Trip Reviews
Exceeded my expectations
We have to correct people when they ask how was the vacation. “It wasn’t a vacation; it was an adventure.” The hikes were glorious and they tested us. Even though our Milford Track excursion was non-stop rain, we couldn’t stop grinning. It was like a fairy tale. Our guides were wonderful – knowledgeable, helpful and full of energy. We’re planning on a return trip to tackle the Routeburn Track!
Jim & Colleen Santori, Active Adventures New Zealand ‘Manuka’ trip, November 2015
Experience the great New Zealand outdoors with Active Adventures
Active Adventures New Zealand has been running hiking tours in New Zealand since 1996 with over 17,000 happy clients (and thousands of reviews!) Most trips run from October through April, giving visitors many options depending on how much time they have, and which activities they’d prefer to include, during our extended Southern Hemisphere summer. For a really dramatic South Island experience, our 14-day New Zealand Winter Adventure, the ‘Winter Rimu’ is perfect and runs May through September. Us Kiwis are very enthusiastic about sharing our natural history, and so the names of our trips are inspired by our favourite native trees or birds. Active offers a range of eight hiking trips, and they’re experts in picking the perfect trip for you – and then helping you pronounce them!
To Learn More, You can Grab A FREE New Zealand Hiking Brochure:
Includes info on all of the Active Adventures New Zealand trips, a New Zealand map, and a tour itinerary booklet
New Zealand Winter Adventure
Winter Rimu 14 day adventure
May to September is one of the best and most popular times of year to explore New Zealand. Our climate is regulated by the sea on either side of us, thus ensuring relatively mild winters. In winter our tracks are largely empty of hikers and the snow-capped mountains make for an even more dramatic backdrop than in summer. It’s also the best time for booking cheap flights to New Zealand! The added bonus is that this trip has been adapted to allow for skiing and snowboarding options, the perfect compliment to your adventures on some of the South Island’s best hikes. A great excuse to escape the Northern Hemisphere’s heat!
Activity level: A more adventurous trip, but still allowing for a wide range of fitness levels and different levels of outdoor experience. Hikes are generally from 3 to 6 hours to complete, with the exception of a more challenging longer hike on the Copland Track.
Great Walks Discovery
Takahe 5 day adventure
Over five days you’ll hike on three of New Zealand’s nine ‘Great Walks’, all located in the Fiordland National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage area with mystical coves and dense temperate rainforest. This is a bucket list hiking trip on which you need not forgo any creature comforts.
Activity level: The ‘Takahe’ is a hiking-focused trip,with options to suit a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience. Typically hikes on the ‘Takahe’ trip take 3 to 6 hours to complete. with longer hikes on the Milford Track Guided Walk option.
Milford Hiking Adventure
Manuka 14 day adventure
If you wish to concentrate on hiking the iconic tracks of New Zealand and like your creature comforts, we’ve crafted this trip just for you. It has a strong focus on New Zealand’s natural history. Our guides have plenty of time to interpret the flora and fauna and explain the geological and social history of the areas you’ll visit. You also have the choice of a selection of the best day hikes Fiordland National Park has to offer, along with an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound, or hiking the famous Milford Track in its entirety. The ‘Manuka’ really is hiking New Zealand in style!
Activity level: The ‘Manuka’ is an active hiking trip, but has options to suit a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience. Typically hikes on the ‘Manuka’ trip take 3 to 6 hours to complete, with longer hikes on the Milford Track Guided Walk option.
Ultimate South Island Adventure
Rimu 14 day adventure
The Rimu is Active Adventures’ signature New Zealand trip. This hiking tour has been a favourite since 1996 and it’s simply awesome! This personalised journey takes you to some of the most beautiful, stunning and spectacular places in New Zealand – both famous and little known. Active Adventures tours are known for legendary hospitality making for a very special experience (while the Active guides handle all the tiny details). If you want to see the North Island while you’re here you might consider combining this hiking tour with the 5 to 11-day ‘Kauri’ North Island Trip.
Activity level: The ‘Rimu’ is for the more adventurous at heart, but still caters to a wide range of ages and experience levels. Generally the Rimu involves hikes of 4-6 hours, with longer hikes if you choose the multi-day backpacking option.
South Island Explorer
Kiwi 14 day adventure
If you haven’t tried an adventure vacation before, or are still up for a hiking tour prior to your hiking adventure retirement, you’ll love this trip! This South Island experience takes you to beautiful, famous and little-known places – giving you plenty of exploration time along the way. This is another fantastic trip to combine with the popular 5-11 day ‘Kauri’ North Island hiking tour.
Activity level: Great for keen walkers who like to adventure a little further from time to time. A flexible and relaxed pace on well formed tracks with hikes around three hours.
Essence of the South Island
Tui 8 day adventure
An action packed adventure which includes biking, hiking, kayaking, flying and jet boating through New Zealand’s best and most remote and iconic wilderness. Perfect if you have a limited time frame to work with. You can arrive on a Friday, and be back at work ten days later with ample stories and amazing tales to tell when you get home. You can also combine this trip with the 11-day ‘Kauri’ North Island tour.
Activity level: This trip caters to a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes a variety of activities. Hikes are generally two to six hours long.
Ultimate North Island Adventure
Kauri 5 or 11 day adventure
You’ll be amazed by the variety of adventures and stunning scenery as we share the iconic locations and best-kept secrets of the North Island. The perfect addition to any of our South Island trips, the ‘Kauri’ explores the sub-tropical north, a marine reserve, white sandy beaches, unique volcanic terrain, geothermal areas, Maori culture, an underground cave system and one of the best day-hikes in the world. For a great way to see the rest of New Zealand, combine this trip with any of our South Island trips.
Activity level: The ‘Kauri’ suits people of a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience. Typically, activities on the ‘Kauri’ trip take three to six hours to complete, with the exception being the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike which requires around seven hours, but there are shorter alternatives if you prefer.
New Zealand Family Adventure
Kea 13 day adventure
Every detail is taken care of on this adventure so you and your family can enjoy exploring New Zealand’s iconic places in a fun outdoorsy way. The ‘Kea’ is the perfect opportunity for the whole family to give new activities a go, together, while our guides encourage, entertain, serve up delicious meals, and make sure you enjoy every moment of your precious vacation time. You’ll be amazed at all the things you’ll learn along the way, and our fun guides get your funny bone going just as much as the kids do! For a great way to see the North Island add this trip to the 11-day ‘Kauri’ package (with 5 day option available too).
Activity level: This trip has been thought out and planned to be be fun with little challenges for both the young, and the young at heart. It’s a flexible pace and most hikes take an easy two to four hours to complete. To be able to engage in all activities it’s best if children are age nine or older, but we’re always willing to discuss having your family along for an adventure, whatever your kids’ ages.
New Zealand Biking Adventure
Weka 14 day adventure
This trip combines the very best of New Zealand’s cycling and hiking trails into an action-packed two week adventure. As keen bikers, the team at Active Adventures wanted to create the ‘dream itinerary’ for fellow biking enthusiasts! Escape the traffic by riding private roads and wide, smooth cycling trails. There’s plenty of flexibility and freedom if you want to ride a little further or a little less, so you’ll be covered! The ‘Weka’ trip will suit both road cyclists and mountain bikers alike.
Activity level: The ‘Weka’ is an active cycling and hiking trip, so it’s important that you have a base level of biking and hiking fitness. You don’t have to be young or ready to take on the Tour de France (although if you are super fit and raring to go, you won’t be bored), but you should be in the habit of doing at least some riding and be comfortable in the saddle.
Experience the New Zealand outdoors with Active Adventures
Active New Zealand has been running hiking tours in New Zealand since 1996 with over 17,000 happy clients (and thousands of reviews)! Most trips run from October through April, giving visitors many options depending on how much time they have, and what activity is preferred, during our extended southern hemisphere summer. For a really dramatic South Island experience, a 14-day New Zealand Winter Adventure ‘Winter Rimu’ is perfect and runs between May through September. Us Kiwi’s are very enthusiastic about sharing our natural history, and so the names of our trips are inspired by our favourite native trees or birds. Active offers a range of eight hiking trips, and they’re experts in picking the perfect trip for you – and then helping you pronounce them!
To Learn More, You can Grab A FREE New Zealand Hiking Brochure:
Includes info on all of the Active New Zealand trips,a New Zealand map and a tour itinerary booklet
Great Walks Discovery
Takahe 5 day adventure
Over five days you’ll hike on three of New Zealand’s nine ‘Great Walks’, all located in the Fiordland National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage area with mystical coves and dense temperate rainforest. This is a bucket list hiking trip where you need not forgo any creature comforts.
Activity level: The ‘Takahe’ is a hiking-focused trip,with options to suit a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience. Typically hikes on the ‘Takahe’ trip take 3 to 6 hours to complete. with longer hikes on the Milford Track Guided Walk option.
Milford Hiking Adventure
Manuka 14 day adventure
If you wish to concentrate on hiking the iconic tracks of New Zealand and like your creature comforts, we’ve crafted this trip just for you. It has a strong focus on New Zealand’s natural history. Our guides have plenty of time to interpret the flora and fauna and explain the geological and social history of the areas you’ll visit. You also have the choice of a selection of the best day hikes Fiordland National Park has to offer, along with an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound, or hiking the famous Milford Track in its entirety. The ‘Manuka’ really is hiking New Zealand in style!
Activity level: The ‘Manuka’ is an active hiking trip, but has options to suit a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience. Typically hikes on the ‘Manuka’ trip take 3 to 6 hours to complete, with longer hikes on the Milford Track Guided Walk option.
Ultimate South Island Adventure
Rimu 14 day adventure
The Rimu is Active’s signature New Zealand trip. This hiking tour has been a favourite since 1996 and it’s simply awesome! This personalised journey takes you to some of the most beautiful, stunning and spectacular places in New Zealand – both famous and little known. Active tours are known for legendary hospitality making for an awe-inspiring experience (while the Active guides handle all the tiny details). If you want to see the North Island while you’re here you might consider combining this hiking tour with the 5 to 11-day ‘Kauri’ North Island Trip.
Activity level: The ‘Rimu’ is for the more adventurous at heart, but still caters to wide range of ages and experience with the outdoors. Generally the Rimu involves 6 hour hikes, and longer hikes if you choose the multi-day backpacking option.
South Island Explorer
Kiwi 14 day adventure
If you haven’t tried an adventure vacation before, or are still up for a hiking tour prior to your hiking adventure retirement you’ll love this trip! This South Island experience takes you to beautiful, famous and little-known places – giving you plenty of exploration time along the way! This is another fantastic trip to combine this trip with the popular 5-11 day ‘Kauri’ North Island hiking tour.
Activity level: Great for keen walkers who like to adventure a little further from time to time. A flexible and relaxed pace on well formed tracks with hikes around three hours.
Essence of the South Island
Tui 8 day adventure
An action packed adventures which includes biking, hiking, kayaking, flying and jet boating through New Zealand’s best and most remote and iconic wilderness. Perfect if you have a limited time frame to work with. You can arrive on a Friday, and be back at work ten days later with ample stories and amazing tales to tell on your return. You can also combine this trip with the 11-day ‘Kauri’ North Island tour.
Activity level: This trip caters to a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes a variety of activities. Generally it’s a two to six hour tour.
Ultimate North Island Adventure
Kauri 5 or 11 day adventure
You’ll be amazed by the variety of adventures and stunning scenery as we share the iconic locations and best-kept secrets of the North Island. The perfect addition to any of our South Island trips, the ‘Kauri’ explores the sub-tropical north, a marine reserve, white sandy beaches, unique volcanic terrain, geothermal areas, Maori culture, an underground cave system and arguably the best mountain day-hike in New Zealand. For a great way to see the rest of New Zealand, combine this trip with any of our South Island trips.
Activity level: The ‘Kauri’ suits people of a wide range of fitness levels and outdoor experience. Typically, activities on the ‘Kauri’ trip take three to six hours to complete, with the exception being the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike which requires around seven hours, but there are shorter alternatives if you prefer.
New Zealand Winter Adventure
Winter Rimu 14 day adventure
May to September is one of the best and most popular times of year to explore New Zealand. Our climate is regulated by the fact we have sea on either side of us, thus ensuring relatively mild winters. Tracks are largely empty of hikers and the snow-capped mountains make for an even more dramatic backdrop than in summer. It’s also the best time for booking cheap flights to New Zealand! The added bonus is that this trip has been adapted to allow for skiing and snowboarding options, to top off your trip along some of South Island’s best hikes. A great excuse to escape the northern hemispheres heat!
Activity level: A more adventurous trip, but still allowing for a wide range of fitness levels and different levels of outdoor experience. Hikes are generally from 3 to 6 hours to complete, with the exception of a more challenging longer hike on the Copland Track.
New Zealand Family Adventure
Kea 13 day adventure
Every detail is taken care of on this adventure so you and your family can enjoy exploring New Zealand’s iconic places in a fun outdoorsy way. The ‘Kea’ is the perfect opportunity all family members to give new activities a go together while our guides encourage you, entertain, serve up delicious meals make sure you enjoy every moment of your precious vacation time. You’ll be amazed the things you’ll learn along the way, and our fun guides get your funny bone going just as much as the kids do! For a great way to see the North Island add this trip to the 11-day ‘Kauri’ package (with 5 day option available too).
Activity level: This trip has been thought out and planned to be be fun with little challenges for both the young, and the young at heart. It’s a flexible pace and most hikes take an easy two to four hours to complete. To be able to engage in all activities it’s best if children are age nine or older, but with a little notice it is possible to take families with younger children too.
New Zealand Biking Adventure
Weka 13 day adventure
This trip combines the very best of New Zealand’s cycling and hiking trails into an action-packed two week adventure. As keen bikers, the team at Active wanted to create the ‘dream itinerary’ for fellow biking enthusiasts! Escape the traffic by riding private roads and wide, smooth cycling trails. There’s plenty of flexibility and freedom if you want to ride a little further or a little less, so you’ll be covered! The new ‘Weka’ trip will suit both road cyclists and mountain bikers alike.
Activity level: This trip has been thought out and planned to be be fun with little challenges for both the young, and the young at heart. It’s a flexible pace and most hikes take an easy two to four hours to complete. To be able to engage in all activities it’s best if children are age nine or older, but with a little notice it is possible to take families with younger children too.
Trip Reviews
Magnificent New Zealand – The unimaginable beauty of this country has to be experienced to be believed. From the West Coast beaches to the Southern Alps, the awesome Milford Track and the mighty Mt. Cook, there are no words to capture the experience. Drop everything and buy a ticket … now!
Lindsay Simmons & Allen Feldman, Active Adventures New Zealand ‘Manuka’ trip, March 2013
Doubtful Sound, Fiordland
Doubtful Sound is the deepest of all the fiords. It’s long and winding with three distinct ‘arms’ and several outstanding waterfalls…
