4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
New Zealand is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The Active Adventure guides make sure we saw a lot of this beautiful country. It was active which is what I wanted, but not too much.The bus was great. Lodging was varied and fun. We were well feed. Elise, our head guide was so accommodating and knowledgeable. She is a superstar.
It was one of the best trips I have ever been on. I will be back to New Zealand someday. I will also use Active Adventures for another trip somewhere.
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
We had a great trip to New Zealand! The guide leader, Elize, was very knowledgeable and managed to keep us moving along at a good pace while also keeping us safe and having a good time. Her assistant guides (Lisa, Kayla, and Holly) were all very helpful as well. The hikes were very challenging, particularly the hut-to-hut, but gave us great views of this beautiful country!
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (336 reviews)
As a single woman traveling on my own I was a little nervous about fitting in wth 13 other people, most of whom were married couples or women traveling with a friend. I soon realized that I was among a wonderful group of very friendly and supportive people. On the first day of our trip we were greeted by Greg and Emma, our Active Adventures guides. I was so impressed by them from the start of our trip until the very last hour when the holiday was over. Greg possessed great driving skills and knew the alternate routes to avoid washed out roads on the way to our first destination. They both took great care to make sure that we felt confident about the terrain we had to climb and were patient and relaxed with those of us who were walking a little slower than those who were up front. By noon every day we were at a hilltop or a park with a beautiful view, eating a tasty lunch prepared by Emma.
Our first walk, through Waipoua Forest, set the tone for the rest of the trip. Our Maori guide, Mary Pi, showed us the largest and oldest living kauri trees, weaving facts and folklore into her heartfelt talk. Her deep respect for Mother Nature and her Maori ancestors left a deep impression on all of us, an impression of respect for the Maori people, their culture, and flora and fauna of New Zealand.
Highlights include Hiking Cape Brett ; how awesome to walk the ridge of a mountain that rises out of the sea, and be able to view
the Pacific Ocean on both sides of the trail!
Many of the other hikes included cascading waterfalls, such a beautiful sight!
My favourite place to stay was at Creel Lodge on the Tongariro River. All the cottages were nestled into a verdant landscape of beautiful shrubs and trees, including an especially large tree over-arching the outdoor picnic area where we enjoyed our celebratory dinner together on our last evening of a wonderful holiday.
All my best wishes to Greg and Emma. You were so kind and so much fun. I miss you!
Ultimate North Island Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (128 reviews)
Good, really enjoyed it
Great Walks of New Zealand, January 1970
4.7 Stars (312 reviews)
This trip was amazing. New Zealand is a postcard at every turn. Franz Josef glacier hike and Milford Sound are not to be missed. The cycling is awesome...everything from scenic expanses to heart pounding narrow cliffs...all postcard perfect.
New Zealand Biking Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (128 reviews)
This adventure was close to perfect. Brilliant guides (Koru & Kate), amazing places, beautiful weather, wonderful hikes. If there were problems they wwere dealt with with no dramas. The whole trip ran very smoothly. An excellent trip & I have already recommended Active Adventures to friends & family. However, the booking process through Luxury Escapes was a nightmare. Through them, we paid for a holiday that didn't exist. We tried many times to contact them without success. Formal complaints were lodged, with no adequate response. We asked for hotel bookings before & after, which never materialized. We booked independently in the end. Such a stressful process. Do not book through Luxury Escapes, go directly to Active Adventures, who are very good.
Great Walks of New Zealand, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1376 reviews)
I was very impressed with the quality of the food, accommodations and tour leaders. Pepo was an amazing tour lead for this trip. His lectures were easy to understand and I learned a lot about the underwater and above ground wildlife. He did a wonderful job pointing out sharks, sting rays, turtles and other sea life while on our numerous snorkels. It was awesome spending the entire week stepping around sea lions and iguanas. The tortoise breeding preserves were impressive to see. The entire group found the food on this trip to be outstanding. The food was healthy and the bowl of very fresh fruit that was served with most breakfasts was delicious. The oceanfront hotels were very good. This trip went very smooth with the amazing help from Puedo (Paulo?) who coordinated all the background details of moving our luggage and coordinating all the transportation. Everything seemed to flow seamlessly due to his effort, the drivers and other help. I would easily recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience the Galapagos Islands.
Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (4482 reviews)
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
Ultimate South Island Adventure, January 1970