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Adventure Tours

Ultimate Thrillseeker, New Zealand Adventure Hotspots

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Looking for an adrenaline-fuelled adventure that will take you through some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes?

Look no further than our Ultimate Thrillseeker Adventure Tour! Experience the rush of black water rafting at Waitomo, zip line through native forests, kayak under a breathtaking glow worm display, explore colourful volcanic valleys, and immerse yourself in Māori culture. And that’s not all – the tour also includes rafting, Dart River Funyaks, and skiing for an action-packed vacation you’ll never forget!

You can experience our Ultimate Thrillseeker Adventure Tour as a self-driven or privately guided tour. If you’re comfortable navigating New Zealand’s terrain and prefer setting your own pace, a self-driven tour is perfect. But, if you want a personalised, tailored experience with local expertise, a privately guided tour is ideal.

 

Build your own tour
The activities listed above are just a glimpse of what’s possible! We pride ourselves on creating bespoke experiences tailored to your interests and desires. If you have specific activities or destinations in mind, let us know, and we’ll craft a personalised itinerary just for you. Every journey is unique, and we’re here to make yours perfect. Dream big – your adventure is waiting to be customised!
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Holiday travelers climbing a bridge high above the tree line

Top attractions in this tour

Your 15-day road trip itinerary

15-day journey exploring 5 key destinations across New Zealand's diverse landscapes.
North Island
South Island
  1. DAY 1
    1. Auckland Arrival
  2. DAY 2
    1. Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton
  3. DAY 3
    1. Rotorua
  4. DAY 4
    1. Rotorua (Kahukiwi + Twilight Glowworm Kayak)
  5. DAY 5
    1. Rotorua (Waimangu + Wai O Tapu)
  6. DAY 6
    1. Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Fly to Queenstown
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 1
Auckland Arrival

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

This afternoon/evening depending on your flight arrival time, we recommend taking on the Skyjump off New Zealand’s tallst building – The Skytower! It’s the ultimate leap of faith – a jump from NZ’s highest building with nothing but a wire between you and the ground 192m down! SkyJump gives you 11 seconds of pure adrenaline as you plunge 53 floors down at a speed of 85kph. You’ll feel like a total boss when you stick the landing in SKYCITY Plaza (optional – not included).

Full Itinerary
DAY 2
Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton

YOUR DAY

250km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you farewell the ‘City of Sails’ and head south to Rotorua; a hot spot for Māori culture and geothermal activity.

En route you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. You’ll also enjoy a buffet style feast in the festive marquee next to the Green Dragon!

Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon and perhaps explore Kuirau Park mud pool reserve and view the stunning government gardens and lakefront.

Full Itinerary
DAY 3
Rotorua

YOUR DAY

This morning you will enjoy the Ultimate Canopy Tour with Rotorua Canopy Tours. This is an unforgettable 3.5-hour Canopy Tour journey. Venture deep into the wilderness to experience prehistoric New Zealand forest at its best.

Following this, the early afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa or the spectacular Treewalk of the redwood forest.

This afternoon you will take a guided walk around Te Puia where you will experience mud pools and geysers and visit the Māori Weaving School and Kiwi House. This is a chance to see our national bird up close. Following this, you will enjoy a Hangi (ground cooked traditional meal) and cultural performance which tells the stories of Aotearoa’s native Māori people.

Full Itinerary
DAY 4
Rotorua (Kahukiwi + Twilight Glowworm Kayak)

YOUR DAY

This morning you will take a three hour small group tour near Lake Rotoiti, which includes a visit to a marae, amazing scenery, storytelling and song from a local Māori guide.

This afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, or a visit to the spectacular Redwoods Treewalk! (all activities listed are optional – extra cost).

Tonight you will enjoy a Twilight Kayak Glow Worm Tour where you will discover your adventurous side as your guide leads you inside incredible hidden caves home to galaxies of glow worms.

Full Itinerary
DAY 5
Rotorua (Waimangu + Wai O Tapu)

YOUR DAY

Your first stop for the day is Waimangu Volcanic Valley – a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will see the world’s largest hot spring, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours. You’ll also enjoy a cruise above the once famous Pink and White Terraces, buried by the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.

Your next stop for the day is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland- a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will visit New Zealand’s largest thermal mud pool, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours.

This evening is free for leisure.

Full Itinerary
DAY 6
Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Fly to Queenstown

YOUR DAY 

322 km, 4 hours driving + 2 hour flight

This morning you return North to Auckland, stopping en route at the magical Waitomo. Waitomo is New Zealand’s most extensive underground caving network, and is best known for the Glow Worm Caves. Here you will take a 3 hour guided blackwater rafting tour (Black Labyrinth) through the spectacular Caves and see the impressive glow-worms that light up the cave roof.

Following this, you continue to Auckland where you depart the North Island and fly south to New Queenstown. Queenstown is a beautiful town located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps.

Full Itinerary
What’s included?
Your choice of accommodation. Silver (4 star), gold (5 star) or platinum (luxury lodge) options available
Most breakfasts, select lunches and dinners
A choice of self-drive and privately guided transport
In-depth and detailed custom travel guide
Listed activities (the list is fully customisable)
Full insurance coverage on rented vehicles
Overnight parking where necessary
Custom tour creation with one of our travel experts
What’s not included?
Return international flights
Personal travel insurance
Some lunches and dinners
Individual shopping and souvenirs
Extra, optional activities

Why book a privately guided road trip

Bespoke Itineraries
Bespoke Itineraries
Personalised tours tailored to your preferences
Authentic Kiwi Experiences
Authentic Kiwi Experiences
Genuine insights into New Zealand's culture
Flexible Bookings
Flexible Bookings
Secure and adaptable travel arrangements
Private Travel Safety
Private Travel Safety
Safe, crowd-free, intimate exploration
Local Expertise
Local Expertise
In-depth knowledge from a Kiwi-owned business
New Zealand's Top Awarded Tours
New Zealand's Top Awarded Tours
Winner of Tripadvisor’s ‘Travelers choice’ over multiple years & our 100+ 5 star reviews
It's great fun guiding thrill-seekers around New Zealand! It's always so satisfying to see the buzz that people get from New Zealand's unique adrenalin pumping experiences. What's even better is having a private driver/guide to chauffeur you between the adventures, so you can conserve your energy for the next jump, dive or raft!
Alex
General Manager

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Fantastic
Our trip was amazing, everything happened just as it was supposed to! I really appreciate Yamila’s efforts to plan our trip just as we asked, everything was well organized. From our transportation arrangements to our private guide Glenn who took us to the Blue mountains, the personnel were excellent. We packed a lot in 3 days each Sydney and Ayers Rock.
C B
Mar 2025
Sydney-Gold Coast Self-Drive Road Trip
Dear Yamila & The Road Trip Team Thank you for your making my Sydney-Gold Coast Road Trip a smooth one. I would say there wasn't any hiccup along the trip. Everything well taken care of; from airport transfer to hotel bookings to rental car and some tour bookings. My family really enjoyed the holiday. What I really love was the freedom to drive anywhere with recommendations to go. It was very comprehensive. My kids loved the hotels you booked for us, especially the Anchorage and Pepper Soul! You made our maiden road drive in Australia to a new level. It is definitely an memorable experience. We are already thinking of another road trip in Australia! Thank you once again!
Flyer786747
Jun 2024
21-Day Australia Trip
21-day Australia trip was fabulous. We didn't want to drive the Australian roads, so The Road Trip organized all of the hotels, transportation and guided tours. The Road Trip team, especially Yamila, had everything planned and they even helped make changes as new opportunities came up. The trip itinerary appealed to everyone as there was the perfect combination of beach, sightseeing, tours, downtime, and outdoor activities. Our favorites included: penguin parade, full-day snorkel tour, night walk tour in the rainforest, and the canyon hike through the Blue Mountain National Park. All six of us agreed that we couldn't have seen or done as much as we did if it wasn't for The Road Trip team. We will be contacting you again for our next trip!
Linda E
Mar 2024
They do all the work, you have all the fun!
I want to thank Road Trip Australia for planning and coordinating such a great itinerary. I wouldn’t have known where to start doing it on my own. They made it easy. The packet they provided was full of good information and allowed me to maximize the time that I had to tour. I definitely recommend them to plan your trip.
Elizabeth B
Nov 2020
21 Day Self Driving/Guided Australian Holiday
The Road Trip put together our recently completed self-driving tour of Australia. They were easy to work with and did an outstanding job of arranging our accommodations and travel in country (both driving and flying). We started in Melbourne with an excellent tour of the central city. We then heading over to the Yarra Valley for two nights. It’s an area known for its vineyards and wine making. Then it was off to the Great Ocean Road for two days of beautiful beaches and great stops recommended by The Road Trip. We spent two days in charming Port Fairy at a great boutique hotel. Then it was back to Melbourne to head to Sydney. Some weather issues prevented us from traveling as planned but we did spend a day and a half in Sydney with the highlight being a climb to the top of the Harbor Bridge. After Sydney we spent two days in the Blue Mountains. Our plans were limited by the recent fires which was disappointing. We spent one day in the Hunter Valley and if you are into wine another day would be appropriate. Then back to Sydney to fly up to the Great Barrier Reef. The rainforests and reef were magical. Wavelength did a great job with the reef snorkeling tour. It was then back to Melbourne for the Australian Open which was a blast. Then finally a trip to Phillip Island to watch the penguins come back to their burrows after a busy day in the sea. Overall a memorable trip and it was logistically very easy with The Road Trip.
JEPAZ
Feb 2020