Adventure Tours & Trips in New Zealand
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10 best Active New Zealand tour packages
Compiled by
SteffNew Zealand travel expert at TourRadar
- 11 Day 'Weka' South Island Adventure Tour
- 10 Day 'Hihi' North Island Adventure Tour
- Southern Highlights - 9 Day Self Drive Tour
- South Island Snow Safari
- Coasts & Culture Tour
- New Zealand Grand - 14 Day Self Drive Tour
- Sheepdog Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass
- Highlights of New Zealand
- Best New Zealand Tour
- Contrasts Of New Zealand (End Christchurch)
11 Day 'Weka' South Island Adventure Tour
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Had a brilliant time on the Weka trip. Abel Tasmin was brilliant.”
Julie, traveled in October
The terminal face of Franz Josef Glacier beckons hikers, while a 4-hour trek through Abel Tasman National Park leads to Mount John Observatory. Adventurous souls can try canyoning in Abel Tasman, skydiving in Queenstown, or ice skating at Lake Tekapo.
Duration 11 days Destinations Picton, Marahau, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch Age Range 7 to 70 year olds Operator Stray Travel From
- NZ$3,460
New Zealand's diverse terrain comes alive through the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Whanganui River canoeing, and geothermal wonders at Kuirau Park. Volcanic Rangitoto Island, hot pools at Hot Water Beach, and Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest await with expert local guides.
Duration 10 days Destinations Auckland, Rangitoto Island, Hahei, Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro National Park, Wellington Age Range up to 70 year olds Operator Stray Travel From
- NZ$3,405
Southern Highlights - 9 Day Self Drive Tour
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“Every place we went had the reservation, ticket, tour, seats ready and instantly available.”
philip, traveled in December
New Zealand's highest sealed road at Crown Range offers breathtaking views. Native beech forest at Blue Pools and Franz Josef Glacier region reveal natural wonders. Queenstown's Skyline Gondola and Milford Sound's nature cruise showcase dramatic landscapes.
Duration 9 days Destinations Christchurch, Mount Cook, Dunedin, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Greymouth Age Range 1 to 100 year olds Operator Discover New Zealand From
- NZ$2,889
South Island Snow Safari
36 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Such a great tour, great mountains and a way to see a selection of mountains in a short time.”
Megan, traveled in August
New Zealand's most thrilling terrain awaits - from Mt Hutt's black diamonds to Treble Cone's natural half-pipes. Local guides share hidden powder stashes across 6 mountains, including remote Ohau and The Remarkables' famous 'Homeward Bound' run at 1943m elevation.
Duration 8 days Destinations Christchurch, Mount Hutt, Lake Tekapo, Lake Ohau, Lake Wanaka, Wanaka, Cardrona, Queenstown, The Remarkables Age Range 18 to 65 year olds Operator Haka Tours From
- NZ$2,999
Coasts & Culture Tour
80 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“There are so many extra activities to choose from. The Māori cultural stay was probably my favourite stop.”
Isabelle, traveled in December
North Island adventures await with Lake Taupo skydiving, Kaituna River's highest commercial waterfall drop, and the famous 19.4km Tongariro Crossing past emerald lakes and volcanic peaks.
Duration 7 days Destinations Auckland, Coromandel, Whitianga, Hahei, Rotorua, Waitomo, Murupara, Taupo, Tongariro National Park, Wellington Age Range 18 to 39 year olds Operator Haka Tours From
- NZ$2,199
New Zealand Grand - 14 Day Self Drive Tour
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Jaw dropping scenery, amazing food, friendly people. This is hands down, the best family vacation we have ever had!”
Jalal, traveled in December
Shotover Jet rides and Twin Glacier helicopter flights highlight this adventure, with optional bungy jumping at Kawarau Bridge. Milford Sound's dramatic landscapes and Franz Josef Glacier offer opportunities for hiking and scenic flights throughout both islands.
Duration 14 days Destinations Auckland, Coromandel, Whitianga, Tauranga, Rotorua, Napier, Masterton, Wellington, Picton, Queen Charlotte SoundSee all destinations Age Range 2 to 99 year olds Operator Discover New Zealand From
- NZ$6,200
New Zealand's natural wonders come alive through activities like heli-hiking Franz Josef Glacier, skydiving over Lake Taupo, and roaming Te Wahipounamu World Heritage area. Visitors can create personal hot pools at Hot Water Beach, observe geothermal activity at Te Puia in Rotorua, and dive into world-class adventures in Queenstown, the adventure capital.
Duration 16 days Destinations Auckland, Coromandel, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Kaiteriteri, Westport, Ruatapu, Franz JosefSee all destinations Age Range 18 to 35 year olds Operator Kiwi Experience From
- NZ$1,399
Highlights of New Zealand
42 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“New Zealand was on my bucket list for years and did not disappoint. This tour covers a lot of ground and experiences that were wonderful.”
Deborah, traveled in September
Opportunities abound with Franz Josef Glacier heli-hiking, Queenstown bungee jumping, and Shotover River jet boating. Natural wonders include Aoraki/Mount Cook's trails and Waitomo's cave systems.
Duration 15 days Destinations Auckland, Hahei, Rotorua, Wellington, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound Age Range up to 90 year olds Operator G Adventures From
- NZ$6,459
Queenstown's adrenaline activities set the pace, while Franz Josef Glacier viewpoints and Milford Sound's dramatic fiords showcase natural wonders. Rotorua's geothermal spectacles at Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Huka Falls' powerful 220,000-liter water cascade amaze visitors.
Duration 14 days Destinations Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Picton, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Omarama, OamaruSee all destinations Age Range 1 to 99 year olds Operator Agate Travel From
- NZ$11,715
Thrilling jet boat rides on Queenstown's Shotover River set the pace before cruising past Milford Sound's sheer cliffs to spot dolphins and seals. The route continues along Devil's Staircase to Te Anau, through Mirror Lakes, and into Homer Tunnel beneath towering peaks.
Duration 10 days Destinations Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Christchurch Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Trafalgar From $8,099
12% Off- NZ$7,127+$495 upfront costsYou save $971
What people love about Active Tours in New Zealand
- Southern Highlights - 9 Day Self Drive Tour
After a "misstep" by your team in the beginning, canceling my trip the very next day after confirmation, Jules appeared to go significantly above the routine and made sure EVERYTHING else went PERFECT. She spent alot of phone time with me. Every place we went had the reservation, ticket, tour, seats ready and instantly available. She booked a few extras I did not request that were very enjoyable. I was able to easily book some things advertised we thought would be too crowded over the Christmas break making the whole trip the best one ever. THANK YOU JULES- and Marianna as well.
Just done a 7 day Snow Safari with Haka Tours and I had the time of my life! Things couldn't have been better! The small size of the group allows you to get to know everyone and within a day you feel like travelling with a bunch of friends. Everything is thought and organized so you can make the most out of your time in New Zealand, but still is really flexible. Our tour guide Burto is a legend! He was helpful, friendly, full of energy and so enthousiastic! I can't think of a better way to travel in New Zealand than with Haka Tours, they are the best!!
South Island Snow Safari
- Coasts & Culture Tour
We went on a seven day tour of the North Island of New Zealand. My husband and I have never been on a bus tour like this, but Haka Tours far exceeded all of our expectations. It was a fantastic road trip through a beautiful landscape with strangers who quickly became our friends. We really like the concept behind Haka Tours, and our tour guides, Katie and Si, were both excellent. They were super friendly and extremely knowledgeable! Haka took care of getting us from place to place and chose the accommodations, but each person in our group had a lot of freedom in deciding what they wanted to do at each of the places where we traveled. Since we were on a bus with a small group of people that allowed us to get to know each other, and on some days we all chose the same activities. On other days, we would split up and some of us would do one thing while others chose to do something else. Throughout the tour, we stayed at hostels, which were not super luxurious, but all of them were very comfortable and clean. At each place, Katie and Si gave us a choice of activities that we could do on the given day. They made sure that we all got to do what we wanted, so if there was any specific activity that one of us wanted to do that was not mentioned, they made sure that they could accommodate all of us. We got to do a lot of activities and enjoyed all of them. We went sea kayaking in Coromandel and black water rafting through a cave in Waitomo; we got to see and walk around the Hobbiton set; we soaked in a natural hot spring; and we went on a couple of bushwalks where we got to see some amazing scenery. We also spend an evening learning about Maori culture in Rotorua and we got to make our own souvenir tiki pendant out of bone. We loved every day on our tour and would gladly do it again. NZ is absolutely stunning and Haka Tours is the best tour you can take to see it. A big THANK YOU to Katie and Si for making sure we enjoyed every minute of our trip! We can't wait to come back to see the South Island!
What our customers ask about Adventure Tours & Trips in New Zealand
How many locations will I visit on a typical New Zealand Adventure tour?
A standard 14-day tour takes you through 11-16 key spots across New Zealand's North and South Islands. The journey often begins in Auckland leading travelers through action-packed destinations like Rotorua Taupo Queenstown and Franz Josef Glacier. Wild Kiwi's Explorer tour includes stops at 11 major locations while Flying Kiwi's Grand Traverse extends to 18 destinations. One TourRadar traveler notes: "The pace was generally hectic apart from travelling hours on the bus. It was a great opportunity to meet a wide range of nationalities and personalities."
What are the must-do adventure activities in New Zealand?
New Zealand's adventure offerings span both islands with Queenstown standing out as the country's thrill-seeking hub. Here visitors can try bungy jumping at Kawarau Bridge ($265-450 USD) skydiving ($430-535 USD) and jet boating ($169 USD). Rotorua adds white water rafting ziplining and geothermal explorations to the mix. As shared by a TourRadar traveler: "I've never had so much fun in my life and I never imagined I'd get to push myself to do 6 new things I've never done before (white water rafting zip lining sky diving bungy jumping cave exploring and surfing)."
When is the best time to go on an Adventure tour in New Zealand?
December through February marks New Zealand's peak summer season when conditions are best for outdoor activities such as hiking Tongariro Crossing and exploring Franz Josef Glacier. Booking records show the highest concentration of adventure tours between November and March especially in Queenstown and Rotorua. Winter tours (June-August) offer different experiences including skiing in the Southern Alps. A TourRadar traveler shares: "We did the Northern Explorer tour with Wild Kiwi in winter. Although some activities were weather-dependent our guide made sure we found pockets of joy in any activity we could get our hands on."
What type of accommodation can I expect on an Adventure tour?
Accommodation options vary with each tour company. Wild Kiwi puts guests in comfortable hostels like Nomads in Queenstown and the Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef. Flying Kiwi focuses on scenic camping sites with cabin upgrade options. Many groups stay at the Haka Hotel in Lake Taupo. One TourRadar traveler reports: "The hostels were very good unfortunately we weren't able to make it to Franz Josef and had a night in Dunedin and that hostel wasn't very clean."
What wildlife encounters can I expect during an Adventure tour?
New Zealand offers close encounters with unique wildlife throughout the journey. Kaikoura provides opportunities to swim with dolphins ($240 USD) or watch whales ($175 USD). Wellington's Zealandia Nature Reserve houses rare kiwi birds while Dunedin's Otago Peninsula is home to penguins seals and albatross. A TourRadar traveler notes: "The nutrient-rich waters of Kaikoura attract a wide variety of marine wildlife including whales and dolphins with pods of up to 300 of these playful creatures hanging out here."
How much spending money should I budget for optional activities?
A two-week adventure tour typically requires 800-1200 USD for extra activities. Prices range from 63 USD for Waitomo Caves boat tours to 585 USD for Franz Josef Glacier heli-hikes. Queenstown's adventure activities like bungy jumping range from 220-450 USD. According to one TourRadar traveler: "Amazing experience! So smooth and fun! Amazing people! Only downside is most of the activities are not included so there's a significant additional cost. Once in a lifetime trip!"
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