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AACreditUnion.org | | 23 Photo b y AJ H acke tt, B ungy, New Zealand FUMAROLE FORAGER ADRENALINE ADDICT Sitting squarely on the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," New Zealand is home to one of the world's most active volcanic zones. For some very steamy proof, drive three-and-a-half hours south of Auckland to the central North Island town of Rotorua, the country's hottest hive of geothermal (and cultural) activity. Here, visitors may explore neighboring Wai-O-Tapu (Maori for "sacred waters"), a Yel- lowstone-caliber volcanic park bursting with geysers, fuma- roles, bubbling mud pools and technicolor landscapes that have been collectively shortlisted as "one of the 20 most surreal places in the world" by TripAdvisor. For an equally dramatic intro to New Zealand's proud Maori heritage, don't miss a visit to nearby Tamaki Village, an award-winning pre-European- style cultural attraction just south of Rotorua. Guests are treated to ceremonial Maori rituals, vintage hangi feasts and even overnights in traditional pre-European Maori sleeping houses. There's no shortage of lively little mountain towns claiming "Adventure Capital of the World" status. New Zealand's notable nominee, Queenstown, claims more than a nod in this competitive category. Nestled against a glacial lake in the lower South Island, this picturesque thrill-seeker's headquarters is home to the country's top ski resorts and a variety of other high-octane activities tailored to guests of all stripes and speed limits. Most famous is the world's first commercial bungy-jumping operation, where daredevils still plunge from Queenstown's iconic Kawarau Bridge. If hurling yourself off a 141-foot ledge into a picturesque gorge with an elastic cord fastened to your leg is a tad too dramatic, perhaps boarding a jetboat (another proud New Zealand invention) and whizzing and weaving over the shallow narrows of the area's spectacular Shotover River canyons is more your pace. Skiers here can hit the slopes at the aptly- named Remarkables alpine resort. Still too fast? Meander at leisure along the fertile Queenstown Wine Trail, one of the country's top oenophile hideaways. Sacred waters " " Photo by Eric Lindberg