New Zealand Adventure Experience

Both have their benefits! The North Island is home to both New Zealand’s largest city and their capital. Surprised? Even though more Kiwis live in Auckland than the entire South Island, Wellington is actually the capital city of New Zealand. The North Island is full of wonder, including the geothermal town of Rotorua, the winterless Bay of Island and the laid-back surf town of Raglan. Meanwhile, the South Island is more sparsely populated but stuffed full of glaciers, rainforests and mountains. If you’re looking for farmwork, try the popular Marlborough Sounds wine district. For work in the tourism field, Queenstown is a thriving year-round or for those in the construction industry, help to rebuild Christchurch after their massive 2011 earthquake. The choice is yours!

While we have met people who have travelled to both islands in two weeks (how?!), there are so many things to see and do in New Zealand. Even though the landmass is small, New Zealand has such a large amount of diversity packed into its borders that we recommend spending at least four weeks there. Your one-week arrival tour will be a great start, but we recommend checking out more of New Zealand after you have had time to settle in. If you have the time, a two-month road trip would really allow you to immerse yourself in Kiwi culture at a more leisurely pace. Your travel coordinator will be able to discuss options to travel in more depth during your pre-departure consultation.

Although your adventure tour is not specifically designed to show off Lord of the Rings filming locations, there are a variety of spots all over New Zealand that are easy to access! If you are passing any areas that were used in filming, your tour guide will point them out on the way. Otherwise, Hobbiton is only a two-hour drive from Auckland, if you are a die-hard fan the in-country team can help you arrange a visit at an additional cost.

There are countless activities to try in New Zealand, but probably the most famous is bungee jumping! AJ Hacket was a Kiwi who commercialized bungee jumping back in 1988, and these days you have a variety of bungee locations to consider in New Zealand. The North Island has New Zealand’s only ocean touch jump off the Auckland Bridge, while on the South Island you will find the country’s highest jump – named the Nevis – just outside Queenstown. For those looking for a slightly less terrifying experience, zorbing was also invented in Rotorua. This is essentially being stuffed in a giant inflatable hamster ball and pushed down a hill. Trust us, it is also great fun!