The best outdoor activities on Yas Island

There's more to glamorous Yas Island than sprawling shopping centers and gourmet restaurants. These six fast-paced leisure activities will get your heart pumping and your adrenaline racing.

Known for its distinctive manicured landscaping, the Yas Links is also notable for being the first Links golf course in the Middle East. Designed by Kyle Phillips, the traditional 18-hole course provides a number of challenges for golf enthusiasts to work through, from natural sand traps to sloping hills.

If you're a beginner to the game, you can practice your skills at the nine-hole Academy course, floodlit driving range, or in the air-conditioned swing studios. Relax after your game at the course's swimming pool, or sit down to a lavish afternoon tea at Hickory's, an elegant onsite restaurant.

Paddle through the channels that wind beneath the dense mangrove forests, with flamingos fluttering alongside and colourful fish clearly visible in the waters below you. Mangrove Tours are operated by the Noukhada Adventure Company, departing from Yas Beach within walking distance of the Radisson Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island.

The most basic tour involves two hours of guided paddling through either the Yas Mangroves or Eastern Mangroves. You can choose between high and low tide tours, which provide different views of life in the mangroves. At high tide you'll be able to paddle closer to the trees, while low tide provides a glimpse of the wildlife on the shores.

If you want to make time to keep fit on your holiday, pay a visit to Vogue Fitness Classes and Gym at Yas Marina. Vogue specializes in trendy CrossFit programs that provide a full-body workout, but you'll also find yoga, Pilates, and mother and baby fitness classes. Personal training and sports massage are available, so you can arrange a session that's tailored to your individual needs.

Surrounded by pristine waterways, Yas Island is a prime location for fishing and sailing excursions. Captain Tony's is a boat tour operator specializing in eco-conscious tours, allowing you to get up close and personal with the local wildlife. You could spot dolphins and flamingos on a boat tour, or spend four hours practicing sustainable line fishing along in-shore waterways. Some tours are only available in certain seasons, so make sure you check ahead.

With 43 different rides and attractions, Yas Waterworld is one of the biggest and most innovative waterparks in the world. Don't miss the chance to go surfing on the Bubbles' Barrel, the world's largest sheet wave, before chilling out with a float down the Lazy River.

Finally, a visit to Yas Island wouldn't be complete without experiencing one of its most famous attractions, the Yas Marina Circuit. Get behind the wheel of a sleek Aston Martin GT4, or try the Formula Yas 3000 with its 3000cc V6 engine for a heart-pounding driving experience. You can also buckle up in the passenger seat for a spin with a true pro, or feel like you're in The Fast and the Furious with lessons from their official Drift School.