5 Stars (60 reviews)
An absolutely amazing trip! The rides, the hikes, the views, the lodging, the FOOD, were all phenomenal, but the best thing about it: our guides. They were absolutely outstanding in every way.
New Zealand Biking Adventure, February 2019
Laura, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
When you combine the gorgeousness of New Zealand, fantastic guides Elder and Nick, exciting bike trails, and great guests, it's a recipe for an awesome time. Elder and Nick bent over backwards to make sure we were always safe, well taken care of, and happy. I highly recommend the Weka adventure!
New Zealand Biking Adventure, January 2019
Bob, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
Where to begin?14 unforgettable days of cycling and hiking the amazing New Zealand landscape. A huge thumbs up to Active Adventures for providing us with the most incredible guides on the planet. Thank you Barnsey and Elder. A cohesive happy excited and motivated group of 10 was all of our good fortune. Cycle by day.. eat drink wine by night... always rewarding hikes along the way to break up the bus rides which were in themselves spectacular. A couple of days were just hiking due to the demands of the routes and delivered jaw dropping vistas. Highly recommend this adventure!
New Zealand Biking Adventure, January 2019
Laurel, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
This truly was the trip of a lifetime. I will never forget how well Nick and Elder took care of us all. Very caring and fun.
New Zealand Biking Adventure, April 2018
Maggie, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
We had a great tour including an amazing variety of terrains with beautiful scenery. I especially loved all the waterfalls. We had outstanding guides who were very attentive, professional and efficient.
New Zealand Biking Adventure, April 2018
Judy, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
This was a trip I had begun dreaming about over forty years ago. The two weeks went so fast and were so much more than I had imagined. The scenery was spectacular: rain forests, mountains, pristine lakes, clear rivers, waterfalls, range land, rolling hills, farmland, the Tasman Sea! Just as your brochure explains but in person the scenery is so much more. Active Adventures deserves credit for making our two weeks such an awesome experience.
Each day we were given a variety of choices so we could ride or hike as little or as much as we wanted and most of us rode! Then our outstanding guides, Nick and Elder had a few surprises along the way like Glow Worm Caves, Hokitika jade, real made-in-front-of-you fruit ice cream (from the fruit you pick), the Espresso Bomb trailor (NZ knows how to make great coffee!) and endless waterfalls! Since this is more of a bicycling tour it is not surprising my husband and I spent the weeks in a group of eleven equally enthusiastic bicyclists (with a wide range of skill levels and needs) being guided by Nick and Elder, extraordinarily talented cyclists, hikers, coaches and guides. Nick and Elder seemed to work round the clock making sure everything was perfect for all of us and much of our joy from this trip come from their unending efforts to make it the best for each of us. Nick kept us briefed on what was next, what the weather might be like (always carry an extra layer in NZ as it is so unpredictable!), and he made us all feel safe and relaxed as he drove the narrow roads in NZ. Thanks, Nick! Elder, as “tail-end Charlie” encouraged those of us who lagged behind often just wanting to stop and take more photos. Sometimes he aided by taking photos, giving us riding tips and other times he simply let us know we were doing fine and it was okay to go at a slower pace. For me this was critical as I have been involved in three separate accidents (two involving vehicles and one caused by another cyclist) and can become inexplicably anxious. Nick and Elder were both non-judgmental when I chose to ride in the van a few times. Other times I surprised myself (as well as them I think) by taking off and zooming ahead absorbed in the scenery. Nick and Elder, aka “brothers from different mothers” are terrific cooks (breakfast, lunch and dinner), wonderful guides to the local places (I’m drooling just thinking of the Arrowtown Bakery’s delicious pies), and wonderful about keeping our van stocked with fruit and nutritious bars as well as NZ treats (hokey pokey, pineapple lumps). They kept our van windows clean (so critical for great photos) and even fixed the noise (someone stored rocks in the overhead?). Elder and Nick helped identify what we were seeing, told us Maori tales, fed us information on NZ and answered our questions. There were also numerous books for us on NZ in the van. Nick even took the time to consult his grandfather on one question. We shared riddles and answered their quizzes. Elder brought in his own perspective as a native of Peru (where my husband had lived as a child) and a guide in Ecuador and Nepal.
Our group really bonded and cheered for each other. Near the end of the trip we called the office to see about getting the entire group their own Weka bike jerseys and we were successful much to the amazement of Nick and Elder (who totally deserve a percentage of the sales). It is really due to their love of NZ, bicycling and people as well as the support of the entire Active Adventures staff that we all had such a great time and wanted the Weka jersey as a way to keep the memories of our trip alive. Thanks to the entire team at Active Adventures!
New Zealand Biking Adventure, April 2018
Millie, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
I really had fun. Tori and Steve (the real Steve) did a great job as we traveled the Southern Island in Bruce (the mini bus). This trip is properly named “Active Adventure “ we were active and had a great adventure. The group of nine strangers got along really well. I felt well cared for and safe even during cyclone Gita. The accommodations were outstanding and the food was awesome. Tori’s packed lunches were delicious and filling. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful island nation with me. Cheers, Mikey
New Zealand Biking Adventure, April 2018
Mikey, United States
5 Stars (60 reviews)
How does one begin?! NZ had been number one on my bucket list since before retiring almost 2 years ago. While eagerly awaiting my 'Weka' Trip, little did I imagine it would exceed my excited expectations! Beginning with Elder and Nick, our 2 excellent young guides, to the itinerary, equipment, gourmet meals, top-notch accommodations and congenial group, I could not have asked for a better balance of cycling & hiking adventures and touring sites. Elder and Nick’s hard work and planning 24/7 were key in making this such a fantastic trip! They demonstrated concern for everyone’s safety and welfare, expertise in biking and hiking, knowledge of the sites, NZ and history, and gourmet cooking skills. They encouraged and guided. Above all their integrity, patience, love of NZ and sense of humor made for an unforgettably fantastic experience.
Thank you!
New Zealand Biking Adventure, April 2018
Deby, United States