Active New Zealand: Hike and Bike the South Island

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

You will need an NZeTA. You will also need to sign a waiver form for the white-water rafting and send in your sizing so that the correct bicycles can be held for you for the two cycle journeys on this program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

New Zealand

• Your passport must have 1 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• Your visa can be secured electronically. You may use the services of our designated visa service, Passport Visa Express, please see details on the process and the price at Passport Visa Express. If you prefer you may secure your electronic visa on your own, see the notes below for details.

Please note: Participants visiting New Zealand require a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) that they must purchase prior to travel at nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/. Links to the NZeTA mobile apps are also at this website. The cost for the NZeTA and the included International Visitor Conservation & Tourism Levy (which accounts for NZ$100 of the total) is NZ$117 via the app or NZ$123 online. Participants then receive their visa when they arrive at their entry point in New Zealand.

What about Health Care in New Zealand? Emergency medical care will be available through the sites’ usual channels, with assistance from your Group Leader. Please read the Road Scholar insurance brochure carefully and note its stipulations and limitations. Health care in New Zealand is excellent. Be sure to bring enough of any medication you are taking to last for the entire program. American prescriptions cannot always be filled in New Zealand because of the different names for products. But, just in case your medication should get lost, bring a copy of the prescription (preferably in generic terms) because you may be able to get it filled in an emergency. Please bring the complete names of all of your medications with you as you will need this information to complete health forms. It is also a good idea to carry with you such things as cold remedies, eye drops, fiber, diarrhea medicine, and other such items that you hope you won’t need, but which become essential in emergencies. It is not always easy to get to a pharmacy, and since brand names are different in other countries, this will spare you some uncertainties. Some countries require prescriptions for many of the drugs that we buy over-the-counter. The CDC recommends that the normal childhood vaccines should be up to date: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR Vaccine), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP Vaccine) and Polio vaccine.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on February 18, 2026

Meet the group at Tussock Peak Motor Lodge in Hanmer Springs

Start of Trip:  10:30 a.m. This program begins in the domestic baggage claim area of Christchurch airport.

Getting to the site: This Road Scholar program commences in the domestic baggage claim area of Christchurch airport. Participants will then be transferred as a group to Hanmer Springs. To join this transfer, all participants must aim to be present in the domestic baggage claim area of Christchurch airport by 9:30 a.m. on the program arrival day, in time for a departure from the airport by 10:30 a.m. Program-only and early arrival participants may join the group transfer at no cost. No reservation is required—simply being present by 9:30 a.m. is the only requirement. If you are making your own way to Hanmer Springs, please inform your Group Leaders. Hanmer Springs Shuttle provides a once-daily transportation service from Christchurch airport for NZ$45 (approximately). Call 0800 081 155 to book in advance.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Hanmer Springs Shuttle provides a once-daily transportation service from Christchurch airport for NZ$45 (approx). Call 0800 081 155 to book in advance.

Your trip ends on: Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Te Anau at Distinction Luxmore Hotel Lake Te Anau

End of Trip: 12:00 p.m. This program ends at Queenstown airport.

Getting to the airport: This program concludes at Queenstown airport. A coach transfer from Te Anau to Queenstown airport, arriving at 12 noon, is provided for all participants. Participants booking their own flights home should book their flights to depart Queenstown no earlier than 2pm on the final day of the program.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: This program commences at Christchurch airport and concludes at Queenstown airport. Participants arriving early or departing late will be responsible for their own arrangements to and from these locations. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call 800-241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.