It’s no secret that Aotearoa New Zealand is the ultimate adventure playground – and now it’s even easier to book your clients onto the best running and cycling experiences and enjoy your own self-famil trip.
Tap into New Zealand’s booming run-ride scene through year-round events and curated activities to inspire your clients to make the most of the outdoors, plus level up your Tourism New Zealand Active Escapes know-how and enjoy your own self-famil in 2026.
Aotearoa New Zealand is ideally placed for active adventures, offering unparalleled opportunities to experience active escapes in breathtaking, natural and accessible surroundings steeped in local culture across the North and South Islands.
With awe-inspiring landscapes around every bend, New Zealand is best explored outdoors as you run or cycle the diverse trails and terrain. Active escapes are always on as the mild, temperate climate means running and cycling adventures are possible year-round.
Whether your clients are up for an organised event or challenge or prefer a guided experience at their own pace, on running- or cycling-led active escapes, there are plenty of ways to explore New Zealand.
From major marathons and alpine and cross-country trails to city cycling and off-road biking, here’s how the Active Escapes campaign will inspire your active clients to run or cycle New Zealand in 2026.
Run the road (or trail)
New Zealand has a year-round running event calendar, plus drop-in options, allowing you to craft the ideal active escapes for pro athletes through to everyday runners.
Organised running events are staged across the motu (country), from weekend 5km (Parkrun tourism is a thing) through to challenging ultra marathons and road races.
Savvy advisors can recommend the Faultline Ultra (25-26 April 2026), a multi-distance trail race series from 6km through to the gruelling 161km (100-miler) that takes in Wellington’s diverse landscapes.
Rotorua’s Run the Forest (8 August 2026) and the iconic Merrell Race Tekapo (19 September 2026) offer a winter escape for runners to warm up on courses that wind past forested, geothermal and mountainous naturescapes.
Family-friendly Run the Forest includes 7km, 10km and 21km options (also suitable for solo runners and friend groups), while Merrell Race Tekapo stretches from the 2km kids dash through to a 50km ultra.
The Spectacle (4-5 December 2026) is another of New Zealand’s premier running events, encompassing trail and road races and attracting the world’s elite racers alongside leisure pacers to Whakatu–Nelson.
The seriously epic but also seriously fun Spectacle challenges runners to fast-and-furious miler, 5km, and relay road races, or to 10km to 100-mile trail courses in native forest, plus entertainment to really make it a fully rounded weekend away.
Cycle the path, park or scenic route
New Zealand also makes it easy to shift gears on a cycling holiday. Aussies are increasingly interested in cycling in Aotearoa New Zealand, so it’s probably something your clients are keen on, too.
Whether it’s a city break or a nature getaway, you can steer your clients to the right two-wheel experience for active escapes.
Hop on Auckland’s Power to the Pedal e-biking tour and Chill Explore’s inner-city guided tour in Christchurch for urban highlights with insights, or clients can DIY their exploration on rented bikes.
New Zealand also has myriad mountain biking parks and thrilling off-road trails to get on your bike and get the adrenaline pumping, such as Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua, Queenstown Bike Park, Craters Mountain Bike Park in Taupō and Kaiteriteri Mountain Bike Park in Nelson.
Multi-day cycle trails are also gaining uphill momentum. Many of the 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand also lend themselves to short or day rides, including the classic Otago Central Rail Trail and always-popular Queenstown Trail.
Another way to experience New Zealand is pairing active adventure with indulgence. Cycle through award-winning vineyards in the Hawke’s Bay, the Wairarapa and Marlborough wine regions, stopping at cellar doors at leisure with bike hire.
Run it, ride it – sell it
See it to sell it in 2026 – be recognised as an active escapes expert and experience New Zealand to recommend these running and cycling adventures to your clients with confidence, along with the tips and insights you’ve gained firsthand.
Level up your know-how with the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme online training, and tick off eight Foundation Courses to become a Graduate Specialist and broaden your knowledge.
Upskill with new advanced training courses, such as Active Escapes & Cycling, getting clued in with quick modules you can complete on any device, plus receive the latest updates by signing up for the Australia Facebook Group and Trade Newsletter.
Choose your own adventure
Graduate Specialists can then apply for the Explore New Zealand Discount Programme and tap into exclusive deals across flights, accommodation, activities and transport through Air New Zealand, Qantas and Qualmark-accredited tourism businesses.
The trade-only program allows you to create a self-famil itinerary for two, with access to more than 480 deals, from free offers to up to 30 per cent off savings for travel in off-peak months.
Tourism New Zealand’s self-famil opportunity gives you the freedom to go when you want (between March and November) and do what you want (across 22 regions) with whoever you want (your plus-one doesn’t even have to work in travel).
When you actively experience New Zealand for yourself, you’ll also know more and sell more to your clients.
Get ready to learn and explore more of New Zealand at onlinemodules.newzealand.com
This article is brought to you by Tourism New Zealand:
