Miss H may love her tennis, but quite frankly, she's welcome to it. Me, I'm more about adventure sports. I train hard for them too - whether it's my new TRX exercise regime or running a marathon. Sure, I like to play golf too, but after all that adrenaline, a man's got to wind-down somehow.

River kayaking

A friend had given me the phone number of an adventure sports expert on the Dorset coast in the UK. I’ve always had an eye for adventure and earlier in the summer went kayaking in southern France. It was a ten kilometre thrill ride down white-water rapids along Aveyron Gorge near Rodez. Great views, searing heat and the thundering water – what’s not to like?! At around €20 to rent the equipment and lots of companies to choose from in Saint-Antonin Noble Val, the key town which straddles the gorge. I’d heard it was one of the best places in France to have a go – you hire kayaks within the village on the riverbanks and head straight in from there.

Sea kayaking

This time around, I wanted to do battle with the sea. I got some friends together, rejected the idea of a boutique hotel or renting a holiday house and borrowed a friend’s place near Portland Bay instead. We pushed out our kayaks and soon I wasn’t sure which I was enjoying more - the waves crashing into the rocks or the fighter planes flying so low it was shaking my kayak. Who knew the British Red Arrows were putting on an air show that weekend?

Bungy jumping

Sometimes you really just want to get the adrenaline pumping. For that there’s bungy jumping. I’ve tried it three times now and every time it’s blown my mind. In a ridiculous show of bravado a few years ago (yes, trying to impress a woman) I signed up for the ‘Thrillogy’ at AJ Hackett in New Zealand, though they’re in several places across Australasia. The first of three jumps was at Kawarau Bridge across a gorge outside Queenstown.

Leaping off the ledge was easy enough. It was the falling that was hard. That’s why I shouted – deep, manly shouts. First there was fear, then panic as I hit the river water, then relief when the rope kicked in and finally, the massive adrenaline rush that makes you want to do it all over again instantly.

Sky diving

After three jumps around Queenstown, I wanted something more. Sky diving! I thought. That really separates the men from the boys. Further north from Queenstown is the brilliantly unknown Lake Wanaka, a whole heap less clichéd than Queenstown. With the ski-slopes of Mount Aspiring as a backdrop and the fishing lake centre-stage, it’s a real insider’s tip.

We threw ourselves out the plane’s tiny side door at 15,000 ft, hurtling back down to earth in freefall for an adrenaline-fuelled minute. When the parachute opened, it went completely silent and still. It was only then I was blown away by the views. That’s why if you go skydiving, go as high as you can, in the best scenery you can find and definitely pay for someone to take pictures and videos – there’s far more to take in than even a minute gives you.

I’m already searching for an adventure to top that…