Active Adventures for the Best New Zealand Experience
Dreaming of a vacation in New Zealand but feeling unsure about how best to travel around? Let us be your guide — after all we’re the locals. We've been guiding visitors around our homeland for nearly 30 years now, and know all the tricks and tips to make the most of your time ‘down-under’. Our adventures offer exceptional quality and great value — they are all-inclusive with no surprise extra costs.
We’ve designed our itineraries to include what we know to be the most special locations. Our trips optimize your time and experience, so you have the best stories to tell your family and friends back home. We know what it takes to create an experience beyond your imagination, and we’ve set the standard on what a true New Zealand adventure looks like.
Travel New Zealand with the true locals and 30 years of experience
Active Adventures is the real deal — the original New Zealand adventure company, since 1996. Our spirit of adventure was born here in New Zealand, our home. All our adventures are designed by our local team, many of whom have been guides themselves and now love applying their lifetime of knowledge to create extra special guest experiences. New Zealanders’ love of exploration is rooted in our strong connection to the natural beauty of our homeland.
We love inspiring our guests to ignite their own spirit of adventure through activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, and more, to get off the beaten track, deeper into nature, away from the usual tourist traps, for a closer insight into our world we call home.
Highly trained, experienced guides, who take care of you all the way
Imagine having your own driver, navigator, private chef, coach, storyteller, historian, environmentalist, joke teller, and more – that's our guides! Our highly trained and experienced guides take care of your every step of the way, leading you on the trails, sharing little-known secret spots, telling stories about the cultural history, sharing their knowledge of the native trees, the natural environment, and what it's like to grow up in New Zealand.
Read any reviews of our New Zealand trips and the first thing you’ll hear is how amazing our guides are. Many have been with us for 10 years or more and some original guides still work in the business decades later, so we have invaluable experience far beyond any other tour company. You won’t find any rookie guides googling what mountain range you’re looking at on our trips! Our guides know their stuff, because they have walked these trails many times before, love what they do, and are passionate about sharing their knowledge and know-how with you.
Travel in Complete Comfort
Getting from one breathtaking destination to the next in New Zealand means road travel is essential. That’s why having comfortable, reliable transport plays a big role in making your adventure vacation enjoyable.
We own and operate our very own fleet of medium-sized coaches — perfectly suited for New Zealand’s unique roads. They’re ideal for accessing the country’s iconic highlights and venturing off the beaten track to the lesser-known places.
Our buses strike just the right balance: spacious enough to stretch out and relax, with extra-large windows to soak in panoramic views — yet compact enough for creating a friendly, social atmosphere where you can connect with fellow travelers and chat with your guides about the incredible places you’re exploring.
So sit back, relax, and let us take the wheel. Your New Zealand adventure is calling — and we’ll make sure you travel in comfort and style.
Personal chefs, world-renowned wine, and first-class fare
You’ll experience the difference on our trips when our guides — your personal chefs — whip up incredible meals and host you like friends at their own dinner party, even if you're in a cozy backcountry hut deep in the remote wilderness. You’ll be amazed at what they conjure up in the middle of nowhere! Look forward to freshly guide-baked scones and jam for delicious morning teas, picnics in the most stunning surroundings, and dinners under the southern stars, as you sample New Zealand’s impressive range of world-class food and beverages.
From the internationally acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc and the Pinot Noir wines, to kiwifruit (also known as "kiwi"), to delectable Bluff oysters from the Southern Ocean, to New Zealand's famous lamb (there are 60 million sheep to the 5 million people!), and premier dairy products — our New Zealand trips are a taste sensation!
Warm and genuine hospitality – the New Zealand way
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.
You’ll experience this hospitality, kindness, respect, and care for others firsthand, from our customer care team leading up to your New Zealand adventure, and our exceptional guides hosting you every step of the way while on your trip. You'll also notice how this caring relationship extends beyond to the land itself, in the ways we honor and protect our stunning homeland’s natural environment.
We go the extra mile — personal care and attention
We take the time to get to know you to ensure you have the very best experience on our trips. From your first enquiry to get advice on which trip to choose, to helping you know what to pack for the season, we’re right by your side. Our friendly customer care team proactively call every booked guest several times ahead of their trip to answer any questions and offer friendly advice on how best to prepare. We are available on the phones, emails and web chat 6 days a week for up to 15 hours a day to answer any questions and get you ready for your trip of a lifetime.
Our team are adventurers too, so they’ll share your excitement, and throw in tales of their own time on the trails. We’ll know you by name, and you’ll know ours too – we're that small of a team. We look forward to getting to know you so we can make your adventure dreams come to life.
Easy and effortless, everything is organized
Planning a trip to an unfamiliar place can be daunting – where to stay, what to do, how to travel from A to B, and how much will it all cost? To make your vacation easy and effortless all our trips are fully guided and include all accommodations, activities, transport on trip, most meals and more. All-inclusive, one trip price. How easy is that? No hidden surprises or unexpected costs.
Take a look at what’s included on each of our itineraries – you'll be surprised at how much value is packed into every one of our tours.
Relax and enjoy your vacation — no driving, navigating or planning required!
New Zealand may be small—about the size of Colorado—but we have a landscape that is incredibly diverse within our shores. In just three hours from east to west, you can travel from serene beaches to majestic mountains, tranquil lakes, and charming country towns.
You’ll feel a world away from any hustle or bustle, and while the views are breathtaking, our roads aren’t like the superhighways of the USA or Europe, making travel slower than expected. That’s why local expertise matters.
We handle the driving and navigation, so you can relax and take it all in. Sit back and relax while we get you from A to B so you arrive fresh at each place ready for more adventures. Our carefully crafted itineraries pack in the delights and diversity so you are guaranteed to experience the very best of New Zealand.
Flexibility to match your thirst for adventure
Our small group trips are big on flexibility, and no matter what your version of "active" is, we have options to suit every individual. Select from options within each trip either before you leave, or as you go on the trip – you might be feeling like more of a challenge one day and want a more chilled time the next.
Our guides take the time to get to know you personally, finding opportunities to tailor the experience to your interests and needs—making it truly one of a kind you’ll remember forever.
Browse all New Zealand trips
Browse all New Zealand trips
Our Active Adventurers in New Zealand
