS '03?

THIS IS VERY NICE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> VERY NICE.

AND PINOT NOIR.

I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER PLACES IN NEW ZEALAND THAT GROW IT.

>> YEAH.

>> HOW DOES PINOT NOIR LIKE MARLBOROUGH?

>> IT'S GREAT, GREAT CLIMATE.

>> AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRODUCING PINOT?

>> SINCE '96, 1996.

>> BECAUSE FINE WINE AND EXCELLENT FOOD GO HAND IN HAND, THIS FAMILY-RUN WINERY OFFERS A GOURMET RESTAURANT TO COMPLEMENT ITS LIQUID REFRESHMENT.

THE ARTFULLY PREPARED MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE CUISINE IS CREATING A BUZZ HERE IN THIS COUNTRY AND BEYOND.

OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES, A SPIRIT OF CREATIVE EXPERIMENTATION HAS SWEPT THROUGH NEW ZEALAND'S RESTAURANTS.

ONCE KNOWN PRIMARILY AS A SUPPLIER OF LAMB, THIS COUNTRY NOW SHOWCASES ABUNDANT AND VARIED PRODUCE.

HERE, THE CHEF'S CREATIONS ARE INSPIRED BY FRESH MARLBOROUGH SPECIALTIES, SUCH AS OLIVE OIL, SHELLFISH AND SALMON.

NEW ZEALAND IS A RELATIVELY SMALL COUNTRY WITH WELL-MAINTAINED ROADS.

BUT DO KEEP IN MIND THAT KIWIS DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE.

IF YOU'RE ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE LIKE WE ARE, YOU CAN ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MANY READILY AVAILABLE DOMESTIC FLIGHTS TO DRASTICALLY CUT DOWN ON TRAVEL TIME.

WE'LL TAKE A SHORT FLIGHT FROM NELSON SOUTH TO THE DRAMATIC CITY OF QUEENSTOWN.

QUEENSTOWN IS AT THE TOP OF THE POPULAR NEW ZEALAND DESTINATIONS LIST, AND IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD ALL THE TALK ABOUT THIS BEING THE ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD-- BIRTHPLACE OF BUNGEE JUMPING AND HOME TO ALL KINDS OF EXTREME SPORTS.

WELL, IT'S ALL TRUE.

BUT QUEENSTOWN OFFERS MUCH MORE.

IT HAS GREAT RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING AND NIGHTLIFE.

AND IT'S JUST A DOWNRIGHT GORGEOUS PLACE.

TO GET A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE SCENERY, WE'RE HEADING OUT AT DAYBREAK FOR A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE.

NEW ZEALAND SITS ON TWO TECTONIC PLATES-THE PACIFIC AND THE AUSTRALIAN.

BECAUSE THESE PLATES ARE CONSTANTLY SHIFTING AND GRINDING INTO EACH OTHER, NEW ZEALAND HAS HAD LOTS OF GEOLOGICAL ACTION, AND REMARKABLE LANDSCAPES TO SHOW FOR IT.

THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY IS ESPECIALLY BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BALLOONING HERE?

>> OH, IT'S A NEAT EXPERIENCE.

IT'S JUST...YOU'RE IN THE OPEN AIR AND YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD VIEW, AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

AND YOU SEE A LOT FROM UP HERE.

AND BECAUSE IT'S GOT ALL THESE MOUNTAINS AROUND THE WHOLE VALLEY, IT'S VERY SHELTERED.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET TOO MUCH WIND.

YOU GET WIND AT ALTITUDE AND NOT MUCH ON THE GROUND, WHICH IS PERFECT FOR BALLOONING, MAKES FOR AN EASY TAKEOFF AND AN EASY LANDING.

THE TERRAIN SPREADS OUT BEFORE US, LIKE SCENES STRAIGHT OUT OF "LORD OF THE RINGS."

IN FACT, THE ENTIRE "RINGS" TRILOGY WAS SHOT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND.

WITH ITS MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS, VAST PLAINS, AND MILES OF SANDY COASTLINE, IT'S NO WONDER NEW ZEALAND HAS BECOME A SOUGHT-AFTER FILM LOCATION.

WHAT A SPECTACULAR WAY TO SEE THE SOUTHERN ALPS AND QUEENSTOWN AND THE VALLEYS AND THE SHEEP AND THE FARMS AND THE RIVERS AND LAKE HAZE.

BEAUTIFUL, SPLENDID WAY TO START THE MORNING.

OUR BALLOON RIDE CAPS OFF WITH A CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST, A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK TO THE FIRST HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE IN FRANCE.

BACK THEN, CHAMPAGNE HELPED REASSURE LOCAL FARMERS THAT THE BALLOONISTS WERE REALLY FRENCHMEN AND NOT BEINGS FROM OUTER SPACE.

OK, THEY SAY THIS IS THE LAND OF EXTREME SPORTS.

I'M READY TO TAKE THE PLUNGE, LITERALLY.

TO EASE MY WAY INTO THINGS, I'M TRYING OUT MAD DOG RIVER BOARDING.

NOW, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE NAME, BUT HOW HARD COULD "RIVER BOARDING" BE?

THE TRIP BEGINS INNOCENTLY ENOUGH WITH A FULL SAFETY BRIEFING.

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, YOU HAVE TO POINT YOUR BOARD IN THAT DIRECTION, AND YOU HAVE TO KICK, OK?

>> WE MAKE OUR WAY INTO THE MAIN RIVER CURRENT AND THEN THE EXCITEMENT BEGINS.

CONTINUOUS RAPIDS KEEP US MOVING FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES.

THIS HAS TO BE NATURE'S MOST JAW-DROPPING, BONE-RATTLING THRILL RIDE.

AND THE MOUNTAIN SCENERY MAKES IT ALL THE MORE EXHILARATING.

WOO!

AFTER THE RAPIDS MELLOW OUT, THERE'S AN OPTIONAL JET SKI RIDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL LOOKING FOR MORE ACTION.

AND AT THE END OF THE TRIP, YOU'LL FIND A RIVERBANK SLIDE... AND A WHOLE SERIES OF ROCK SWINGS AND JUMPS.

OH, BOY, AM I GOING TO BE SORE TOMORROW!

A CRUISE ABOARD THE VINTAGE STEAMSHIP TSS EARNSLAW OFFERS A MORE LOW-KEY WATER ADVENTURE.

IT TAKES US OUT ACROSS QUEENSTOWN'S BEAUTIFUL LAKE WAKATIPU.

AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE "LADY OF THE LAKE," THE TSS EARNSLAW HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF LOCALS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING COAL-FIRED PASSENGER VESSELS OPERATING IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

THE SHIP HAS BEEN TRANSPORTING GOODS TO REMOTE SETTLEMENTS HERE SINCE 1912.

OUR BED AND BREAKFAST, THE QUEENSTOWN HOUSE, IS JUST A THREE-MINUTE WALK FROM THE TOWN CENTER.

RESTING ON THE HILLSIDE, IT PROVIDES WONDERFUL VIEWS OVER THE LAKE AND MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST B&Bs IN TOWN, THOUGH IT RECENTLY UNDERWENT A MAJOR RENOVATION.

ESPECIALLY COZY IS THE FIRESIDE SITTING ROOM STOCKED WITH MAGAZINES, BOOKS AND GAMES.

TIME FOR OUR GRAND FINALE--AND ONLY ADRENALIN JUNKIES NEED APPLY.

SHOTOVER CANYON SWING IS THE WORLD'S HIGHEST GIANT SWING.

NOW, I LOVE GREAT VIEWS, BUT THIS--THIS MIGHT BE GOING TOO FAR!

>> 5, 4, 3, 2... >> AAH!

>> HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: YOU'RE ATTACHED TO ROPES AND A FULL BODY HARNESS AND THEN LAUNCHED OFF A CLIFF-MOUNTED PLATFORM.

>> SO WHAT JUMP ARE YOU GONNA DO?

>> THE SIMPLEST ONE WHERE YOU'RE LEAST FRIGHTENED.

THE LEAST CHANCE OF A HEART ATTACK IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

>> OK, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN DO A DOUBLE BACK FLIP OR A GAINER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> DOUBLE BACK FLIP OR A GAINER SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT I WANT TO NOT DO!

>> HA HA!

YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE JUST GONNA PUT YOUR SAFETY GEAR ON, TAKE YOU OUT, GET YOU READY, AND THEN WE'LL GET YOU STARTED JUMPING OFF THE EDGE, ALL RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> COME OVER AND HAVE A GOOD LOOK, MATE.

>> I'LL JUST TAKE A QUICK LOOK.

I MUST BE TWO SANGERS SHORT OF A PICNIC TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS.

OH, MY GOD!

>> YOU ALL RIGHT?

>> OH, YEAH, I'M JUST FINE.

>> OK, SO, RUDY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GET YOU OUT OVER THE EDGE A BIT, GET YOUR LEGS CROSSED OVER THE ROPE, GO FOR A SWING, WE'LL SWING YOU UPSIDE DOWN DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

OK, ONCE THE BLOOD STARTS COMING OUT YOUR EARS AND NOSE, JUST UNCROSS YOUR LEGS AND YOU'LL SIT BACK UP, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

>> HA HA!

WHERE'S THE STUNT DOUBLE?

>> OK, 3, 2, 1... >> AAH!

YOU DROP 200 FEET, AND THEN SWING INTO A GIANT ARC 350 FEET ACROSS THE SHOTOVER RIVER CANYON.

I LOVE NEW ZEALAND!

IN FACT THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO HANG AROUND!

LIKE A TRIP THROUGH MIDDLE EARTH... A VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND PROPELS YOU TO ANOTHER DIMENSION.

WHETHER YOU CRAVE HIGH ALTITUDE THRILLS... OR THE SERENITY OF A SECLUDED BEACH...

THIS SMALL ISLAND NATION PROMISES TO BRING YOUR OWN TRAVEL FANTASIES TO LIFE.

HMM, I THINK I MAY BE DEVELOPING A TASTE FOR EXTREME SPORTS.

MAYBE I'LL TRY BUNGEE-JUMPING NEXT.... MAYBE.

I'M RUDY MAXA.

FROM NEW ZEALAND'S SOUTH ISLAND, CHEERS!

>> TO ORDER THE TWO-EPISODE DVD OR VHS ON NEW ZEALAND'S NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS OR ANY OTHER "SMART TRAVELS" DESTINATIONS, PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE AT SMARTTRAVELS.TV OR CALL 800-866-7425.

DVDs AND VIDEOS ARE 24.95 EACH PLUS SHIPPING.

EACH DVD INCLUDES MORE THAN AN HOUR OF EXCLUSIVE BONUS CLIPS AND RUDY'S TRAVEL TIPS.

ORDER AT THIS TOLL-FREE NUMBER OR ONLINE.

MAJOR CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR "SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS PROVIDED BY... OVER THE YEARS, PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS SHOWN YOU THE WORLD...

EDUCATED YOU ABOUT IT... AND INSPIRED YOU TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

EXPEDIA CAN HELP YOU GET THERE WITH FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND VACATION PACKAGES.

"SMART TRAVELS WITH RUDY MAXA" IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY THE PEOPLE AT EXPEDIA.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM >> ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM MEDJETASSIST.COM.

MEDICAL EVACUATION MEMBERSHIP PROTECTION FOR TRAVELERS.

TAKE TRIPS, NOT CHANCES.