New Zealand Adventure Tours – New Zealand Bike Tours – Hiking New Zealand Vacations
I would say it was a once in a lifetime trip,
but it was so good a person should not only experience it once.- Mike G., (USA) Aug 2009 Winter Rimu
"Our guides proved to be able to handle just about anything, they were the masters of flexibility and tolerance, able to leap tall buses with a single bound, whip up roadside gourmet meals (watch out Martha Stewart) and always with a smile. On this trip you will see the most beautiful places on earth that will please all the senses and live in your soul for an eternity. Sit back, relax and enjoy. "
Mary Ann Trapp (California, USA) December 2002 Rimu
Mary Ann Trapp (California, USA) December 2002 Rimu
MEET OUR GUIDES:
Gemma van Beek
"She was unendingly cheerful, chatty & never seemed to stop. Top marks for her brekkies (breakfasts)."
Sarah Coombes (New South Wales, Australia) November 2008 Kauri
PHOTO OF THE MONTH:
Rimu Jan 2010
We love being based in Queenstown! It's the best playground in the world and there's always something new to try...
Our New Zealand Adventure Itineraries
We’ve put together the best New Zealand tours to truly experience New Zealand hiking and the New Zealand outdoors.
We name our outdoor adventure trips after our favourite New Zealand trees and birds because we're very enthusiastic about New Zealand's natural history, and sharing that knowledge with you. From October through April, our extended summer down here on the Southern hemisphere, we run two 14-day trips on the South Island, the Rimu and the Manuka, and a 5-day North Island trip called the Kauri if you have three weeks downunder. For the cyclists out there, we run a 13-day cycling-only trip called the Weka cycling trip, and we also have an 8-day adventure on the South Island called the Tui. For those with kids, we have a 13-day family-oriented trip, the Kea family trip, that runs all year-round. Also, from May through September we run a 14-day Winter Rimu trip to see the South Island outdoors at its most dramatic.
If you're up for something really different, then check out our Guide's Choice trips, designed by our guides, Lynette and Jim, who won an annual competition among our guides to come up with the trip that they would love to run, visiting and exploring their favourite parts of New Zealand. These are a great option as a returnee's trip for those of you who've travelled with us before, or for anyone interested in seeing a different side of New Zealand, away from the tourist trail, where real New Zealanders go when they want an active adventure.
We have clients from all around the world so we stick with one currency (US dollars) in order to keep things simple. Click here to bring up a window that will give you an approximate cost of our trips in your local currency.
If you're up for something really different, then check out our Guide's Choice trips, designed by our guides, Lynette and Jim, who won an annual competition among our guides to come up with the trip that they would love to run, visiting and exploring their favourite parts of New Zealand. These are a great option as a returnee's trip for those of you who've travelled with us before, or for anyone interested in seeing a different side of New Zealand, away from the tourist trail, where real New Zealanders go when they want an active adventure.
We have clients from all around the world so we stick with one currency (US dollars) in order to keep things simple. Click here to bring up a window that will give you an approximate cost of our trips in your local currency.
Rated the 9th Greatest Adventure Trip in the World by National Geographic Adventure!
The Rimu is our longest running trip, now entering its thirteenth year, with constant evolution to make it as good as we can possibly make it!
- Hike Routeburn Track, Punakaiki, Franz Josef Glacier and
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park - Wilderness Backpacking in Nelson Lakes National Park, Sea Kayaking or Biking Marlborough Sounds
- Cycle Hollyford Valley and Manapouri
- Sea Kayak Okarito Lagoon and Milford Sound
- Hike West Coast Beaches and Rainforests
- Explore the lakeside village of Queenstown
- Snorkel with Seals
Rated the best do-it-all New Zealand Travel Deal of the Year by Outside Magazine!
The Tui is our shortest South Island trip. It’s an action-packed, adventure-oriented itinerary that works well if you are looking for an incredible adventure vacation but don’t have a lot of time to see our country, or as part of a longer trip to New Zealand.
- Hike Routeburn Track, Franz Josef Glacier and
Mt Aspiring National Park - Cycle Hollyford Valley and Manapouri
- Sea kayak Milford Sound
- Scenic mountain flight to Siberia Hut
- Jet boat ride up the Wilken River
- Explore the lakeside village of Queenstown
Hint! Combine the 5-day Kauri with the 8-day Tui to make a two week North and South Island trip.
Our Kauri trip packs loads of adventure into just five days. It allows you to see the 'other side' of New Zealand and we’ve designed it with departure dates that line up with most of our South Island trips.
- Explore volcanoes and Maori culture
- Hike Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Hike mountains, beach and headland
- Bike Whakarewarewa Forest
- Hiking alongside Rotorua's lakes
- Caving in Waitomo
New Zealand is at its most dramatic in winter – the snowline is a lot lower, which makes the mountains look amazing, and we get plenty of crisp, clear blue-sky days due to New Zealand’s mild maritime climate.
- Multi-Day Sea Kayak/Cycle at Manapouri and Milford Sound, or Ski/Snowboard in Queenstown
- Overnight hike to Copland hot pools
- Hike Fox Glacier, Mt Aspiring and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks
- Explore the lakeside village of Queenstown
- Sea Kayak Okarito Lagoon
This trip was designed by guide and multisport athlete, Jim Hawkridge.
Over the years we’ve received many requests for an extreme version of our classic Rimu trip. Well – here it is. A trip guaranteed to get your heart pumping and your endorphins flowing.
- Hike Cascade Saddle, Mt Aspiring National Park
- Bike Queen Charlotte Track, Hanmer Forest and Craigieburn Skifield
- Swim with Dusky Dolphins
- Sea Kayak Abel Tasman National Park
- Hike Mt Owen and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
This trip was designed by guide, Lynette Warmington and was named one of the Best 25 New Trips by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
This trip has a big wildlife focus – dolphins, seals, penguins, kiwi, kea, whales, albatross, sea lions – these are just a few of the many amazing creatures you can see on this trip. It’s a great option for keen wildlife photographers, and those that enjoy seeing creatures in their natural environment.
- Three-day Hump Ridge Guided Walk
- Cruise Doubtful Sound
- Visit Dunedin - home to some of New Zealand’s rarest wildlife!
- Swim with Dolphins, Whale Watch, Visit Penguins
- Hike Peel Forest, Kaikoura Peninsula, Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
- Visit Kiwi Sanctuary
Rated one of the Best Outdoor Adventure Trips for 2006 by Outside Magazine.
The Weka cycling tour ensures you’ll do the best cycling New Zealand has to offer. We’ve included our favourite South Island rides, from the coastal routes of the West Coast, to the historic Otago Rail Trail.
- Multi-day, fully-supported bike tour of the South Island
- Cycle to Fox Glacier and optional hike to terminal face
- Natural hot pools at Hanmer Springs
- Cycle Lewis Pass and Mt. Nicholas high-country station roads
- Cruise Milford Sound and cycle Hollyford Valley
- Bike Central Otago Rail Trail
This trip is designed so parents, teenagers and children enjoy a wide range of activities together while still having a bit of time out – it is a vacation after all!
- Wildlife reserve and kiwi viewing
- Jet boat the Rakaia Gorge
- Hike Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and South Westland World Heritage Area
- Raft near Queenstown
- Hike Mt Aspiring National Park and Franz Josef Glacier
- Kayak Lake Mapourika
- Visit Beaches and Rainforest of the West Coast
The Manuka is an active hiking trip at a relaxed pace. It’s designed for people who enjoy the off-the-beaten-track, Kiwi style of our trips, but who also like their creature comforts and want to take things a little easier than the folks on our more physically challenging trips.
- Milford Track Guided Walk or Hollyford Track Guided Walk
- Hike West Coast Beaches and Rainforests
- Explore the lakeside village of Queenstown
- Hike Mt Aspiring National Park and Castle Hill
- Hike Paparoa National Park, Fox Glacier and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
