New Zealand adventure holiday
Highlights
Auckland | Tiri Tiri Matangi Reserve | Rotorua | Huka Falls | Tongariro National Park | Tongariro Crossing | Wellington | Cook Strait | Marlborough | Abel Tasman National Park | Motueka | Buller River | Punakaiki | Fox Glacier | Okaroto | Wanaka | Matukitiki | Milford Sound | Inner Sound | Queenstown | Mount Cook National Park | Christchurch | Canterbury Plains | Optional activities include a scenic flight over Tongariro Crossing, helicopter ride and walk over Fox Glacier and bungee jumping in Queenstown |Description of New Zealand adventure holiday
Starting in Auckland, travelling through the North Island and snaking down through the South Island in almost a full loop, this three-week small-group guided holiday reveals New Zealand in all its glorious variety. By far the best way to appreciate its natural wonders is on foot and by boat so this is an active trip, which maximises the time spent in the outdoors. You’ll need a good level of fitness to make the most of the jam-packed itinerary. There are five half days and three full days of walking through beautiful national parks, including hiking on the Fox Glacier and tackling the Tongariro Crossing. Dubbed one of the greatest one-day walks in New Zealand, this route goes through rugged volcanic desert, past craters and glacial valleys with incredible views.You won’t just be walking though. Cruising around Milford Sound searching for dolphins and seals and jetboating through Mount Aspiring National Park are two standout activities. During your time here, you’ll also come to understand New Zealand’s unique heritage, meeting Maoris in Rotorua and visiting the New Zealand National Museum in Wellington. Sleep soundly after all that fresh air in comfortable hotels and lodges, most with ensuite facilities, and enjoy a single night on a cruise boat, too.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com
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Small group holiday
Small group travel is not large group travel scaled down. It is modelled on independent travel – but with the advantage of a group leader to take care of the itinerary, accommodation and tickets, and dealing with the language. It’s easy to tick off the big sights independently – but finding those one-off experiences, local festivals, travelling markets and secret viewpoints is almost impossible for someone without the insider knowledge gained from years in the field. If you’re heading off on a gap year your, perhaps – but for those with a two-week holiday, a small group tour will save valuable planning time.The leaders are not guides – they’re not there to shepherd you around. Instead, they’ll let you know which local restaurant serves great value food – without running the risk of travellers’ tummy. They’ll allow you to avoid hour-long queues at train stations and attractions.
We like to think of small group travel as the Goldilocks option. It is independent travel without the fuss, worry and bunk beds – and organised travel without the coaches. And it’s cheaper than a tailor made tour. It’s sits somewhere in the middle – and we think it’s just about right.
Have big, life-enriching experiences that would be impossible to organise without lots of time and insider knowledge.
Simplicity
Make the most of your holiday time by letting someone else do the hard work and boring logistics!
Peace of mind
Small group tours take care of the security aspects – and provide a safety net should anything unexpected happen.
If you don’t have three months to spend exploring, small groups trips let you cover more ground in less time. Your days are not spent queuing for tickets or finding hotels – so you can squeeze more into your holiday.
Solo travellers who’d like company
Likeminded travel companions plus peace of mind for those travelling alone. Single supplements are usually available – providing privacy if you want it.
Less confident travellers
Stray from the tourist trail without worrying about getting lost, and meet local people without dealing with the language barrier.
Couples and friends have private rooms, and you can choose to eat alone or not. Single supplements give solo travellers their own room.
“There won’t be any free time”
Free mornings or afternoons let you explore on your own, or just relax.
“The accommodation will be basic”
Trips are as high or low end as you like. Though off the beaten track destinations won’t have luxury hotels, this is all part of the adventure.
“I won’t like the other travellers!”
Tour operators try to create groups with a similar demographic – age, families, activity levels... Chances are, you’ll even make new friends.
“Will we be following an umbrella?”
No.
Story: The first British woman to climb Manaslu, Valerie climbed Everest for her 50th birthday. She’s spent fourteen Christmas Days trekking to Everest Base Camp, and is involved insetting up Responsible Tourism initiatives in the Himalayas.
Story: Roshan has led over 130 trips – he adores showing travellers around Sri Lanka. He won the company Leader Award in 2010, but his career highlight was working on their Tsunami Project – which earned him a responsible tourism award.
Responsible tourism
New Zealand adventure holiday
Carbon reduction
Your holiday will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO2. Learn about the CO2 emissions of this holiday and how to reduce them.
Environment
Conservation:
We are involved in conservation efforts for the Black Stilt (or Kaki in Maori ) which is one of New Zealand’s most endangered birds. We donate to the Department of Conservation who run the Kaki recovery programme near the town of Twizel in the Mackenzie Basin. Here the birds are bred and rehabilitated in to the wild after a number of months. Our entry into National Parks such as Tongariro, Mt. Aspiring, Mt. Cook and Abel Tasman also contribute to the upkeep of these incredibly beautiful places and the wildlife which inhabits them.
UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
Community
Community:
Although this trip is largely nature based, we are keen to integrate history and culture of the indigenous Maori community. In Rotoura we visit a Maori bathhouse and museum which helps clients to understand the history of the region. Afterwards we go to the Marae (ceremonial ground) where our Maori hosts welcome us and induct us into some of their customs before delivering a traditional concert and hangi (traditional meal). This is all operated by the local Iwi, who distribute all earnings amongst their community.
Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.
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