An important component of recreation in mountain areas is the experience of risk. Visitors to such places may be seeking the challenge provided by risk, but they may also experience the negative side of risk — accident and injury. International and domestic visitors to mountain lands may have differing experiences of risk. Indeed, it has been suggested frequently in New Zealand that international visitors face considerably more danger than do New Zealanders in mountain recreation. This view is pursued in an examination of one of the negative outcomes of risk — fatal accidents.
Coroners' reports form the basis of a comparative study of such negative outcomes for the two groups. Patterns and trends are elaborated in an exploration of the number, location and cause of fatalities, and the activity of the deceased. Differences between two groups are discussed, as are some reasons why the impression that international visitors face more danger exists.