5 Stars (379 reviews)
The holiday was amazing, what a great way to explore New Zealand, North Island. Lynette was a great driver and very knowledgeable about the country. Nicola was a fantastic cook, all dietary requirements catered for really well. All the activities were well organised and I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Ultimate North Island Adventure, July 2023
Melanie
5 Stars (379 reviews)
This trip was everything advertised and more. Our two guides (Lynette our driver and guide and Natalie our chef and guide) made sure we got the most our of our 11 day tour of the North Island. Their expert knowledge on flora and fauna, trails and back roads, meals, local culture plus their encouragement and sense of humor made this trip unforgettable. We were treated to a wide variety of experiences and everyday was an adventure.
Ultimate North Island Adventure, March 2023
Lynda
5 Stars (379 reviews)
I thoroughly enjoyed the Ultimate North Island Adventure, from the challenging hike on the #Tongariro Alpine Crossing# on a rainy and windy day, to the amazing tubing in the #Waitomo Caves#, to the awesome #sand boarding# at the Te Pouahi Reserve, this trip was a great introduction to New Zealand. Other highlights included mountain biking followed by cappuccinos on a beautiful sunny day, an inspiring guided forest tour by a Maori leader, cultural performances that brought out the uniqueness of the Maori culture, visits to stunning waterfalls, and various water activities at the Bay of Islands. The North Island Adventure has something to meet everyone's interests. Our guides, Lauren and John, worked seamlessly together to make our expeditions enjoyable, showing off their hiking and culinary skills. The guide prepared meals were spectacular!
Overall, this was an outstanding experience, highly recommended!
Ultimate North Island Adventure, February 2023
Miriam
5 Stars (379 reviews)
This trip is very well organized. The activities are interesting, the highlight being the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Many walks were closed due to a recent cyclone. Replacement activities were interesting, but nit quite ad active as planned. This was beyond anyone’s control
Ultimate North Island Adventure, February 2023
Mireille
4 Stars (379 reviews)
Had a great time. First 5 days were excellent then a Cyclone hit so for 3-4days we had to do alternate less active things. Also could not do the Tongoriro Crossing. Can't control the weather. The Guides did a great job getting us out of harms way and finding interesting activities. Still had a fabulous time and learned a lot about Maori Culture.
Ultimate North Island Adventure, February 2023
Peggy, United States
5 Stars (379 reviews)
As a single woman traveling on my own I was a little nervous about fitting in wth 13 other people, most of whom were married couples or women traveling with a friend. I soon realized that I was among a wonderful group of very friendly and supportive people. On the first day of our trip we were greeted by Greg and Emma, our Active Adventures guides. I was so impressed by them from the start of our trip until the very last hour when the holiday was over. Greg possessed great driving skills and knew the alternate routes to avoid washed out roads on the way to our first destination. They both took great care to make sure that we felt confident about the terrain we had to climb and were patient and relaxed with those of us who were walking a little slower than those who were up front. By noon every day we were at a hilltop or a park with a beautiful view, eating a tasty lunch prepared by Emma.
Our first walk, through Waipoua Forest, set the tone for the rest of the trip. Our Maori guide, Mary Pi, showed us the largest and oldest living kauri trees, weaving facts and folklore into her heartfelt talk. Her deep respect for Mother Nature and her Maori ancestors left a deep impression on all of us, an impression of respect for the Maori people, their culture, and flora and fauna of New Zealand.
Highlights include Hiking Cape Brett ; how awesome to walk the ridge of a mountain that rises out of the sea, and be able to view
the Pacific Ocean on both sides of the trail!
Many of the other hikes included cascading waterfalls, such a beautiful sight!
My favourite place to stay was at Creel Lodge on the Tongariro River. All the cottages were nestled into a verdant landscape of beautiful shrubs and trees, including an especially large tree over-arching the outdoor picnic area where we enjoyed our celebratory dinner together on our last evening of a wonderful holiday.
All my best wishes to Greg and Emma. You were so kind and so much fun. I miss you!
Ultimate North Island Adventure, February 2023
Paulette, Canada
5 Stars (379 reviews)
Despite having to cancel some activities owing to flooding in Auckland a couple of days before it began, this was a great trip and one I shall remember for a long time.
Ultimate North Island Adventure, February 2023
Judith, United Kingdom
5 Stars (379 reviews)
I had the most wonderful time on the North Island adventure. The country, the people, the travel guides could not have been more perfect for my vacation of a lifetime. It was all well planned and executed. I felt well looked after and learned a lot about the culture and what is important to "Kiwi's"
Ultimate North Island Adventure, February 2023
Penny, United States