Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
I knew it was going to be a worth-while trip, but it exceeded my expectations. The group of people on the tour and the two guides made the whole experience unforgettable and I can't thank them enough.
| January 1970
Machu Picchu & Amazon Adventure
4.7 from 1778 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Darcie E
What an amazing trip! Our Jaguar adventure was very well organized - we were well taken care of every step of the way. I'm recommending it to all my friends as something they simply must do. Yohn did a wonderful job and our group was so much fun! We are looking forward to planning another Active Adventure.
| January 1970
Machu Picchu & Amazon Adventure
4.7 from 1778 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Jennifer Y
Travelled with a fantastic group of people to the most amazing parts of Peru. Active did a great job organising and showcasing a diverse range of sites in this beautiful country - would definitely highly recommend this trip!
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
It was great to see the country in the off season and not overrun with tourists. It drizzled occasionally during the trip, which added to the cloudy mystique of Fiordland and Milford Sound, waterfalls poured down canyon walls. When was the last time you saw a blue mushroom? Hikes came in all kinds...in lush green mossy temperate forests, along wide expanses of driftwood-littered beaches, up steep slopes of Mt. Cook and Nelson Lakes National Park, over roots and high stepping to a grand view of a glacier. The food is tasty. Dolphins joined us while snorkeling off a seal colony and we watched 100 or more seal pups frolic in a pool under a waterfall by Kaikoura. The cloud formations and sunsets are gorgeous! We spent 2 beautiful nights at Braemar Station with a bright moon illuminating snow-covered mountains and a lake sparkling in the foreground. So much beauty in one place, that is, South Island New Zealand.
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Active New Zealand...something for everyone. Commune with nature, snorkel with dolphins, wine taste, kick back with new friends, kayak through the sounds and enjoy the majesty of a beautiful land.
| January 1970
North Island Volcanic Adventure
4.5 from 754 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Our family of four (parents in 60’s and sons in 20’s) booked this tour as part of a two-week NZ vacation. It pushed our limits – we undertook activities we would not have attempted on our own. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing was especially challenging for the two “old folks,†but our guide patiently encouraged us along the trail. With two guides, we were able to split into two groups, so the old folks didn’t “hold back†the youngsters.
Our guides, Lina and Kate, were professional, organized, upbeat, and attentive -- anticipating our needs and satisfying our various dietary requests. Lina is an exceptionally good driver with a wealth of knowledge about New Zealand; she patiently answered our endless questions. Our meals were varied and good – some prepared by our guides, and others from restaurants. Kate’s Pavlova dessert was a special treat!
We appreciated the flexibility to modify our itinerary to include Waitomo Caves, instead of the Hobbiton movie set. So glad we didn’t miss the unique, amazing experience of tubing in the glowworm cave! And, we had great weather for the entire trip – even on the rim of Tongariro’s Red Crater. All in all, it was an awesome five days!
Our suggestions for improvement are mostly administrative:
1) Kauri tour price is listed as: US$1999 + tax. After agreeing to take the tour, we were surprised to learn the tax was US$300 – much higher than we expected. Either the price should include this tax, or it should read “US$1999 + 15% taxâ€. (Based on our experience, this tax is usually included in NZ hotel, restaurant and shop prices.)
2) For our four adults, we asked Active NZ to reserve one double room and one twin room. We expected our sleeping arrangements to be two rooms – each with a bath. Instead, our lodging was two bedrooms with only one bath. This was inconvenient – esp. since we were all on the same schedule – arising early to eat breakfast prepared by our guides, and returning fairly late in the day. Active NZ should have informed us that we would be sharing one bath, and offered the option to pay extra for two baths.
3) It took us a day or so to learn the guides’ names. We suggest the guides make an effort to call each other by name on the first day (to aid people who have difficulty remembering names).
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1727 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Well done you guys - this was a fantastic time. You were well organized, thought of everything, made us feel personally looked after and we are planning to do another trip soon.
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1727 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
What a great time. I did not have to think about a thing yet it was crammed full of activities, lots of opportunities to rest if you needed time out and.... a humorous commentary with local insights if you wanted it. Our guides were Amanda and Duck, who led the group excellently, were always ready with a joke, interesting commentary and great cooking. I really have to say that our every need was met. The selection of trips, walks, tea rooms, scenic outlooks was really well thought and cleverly put together. I would never had been able to see so much in such a relaxing way if I had tried to arrange it (and I have arranged trips through Europe and Africa in the past). This was an affordable trip and I can't actually believe the value you get for the money you spend - and let's face it, everyone wants the most bang for their buck. The personal communication and admin before the trip was also excellent - I really had no fears that something was not sorted. Please keep doing what you are doing, don't get big and corporate and impersonal and we will keep coming back. I am already trying to sort out leave dates for later this year because I want to bring the rest of the family and do the same trip again.
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
This was my second trip with Active and once again it was extremely well organized and a "trip of a lifetime". Rimu was an amazing adventure with lots of challenging activities and spectacular scenery. The trip highlighted all the best of the South Island. The accomodations at off the beaten track locations were great. Ken and Jacs were the perfect guides and I can't say enough about the food. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone looking for an active adventure!
| January 1970
North Island Volcanic Adventure
4.5 from 754 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
The trouble w/ a review is where to start when ALL of it was fun, new, exciting and w/ gorgeous scenery! The guides, first off, were Ken and Jacqueline, and they were so upbeat and jovial it was hard not to laugh and smile all the time. Plus Ken's knowledge of the country - culturally, geologically and politically - was astounding and informative. We all learned so much more, saw things we never would have, if it were left to us to read it from a book and plan the trip ourselves. Both guides were so competent and capable that it made everyone feel comfortable and safe. We had great fun with all the various forms of exercise and exploration every day. We ate well every meal. We slept well every night. We were kindly known as "the family" as we were a family of 3 kids (ages 16,14 and 11) and w/ a grandpa as well. We all had a ball. The beauty of the trip is that they really do cater it to your level of ability. If you were wanting a more mellow day, the guides allowed for that w/ no questions asked. Very warm and positive culture at Active Adventures.
| January 1970
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
4.7 from 270 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
This is my second time with Active Adventures. I was so impressed with the Rimu tour, so I decided to book again, this time in the Himalayas. The tour was everything I expected: The detailed planning and execution, the wonderful guides and porters, the friendly faces of Nepal people and the awesome scenery. I would trek with you again for sure.
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1727 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
We had an amazing trip, the hiking was great. Sometimes challenging, but we made it with the encouragement of our great tour guides. We had the best tour guides in all of our Activities. This made our reunion with our vagabond friends a memorable one, hope to see u soon.
| January 1970
North Island Volcanic Adventure
4.5 from 754 reviews
' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
A nice follow up to the South Island. We never had the group come together as well as with Mike and Natalie but still a great memory.
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Mike and Nat were the reason this was our best vacation ever. They met each day with an enthusiasm and love of life that infected the entire group. They could not do enough to make our vacation fantastic and give us the total South Island experience. They love the land and they love New Zealand.
| January 1970
North Island Volcanic Adventure
4.5 from 754 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
This trip was an experience of a LIFE TIME. We would go back tomorrow. It was challenging at times, even more than what we had anticipated but absolutely NO regrets. Lina and Jaclyn were very organized and always on top of the agenda.
| January 1970
Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure
4.7 from 1376 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Pepo was awesome. There was never any downtime or waiting for the next trip. This was due to Pepo having transport organised and waiting for us at each point. I never felt that there was any pressure on the environment, in fact sometimes it seemed that we were the only people there. The trip was not too intrepid in that an older person could manage all the activities. Even the volcano walk! The accomodation was perfect. The only suggestion I could make is to meet in Guayaquil instead of Quito. We didn't get the chance to look around Quito and because of flights arrived there after midnight and had to leave at 7 am partly because of the location of the new airport.
| January 1970
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
4.7 from 270 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
This trip was one of the most emotionally and physically challenging of my life, but it was worth every sweat, tear, and muscle ache. Being at ABC surrounded by the majesty of the mountains is an experience that is unforgettable.
| January 1970
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
4.7 from 270 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1727 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
The natural beauty of the South Island is like nothing I have ever experienced. Around every corner was something more amazing than the last. Additionally, the way native Kiwis respect and preserve nature and approach nearly everything they do in a common sense fashion was especially satisfying. This has altered the way I view the world - in a good way. Our guides Ken and Nicole were over the top amazing. They made the trip! Both are full of life, knowledgeable about NZ history, culture, off the beaten path trip "extras", and fun facts about the locale we happened to be in. If I did not have to leave family, friends and a career behind, I could happily live in NZ. Great country, even greater people! We will be back!
| January 1970
Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure
4.7 from 1376 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Wow! I couldn't have hoped for more enjoyable, more beautiful opportunity to see/enjoy an area that I have wanted to visit since I was a kid!!
I will always remember this experience for the rest of my life! And I was particularly thrilled to be able to share the experience with my son!
Plus our tour group really got along well together.
And I took close to 1000 photos. Many are not all that great! but I'm looking forward to sharing a lot of them once you get your revised photo gallery up and running.
| January 1970
Classic South Island Adventure
4.7 from 1727 reviews
' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
I have done quite a bit of foreign travel, but this was my first trip to New Zealand. The Tui trip is a great introduction to this beautiful country. There was a lot of variety in only eight days, both in the places we went and the activities we did. The trails we hiked and biked on were in excellent shape and very scenic. One unexpected pleasure was the gorgeous fall leaves (in April). I would definitely recommend this trip for lovers of the outdoors!
| January 1970
North Island Volcanic Adventure
4.5 from 754 reviews
' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Good, really enjoyed it
| January 1970
Ultimate South Island Adventure
4.7 from 4483 reviews
' ' ' ' ' Trusted Traveler
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
| January 1970
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