Hiking New Zealand
Active Earth Safaris
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Hiking New Zealand
Hiking tours into real NZ for people who matter. Small group (11 max) trips that link New Zealand's National Parks with multi-day treks. We are the people who DON'T just drop you at the road end!
Get off the beaten track to places in National Parks that no other companies (and few individuals) ever get to. We sleep in high mountain huts, camp beside rainforest streams, sea kayak remote coasts, and cook over campfires. This is the real New Zealand far from maddening crowds.
Our new look. After many years of working together successfully, active earth and Hiking New Zealand have officially merged. New logo but nothing else changes, same trips, same people, same excellence!
You'll travel with like-minded people, enjoy some great food, laugh lots, learn lots, but most of all you will get stuff done!
Our website is crammed with info about our trips as well as loads of other general outdoor travel advice. Why not check it out? You may learn something, get a laugh or even get inspired
Safe travels,
the active earth team :-)
www.ActiveEarthNewZealand.com
Details
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Hiking New ZealandCommercial organisation |
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North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland |
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Hiking Tours
Reviews
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5.0/5
I did the Far North trip in February 2011.
It was a great trip - well organised and thought out, a good mix of activities (walking, kayakking, swimming, sandboarding), some spectacular places (Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach - sleeping under the stars - magic), a great guide (informative, accommodating, great sense of humour, willing to share himself). Plus a great group of people and great weather. Particularly good for those who like activity and adventure but who would struggle to walk with a pack for 3 days. Highly recommended.
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5.0/5
I have just completed the active earth hiking adventure Volcanoes and Rainforest and I must say I was impressed from the very beginning.
The places we visited were outstanding. A hike into the Whirinaki Forest Park followed by kayaking on Lake Tarawera then on to Tongariro National Park, caving at Waitomo and finishing climbing part of Mt. Tatanaki. At the end of the 10 days I was exhausted but thoroughly enjoyed the excperience and would like to thank our guide Justin. His knowledge on the areas and his experiece guided us through this tough terrain. I can recommend this type of trip to anyone who has a passion for outdoor activity. Paul
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5.0/5
Did the Far North and the Volcano andRainforest tours.
They were awesome with fantastic guides who really know their stuff. The areas we went to were magical, wild and just about every adjective you can think of. We had a great group of people. The whole experience was incredible.
I can only echo what others have said. These tours are the best I have experienced anywhere in the world. You get to go places you'd never find on your own. The guides are really knowledgeable and they helped the group bond. These tours, especially the Volcano and Rainforest one, are best for people who are fairly active and fit, but we didn't have to carry heavy packs so it we could enjoy the experience rather than grit our teeth to slog out each step. Saying that, we were exhausted at the end, but luckily had decided to do the rest of our NZ tour in a campervan. We just pulled into a camp ground and slept for a couple of days!
We are already saving to come back to NZ and do more. Active Earth tours are an amazing experience and definitely should be on the list of 100 things to do before you die.
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5.0/5
I have just spent 9 weeks in NZ and the highlight of my holiday was the two trips I did with Active Earth.
The Northland trip is full of variety, day walks, sand dune surfing,stunning beaches, kayaking and sleeping under the stars. The volcanoes and rainforest is more physical and has some multi day walks. The scenry is amazing and we went to places I never would have got to by myself. The key to both trips was the guides Michael and Justin. Very knowlegable and friendly. I can only give Active Earth an A+ rating. Fantastic!!
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5.0/5
Scotty B.
Moore picked us up at Queenstown and it was action packed adventures from the word 'go'. We tramped through beautiful, rugged and various terrains, saw huge sealions lolling around on the beach, watched yellow eyed penguins waddle to their nests after a big day out fishing, ate well, laughed lots, slept under the stars and in quaint 'cribs', took the low road on the Otago rail trail, kayaked along the Milford sound, watched amazing sheep dogs in action and swam in (freezing) tarns - of our own choice!! This tour, called 'secret south' surpassed my expectations, it was amazing view overload! Our guide was friendly, safe, knowledgeable and inclusive. Thanks Scotty, Thanks Hiking New Zealand.
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5.0/5
Nz Uncut is truly a most awesome and active way to explore and experience the best that both islands of New Zealand has to offer.
This 21 day tour took us on a fantastic rollercoaster of diversity in terms of landscapes and activities i.e from the golden beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula to the volcanic lava flows of Tongariro to Jurassic like rainforest of Whirinaki to the breathtaking Alpine region of Aoraki/Mt Cook. While this tour provider is predominantly a hiking tour, NZ Uncut provides amble opportunity to indulge in a host of other adrenalin pumping activities such as Kayaking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking, Horse Riding and even Bungee Jumping in Queenstown for the more outrageous. This tour was topped off by being led by two superb guides (Mo - North Island & Dan - South Island) whose chillaxing manner had the group at total ease from the get go. NZ Uncut - A must for the energetic all rounder outdoors lover.
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5.0/5
My husband and I went on the Far North trip.
It was amazing. Our guide, Justin, had so much information about everywhere we visited. Price was affordable and included almost all meals.
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5.0/5
I had been looking forward to the Eastern Epic Safari since I booked it more then half a year before and it totally lived up to my expectations.
Hiking to three different mountains we got to see many different facets of New Zealand nature. We hiked through native beech forest along big lakes and fast flowing rivers. Bubbling mountainstreams lead us up narrow valleys and steep scree slopes took us to gratifying, panoramic views of the surroundings below us. Going down Mt. Fyffe after a cup of coffee while watching the sun rise, we were circled by chattering alpine keas and while taking a break on our hike out from Mt. Angelus we saw a native falcon hunting for prey. Native alpine flowers grew in abundance on Mt. Owen making it look like a beautiful garden, and several types of orchids were spotted in the forest below. The hikes were an absolute heaven for nature lovers. We were also lucky enough to see both fur seals and the small blue penguin playing in the waves on the day we went kayaking. The food was great and the company of fellow hikers and our excellent guide John,made the safari pretty much perfect! It was definitely an experience that will have you come back for more.
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5.0/5
I had been looking forward to the Eastern Epic Safari since I booked it more then half a year before and it totally lived up to my expectations.
Hiking to three different mountains we got to see many different facets of New Zealand nature. We hiked through native beech forest along big lakes and fast flowing rivers. Bubbling mountainstreams lead us up narrow valleys and steep scree slopes took us to gratifying, panoramic views of the surroundings below us. Going down Mt. Fyffe after a cup of coffee while watching the sun rise, we were circled by chattering alpine keas and while taking a break on our hike out from Mt. Angelus we saw a native falcon hunting for prey. Native alpine flowers grew in abundance on Mt. Owen making it look like a beautiful garden, and several types of orchids were spotted in the forest below. The hikes were an absolute heaven for nature lovers. We were also lucky enough to see both fur seals and the small blue penguin playing in the waves on the day we went kayaking. The food was great and the company of fellow hikers and our excellent guide John,made the safari pretty much perfect! It was definitely an experience that will have you come back for more.
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5.0/5
My husband and I went on the Far North trip.
It was amazing. Our guide, Justin, had so much information about everywhere we visited. Price was affordable and included almost all meals.
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5.0/5
Nz Uncut is truly a most awesome and active way to explore and experience the best that both islands of New Zealand has to offer.
This 21 day tour took us on a fantastic rollercoaster of diversity in terms of landscapes and activities i.e from the golden beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula to the volcanic lava flows of Tongariro to Jurassic like rainforest of Whirinaki to the breathtaking Alpine region of Aoraki/Mt Cook. While this tour provider is predominantly a hiking tour, NZ Uncut provides amble opportunity to indulge in a host of other adrenalin pumping activities such as Kayaking, White Water Rafting, Mountain Biking, Horse Riding and even Bungee Jumping in Queenstown for the more outrageous. This tour was topped off by being led by two superb guides (Mo - North Island & Dan - South Island) whose chillaxing manner had the group at total ease from the get go. NZ Uncut - A must for the energetic all rounder outdoors lover.
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5.0/5
Scotty B.
Moore picked us up at Queenstown and it was action packed adventures from the word 'go'. We tramped through beautiful, rugged and various terrains, saw huge sealions lolling around on the beach, watched yellow eyed penguins waddle to their nests after a big day out fishing, ate well, laughed lots, slept under the stars and in quaint 'cribs', took the low road on the Otago rail trail, kayaked along the Milford sound, watched amazing sheep dogs in action and swam in (freezing) tarns - of our own choice!! This tour, called 'secret south' surpassed my expectations, it was amazing view overload! Our guide was friendly, safe, knowledgeable and inclusive. Thanks Scotty, Thanks Hiking New Zealand.
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5.0/5
I have just spent 9 weeks in NZ and the highlight of my holiday was the two trips I did with Active Earth.
The Northland trip is full of variety, day walks, sand dune surfing,stunning beaches, kayaking and sleeping under the stars. The volcanoes and rainforest is more physical and has some multi day walks. The scenry is amazing and we went to places I never would have got to by myself. The key to both trips was the guides Michael and Justin. Very knowlegable and friendly. I can only give Active Earth an A+ rating. Fantastic!!
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5.0/5
Did the Far North and the Volcano andRainforest tours.
They were awesome with fantastic guides who really know their stuff. The areas we went to were magical, wild and just about every adjective you can think of. We had a great group of people. The whole experience was incredible.
I can only echo what others have said. These tours are the best I have experienced anywhere in the world. You get to go places you'd never find on your own. The guides are really knowledgeable and they helped the group bond. These tours, especially the Volcano and Rainforest one, are best for people who are fairly active and fit, but we didn't have to carry heavy packs so it we could enjoy the experience rather than grit our teeth to slog out each step. Saying that, we were exhausted at the end, but luckily had decided to do the rest of our NZ tour in a campervan. We just pulled into a camp ground and slept for a couple of days!
We are already saving to come back to NZ and do more. Active Earth tours are an amazing experience and definitely should be on the list of 100 things to do before you die.
-
5.0/5
I have just completed the active earth hiking adventure Volcanoes and Rainforest and I must say I was impressed from the very beginning.
The places we visited were outstanding. A hike into the Whirinaki Forest Park followed by kayaking on Lake Tarawera then on to Tongariro National Park, caving at Waitomo and finishing climbing part of Mt. Tatanaki. At the end of the 10 days I was exhausted but thoroughly enjoyed the excperience and would like to thank our guide Justin. His knowledge on the areas and his experiece guided us through this tough terrain. I can recommend this type of trip to anyone who has a passion for outdoor activity. Paul
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5.0/5
I did the Far North trip in February 2011.
It was a great trip - well organised and thought out, a good mix of activities (walking, kayakking, swimming, sandboarding), some spectacular places (Cape Reinga, 90 Mile Beach - sleeping under the stars - magic), a great guide (informative, accommodating, great sense of humour, willing to share himself). Plus a great group of people and great weather. Particularly good for those who like activity and adventure but who would struggle to walk with a pack for 3 days. Highly recommended.
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5.0/5
I did four trips with Hiking NZ - The Far North, Volcanoes and Rainforest, West Coast Wilderness and Secret South.
They …
I did four trips with Active Earth NZ - The Far North, Volcanoes and Rainforest, West Coast Wilderness and Secret South. They were brilliant! So much fun and got to see parts of NZ I would never have got to otherwise. Best way to see NZ.
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5.0/5
The far North adventure was Amazing value for the money!!!
Great sites, good guides, and alot of fun with a fantastic group of people. I would book again with this company in a heart beat!
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5.0/5
I did a Far North tour with Active Earth over Christmas 2010 and thought it was brilliant!
We went to a bunch of really beautiful, out of the way places that you just don't get to see without the help of someone who knows. The sand-boarding was AWESOME, the Kayaking spectacular and the hiking was a real challenge (but soo rewarding).
All in all, a brilliant tour. I can't recommend Active earth high enough!
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5.0/5
Did the 6 day Far North Trip with Active Earth in January 2011.
Lots of fun with a great group of people and an incredibly enthusiastic and informative guide. The food was a realy highlight! As were the walks, swimming, sandboarding, remote campsites and great views! Have done a few trips now with Active Earth and Hiking New Zealand and couldn't recommend them highly enough.
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5.0/5
This trip was led by Active Earth owner Malcolm O'Neil, it being a winter trip with just 4 of us.
Malcolm made this an excellent trek and made provisions for myself, who had injured my ankle, to be able to do other things while the rest of the group di parts of the trek whichh, due to the injury, were beyond my capabltity.Malcolm did not rigidly stick to what was on his brochure but made sure that the weather did not interfere with us enjoying the trek. I would recommend Active Earth to anyone who wishes to experience the natural beauty of New Zealand and is not afraid to doo a bit of treking.
Tom Harold
I
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5.0/5
volcanoes, forests, beaches, rivers, etc.
wonderful tour
most wonderful survival-christmas cake ever!
henry (holland)
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5.0/5
I did the 10 day Volcanoes and Rainforest trip in April this year.
The guide Kath was inspirational and good fun as well.
She took us to places well off the beaten track and the scenery was stunning.
The hiking was more strenuous than I ( as a 66 year old) had anticipated but it was well worth it.Views down from mountain tops especially at sunrise were to die for.
The group was small but well balanced and appropriate for us older guys (only 1 teen in the group--the rest in early 30's to 50's). I cannot recommend it enough
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5.0/5
Did the Volcanoes and Rainforest over Christmas 2009 and was a brilliant experience.
Did some great hikes and saw some amazing scenery and was very much off the beaten track. Great guide and group. Loved it so much I have already booked a similar tour of the South Island.
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5.0/5
I did the volcanoes and rainforest trip over 2009 christmas and new years with a great group of people.
Had awesome guides, learnt so much more than doing it on my own, like the history of the landscape and all the wildlife and vegetation etc.
Would recommend this trip to everyone, the variety and contrasts in landscape was awesome and perfect length of time. I would do it again in an instant.
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5.0/5
Fantastic company.
I've been with them twice and always recommend them. Great experiences in a small group. They take you to places that you wouldn't find on your own - way off the beaten track. I went over Christmas and New Year this time with a fantastic group of people.
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5.0/5
The Volcanic Plateau is one of the best outdoor experiences I did that far.
Cath our guide was great and our crew (6 + guide) was a cool bunch! Highly recommend this trip!
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5.0/5
I did the Volcanoes and Rainforest.
Awesome trip. Awesome people. Top notch guide. The whole trip worked out really well and we got to see places of the North Island of New Zealand that most people will never see.
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5.0/5
I did the Volcanoes & rainforest tour.
It was brilliant: no tour bus athmosphere... Went to see beautiful places where I definitely couldn't have gone on my own. A great great guide, an amazing group. Loved it.
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5.0/5
The volcanoes & rainforest adventure with Active Earth was a remarkable kiwi adventure and the best way to see New Zealands fantastic volcanoes and Parks up close and personnel.
I experienced a delicious Maori Hungi cooked under the stars on the wild west coast beach,and the amazing sight of steaming vents from the volcanic hillsides, and the joy of getting up close and personne with some of new zealands greatest national park treasures.
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5.0/5
Did the 10 day Volcanoes and Rainforest trip, had a real blast.
Great value for money, and hard to beat in terms of fun. Huge range of activities over different terrain (river crossing, caving, kayaking, traversing alpine trails, walking through rainforests, soaking in hot rivers...) Guides were experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and always had different ideas to improvise for different weather conditions.
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5.0/5
I did the Far North tour.
Best trip I have ever been on, although it was just a few days. Great small group from all over the world and the best guide you can ask for. If you ever get the chance to do a tour with Malcom, go for it!!!
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5.0/5
Volcanoes and Rainforests 10-day trip is fantastic!
Great people, places, food, experience and value!!
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5.0/5
Volcanoes and Rainforests is one of the best and most fun trips I have ever been on.
Fantastic guide, lots of great tramping in remote areas that you would never get to on your own, fab food (particular mention going to the chocolate pudding cooked in the hut on Mt Egmont) and a wonderful group of people to spend time with.
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5.0/5
I've done two of their trips.
Actually a much better deal than the big buses (which I have also done and HATED). The Volcano and Rainforest trip is one of the best I've ever been on with great guides and adventures. Lots of tramps, kayaking, caving and great food. Very group participatory and met some wonderful people. The Far North trip is much easier, but also wonderful...great for newer trampers or less active. I enjoyed the wonderful secluded camps and beaches and 90 mile beach and sand surfing.
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3.5/5
A little expensive.
Extra for food, extra for camping. Most of the group in their mid 40's. Great tracks they go on.
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4.5/5
Far North/ volcanoes and rainforests.
Great guides, great activities, value for money. Better than a back packing bus
