4.7 Stars (128 reviews)
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
Great Walks of New Zealand, January 1970
4.7 Stars (336 reviews)
Good, really enjoyed it
Ultimate North Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1725 reviews)
There's a lot of anticipation when one books a tour six months in advance, and even more when the weather forecasts hundreds of millimeters of rain over several days. Fortunately, our guides Lynette and Grace had the experience and confidence to make the most of whatever came our way, and we had a trip every bit as wonderful and beautiful and challenging as the brochure promised...and then some!
Lynette is a Queenstown native and knows the South Island and its many personalities intimately. Her guidance was consistently spot-on, never overwhelming us with details or forcing us to think about contingencies that didn't matter. Her knowledge of local flora and fauna was illuminating, and helped prepare us to see more deeply into the wild and natural beauties of the trails. She gave consideration to the full range of abilities in our group, adjusting plans so that all could have the best experiences based on their respective abilities.
Grace was the loud, proud voice of planning, preparation, logistics, and team discipline. But she was also the one to quietly lead some listening sessions that allowed us to experience the wild beyond what we could see. Whether working unheard and unseen to acquire provisions, prepare meals, fill the snack basket for the bus rides, or making sure everybody heard and understood instructions so we could all safely enjoy the adventures of the day, Grace always had the right tone and tenor to bring the team together, on schedule. As a result, we could all make the most of each day, which was a lot!
The forecast the day before our trip was a Code-Orange storm predicted to dump hundreds of millimeters of rain over a period of several days. Lynette acknowledged that things can get wet on the West Coast (understatement!), but she also told us that with the right equipment and the right attitude, we can have great experiences in challenging weather. We tested that theory on Day 1 at Arthur's Pass National Park, and while it was wet, it was also a great opportunity to experience, in a limited way, what we could do despite the rain. That first challenge help galvanize the team, and every day thereafter, things got better, naturally.
The monster storm predicted chose to head north while our tour headed south, giving us gorgeous weather and a freshly-washed landscape. The rivers were quite full and fast-running from the rain, which only added to the energy of the remote wilderness of the Siberian valley. The hike to the Ben Lomond Saddle in Queenstown was definitely a highlight as we crossed the snowline quite early in the trek. But so too were the encounters with penguins, dolphins, seals, and kea in Milford Sound. And never have I seen the opulent lushness of a rainforest that does receive its full allocation of rain water (recently 20m in a year!). Good accommodations, healthy, generous meals, and a shared appreciation for good coffee prepared us well for each day's adventure. And not once did I feel like I pushed anything too hard, nor been asked to do so.
All in all a well-organized, well-run trip across some of the most amazing landscapes I've ever seen in the 36+ countries I've visited.
Classic South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
Perfectly planned down to the smallest detail and with unexpected surprises every now and then. Always felt safe with Jamie and Olivia. Their knowledge, kindness och patience were greatly appreciated. The views and scenery that I got to experience were unreal and I will never forget this trip. Thank you!
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (128 reviews)
Our trip took us from Queenstown south to Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound and a few other places. We overnighted in Doubtful Sound aboard the Fiordland Navigator and trekked for about 10km each day over Routeburn , Milford and Kepler Tracks before returning to Queenstown to take the Gondola up to Ben Lomond where we proceeded to the Saddle. Great trip with great fellow trekkers and delightful Guides in Sarah and Jacob. Learn the origin of words Sound and Fiord ,Waterfalls and Cascades and the magic of Fiordland in NZ. Sandflies a menace so needed plenty of spray.
Great Walks of New Zealand, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
New Zealand has more natural beauty and diversity than any country I've ever visited. The hikes were well chosen and challenging. Our guides, Liana and Ruby were helpful, positive, accommodating and always up for fun.
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (336 reviews)
After three previous trips to the South Island, I was interested to travel the North Island, and the Kauri trip exceeded my expectations. While the usual fantastic Active Adventures' features were again apparent - great guides (Lauren & Johnathon), great food, and great accommodations, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed some of the more cultural experiences, especially the evening Maori guided walk through the Waipoua Kauri forest which was simply magical. Other highlights of the trip for me were the sand boarding on the dunes at Te Pouahi Reserve, snorkelling at the Poor Knights Islands, and black water rafting through the Waitomo Caves. It was unfortunate that we weren't able to do the Tongariro Crossing due to weather conditions, but even that didn't dampen my overall enjoyment of this great trip.
Ultimate North Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1725 reviews)
Active Adventure's South Island trip was truly the trip of a lifetime. I knew I wanted to take my family (husband and 23-year-old son) to New Zealand but I could not have imagined how amazing this trip would be. The day we flew into Siberia Valley in small planes, crossed a river, hiked 9 miles as the only people we saw in the whole valley, then jet-boated out down the river was definitely a "bucket list item" I didn't even know I had. Every day was a lot of fun, rain or shine. Our guides Lynette and Grace were wonderful, and so were our fellow travelers. Everyone was friendly and had a great attitude. As a mom who is in charge of every detail on many trips, it was such a wonderful feeling to have our guides take care of those important tasks. We were never going to run out of water or snacks on their watch, and they provided very good meals. I was able to truly relax and immerse myself in nature, travel, fun. Would 100% book again with Active Adventures in the future. One last thing about New Zealand, the scenery is so varied and spectacular that even on days that we spent time in the bus traveling to our next destination (which never took all day, just a few hours), I thoroughly enjoyed very minute of our trip.
Classic South Island Adventure, January 1970