Murchison accommodation from NZ$145

It almost seems contradictory that you could enjoy adrenalin-pumping action in a laid-back town with a population of only 500 locals. But that's exactly what you get in Murchison, only an hour’s drive from Westport or a two hour drive from Hanmer Springs. This was originally a gold mining town and you can still try panning for gold in the rivers, if you fancy it. In fact, the town has seven rivers that you can gold pan or white water raft, kayak, canoe or jet boat down. They are: Buller, Gowan, Mangles, Matiri, Glenroy, Matakitaki and Maruia. You can also go fishing or, if you'd prefer to stay on the banks, have a go at mountain biking. There are also plenty of bushwalking tracks of varying lengths and difficulty, including Kahikatea Walk, Skyline Walk, Johnsons Creek Track and Maruia Falls Track. If you're really keen to get active during your holiday, why not sign up for the Buller Gorge Marathon in February? It's probably the most scenic marathon you'll ever run, and gives you the perfect opportunity to explore some of the surrounding countryside on foot. Or, how about getting your feet wet in the Whitewater World Cup Kayak Races, held on the Buller River in February? Perhaps the most popular annual event in the region is Bullerfest, usually held towards the end of February and the start of March, where a huge number of thrill-seekers and whitewater rafting enthusiasts gather for three days.

If you've had enough of rapids and adrenalin rushes, you can visit the Murchison Museum, where you can learn more about the town's gold-mining and agricultural history, as well as the massive earthquake of 1929. If you're not really much of a history buff, you might be more interested in visiting Nelson Lakes National Park, which offers gorgeous lake and mountain views.

When travelling to Murchison, you have a couple of options. You can catch one of these cheap flights to Wellington because Wellington Airport is only 212km away. But if you don't want to cross from the North Island to the South Island when you land, you could just stay on the South Island by flying into Christchurch, which is about 290km away.In that case, grab one of these cheap flights to Christchurch.

There are a couple of buses that run in Murchison, but you'll probably want to hire a car to have your own transport and independence while you're here. With your own set of wheels, you can also take a drive to Westport, which is about 100km away, and is well-known for its dolphins and seals, as well as its beautiful natural scenery and glow worm grottos.

So, wot are you waiting for? Book your cheap flights and Murchison accommodation now.