NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's best.
New Zealand's 15 most popular 3-hour experiences, in one place. What each one is actually like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Six zip lines from Skyline Gondola to Bob’s Peak forest, ending in a 70 kph plunge. Small group, safety gear, epic Queenstown views.
“A great few hours with lots of fun... Beautiful surroundings and an exciting way to see the views. Liked the challenges the guides did with us.”
Helicopter into Fox Glacier for up to 3 hours of guided crampon hiking, ice caves, arches, and icefalls, with expert commentary.
“Hubby and I had an amazing time! We had to reschedule the hike a few times due to weather but had an excellent sunny day when we went up. Our guide Billy was excellent and funny, I felt I learned a lot about glaciers thanks to him! The helicopter ride was lots of fun too.”
A 3-hour Mount Cook heli-hike: helicopter scenic flights over Aoraki/Mount Cook plus up to 2 hours walking Tasman Glacier.
“It was fabulous today. The weather was super nice . Our guide Hunter was very helpful and knowledgeable. He took the best group photo for us.”
Soar over Aoraki, land on the Tasman Glacier, and hike 2 hours with crampons for an unforgettable Mount Cook heli adventure.
“excellent day. the helicopter ride and the glacier hike itself was amazing. both the pilot and the glacier guide as well as all the staff at the airport were amazing. would recommend this activity”
3-hour Wellington city tour with Cable Car funicular ride, Beehive Parliament views, and scenic photo stops, with cruise pickup and drop-off.
“A great quick overview of Wellington along with a bit of history and lore. Exactly what we were seeking for orienting on our first day of a 5-day stay.”
Cruise Lake Te Anau on Faith, a 1935 motor yacht, then enjoy a guided Hidden Lakes walk plus canapés and drinks over 3 hours.
“The whole experience from the greeting to the cruise from Adam and Megan to the afternoon introduction and drinks as we slowly motored out to the destination for our nature guided walk. Wow it was breathtaking and on arrival after some history of the vessel we experienced nature like never before, and photos for a…”
Kayak Lake Mapourika for 3 hours with waterproof gear and a guide, paddling into Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary near Franz Josef.
“Beautiful mirror surface to the lake so the reflections were amazing. Shame about the cloud cover so we didn’t see the tops of the mountains. The protective equipment provided was excellent - waterproof jackets, personal floatation devices and neoprene skirts to seal us into the kayak meant we stayed dry and protected from sandflies! The…”
3-hour evening guided visit to Pohatu/Flea Bay penguin colony from Akaroa. 4WD views, binoculars, camouflage gear, conservation.
“This is a fantastic tour, our guide was extremely knowledgable and gave us insights into penguin behaviour and information on classification as we made our way to the nest boxes where we had a chance to monitor a couple and see a some penguins up close, we then got to view penguins socialising on the…”
A 3-hour Bay of Islands boat cruise from Paihia to Hole in the Rock, Cape Brett, and a short Roberton Island walk with wildlife spotting.
“Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Unfortunately the sea was too rough to make it to the hole (we tried before turning around) but we had the opportunity to visit other islands and learn about important parts of NZ history. Also, appreciate they kindly waited 10 minutes for us as the tenders from our cruise…”
A 3-hour small-group tour from Port Chalmers that mixes Dunedin city icons with Otago Peninsula views, plus easy pickup and local stories.
“very happy with the tour we picked and our tour guide he was lovely and very knowledgeable with his site seeing”
Paihia’s 3-hour Hole in the Rock cruise: 144 islands, a boat pass by the rock arch, and a Roberton Island walk to Twin Lagoons.
“I received a free upgrade to the longer cruise as there were not enough participants for the one I originally booked. While this meant that I had to cancel another activity I had booked for later that day, I didn't regret it as it was a great experience. The lookouts, the hole in the rock,…”
Cruise to predator-free Mou Waho Island on Lake Wanaka, then hike to a top lake lookout with a local guide and top photo views.
“Tour guide Jamie drove the boat and then took the party of 10 up to the lake on top of the island, pointing out lots of interesting and informative tidbits about the island's flora & fauna, and about the island history. Great trip - Very glad we did it!”
A 3-hour Mount Cook heli-hike: 30-minute flight, 2-hour guided glacier walk with crampons, and stunning Tasman Glacier views.
“Hiking on the glacier was a one-in-a- lifetime experience. Connor Bensen was our guide and he was great - very communicative, considerate, and accommodating. He knew so much about the glaciers. It takes concentration as you walk on the glacier as it is not flat, but Connor made it very doable.”
A 3-hour small-group fishing charter on Lake Mapourika near Franz Josef, with gear provided, covered boat comfort, and trout or salmon chances.
“Very friendly and entertaining guide that knew all the good spots for the best chance of catching fish and we did!”
A 3-hour private Waitomo Caves photo shoot in the Maungarongapu system with a photographer-guide, warm gear, and time for glow worm shots.
“Ash is a great guide, knowledgeable and the type of guy you’d grab a beer with. Photography tour is definitely worth the money!”
