I was completely bowled over by this amazing experience. There is so much to find exceptional about Active Adventure's experiential learning; I also have some very important recommendations to share with fellow and future active adventurers.

Firstly, there is so much to see on the Ultimate New Zealand South Island Adventure. The hallmark of a great trip like this are quality guides. Kim, our lead guide and a seasoned pro, was a confident and fun gal with so much to share, wonderful stories and anecdotes about the history and spirit of this primeval place. She planned the whole trip, from accommodations and necessities to culture and unusual places, and from sharing her delight at special birds and trees, an absolute delight! A newer guide with incredible cooking skills and plenty of guide-like know-how was Emma, who helped with room selections & providing sumptuous, high quality meals that kept us energized and sated. Emma was perfectly suited to this work, and both Emma and Kim were patient. On the 3-day Challenging portion of the Nelson Lakes hiking adventure, we were joined by two others, Brogan and Mel, both of which assisted me especially and the others as well in fully experiencing the wonders of the mountain peaks and the difficult trekking required to get there. The accommodations were much better than what was shared in the brochure, the stops, the continuous learning about birds and forests and trees and mushrooms, geology and people and colorful tales were all very special. Active Adventures demonstrated real value by living up to the promise of tremendous experience!
Now, some negatives about the trip my fellow travelers need to know. At 60, I am in good shape, fit, and hike and bike 3 times a week each; In the past year, I lost 45 lbs on a ketogenic diet (no processed carbs). Over the last 6 months, I worked up to hiking once per week 6 hours and 3500 feet of elevation gain in dry Phoenix, AZ. The itinerary shows what you do on each day, how much distance you cover, and how much elevation you gain or lose. I used this as much as the packing list to prepare for the trip. And let me tell you, this active hiking trip kicked my ***! Here's what to expect: huge hikes with lots of elevation gain that begin in jungle-like, humid conditions that can zap your energy quickly, especially when the trails are rutted and steep. Also expect that the itinerary is off in its calculations for how much elevation you gain and lose... by a lot! For example, the last day of the Challenging option for Nelson Lakes says that you gain 220 feet (70 meters) and lose 2700 feet (840 meters). Untrue! After a night at Angelus Hut 5400 feet, depart that next day climbing over 1300 feet additionally, then descend a total of almost 4000 feet. You must count the additional up to arrive at total elevation, and the result is bad blisters on my feet! Also, no recovery time is given. Don't go on this trip unless you are prepared for huge hikes with no recovery time the next day. Furthermore, they expect you to cross large rivers getting your boots completely soaked for several days! What???!!
A few additional recommendations: upon arrival, purchase Goodbye Sandfly, a repellent and soother for the island's version of mosquitos... they are 10X worse! Also, make sure when booking your trip to get in writing that departure date is "guaranteed departure"; canceling my trip on me after 4 months almost cost me $3800 in flight costs! Another helpful tip: rent their equipment --high quality, good fitting, and cheap. Next: all clothes hike related, incl pants! Washers and dryers frequently available. Final recommendation to fellow travelers: the suggested tips of $20/guide/day is insufficient. These guides deserve twice that, and you'll need NZ $ to pay them. You'll probably want to come with $500NZ for personal expenses (there aren't many you can't get without credit cards), but you'll need lots more to tip your guides well at the end.

| January 1970