Adventure travel in New Zealand
Join Hamish in his native Aotearoa and let him show you a few of the hidden secrets and classic adventures on offer in New Zealand. This is an adventure with a familiar, but adventurous edge. Kiwi hospitality is infamous, but traveling New Zealand exploring the parts off the beaten track and “treats” many kiwis know about, make this the perfect adventure. Whether it is eating fish and chips and paua (abalone) fritters out of newspaper from the best fish and chip shop, or heading out for an overnight cruise in the Bay Of Islands, this trip thrives on being super fun and friendly. We’ll paddle a selection of rivers, but this trip is about so much more than rafting. We are excited to make this the best holiday you have ever had!
Itinerary & Map
Arrival into Auckland, where you can relax and unwind from your flight. Meet the rest of the group over a relaxed dinner together.
Included: Dinner
We depart early for our flight up to Kerikeri. Here, we’ll be met by our transfer and taken on a fascinating visit to Waitangi, the birthplace of modern New Zealand. The afternoon sees us head out for the next 20 hours on “The Rock” a wonderful way to experience the Bay Of Islands
Included: All meals
After waking up on The Rock, we’ll go for a hike, and try and catch some fresh fish, before arriving back in Paihia. Late afternoon, you’ll have at leisure, or perhaps you might like to take a scenic flight out by helicopter to ‘The Hole In The Rock’. Dinner in Paihia at a spectacular restaurant.
Included: All meals.
Our flight today, takes us to Wellington, the capitol of New Zealand. We get the chance to visit Te Papa, New Zealand’s premier museum with ancient artifacts. Afternoon to explore on your own, where you may want to relax on the waterfront or take a ride on the Cable Car for expansive views over this gorgeous city. Overnight hotel.
Included: All meals.
We jump on the Interisland Ferry to Picton in the South Island. From here, we’ll travel to see Blenheim, the wine growing capitol of New Zealand where we tour vineyards and enjoy a relaxed lunch. The afternoon sees us drive to Kaikoura and eat the best fish and chips in New Zealand on the beach!
Included: All meals.
Options this morning for swimming with Dolphins or whale watching. What a choice? Then we are off through Christchurch and onto Mt Cook where we stay in authentic shearer’s quarters at Braemar Station. Enjoy absolutely spectacular views of the lake and mountains, including Mt Cook itself.
Included: All meals
Today after a team breakfast, we take the scenic drive to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. This is where it all started! The afternoon see us take a ride on Shotover Jet and then after checking in to our accommodation, we take the Earnslaw steamer over to Walter Peak Station for dinner and a farm show.
Included: All meals
Today sees us with a magic flight over to Milford Sound (weather permitting), with stunning views en route. We take a cruise around the stunning Milford Sound by boat before heading back to Queenstown.
Included: All meals
After a brief stop in the old goldmining village of Arrowtown we drive through Wanaka on the way to Clarks Bluff where we take a scenic flight into the Landborough River by helicopter. You’ll get to the river in time to relax in stunning surroundings where you’ll get a 4 course meal!
Included: All meals
Lets go rafting! This gorgeous river is framed by the spectacular Southern Alps. We get to raft a river few people ever get to see. A few big rapids on the menu today including HellFire!
Included: All meals
We raft out to the confluence with the Haast River and drive up to Fox Glacier where we will overnight.
Included: All meals
For the more adventurous amongst you, here is one of the best places in New Zealand to Skydive. We travel the gorgeous West Coast Road reaching our home for the night in Hokitika, a classic West Coast town and a beautiful place to purchase pounamu (greenstone) for loved ones at home.
Included: All meals
A half day of travel up to Motueka. We arrive in Marahau where we don our life jackets and go paddling in the wonderful Abel Tasman National Park. Overnight camping.
Included: All meals
A full day exploring the wonderful and clear waters of Abel Tasman with all of its secrets.
Included: All meals
A couple of options for you final day of adventure. A hike back to Marahau or a day canyoning out via the Torrent River. Tonight we have our final night together on this wonderful adventure.
Included: All meals
Depart from Motueka to Nelson and onward to Auckland and your connecting flight home. Your trip finishes in Nelson and you need to arrange your own flight with Air New Zealand from Nelson (NSN) to Auckland (AKL)
Included: Breakfast.
Dates & Prices
| Dates & Reserve Spot | Duration |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21 February 2026 - Sunday 8 March 2026 Total Cost: $9750 | £7500 | €8950 | 16 days |
What you should bring
We find most of our clients have in their posession already what is needed for an adventure holiday. Bear in mind, your trip to New Zealand may involve many different types of weather from hot sunny days (expected) to cold rainy days and everything in between. Bear in mind as you will be flying internally in New Zealand, we recommend being under 20kg (32 lb) of check on baggage.
Download equipment file- Lightweight long trousers.
- Lightweight Long Sleeved shirts.
- Fleece jacket.
- Warm woollen hat
- Polypropylene or capilene thermal quick drying layers (top and bottoms)
- Light down jacket
- Comfortable cross trainers or light hiking boots for wearing around camp and on hikes.
- Nice outfit or two for evening meals
- Flip flops or jandals (this is the kiwi word for flip flops)
- Good quality rainwear
- Underwear.
- Glasses or Contact lenses. Disposable lenses are ideal.
- Toiletries. Toothbrush, toothpaste, personal items, biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner.
- Insect repellant (NZ sandflies LOVE tourists)
- Small pack towel.
- Headlamp or head torch and spare batteries.
- Any medication you may be taking.
- Wide brimmed sunhat
- Factor 50 sunscreen and lip balm
- Sunglasses.
- Travel adaptor plug for New Zealand
- A pair of Chacos or Keens. Trainers are also okay. Wetsuits and booties will be provided
- A pair of river shorts or swimming costume.
- Polypropylene or capilene thermal quick drying layers (top and bottoms) This is in addition to the set stated above.
- A baseball cap for under the helmet to keep sun off.
- Chums for fastening your sunglasses to your head – can be purchased from our Water Shop.
- Nalgene or similar water bottle – can be purchased from our Water Shop.
- Carabiner for fastening water bottle to your boat.
- Your favourite book or a journal for recording your river memories.
- Photographic or video equipment. On most expeditions we provide a waterproof case for these items. We recommend a cleaning kit as sand gets everywhere. Bring a spare memory card and charging leads. Also bring spare batteries for your camera.
- Waterproof GoPro for the “action” shots.
- The only money that you need to bring is for personal spending, souvenirs, personal items and alcoholic beverages if you drink. New Zealand offers widespread Credit Card and ATM facilities and for a small charge you can withdraw cash either from your account or Credit Card for convenience.
- Your trip leader will take care of gratuities for suppliers and guides throughout your trip, which can be settled with him at the end of your trip.
- Basically, we advise you to keep things as light as possible, without skimping on the necessities. It is great to bring back a load of goodies for everybody back at home.
Adventure travel in New Zealand Reviews
An amazing one-of-a-kind trip
There is nothing more sublime than seeing New Zealand through the eyes and experience of Hamish, the quintessential Kiwi! The personal touch with a really small ‘family’ of 5 travelers is unparalleled. Dare I say that we have been spoiled for all other travel experiences? Of course, we could say that is true also of our other traveling experiences with Hamish, but NZ is a most special trip. The ability to change at a moment, whether weather issues or interesting things that crop up unexpectedly, makes it an ultimate trip. And, we found that no opportunity for wonderful NZ ice cream was passed by…..no matter the time of day or night!
Incredible Trip
This was my first Water by Nature trip, but it won’t be my last! From day one to our final wonderful days, Hamish was the perfect ambassador to his beautiful New Zealand. He left no stone unturned to provide us with the best experience.
I felt welcomed, safe, and happy. Thank you for all my firsts!!
Best way to see New Zealand is with a Kiwi
Within minutes of meeting, our group of 5 intrepid travellers had become a “family.” Personally guided by Hamish through his native New Zealand, we experienced the best culture and adventure his country had to offer. There is no better way to visit NZ than to be escorted by a Kiwi with a keen sense of where to go, what to see and do, and how to make the impossible possible with the most genuine sense of caring for his “family” while showing enormous pride for his homeland. Our accomodations were always perfect ranging from amazing beach front Kiwi owned motels to a sheepherder’s cabin to spacious tents: my favorite! We learned how to order Tall Blacks and Flat Whites and ate everything from Ice Cream ( there is still some left, but that is Hamish’s favorite food ), to Fish N Chips, to barbecue, to pizza combinations which I’m sure are only found in NZ. Staring in Auckland and ending in Nelson we did everything from visiting a Maori cultural center and the Te Papa Museum, to paint ball shooting, fishing, snorkeling, hiking, night kayaking in phosphorescent water, swimming with hundreds of dolphins, jet boating, helicoptering, rafting, glacier viewing, driving, ferrying, sea kayaking, sailing in kayaks Kon-Tiki style, canyoning, star gazing, and most importantly joyfully laughing our way through the entire trip until our tearful goodbyes at the end. Thank you Hamish and Water By Nature. This was truly the trip of a lifetime!
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