It might sound like a pub-conversation brainwave that should never have taken off, but there are few more fun – and surreal – experiences than getting inside a giant beach ball and rolling down a hill. Such is the essence of zorbing, which was invented by kiwis Andrew Akers and Dwayne van der Sluis in the mid-1990s. The giant zorb ball has two skins, and the area between them is inflated, while the inner sphere is open to allow airflow. Zorbonauts, as participants are called, are harnessed starfish-style into the inner sphere, then rolled down hills at speeds of up to 30 kilometres per hour. A variation on the original harness zorb is the hydro zorb, which has a bucket of water (warm in winter) added to the ball. Hydro zorbonauts are not harnessed, so they can slosh around with the water as they roll downwards – and they can also share the washing-machine experience with a friend or two.

Zorbing is currently only available at the original site at the Agrodome in Rotorua , where you can also indulge in activities such as jetboat sprinting, bungee, swoop (a kind of swing), freefall extreme (skydiving without leaving the ground) and helicopter rides. It’s also home of the famous sheep shows. A single Zorb ride costs $45 and three rides cost $90.