April 2025

Travsessed is

heading to New Zealand!

  • South Island Beauty
  • Hiking, Biking, Kayaking
  • Adrenaline-Pumping Outdoor Adventure

About Travsessed New Zealand

This trip is for all of the ACTIVE outdoor adventure lovers!!

We have planned a once in a lifetime, two week adventure through the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. 

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places in the entire world & it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true!! 

If Hawaii and Alaska had a baby, it would be New Zealand. 

NZ has volcanoes, snow capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, rainforests, beaches, wine, beautiful National Parks, fun cities, adrenaline-pumping adventures…

It literally has everything & we’re gonna SEE, DO & EXPERIENCE it ALL on this trip!!

We traveled around NZ extensively in a camper van a few years ago and we fell in love instantly. We took our own itinerary and elevated the entire experience to create a bucket list trip that you’ll never forget!!  

We will hike, bike, ATV, kayak, drive & adventure our way around this magical island! 

We will be visiting NZ in the fall–so prepare for breathtaking landscapes & beautiful bright, autumn leaves (and don’t forget your camera!!

New Zealand is the trip of a lifetime & we have created an unforgettable experience that you’ll remember & cherish  for the rest of your life!

Create Memories & New Friendships that will last a lifetime!! 

Let us take care of you!!

Get yourself to New Zealand & we’ve got the rest covered!!!

We’ve already done all the researching, planning, organizing & heavy lifting for you.

All you have to do is show up with an open mind…a positive attitude & be ready to RELAX, EXPLORE & HAVE FUN with your new travel buddies–no planning required!!!

So much thought, love, and detail went into the creation of this trip & we hope that you are just as obsessed & excited as we are!!!!

THIS TRIP WILL BE PHYSICAL

Our trips are for ACTIVE ADVENTURERS. 

We will be moving our bodies throughout the entire trip. 

This trip includes a lot of hiking, biking, walking & kayaking.

Please bring a positive attitude, an open mind and be prepared to MOVE your body A LOT!!

TRAVSESSED TRIPS ARE NOT LIKE OTHER GROUP TRIPS

Travsessed trips are not like other group trips. We separate ourselves from the pack by the amount of value & unique experiences that we build into the itinerary and the pay package.

Many group trips do not include tips (which are hundreds & hundreds of dollars), alcohol, airport transfers & many meals & activities are not included in the trips initial price. All of these extra expenses add up very quickly. We’re talking thousands of extra dollars in some cases.

We include almost everything into the pay package from the beginning so that you don’t have to think about how much money you need to bring with you everyday, or how much you need to tip, or worry about taking out your wallet every 5 minutes!! 

We include it all, making it super simple and clear from the very beginning!!

We also pride ourselves on creating unique and special experiences & itineraries that you won’t find anywhere else. 

Even our Kiwi partners in New Zealand, were blown away and so impressed and excited for the South Island itinerary that we created! They said that it was the best trip that they’ve ever helped plan– they’ve never seen anything like it!!

They plan hundreds and hundreds of trips–so that’s saying a lot!! 

Creating valuable, fun experiences with cool, like-minded people is our number one goal and mission and we believe that we do just that!

If you’re new here…..Come see for yourself!!! 

trip highlights:

  • Biking through beautiful wine country
  • Exploring the ADVENTURE Capital of THE WORLD
  • Overnight in a backcountry hut nestled in the Southern Alps
  • Jet boating down a glacier river
  • Rafting through glowworm caves
  • ATV off road Adventure through rainforests, rivers & glaciers
  • Sunrise hike with picnic lunch
  • Fun local wineries & breweries
  • Kayaking through Abel Tasman National Park
  • Hiking to glaciers
  • Hiking through the Southern Alps
  • Hookers Track in Mt Cook National Park

As with all Travsessed Adventure Trips, we partner with locally owned companies and work very closely with local guides for a true insider experience & to help support the local communities & people of the places that we travel to. 

Trip Details:

  • Travsessed New Zealand is a 15 day trip
  • This is a BIG trip! You’re flying across the entire world so we want to create the most epic NZ adventure & give you A lot of bang for your buck
  • Dates: 4/4/25-4/18/25
  • Do not book any flights until you’ve received the green light from us

We’ve included almost everything into your pay package so that you don’t have to worry about anything during your vacation! We’ve got it handled and taken care of!! 

We’ve included all TIPS, all accommodations, all transportation & almost all meals & activities!!

$8,135

**shared accommodations Per Person

**Not including Processing Fees

**If you are interested in upgrading to a private room, please email [email protected] and we will email you a quote if a private room is available. Private rooms are not guaranteed.

What’s Included:

  • Private airport transfer for both arrival and departure
  • 2 experienced local guides for the entire trip to give us a true insiders experience
  • Private bus & driver for the entire trip
  • ALL TIPS for all guides, drivers, restaurants, activities, wineries etc. We have tipped generously on your behalf so that you don’t have to worry about, plan for or think about anything extra on your trip.
  • 13 nights in very comfortable 3-4 star motel/hotels in twin rooms with ensuite bathrooms
  • 1 Night in Temple Basin Ski Lodge
  • Healthy fruit & snacks throughout the entire trip
  • Jet Boating Adventure
  • Bike Rentals for 2 days
  • 5 wine tastings at 5 different wineries
  • Lagoon kayaking
  • Off roading ATV adventure
  • Rafting through glowworm caves
  • Hiking/kayaking adventure through Abel Tasman National Park
  • Fun Farewell lunch at a beautiful winery
  • Fun welcome dinner with drinks
  • Foodie experience with wine at local food hall
  • Fun dinner with drinks in Queenstown
  • Famous Fergburger lunch
  • 14 breakfasts
  • 12 Lunches
  • 12 Dinners
  • All conservation Concession fees
  • Fun Welcome Package from us

What’s Not Included:

  • Flights
  • Travel Insurance (Mandatory for trip)
  • Any meals and alcohol not listed above
  • Personal spending money

Trip Itinerary:

Subject to change…but this is the overall vibe.

We will provide a full trip itinerary, packing list, restaurant guide & more detailed trip info, once you have signed up.

This trip is a good mix of backcountry rural areas and fun towns. We took our own itinerary and elevated the entire experience to create a once in a lifetime, bucket list adventure for you! 

Even our Kiwi partners in New Zealand, were blown away and so impressed and excited for the South Island itinerary that we created! They said it was the best trip that they’ve ever helped plan and they’ve never seen anything like it!!

They plan hundreds and hundreds of trips, so that’s saying a lot!! 

We have included almost every meal in this itinerary to take the thought out of it & make it easy for you.

When dinners include drinks it will be noted on the itinerary below.

When not noted the dinner will include water and a 2 course set menu with lots of options for you to choose from.  Any additional drinks will be at your own expense. 

DRIVING: The South Island is HUGE & We will be exploring almost every inch of it, because it’s all so beautiful & different. Prepare for some longer drives. The drives are absolutely stunning & part of the New Zealand experience.

Day 1

Arrive To Christchruch

Today you will arrive to Beautiful New Zealand! Yay!!

You will be picked up from the airport by a Driver with a Travsessed Adventures Sign and driven to your hotel.

Depending on what time you arrive, there will be time to rest, relax, shower & explore.

We will all meet in the evening for a very fun welcome dinner. We will kick off our adventure and get to know each other over a delicious 3 course meal with wine.

Meals Included: 3 course dinner with wine

Day 2

Mt. Cook National Park

Today we will meet our two local Kiwi guides, who will be with us for the entire length of our trip. They will take care of us, teach us & give us the inside scoop on all things! 

We will begin our drive from Christchurch to Mt. Cook National Park while stopping at beautiful spots along the way. You will learn very quickly that driving through NZ is an adventure all on its own. Every 5 minutes there is something insanely beautiful to pull over & check out!! 

We will visit Lake Tekapo and the famous Church Of The Good Shepherd. We will get settled into our accommodations and there will be time to explore the national park with some quick, but stunning walks.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive Time: About 4 Hours (Stopping along the way)

Day 3

Hooker Valley Track

Today we will do one of our favorite hikes in the entire world.

We will hike the Hooker Valley Track to Hooker Lake taking in the incredible views of Mt Cook (NZ’s highest mountain) along the way. The trail is mostly flat & the views are absolutely breathtaking!! 

In the afternoon, there will be an option to hike up to Mueller hut or Sealey Tarns or enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring the park at your own leisure.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 6.8 miles for hooker valley track

Day 4

Queenstown-Adventure Capital of the world

Queenstown is such a fun town. It’s known for its jaw dropping beauty and for being the adventure capital of the world. 

Today we will get an early start and make our way over to Queenstown.

We will kick off our day in Queenstown with an adrenaline pumping, thrilling Jet Boating adventure that will take us through canyons and down beautiful glacier rivers! We will experience 360 degree spins and travel across three waterways at insane speeds of up to 60 MPH!! This is such a fun, gorgeous and thrilling ride!!  

After we get our hearts pumping, we will enjoy a delicious Fergburger lunch sitting and relaxing on the shores of lake Wakatipu.

The afternoon is yours to wander around & explore the very cool town of Queenstown. 

In the evening we will meet for a fun small plate group dinner out on the town at one of our favorite places! For those who wish to continue the party, we will take you to our favorite QT spots with fun live music!! 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with drinks
Drive Time: About 3 hours

Day 5

Free Day In Queenstown

Today is free for you to explore on your own. There are so many fun, adrenaline pumping things to do in Queenstown and we will leave the decision of what to do up to you!

A Few Options:

  • Bungee jumping (QT is where bungee originated)
  • SkyDiving
  • White water rafting
  • Day trip to Milford Sound
  • Paragliding
  • The world’s steepest zip line
  • The world’s biggest swing
  • Zorbing
  • Real life Mario Kart

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6

Cycling through beautiful trails & wineries to Wanaka

Today we are taking the scenic route!! We will ride bikes along beautiful, easy off road trails through Queenstown to Arrowtown. 

We will stop, rest, take in the beauty & visit wineries along the way. We will stop for lunch at a really cool craft food hall & enjoy a delicious foodie experience. We will end in the beautiful lake town of Wanaka. This is where we will spend the next two days.

The evening is yours to relax & recharge. We have an early morning the next day.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with wine, wine tastings at two wineries
Biking:
18-25 miles

Day 7

Sunrise Hike to rob Glacier and Picnic Lunch

Today we will get an early start and hike up Rocky Mountain to watch the beautiful sunrise over Lake Wanaka. We will continue up the Matukituki Valley and walk to the Rob Glacier view point where we will enjoy a picnic brunch/lunch overlooking the glacier. 

There will be some downtime in the afternoon to rest and recharge before enjoying a fun group dinner at a local brewery.

meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Beer at your own expense)
Hiking: About 6-8 Miles

Day 8

The beautiful West Coast & Franz Josef Glacier

Today we will drive from Wanaka over the Haast Pass to the West Coast of the South Island. This is such a beautiful drive and many tourists don’t make it over to the West Coast (they are missing out!).

We will take our time stopping at the Blue Pools, Waterfalls & many other beautiful viewpoints along the way.

Tonight we will chill & get settled into our new accommodations in the town of Franz Josef.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive Time: About 4 hours (Stopping along the way)

Day 9

Okarito Lagoon Kayaking + ATV Adventure + Glacier

Gear up for another day of adrenaline pumping outdoor adventures.

We will begin the day with the opportunity to kayak in the Okarito Lagoon to get up close to wildlife and have some of the best views of the Southern Alps.

In the afternoon we will head out for an off roading ATV adventure. We will enjoy the backdrop of the Southern Alps & the Franz Joesf glacier as we follow our guides down thrilling tracks through rivers, rainforests and glacier beds!! 

We will end the day with a quick 30 minute walk to get up close and personal with the Franz Josef Glacier.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
Kayaking: About 2-3 hours
ATV:
About 2ish hours
Hiking:
About 30 minutes

Day 10

Overnight Stay In Backcountry Ski Lodge

Today we will head to Hokitika with a quick stop to explore the cute artsy town and beach.

Then, we will hike up to Temple Basin nestled in the backcountry of the Southern Alps.

We will have an awesome overnight experience with an incredible view of Mt. Rolleston, surrounded by the highest peaks in the national park. We will be spending the night in a very cozy ski lodge that you can only get to by hiking.  Since it won’t be ski season, there will be minimal people at the lodge. We will enjoy a yummy dinner, stargaze, play games and take in the beauty around us!!

Day 11

West Coast, Pancake Rocks, Truman Track, Glow Worms

We will enjoy a relaxing morning at the ski lodge before hiking back down to our van. Today we will continue to drive up the beautiful west coast. We will explore some beaches, pancake rock and then walk the gorgeous Truman Track.

Tonight we will have our first glimpse at the magical glow worms!! Did you know that glow worms can only be found in NZ and Australia?!

Day 12

Rafting through Glow worm caves + Abel Tasman National Park

Today we will experience an untamed, natural cave rafting adventure like no other!! 

We will float  in a tube down the fun but gentle rapids of the pristine Nile (No Crocs, not the same Nile River) / Waitakere River, including the stunning West Coast Rainforest with towering limestone cliffs.

Next, we will explore ancient multi-level cave systems & lakes where we will find galaxies of glowworms. We will hear stories and learn about all the things from our local & knowledgeable guide.

Our day will end in Abel Tasman National Park. This is one of our favorite places in all of NZ & our home for the next 2 days. You will feel like you are in the Caribbean with the crystal clear blue waters and white sandy beaches. We recommend you wind down with a walk on the beach before settling in for the night.

Day 13

Hiking/Kayaking Adventure through Abel Tasman

Today we will explore one of the most beautiful and unique areas of New Zealand! We will embark on a hiking & kayaking adventure through the gorgeous Abel Tasman National Park. We will hike parts of the iconic Coastal Track and kayak through the beautiful, calm, crystal clear waters.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch and take in the beauty around us!! Abel Tasman is a true treasure & we know you’re gonna fall in love!

Day 14

Cycling through wine country

Today we will head down to Nelson and explore the famous and beautiful New Zealand wine region!

We will rent bikes and cycle around to some of our favorite wineries. We will enjoy wine tastings & snacks while learning about the NZ wine culture.

While on the tour, we will have a delicious and very fun farewell lunch in a beautiful outdoor space.

Here we will celebrate an incredible trip, new friendships and beautiful memories that we will cherish forever!! We will spend our final night together in the beautiful area of Mapua Wharf. After a long day of drinking a lot of wine, you can choose to either settle in for the night or keep the party going.

Day 15

Goodbye for now

We will enjoy one final breakfast before saying our goodbyes for now.

There will be one free group transfer to the Nelson airport, or you can choose to drive back to Christchurch with our guides and depart from there.

NOTE: Nelson to Christchurch is a 7 hour drive and there will be an additional cost.

FLIGHT INFO:

ARRIVAL: Fly into Christchurch

DEPARTURE: The trip will end in Nelson and there will be one group transfer to the Nelson Airport.

If you wish to fly out of Christchurch, you will be able to drive the 7 hours back to CC with our guides at an additional cost.

IMPORTANT: Arrival & Departure cities are DIFFERENT. Please plan accordingly.

>>>Do not book flights until you receive the green light from us.

TRIP FUN FACTS

  • New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere which means their seasons are opposite of those in North America.
  • The South Island of New Zealand is the 12th largest island in the world.
  • The west coast of the South Island is dominated by the Southern Alps, which contains more mountains than the European Alps altogether!! 
  • The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand that arrived over 1,000 years ago. They named it Aotearoa ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’.

WIFI AND CELL SERVICE SUCK there are many areas where you will not get cell service, especially in the South Island.

NZ IS KNOWN FOR INFAMOUS “5 MINUTE SUNBURNS”

Put on SPF There is a hole in the ozone layer above New Zealand (and Australia), so the sun will burn you more quickly than you may be used to.

Weather in New Zealand is CrAzY

It changes often, and one town to the next can be totally different. In one day, you can experience snow, rain and sunshine. Be prepared by packing lots of layers and rain gear.

Glow worms are a thing in New Zealand

Did you have a stuffed animal glow worm growing up?  I did 🙂 She was pink, her name was glowy and I was obsessed with glow worms!! Did you know that glow worms can only be found in NZ and Australia?!

Local Currency

New Zealand Dollar

kiwi culture

NZ culture–also known as Kiwi culture–is a mix of Maori, European, Pacific Island & Asian Influences. Kiwis are known for being so friendly, open minded and chill!

What Others are saying:

Why Travel With Travsessed

We’re Kim & Erran, a healthcare traveling couple & the founders of Travsessed.

We are travelers who are obsessed with travel!! We love traveling and researching & planning and we put our heart, souls and so much love and thought into every single detail and trip that we plan!!

We create one of a kind, small group, boutique travel experiences for healthcare workers (and their friends or partners)

We plan & organize all the things…so all you have to do is show up & have a good freakin time!!

We work closely with small local businesses, friends, and local guides to create a unique, one of a kind experience that you will not find anywhere else!!

We always get off the beaten path & dive into the local culture, food, people & experiences!

We go beyond the surface & way past the “highlights” to create experiences that will give you a deeper perspective, understanding & appreciation for the places you visit.

And we have a lot of fun along the way!!!

What Other Travelers Are Saying:

My trip to Peru with Kim & Erran was packed full of the perfect amount of everything my soul needed from, adventure to relaxation to communing with some of the coolest people I’ve ever met. Truly had the time of my life and look forward to embarking on another Travsessed adventure soon! Keep on doing what your doing. Travel changes a person to their core for the better and I really believe you two are fulfilling your life’s purpose.

Lori J

Just got back from the most amazing trip to Machu Picchu in Peru with Travessesd!! It was truly an adventure trip of a lifetime! I can’t say enough good things about Kim and Erran and the whole Travessed experience- from start to finish it was perfectly planned and executed with a focus on excellent, beautiful, epic adventures where we were immersed in the local culture of Peru

Linda R

Travsessed Peru was the most well-thought-out, adventurous, incredible trip! Kim and Erran do such an amazing job at creating a culturally immersive and unique journey! The group was an instant family that motivated and inspired each other the whole way! I couldn’t have planned a better trip to Peru, and I wouldn’t trade the memories, tears, laughter and love for anything!

Emily K

Kim and Erran put on the best trip imaginable!! Not only did I get to experience a new country for the first time but I got to meet some of the most amazing people to do it with ♥️ I love that we didn’t just do “touristy” things but got to experience a lot of the culture. I would do it again in a heartbeat. 100/100

Ashley R

Spots are Extremely limited!!

Join Us In new zealand: Save Your Spot Now

fAQ

Don’t worry about that because 90% of our groups are ALL solo travelers too!!

You’ll meet so many cool, like minded friends on this adventure!! 

We have so many lasting friendships created from these trips.

 By the end of the trip, we will ALL be one big happy family!!! 

The adopted Travsessed motto has become: “Come as Strangers, Leave as Family”

If you are coming with a friend or partner you will be rooming with them, If you’re traveling solo, No worries, so are most people who come on Travsessed adventure Trips, so you’ll be in good company.

We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with based on your intake forms.

Anyone with an open mind & a positive attitude are welcome on our trips! Our trips tend to be 90% healthcare workers just because that is who we are and the community that we talk to.

But if you have a friend or partner that doesn’t work in healthcare that wants to join…they are more than welcome:)!!!

We say that it’s always the PEOPLE that make the experiences so memorable & FUN!!

Our trips attract really fun, high vibe, open minded, down for anything kind of humans!!! 

We do almost everything together on our trips!! We get very close very fast! 🙂

This is your trip and we want you to make it exactly what you want! There’s a lot to see and experience, so we’ve tried to design an itinerary that’s a balance of adventure with some down time sprinkled in.

We always leave room for some FREE TIME, but we’re together 95% of the time!!!

That being said our trips are pretty go go go & if you need to rest or recharge you are always free to opt out of an activity for some alone time!!

We totally understand that and you are in good company because the majority of people on our trips….come alone & they don’ t know anyone when they arrive.

We create a very friendly & inclusive vibe from the beginning and we all become fast friends.

We do all the planning and organizing for you!! We plan trips based on our own experience in that destination while also using all the tips and insider knowledge from local guides and friends that we meet along the way!! 

All you have to do is get yourself there….we take care of the rest!! 

I’m nervous to book because I have never traveled outside the country before, there are lots of things that I do not know how to do, and what if I make a mistake.

When we say we have you covered, we have you covered.  We provide a FB Group, WhatsApp Group Chat, direct access to us via email, so we can walk you through anything you might not know how to do.

We also send you a packing list, places and restaurants to check out during your downtime,  how to get local currency, tips, local facts to familiarize yourself with the local area, visa information, customs information, and will provide video details of airports, and will have a driver there that we are in constant contact with and have worked with before to pick you up from the airport and bring you to the hotel where we will be there to greet you and get you checked into your hotel room.

In other words, We got you!!! 

Yes, it is mandatory for all guests on Travsessed Adventures to have personal travel insurance for the duration of the trip. We recommend you book your travel insurance as soon as you make your trip deposit to protect your investment. (We will send more info about insurance upon booking)

All payments are non-refundable. If the trip must be postponed or cancelled due to events beyond our control, you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payments to a future trip.

The reason payments are non-refundable is that we start incurring costs from the moment someone signs up — from credit card fees to our local vendors & organizers coordinating and booking everything on the ground for our group and beyond.

Thank you so much for your understanding and respect of our need to enforce this policy strictly. 
We are excited to share so many incredible adventures with you.

If you have any questions please email us at [email protected]