10 Day Explorer Tour - Ziplining, Glacier Hiking, Canyoning, Glow Worm Caves, Jet Boating, Hiking, Sea kayaking.

10 Day Explorer Tour - Ziplining, Glacier Hiking, Canyoning, Glow Worm Caves, Jet Boating, Hiking, Sea kayaking.

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10 Days From

$3370

10 Day Explorer Tour - Ziplining, Glacier Hiking, Canyoning, Glow Worm Caves, Jet Boating, Hiking, Sea kayaking.

10 Days Starting in Glenorchy, New Zealand and ending in Picton, New Zealand

Visiting: Glenorchy, Queenstown, Franz Josef, Franz Josef Glacier, Paparoa National Park, Murchison, Abel Tasman National Park, Picton

Tour operator:

Adventure Junkies

Tour code:

321508

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 18

Physical rating:

CHALLENGING

Age range:

14-65

Special diets catered:

Please advise requests

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Adventure Tours

From: $3370

NB: Prices correct on 24-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on an exhilarating 10-day adventure through New Zealand's breathtaking landscapes with our Explorer Tour. Experience the thrill of ziplining through ancient Southern Beech forests in Glenorchy, mountain biking along the scenic Queenstown Trail, and jet boating with heart-pounding spins in the Shotover River canyons. Discover the awe-inspiring Franz Josef Glacier with a helicopter trek, and explore the magical glow worm caves of Paparoa National Park. Feel the rush of white water rafting on the Buller River and enjoy sea kayaking in the pristine waters of Abel Tasman National Park. This tour offers a perfect blend of adrenaline-pumping activities and stunning natural beauty, ensuring an unforgettable journey through New Zealand's most iconic locations. Enjoy comfortable accommodations and daily meals as you immerse yourself in this active and adventurous experience.

Highlights

  • Exploring the magnificent Southern Lakes, West Coast rainforests, and Glaciers.

  • Zip lining through stunning ancient Southern Beech forest in Glenorchy.

  • Mountain biking on the Queenstown Trail with views of lakes, rivers, and historic sites.

  • Jet boating with 360-degree spins in the Shotover River canyons.

  • Helicopter glacier trekking and hiking on the Franz Josef Glacier.

  • Blackwater cave tubing in Paparoa National Park, navigating by glow worms.

  • White water rafting on the Buller River through granite canyons and deep gorges.

  • Sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park, paddling by pristine beaches and marine reserves.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1

Location: Glenorchy

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We start this great tour by journeying to the wild and stunningly beautiful Glenorchy region at the head of Lake Wakatipu.  This area is home to big mountains, glaciers, the Paradise Valley, Rees Valley, Dart Valley and UNESCO world heritage Mt Aspiring National Park.

Here we'll spend a full day exploring the valleys and surrounds of this idyllic region made famous by the Lord Of The Rings trilogy in what is arguably some of the most incredible natural beauty offered in New Zealand.

Included is three hours and over 1,000 metres of exhilarating and adventurous ziplining through stunning ancient Southern Beech forest!   Once we're geared up and completed our safety training on the equipment we're good to go and ready to zip our way over 8 ziplines that take us across stunning chasms, through slot canyons and above blue lagoons and pristine streams.  The thrill and scenery compete for your attention during the regions best zip lining experience, this really is a special place.


This morning we drive from Motueka to the incredibly picturesque small port town of Picton in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds for lunch and to conclude our tour.  Picton is where those who are continuing onto the North Island will check-in and board the Inter Islander Ferry for their cruise to Wellington, alternatively there is also the opportunity for travellers to conclude their trip at Nelson regional airport for flights to Christchurch, Wellington Auckland and other domestic airports.

Day 2

Location: Queenstown

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you have the whole day to get off the beaten track and to explore Queenstown by mountain bike on the incredible Queenstown Trail.  We provide premium MTB equipment, snacks, refreshments, trail information and dedicated bike taxi shuttles so that you can really get the most enjoyment on the day, and are able to ride 2-3 trail sections.

We have a fantastic network of trails graded 1 - 4 to cater for those with all levels of mountain biking experience and fitness, and by following lake shore and criss-cross rivers and bridges you'll be afforded stunning views that you just can't get by road.  Some of our favourite rides can also take in a visit to historic Arrowtown, the World Famous 43 metre Kawarau Bridge Bungy for those who want to add in a dose of adrenalin, as well as the Gibbston Valley wine region for anyone wishes to sample some world class wines.  So much variation!

Day 3

Location: Queenstown

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you have a half-day free in Queenstown to add on any extra adventure or adrenalin activities before we leave and your guide is on hand to help you make the most of your time here. There are seemingly unlimited options for your free time here with Queenstown being a mecca for downhill and cross country mountain biking trails, epic day hikes in the mountains, hang gliding and paragliding from the local peaks, bungy jumping and canyon swinging (naturally!), luge riding accessed from the Skyline gondola, submersible shark rides, the world's only commercial jet sprint experience, incredible and unique off-roading, quad biking, river surfing, skydiving, helicopter flights and  much, much more.

After lunch we depart Queenstown for our next destination of Lake Wanaka, but not before an thrill ride on the iconic Shotover Jet with 360 degree spins in the spectacular Shotover River canyons.  This jetboat ride has been a big part of Queenstown becoming the adventure capital of the world and is a must-do experience.

Travelling over the infamous Crown Range will bring us through the beautiful Cardrona Valley and into Lake Wanaka in the late afternoon.

Day 4

Location: Franz Josef

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we take in some of the very best views on offer of this much loved mountain town with a hike past Diamond Lake and to the top of the Rocky Mountain Summit track.  Here we are rewarded with fantastic uninterrupted panoramic views of Lake Wanaka, Tiritiri Mt Aspiring and the surrounding Southern Alps mountains and valleys.

After lunch overlooking the lake we will head towards the West Coast and to our next destination Franz Josef and the famous Franz Josef Glacier.  There will be plenty of stops this afternoon as this journey takes us through lush rainforest and past Blue Pools, thundering rivers, and waterfalls before crossing the mighty Haast River and reaching the West Coast with incredible views over the Tasman Sea.  This part of the South Island is visually spectacular and offers jaw-dropping natural beauty.

Day 5

Location: Franz Josef Glacier

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

The Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike trip is a major highlight and an activity that brings many travellers specifically to New Zealand and with the combination of an exhilarating helicopter ride, jaw-dropping scenery and a two and half hour hike through the most spectacular glacier features, it's really no surprise.

Your pilot will land high up on the main ice fall of the glacier, where your guide will help you make the final preparations for your hike. Then you will be ready to explore the pristine features of this incredible icescape. Because the glacier is so fast moving, its features are constantly changing - you might find yourself sliding through a narrow crevasse or between towering walls of ice, crawling through blue ice tunnels, hanging out in ice caves, or witnessing the glacier calving. You can be sure that you're seeing the glacier in a unique state and no two trips are ever quite the same.

Your afternoon is free to relax and enjoy soaking in the Glacier Hot Pools nestled in lush Rainforest, and we also strongly recommend a visit to the West Coast Wildlife Centre which has the largest Kiwi Captive Rearing facilities in the South Island and is helping bring the critically endangered Rowi and Haast Tokoeka Kiwi back from extinction.  Tours here a really limited and so your guide will talk to you early in the trip and help plan ahead so as not to miss out.

Day 6

Location: Paparoa National Park

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Leaving Franz Josef we continue up the West Coast and to Charleston to check-in for a unique underworld adventure in Paparoa National Park. This is a guided black water cave tubing trip, where you'll float on an underground stream to explore the enormous Nile River's multi -level cave system's and its stalactites and stalagmites navigating by the galaxies of glow worms!  When you exit the underground cave system you'll continue on a fun float through the gentle rapids of the Nile River surrounded by lush rainforest.

From Charleston we have a very short drive to Tauranga Bay and the Cape Foulwind walkway which is our destination for the evening.  This short 3.4km walk is a great wildlife spot and takes you past a Kekeno New Zealand fur seal colony and is also home to Sooty Shearwaters and Kokora Blue Penguins, the world's smallest penguins. Passing the colony the track continues north along the striking coastal bluffs to the Cape Foulwind
lighthouse which is just a stones throw from our accommodation.

Day 7

Location: Murchison

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

As we leave the Cape today we head inland to Murchison for a half day of White Water Rafting trip on the Buller River where we run the Buller Gorge section.  This is an exhilarating rafting trip and the rugged West Coast scenery with spectacular granite canyons and deep gorges make rafting the Buller Gorge an adventure not to be missed.  This trip sees us raft down the Ariki section known for its big volume rapids and beautiful scenery with four major rapids providing full-on excitement. The final rapid is Ariki Falls - "chief of the Buller" with big drops at low flow!

After a well earned lunch in Murchison we'll continue on to Motueka, our  home for the next  three nights and gateway to the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park.

Day 8

Location: Abel Tasman National Park

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will spend a full day sea kayaking in the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park, paddling by pristine golden beaches, through crystal clear waters, and to a marine reserve home to a Seal colony. This is New Zealand's smallest National Park and a destination well known for its wildlife, and kayaking as much as for its stunning natural beauty.

This is an awesome day where you will see more of the Abel Tasman National Park from a kayak than any other day trip as you explore some of New Zealand's finest and most secluded beaches from in the coastline between Anchorage and Kaiteriteri.  On this sea kayaking trip you may also be fortunate enough to paddle amongst dolphins or Orca for a truly amazing day!

Day 9

Location: Abel Tasman National Park

Accommodation Name: Hotel/Motel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Get ready for another full day of adventure exploring the Abel Tasman National Park as we spend it hiking on the Abel Tasman track and canyoning in the amazing Torrent River.  This is a really popular canyoning trip simply because it has everything that you could ask for.....jumps, slides, floats, abseils, you name it!  All this exciting stuff takes place in a gorgeous granite canyon filled with some of the purest water you can find and wrapped in mind-blowing, unspoiled rain forest.

We begin in Marahau and join an exhilarating water taxi ride through the Astrolabe Roadstead into Anchorage. From here we leave the golden sand beaches of the coast for a stunning 1.5 hour walk up and further into the Abel Tasman National Park. Along the way the guides will keep you entertained with endless amounts of stories about the history, culture, flora and fauna of the park.  At the top of the canyon you’ll jump into your wetsuit, crank your harness tight and pop your helmet on. After a clear safety briefing by the guides you enter the truly remote environment of the canyon. You’ll be jumping, sliding, abseiling, scrambling, floating and ziplining through this canyon for about 3.5 hours.

The canyoning trip ends at Anchorage where we jump on the water taxi and cruise back to Marahau.

Day 10

Location: Picton

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we drive from Motueka to the incredibly picturesque small port town of Picton in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds for lunch and to conclude our tour. Picton is where those who are continuing onto the North Island will check-in and board the Inter Islander Ferry for their cruise to Wellington, alternatively there is also the opportunity for travellers to conclude their trip at Nelson regional airport for flights to Christchurch, Wellington Auckland and other domestic airports.

What's Included

  • Ziplining

    Experience exhilarating ziplining through stunning ancient Southern Beech forest in Glenorchy.

  • Mountain Biking

    Enjoy mountain biking on the Queenstown Trail with views of lakes, rivers, and historic sites.

  • Jet Boating

    Thrill with 360-degree spins in the Shotover River canyons during a jet boating adventure.

  • Hiking

    Explore various hiking trails including the Rocky Mountain Summit track and Abel Tasman track.

  • Glacier Heli Hiking

    Engage in helicopter glacier trekking and hiking on the Franz Josef Glacier.

  • Blackwater Glowworm Tubing

    Navigate through the glow worm-lit caves of Paparoa National Park with blackwater cave tubing.

  • White Water Rafting

    Experience white water rafting on the Buller River through granite canyons and deep gorges.

  • Sea Kayaking

    Paddle by pristine beaches and marine reserves in Abel Tasman National Park.

  • Canyoning

    Enjoy canyoning in the Torrent River with jumps, slides, floats, and abseils.

  • Accommodation

    Stay for 9 nights in 4-star hotels/motels.

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What's Not Included

  • Personal Expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

  • Optional Activities

    Optional activities in Queenstown and other locations are not included.

  • Flights

    International and domestic flights to and from New Zealand are not included.

Requirements

Travellers should bring sturdy outdoor footwear and a day pack for hiking and biking activities, a water flask or hydration pack, sunscreen, sun hat, swimwear, a good rain jacket and sandfly repellent. Packing your clothing with layers in mind works well for a trip to New Zealand as we can experience a wide range of temperatures on tour due to the numerous locations that we visit at different elevation.


Mode of Transport

Travel through New Zealand's stunning landscapes with a mix of guided tours and self-exploration. Enjoy premium mountain biking equipment, dedicated bike taxi shuttles, and thrilling jet boat rides, ensuring a seamless and exhilarating journey from Glenorchy to Picton.

Accommodation

Enjoy 9 nights in comfortable 4-star hotels and motels, providing a relaxing retreat after each day's adventure. Daily breakfast and lunch are included, offering flexibility with no set menus, ensuring you have the energy needed for the exciting activities ahead.

Check out our Q&As

  • What kind of activities are included in the tour?

    The tour includes a variety of activities such as ziplining, mountain biking, jet boating, hiking, glacier heli hiking, blackwater glowworm tubing, white water rafting, sea kayaking, and canyoning.

  • What is the highlight of the Franz Josef Glacier experience?

    The highlight of the Franz Josef Glacier experience is the heli hike, which includes an exhilarating helicopter ride and a two and a half hour hike through the glacier's spectacular features. The glacier's fast-moving nature means its features are constantly changing, offering a unique experience each time.

  • What wildlife might I see during the tour?

    During the tour, you might see a variety of wildlife including New Zealand fur seals, Sooty Shearwaters, Kokora Blue Penguins, and possibly dolphins or Orca while sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park.

  • What should I bring for the tour?

    Travellers should bring sturdy outdoor footwear, a day pack for hiking and biking activities, a water flask or hydration pack, sunscreen, a sun hat, swimwear, a good rain jacket, and sandfly repellent. It's recommended to pack clothing with layers in mind due to the varying temperatures experienced across different locations and elevations.

  • What is the accommodation like during the tour?

    The tour includes 9 nights in 4-star hotels or motels, providing comfortable accommodation throughout the journey.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    Yes, breakfast and lunch are included daily, and there are no set menus, allowing for some flexibility in meal choices.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Yes. We do not have a Single surcharge as we have many solo travellers joining our extended South Island tours. Tour prices are however based on Twin/Dbl ensuite accommodation which see's same gender solo travellers twinned throughout the tour. where available. If you would like to guarantee your own private ensuite accommodation throughout the tour you can request an upgrade.

  • What visas or passports do I need to travel to NZ?

    All visitors to NZ must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave NZ. Visitors from most of the world incl Europe and the USA who intend to stay for less than three months do not require a visa. If you want to stay longer than 3 months, or your country of origin does not have a visa waiver agreement with NZ, you need to apply for a visitor's visa.

  • Do I need travel insurance to travel with Adventure Junkies?

    Travel insurance is essential for all Adventure Junkies trips. Insurance must indicate that you have cover for at least medical expenses and emergency repatriation. Please ensure that your insurance covers you for all activities included on your trip.

  • Can you help me find flights to NZ?

    As we are not a travel agency unfortunately we cannot book flights for your trip.

Reviews of this operator

Brian, via TripAdvisor Reviews  

Awesome adventure!

17-Jan-2019

Awesome Adventure! Russ took us on an action filled, 10 day adventure on the south island. We were comfortably driven all over the country. Due to his thorough planning of of this package, every aspect of the trip including the best activities, food and lodging were lined up and the trip went flawlessly. Off road biking, hiking, white water rafting, jet boating, zip lining were just a few of the days adventures. He told us about the country and took us places that only the locals would know. Russ bent over backwards to accommodate everyone and make this the trip of a lifetime. I would not hesitate of recommend Adventure Junkies to all my friends.

Cherie, via TripAdvisor Reviews  

Incredible experience

10-Dec-2020

My husband and I went to Queenstown, we have been several times before, but this time was an incredible experience, adventure junkies made our trip so easy, and much more fun as it was all organised, we did so many different things. Our tour guide Russ was awesome really neat guy, if we were going to go to Queenstown again i will be doing this again for sure.

Amy, via TripAdvisor Reviews  

Epic vacation!

01-Feb-2020

Epic vacation! Looking to partake in adventure activities with other rad people in the most spectacular of settings? Sign up for a tour with Adventure Junkies. The South Island is full of endless stunning lakes and mountains. With these as your backdrop, you can zip line, raft (class 5 rapids), hike, kayak, skydive, bungee jump, rock climb, jet boat and bike to your hearts content....... your stellar guide, is professional, accommodating and organized. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe at all times. All accommodations were clean and comfortable...... one even had an outdoor hot tub. Russ brought us to charming spots for delicious breakfasts and lunches and always had recommendations for great places to grab post activity beers or dinner...... I was heartbroken to say goodbye to NZ and will definitely be returning for another Adventure Junkies tour, regardless of the fact that it is completely across the world from my home.

Andy, via TripAdvisor Reviews  

Wow. Don’t miss these guys for a brilliant experience.

31-Oct-2018

Wow. Don’t miss these guys for a brilliant experience. I’ve travelled around the globe, last count about 35 countries and I have never had a more dedicated guide and service provider or a greater quality of service anywhere. Russ is the best! Amazing experiences, brilliant fun and a fantastic balance between casual and funny raconteur and professional guide. I bet you could do any of the experiences he provides and it would be magnificent. I did Routeburn canyoning, Rangitata rafting, multiple hikes, zip lining, etc all fantastic. Even time between gigs was fun. Great accommodations and wonderful attention to all the details with flexibility when needed. Hats off to you Russ. You Rock!

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Adventure Junkies requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of adventure junkies charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 6 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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