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Adventure Junkies
Adventure Junkies
5
Multi-day ToursAdrenaline & Extreme ToursSki & Snow ToursSightseeing ToursPrivate Tours
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About
Adventure Junkies deliver 1-10 day guided adventure and adrenalin tours on the South Island of New Zealand. Our small group tour products cater to both extreme sports enthusiasts and families looking for softer adventure experiences. Experience safe, fun and professional tours with the adventure specialists since 2005.
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5.0
45 reviews
Excellent
45
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
DrGilds
London, UK42 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
I would highly recommend Russ if you're thinking of doing any kind of tour on the South Island.
He excels at understanding the needs of the client and creating an itinerary based on balancing these with the best that New Zealand has to offer. Given his network of contacts he's able to create something really unique within the budget set at the outset to create memories that will last a lifetime.
He exhibits real care and attention for the client. Nothing was ever too much and there were little touches such as freshly cooked lamb from the local area and always a chiller of cold beers when needed.
Some of our group were less ably bodied that others and he was able to arrange disabled access from the river and mountainside when required which was really appreciated by all.
Thanks Russ for taking such good care of us.
He excels at understanding the needs of the client and creating an itinerary based on balancing these with the best that New Zealand has to offer. Given his network of contacts he's able to create something really unique within the budget set at the outset to create memories that will last a lifetime.
He exhibits real care and attention for the client. Nothing was ever too much and there were little touches such as freshly cooked lamb from the local area and always a chiller of cold beers when needed.
Some of our group were less ably bodied that others and he was able to arrange disabled access from the river and mountainside when required which was really appreciated by all.
Thanks Russ for taking such good care of us.
Written 25 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr Gilds! It was an absolute pleasure to create this custom 3-day birthday adventure getaway for you and your group, and a whole lot more fun delivering it "on the ground" with you. It was great to showcase to you some of the remote backcountry that New Zealand's South Island is famous for and to fill your days with adventure by exploring our rolling hills, Glacier-filled valleys and the picturesque lakeside trails of Southland and Central Otago.
This was a very memorable trip with a fantastic group of guys, thank you very much for the opportunity and of course for your glowing review.
Written 26 November 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Naomi T
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
My experience with Adventure Junkies was phenomenal - I cannot recommend Russ and his team highly enough!
My sister and I did the 10 Day NZ Adrenalin Tour from Christchurch to Queenstown in October 2023 and everything about the trip was amazing from the small group (4 people), to the witty banter and amazing sights. If you are a thrill seeker, the Adrenalin Tour is for you -the itinerary was packed with awesome activities (including zip lining, bungy jumping and sky diving) but was balanced with a few free afternoons to explore along the way.
There were a few minor changes to our itinerary due to the weather and maintenance works, however this was navigated seamlessly and the alternative activities were just as awesome (I particularly enjoyed the white water rafting substitute of river kayaking).
We were fortunate to have Russ as our guide who is both an awesome guide and lovely human. He was very relaxed and friendly and went out of his way to ensure we had a great time by providing advice and recommendations including on the best places to grab dinner (breakfast and lunch are included!) and sharing his inside knowledge on the best local attractions and photo opportunities! He is also very knowledgeable about New Zealand and enhanced our experience by providing a range of commentary on the various cultural, historical and geological/geographic features of our travels.
I can't wait to head back to New Zealand for my next Adrenalin Junkies trip!
My sister and I did the 10 Day NZ Adrenalin Tour from Christchurch to Queenstown in October 2023 and everything about the trip was amazing from the small group (4 people), to the witty banter and amazing sights. If you are a thrill seeker, the Adrenalin Tour is for you -the itinerary was packed with awesome activities (including zip lining, bungy jumping and sky diving) but was balanced with a few free afternoons to explore along the way.
There were a few minor changes to our itinerary due to the weather and maintenance works, however this was navigated seamlessly and the alternative activities were just as awesome (I particularly enjoyed the white water rafting substitute of river kayaking).
We were fortunate to have Russ as our guide who is both an awesome guide and lovely human. He was very relaxed and friendly and went out of his way to ensure we had a great time by providing advice and recommendations including on the best places to grab dinner (breakfast and lunch are included!) and sharing his inside knowledge on the best local attractions and photo opportunities! He is also very knowledgeable about New Zealand and enhanced our experience by providing a range of commentary on the various cultural, historical and geological/geographic features of our travels.
I can't wait to head back to New Zealand for my next Adrenalin Junkies trip!
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luke C
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
The adrenaline tour was the best thing I’ve ever done! Our tour guide Russ is an absolute legend and has put together a trip everyone has to do at least once.
Everything from the activities, accommodation, awesome little food spots and quality chat was 11 out of 10! Even his playlist was awesome while we were cruising through the amazing South Island.
I can’t recommend the trip enough and would do it again in a heart beat!
Thanks for everything Russ (Reuben)
Everything from the activities, accommodation, awesome little food spots and quality chat was 11 out of 10! Even his playlist was awesome while we were cruising through the amazing South Island.
I can’t recommend the trip enough and would do it again in a heart beat!
Thanks for everything Russ (Reuben)
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leticia C
Nelson Bay, Australia11 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
For our first time in NZ we placed our trust in adventure junkies and booked the adrenaline tour.
To say we had the trip of a lifetime is an understatement.
Greeted by an amazing tour guide Russ, who treated us like his best mates! All details of our trip planned and booked and all we had to do was enjoy the ride.
From the banger playlists for the drive, to Russ telling stories or facts about where we were, the constant banter, amazing activities from sky diving, oxbow adventure co and bungee jumping - this trip was truely something else.
Russ showed us many hidden gems and knew all the good spots for food, drinks and a few games of pool.
I couldn’t recommend an adventure junkies trip nor Russ more highly.
Memories I’ll cherish forever.
To say we had the trip of a lifetime is an understatement.
Greeted by an amazing tour guide Russ, who treated us like his best mates! All details of our trip planned and booked and all we had to do was enjoy the ride.
From the banger playlists for the drive, to Russ telling stories or facts about where we were, the constant banter, amazing activities from sky diving, oxbow adventure co and bungee jumping - this trip was truely something else.
Russ showed us many hidden gems and knew all the good spots for food, drinks and a few games of pool.
I couldn’t recommend an adventure junkies trip nor Russ more highly.
Memories I’ll cherish forever.
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gazbail
Gold Coast, Australia73 contributions
Expectations were exceeded
Ryan our guide was super knowledgeable, helpful and respectful.
Accommodation was fantastic along with the food and restaurants visited.
Plenty of fresh fruit and snacks ( and junk) to help with the sugar and energy hits.
Ryan our guide was super knowledgeable, helpful and respectful.
Accommodation was fantastic along with the food and restaurants visited.
Plenty of fresh fruit and snacks ( and junk) to help with the sugar and energy hits.
Written 3 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan W
18 contributions
4 ladies, 2 in their 30’s & 2 either side of 60, did the 10 Adventure Tour (no Bungy, no parachuting).
Ryan assessed our capabilities very quickly which ensured we were always safe, encouraged, assisted and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
The accommodation was always great, Ryan knew the best places to eat and the transportation was very comfortable.
All we had to do was get up, get in the van and let each day unfold.
A couple of activities were cancelled due to high water levels or rough seas, but Ryan provided fun alternatives. The company also refunds the difference - they are ethical in all they do.
During the few longer car rides, we were kept entertained with Ryan’s life stories - he’s led a fascinating life - had snacks provided and stopped to take walks in forests and to sites.
Could not have had a more enjoyable holiday.
You definitely get more bang for your buck with these guys. Highly recommend their tours.
Ryan assessed our capabilities very quickly which ensured we were always safe, encouraged, assisted and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
The accommodation was always great, Ryan knew the best places to eat and the transportation was very comfortable.
All we had to do was get up, get in the van and let each day unfold.
A couple of activities were cancelled due to high water levels or rough seas, but Ryan provided fun alternatives. The company also refunds the difference - they are ethical in all they do.
During the few longer car rides, we were kept entertained with Ryan’s life stories - he’s led a fascinating life - had snacks provided and stopped to take walks in forests and to sites.
Could not have had a more enjoyable holiday.
You definitely get more bang for your buck with these guys. Highly recommend their tours.
Written 2 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TL
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Friends
I completely enjoyed the tour led by Ryan, a phenomenal guide and amazing human being. The guy knows everything. We were lucky the weather cooperated since much of the activities were weather dependent, something I did not think of when booking this trip that occurred at the beginning of fall. New Zealand fall can be cool to cold. I was mostly in down jackets while local Kiwis were in shorts when the sun was out.
Ryan knows the best places to eat, the fastest routes to go, when to see the southern aurora, etc., basically saved me a bunch of time and energy if I did it myself. I enjoyed New Zealand without the stress of driving a car, searching hotels, and mindlessly searching for a decent place to eat. He did it all and I was grateful.
Ryan knows the best places to eat, the fastest routes to go, when to see the southern aurora, etc., basically saved me a bunch of time and energy if I did it myself. I enjoyed New Zealand without the stress of driving a car, searching hotels, and mindlessly searching for a decent place to eat. He did it all and I was grateful.
Written 30 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathryn T
Charlotte, NC5 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
I went back-and-forth on whether to book a guided tour or plan a trip on my own. Booking a tour just seemed so frivolous, and I figured I could save a lot of money doing it on my own.
I was so wrong… booking this trip was the best decision I made, and it was SUCH a good bang for my buck.
Reasons this tour is great:
- length of trip: most guided tours I researched in New Zealand or Australia were 12+ days. I only wanted to take two weeks off work, so finding a 10 day trip was such a win. Majority of our group stayed in New Zealand longer than 10 days, but I love that this trip accommodated people like me who didn’t have as much time
- inclusivity: activities, accommodations, travel, breakfast, lunch, snacks…. The ONLY things I spent money on during my trip were flights, dinner, beer, 2 additional excursions, and a few souvenirs. Normally when I travel, I either end up penny-pinching or spending more than I’m comfortable with and feeling guilty for it. The fact that this trip was so all-inclusive made it easy to know what I was spending before I even got there. So when I was there, I could just enjoy myself. The schedule is also so jam-packed (in a good way) that you don’t have a ton of free time to go off and spend your money on other things.
- size of group: our group was 7 people, and it was perfect. It was just the right size where we could get to know everyone and do everything together, but also split up if we were craving two different things for dinner. It was also nice because we were able to move efficiently from place to place. Rather than wait for 25+ people to take pictures, buy souvenirs, etc., we were easily able to keep moving!
- food: the website mentions that breakfast and lunch are included… what it doesn’t mention is how freaking good the food is. For breakfast and lunch, Ryan would either take us to his favorite spot or give us a couple options to pick between. Once we got there, we could order anything we wanted off the menu. Sandwich with a side of a milkshake? Eggs Benedict and an oat milk latte? Savory pie with a side of a sweet pie? The world is your oyster. I promise you won’t go hungry!
- the guide: Ryan!!! My expectation was that our guide would drive us around, keep us safe, and give us recommendations. What I didn’t expect was that he would also be the most generous, funny, compassionate, and arguably the most knowledgeable person I’ve ever met. Learning about the history of New Zealand and the Mouri culture was such a highlight of the trip, and I didn’t even know I was looking for that. Ryan was able to answer all of our questions about animals, culture, history, plants, etc., and it added so much to the overall trip experience. He was also so generous and would go out of his way to lend me his towel or an extra pair of pants when I was freezing.
- accommodations: similar to the food, I expected the bare minimum (which would’ve been fine), but that was not the case! The places we stayed far surpassed my expectations. We always had more than enough space, and I slept in some of the comfiest beds!
- activities: last, but not least… the itinerary! Whenever I met someone in New Zealand and told them what we were doing, their first response would be “wow, you’re really hitting everything!” We crammed all of the highlights into 10 days, but it didn’t feel too rushed. And if there were any activities that our whole group wanted to do or some people wanted to do but others didn’t, Ryan and Russ were so quick to accommodate and tailor the schedule accordingly. If there is something you are interested in doing, just let them know, and they will do everything they can to make it happen! The only “iconic” thing this trip didn’t include (but the Explorer one does) is Abel Tasman national park. I wish I had one or two extra days on my own to make it happen, but the places we went were still incredible! The only one I might have replaced was Christchurch. The only thing we did there was zip line, and unfortunately 3/4 of our zip lines were canceled due to the wind. And in my opinion, zip lining is a pretty common activity that I can do in other places, unlike bungee jumping, skydiving, hanggliding, etc. which are more worthwhile to do in the “adventure capital of the world.” But it was still fun to walk around the city the night before the trip started since we flew into the Christchurch Airport.
If you are at all considering this trip, I cannot recommend it enough! You won’t regret it!
I was so wrong… booking this trip was the best decision I made, and it was SUCH a good bang for my buck.
Reasons this tour is great:
- length of trip: most guided tours I researched in New Zealand or Australia were 12+ days. I only wanted to take two weeks off work, so finding a 10 day trip was such a win. Majority of our group stayed in New Zealand longer than 10 days, but I love that this trip accommodated people like me who didn’t have as much time
- inclusivity: activities, accommodations, travel, breakfast, lunch, snacks…. The ONLY things I spent money on during my trip were flights, dinner, beer, 2 additional excursions, and a few souvenirs. Normally when I travel, I either end up penny-pinching or spending more than I’m comfortable with and feeling guilty for it. The fact that this trip was so all-inclusive made it easy to know what I was spending before I even got there. So when I was there, I could just enjoy myself. The schedule is also so jam-packed (in a good way) that you don’t have a ton of free time to go off and spend your money on other things.
- size of group: our group was 7 people, and it was perfect. It was just the right size where we could get to know everyone and do everything together, but also split up if we were craving two different things for dinner. It was also nice because we were able to move efficiently from place to place. Rather than wait for 25+ people to take pictures, buy souvenirs, etc., we were easily able to keep moving!
- food: the website mentions that breakfast and lunch are included… what it doesn’t mention is how freaking good the food is. For breakfast and lunch, Ryan would either take us to his favorite spot or give us a couple options to pick between. Once we got there, we could order anything we wanted off the menu. Sandwich with a side of a milkshake? Eggs Benedict and an oat milk latte? Savory pie with a side of a sweet pie? The world is your oyster. I promise you won’t go hungry!
- the guide: Ryan!!! My expectation was that our guide would drive us around, keep us safe, and give us recommendations. What I didn’t expect was that he would also be the most generous, funny, compassionate, and arguably the most knowledgeable person I’ve ever met. Learning about the history of New Zealand and the Mouri culture was such a highlight of the trip, and I didn’t even know I was looking for that. Ryan was able to answer all of our questions about animals, culture, history, plants, etc., and it added so much to the overall trip experience. He was also so generous and would go out of his way to lend me his towel or an extra pair of pants when I was freezing.
- accommodations: similar to the food, I expected the bare minimum (which would’ve been fine), but that was not the case! The places we stayed far surpassed my expectations. We always had more than enough space, and I slept in some of the comfiest beds!
- activities: last, but not least… the itinerary! Whenever I met someone in New Zealand and told them what we were doing, their first response would be “wow, you’re really hitting everything!” We crammed all of the highlights into 10 days, but it didn’t feel too rushed. And if there were any activities that our whole group wanted to do or some people wanted to do but others didn’t, Ryan and Russ were so quick to accommodate and tailor the schedule accordingly. If there is something you are interested in doing, just let them know, and they will do everything they can to make it happen! The only “iconic” thing this trip didn’t include (but the Explorer one does) is Abel Tasman national park. I wish I had one or two extra days on my own to make it happen, but the places we went were still incredible! The only one I might have replaced was Christchurch. The only thing we did there was zip line, and unfortunately 3/4 of our zip lines were canceled due to the wind. And in my opinion, zip lining is a pretty common activity that I can do in other places, unlike bungee jumping, skydiving, hanggliding, etc. which are more worthwhile to do in the “adventure capital of the world.” But it was still fun to walk around the city the night before the trip started since we flew into the Christchurch Airport.
If you are at all considering this trip, I cannot recommend it enough! You won’t regret it!
Written 8 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alyssa Ford
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Friends
Russ has put together the perfect trip around the South Island for the Adrenalin Tour. You get to visit several different cities/towns and do so many of the activities that New Zealand has to offer. The group is small enough that there’s room for customization, so everyone added in a couple different activities. I would have had no idea what activities to plan if I was organizing this trip myself, but the itinerary is the the quintessential New Zealand trip and I wouldn’t change anything. Our tour guide Ryan was amazing and knows so much about New Zealand and its history and its wildlife and is so excited to share his knowledge with the group.
If you’re considering a trip on your own rather than I guided tour, I would recommend the guided trip because there’s so much booking that has to go on and Russ crushed it and we didn’t have to worry about it at all. Also we just got to ride in the passenger van all week, which was great not having to deal with a rental car and we could sleep during travel if we could take our eyes off the views. I think it truly would have cost about the same for me to do all my own bookings and figure out my travel around the island as it did to pay Russ to do that and then an added bonus was being lead by a local who is very committed to keeping everyone safe and happy. And we also got to be friends with everyone in the group which was great because more friends is more fun. To summarize, this is my favorite trip I’ve ever been on!! You should go too!!
If you’re considering a trip on your own rather than I guided tour, I would recommend the guided trip because there’s so much booking that has to go on and Russ crushed it and we didn’t have to worry about it at all. Also we just got to ride in the passenger van all week, which was great not having to deal with a rental car and we could sleep during travel if we could take our eyes off the views. I think it truly would have cost about the same for me to do all my own bookings and figure out my travel around the island as it did to pay Russ to do that and then an added bonus was being lead by a local who is very committed to keeping everyone safe and happy. And we also got to be friends with everyone in the group which was great because more friends is more fun. To summarize, this is my favorite trip I’ve ever been on!! You should go too!!
Written 29 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chilewebbs
Adelaide, Australia6 contributions
Dec 2022
Great guide (Ryan). Great organisation (Russ & Ryan). Great adventures.
This tour was so much fun. We travelled with our older teens and we all loved the daily adventures, the group dynamic, the food and the all the amazing scenery that NZ has to offer.
Personal favourites - Dart River jet boats, caving with the glow worms and canyoning.
Adventure Junkies did all the planning and so we could just relax and enjoy the adventures and the camaraderie of the group.
Thank you so much for making our family trip such a memorable one.
This tour was so much fun. We travelled with our older teens and we all loved the daily adventures, the group dynamic, the food and the all the amazing scenery that NZ has to offer.
Personal favourites - Dart River jet boats, caving with the glow worms and canyoning.
Adventure Junkies did all the planning and so we could just relax and enjoy the adventures and the camaraderie of the group.
Thank you so much for making our family trip such a memorable one.
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.