Adventure Tours in New Zealand

There might not be any hobbits, but New Zealand is undeniably full of the surreal. While the snow-capped mountains, fjords, and hot springs set the stage, it is New Zealanders themselves who make New Zealand the ultimate adventure destination. Bungee-jumping, zorbing, and commercial jet-boating were all proudly invented in New Zealand. “She’ll be right” is the Kiwi catch-all phrase, and their favorite thing to say as they throw themselves into any adventure. When you discover adventure travel programs in New Zealand, you won’t be able to resist throwing yourself in after them.

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24 Adventure Programs in New Zealand

9.3938 reviews

Pure Exploration

Adventure Guide Program | Queenstown, New Zealand

Based in Queenstown, this program combines skills acquisition wit...

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9.435 reviews

Pacific Discovery

New Zealand & Australia Gap Semester | Pacific Discovery

Immerse yourself in New Zealand and Australia's extraordinary lan...

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9.54763 reviews

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 9...

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9.9212 reviews

Travel For Teens

Travel For Teens: Australia and New Zealand Service

Fly across the International Dateline and arrive in the Land Down...

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00 reviews

Putney Student Travel

Australia, New Zealand, & Fiji: Exploration Program

Travel and adventure in the South Pacific, a region rich in cultu...

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9.6837 reviews

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

GoEco - Top Rated & Award Winning Volunteer Programs Abroad

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with awa...

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101 reviews

Oyster Worldwide

Work and Travel in New Zealand

Explore the beautiful islands of New Zealand where the diversity ...

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00 reviews

NOLS The National Outdoor Leadership School

NOLS Expeditions: Semester and Year

Combine it all by joining a NOLs gap semester or gap year program...

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108 reviews

New Zealand Internships

Tourism Internship Program

The New Zealand Internships Tourism Program allows candidates the...

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00 reviews

Westcoast Connection

Westcoast Connection | New Zealand

Come explore the intense, expansive, virtually untouched natural ...

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00 reviews

Out Adventures

Active Gay Tours with Out Adventures

Step into an exciting world of active travel with a program desig...

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AFS-USA

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Latest Program Reviews

An incredible experience that will either A) give you a new skillset or B) teach you a lot about yourself

January 22, 2025by: Chris EngleProgram: Adventure Guide Program | Queenstown, New Zealand

If you're on the fence about taking the course, do it. It's an incredible experience that will either A) give you a new skillset or B) teach you a lot about yourself. Even if you don't end up working in the industry, the memories and stories you'll have make it worth it.

Having great connections with people because you are living all your emotions with them

December 25, 2024by: Charlotte HebertProgram: Adventure Guide Program | Queenstown, New Zealand

It's really nice to see New Zealand in an other perspective than the tourist eye. Being able to travel around and do some climbing and tramping as a local. Having great connections with people because you are living all your emotions with them and 24/7.

An incredible experience that will either A) give you a new skillset or B) teach you a lot about yourself

January 22, 2025by: Chris EngleProgram: Adventure Guide Program | Queenstown, New Zealand

Having great connections with people because you are living all your emotions with them

December 25, 2024by: Charlotte HebertProgram: Adventure Guide Program | Queenstown, New Zealand

A Guide to Adventure Travel in New Zealand

Most Adventurous Places

There are more locations for adventure travel in New Zealand than there are battles in Middle Earth. The sheer diversity of the landscapes makes choosing just one spot to visit almost impossible.

Queenstown is the regal beauty of New Zealand’s South Island. At the feet of the aptly-named Remarkables, with the depths of Lake Wakatipu before it, it is little wonder why Queenstown calls itself the adventure capital of the world. With all of the mountains, forests, canyons, and lakes in the vicinity, there is never nothing to do in Queenstown.

Wellington is the feisty, creative, and cultural heart of New Zealand. Waterfront promenades and high hilltop lookouts border a city center that runs on a caffeine and craft beer buzz. In case you get caught up in the cosmopolitan city scene, the steep hills and spectacular bay are there as constant reminders of the adventure travel in New Zealand that awaits just beyond the city’s fringe.

Auckland is where you will probably arrive and where all of your New Zealand adventures will begin. Hop on a ferry, and in less than an hour you could be strolling through island vineyards, basking on secluded beaches, or spotting native birds.

Popular Adventure Types

The birthplace of bungee-jumping knows how to get pulses racing and palms sweating. Whether it is hurtling down a canyon of raging white water, climbing glaciers, or rolling down a hill in a big plastic ball (yep, that’s a thing), boredom doesn’t exist in New Zealand.

New Zealand is chocka block (full of) with adventure activities. The whole country seems to be dedicated to the great outdoors, and all the fun you can have there. Skydiving is one of the more terrifying forms of New Zealand adventures, while rafting through rapids or glow worm caves gives you a good view from the water. Hiking is one of the best and simplest ways to explore the mountains, fjords, and rugged coastlines of New Zealand, while camping is a quintessentially Kiwi experience.

However, New Zealand’s legendary natural beauty faces all kinds of threats. Conservation groups fight ongoing battles against pests, deforestation, and pollution in an effort to preserve New Zealand’s precious environment. Getting involved in these eco-wars through eco-tours can be a rewarding way to learn more about the flora and fauna that make New Zealand unique, while lending much needed help to the fight to keep New Zealand beautiful.

Anticipated Costs

Adventure travel in New Zealand is high in adrenaline, but also high in cost. Even if your New Zealand adventures involve using your thumb to get around and nights spent sleeping under the stars with possums, you’ll need some serious savings to fuel your adventure around this country (because you won’t want to miss a thing).

Sometimes good things come in expensive packages though. The costs of adventure travel programs in New Zealand look expensive at first glance, but when you consider that they generally include food, accommodation, transport, and dozens of unique experiences, they often add up to a very good deal.

If the costs are a concern for you, remember it is possible to travel to New Zealand on a budget. Buying a bus pass, for example, is a cost-effective and easy way of getting around the whole country. Be adventurous, learn how to cook your own food, and explore different ways of traveling. Couchsurfing is a whole different kind of adventure that will connect you with locals, or you could try your hand at work exchanges. If you need help funding your plane ticket to New Zealand, consider a crowdsource fundraising site, such as FundMyTravel.

GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

Adventure travel programs in New Zealand don’t have to mean danger. New Zealand might just be one of the safest and most welcoming countries where it is possible to do crazy things. New Zealand is ranked as the fourth-most peaceful country in the world, the most free country, and the second-least corrupt country. In short, New Zealand is not just a paradise because of its rugged landscapes. The friendly, down-to-earth nature of Kiwis means they are open-minded, and their love of travel (something that comes from being stuck on a small island at the end of the world) means they always welcome visitors with big smiles and beers (Speights, of course).

New Zealand is more than just 40 million sheep and a bunch of farmers in gumboots. This country is a very unique blend of laid-back vibes and heart-thumping excitement. Adventure tours in New Zealand will always include some risks, even more than usual since it is a sparsely populated country with isolated rural areas. Bear in mind that when you are out in the wilderness, you are out in the wilderness. Understand what you are getting into, always go prepared, and never leave the marked trails. Adventure in New Zealand safely, basically.