QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand, September 21, 2022 – With the easing of COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements, along with international borders opening once more, New Zealand is poised for a comeback. For many New Zealand-based travel companies, the pandemic forced them to direct their gaze inward while international travellers ventured elsewhere.  

Queenstown-based Active Adventures took the two-and-a-half-year international traveller hiatus to welcome Kiwis onto their all-inclusive trips and take a deep look into how things were operating in their backyard. “During our enforced COVID-related hiatus, we set to work making our trips even better, and the Ultimate South Island Adventure was at the forefront of that work,” says Jon Singleton, Head of Operations for New Zealand. “We used thousands of guest and guide reviews along with our operations team's intimate local knowledge to offer better accommodations, better options, better hikes, better bike rides, and better overall flow – all the while keeping the core ethos of what makes this trip so beloved.”  

Among the optimization of the trip flow, enhancements to the Ultimate South Island Adventure (formerly known as “Rimu”) include: 

• In Nelson Lakes National Park, guests now have the choice to take the easier circuit of Lake Rotoiti via a combination of hiking and water taxis over three days, returning to their hotel nightly, or they can opt for the more challenging Angelus Circuit where they will hike hut to hut in the backcountry during the same timeframe.
• Guests will now stay at the Ocean View Retreat in Paparoa National Park.
• A hike of the legendary Rocky Mountain Track near Wanaka is new to the itinerary.
• Guests will now spend two nights in Te Anau in Fiordland National Park, allowing for more time to explore on foot, by bus, and by boat.
• A new morning cruise of Milford Sound is new to the itinerary.
• Less driving to get to Mount Cook National Park, with accommodation now much closer to the park.
• Guests can now bike along the Alps to Ocean Trail with panorama views of Lake Pukakai and Aoraki Mt Cook.
• Single supplements are now available for each night of the itinerary (excluding mountain huts). 

With nonstop flights from several U.S. hubs including Houston, Chicago, and now New York's JFK, there are more options for travellers when it comes to getting to New Zealand. Additionally, to ease the financial strain of the increased cost of flying, along with celebrating the full reopening of New Zealand, Active Adventures is offering travellers a $300 flight credit for each guest who books a new trip to New Zealand through September 30, 2022. 

“The [Ultimate South Island Adventure] was our original trip it has been our most popular trip for 25 years amongst both guest and guides alike,” concludes Singleton. “It's always had the right amount of challenging hiking, biking, and kayaking to keep our guests 'adventure fulfilled' from sunup to sundown – we just made it even better.” 

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About Active Adventures & Austin Adventures:  

With over 60 years of combined experience, Active Adventures and Austin Adventures set the standard for inspiring, all-inclusive, small-group adventures in the most breath-taking regions of the world. Their teams across New Zealand, North America, Peru, Nepal and the Netherlands ensure every detail is looked after. Hand-picked guides with a wealth of experience and local knowledge lead the way as guests enjoy exclusive accommodations, top-notch dining and unique activities showcasing the best of each region.  

Each of their 100+ trips are crafted to perfection, encouraging guests to not only challenge themselves physically but also to take a deep dive in the local way of life in every destination. For more information, please visit activeadventures.com and austinadventures.com.  

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