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Our Story

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

From New Zealand to the World

Our spirit for adventure was born in New Zealand, our home. Inspired to share our homeland’s natural beauty, Active Adventures began 30 years ago with a simple dream — to welcome kindred spirits from around the world to explore our incredible adventure playground.

What started as a few passionate hikers guiding friends off the beaten track in New Zealand has grown to meet our guests' desire for our unique style of outdoor adventure tours around the world. 

Today our fully guided, small group trips feature not only hiking but rafting, kayaking, and so much more, with unique itineraries in 19 countries across five continents, including destinations such as New Zealand, Patagonia, Peru, Galapagos Islands, Europe, the Himalayas, and Africa. 

While New Zealand is still our home base, these days we have a passionate team of locals in every destination to make our guest experiences truly special. 

Adventure is in our nature

Growing up on an isolated island nation in the South Pacific, we ‘Kiwis’ (as New Zealanders are colloquially known) are renowned for taking ourselves off on adventures to see the world, curious to discover, experience, and understand places and cultures different to our own.

We like to get off the beaten track, away from the usual tourist routes for a different perspective on each destination, establishing more authentic connections with people, and deeper insights into the cultures and communities we visit. As a result, we have designed experiences for our guests that we enjoy ourselves, to seek out hidden treasures and immerse ourselves in each unique location. 

Inspiring, life-changing experiences to share

Active Adventures will get you closer to the heart of each destination. We love to create unforgettable experiences that spark curiosity and enrich lives — just ask our guests, who call their journeys with us life-changing. 

So go on, let us ignite your thirst for adventure on a life-changing, small group, guided adventure exploring the destination of your dreams. 

Always a warm welcome and genuine care

Wherever we are in the world, we welcome our guests with open arms and open hearts. Our guiding light for an exceptional guest experience is a beautiful concept from our indigenous Māori culture in New Zealand – "Manaakitanga" — which is about creating genuine and long-lasting connections with each other with warm and generous hospitality.

We take the time to get to know you, to ensure you have the very best experience – even from before you travel with us, and throughout your trip. Join us as guests, leave as friends — that's our goal. 

Our culture in action for people and planet

Our adventures are inspired by nature and the people and places we visit, so we are conscious to design our experiences and operations in ways that have a positive impact for people and planet. Our goal is to leave no trace of our stay... other than create positive memories of course! 

Proud, Grateful, and Always Guest-Focused

Every five star review and industry award reminds us of one simple truth: because we put people first — guests and team alike — great things happen.  

We’re incredibly proud to have earned over 10,000 five-star reviews — each one a story of adventure that meant something truly special to someone. It is this feedback that fuels our passion for what we do.

Along the way, we’ve also been honored with awards that recognize our people-first approach to travel and business. While we're grateful for the accolades, it's your smiles, stories, and return trips that speak louder than any award ever could.

A few recent recognitions we're particularly proud of:

But here's what means the most: over 35% of our guests come back for more. They’ve shared mountain trails, scenic bike tracks, and breathtaking landscapes with us — and they keep coming back for their next unforgettable adventure.