Australians’ love of fitness-everything is showing no signs of slowing down in 2026. In fact, more travellers than ever before* are looking to include active experiences on their travels. Where better than Aotearoa New Zealand to send your clients, where the whole country is like a fun-filled gym with the best backdrop! Read on to discover how to maximise Tourism New Zealand’s new Active Escapes campaign, and self-famil news.
With its diverse trails and terrains, breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and easy accessibility from Australia, New Zealand has it all.
Whether your active-focused clients are runners, walkers, hikers, cyclists, or seeking rejuvenation, our Kiwi neighbours are inviting us over to see how abs-olutely fabulous (geddit?) it is for fitness fun.
From epic marathons to gentle nature strolls and world-class mountain biking, New Zealand offers year-round guided or self-paced outdoor exploration to get the heart rate going.
Add the country’s rejuvenating hot springs, wellness rituals, sumptuous dining, and wineries galore, and you’ve got balance. In our humble opinion (ahem, we love pampering), balance is what transforms a fitness-inspired vacay from workout to wow.
Trending: active escapes
Recent Tourism New Zealand research* showed a growing interest from global travellers about getting active on holiday.
Of all travellers considering a trip to New Zealand:
- 13.2 million are interested in walks
- 12.4 million are interested in hiking
- 12.6 million are interested in cycling
Australia’s already active culture – from 5 am beach walks to run clubs, hiking groups, and gym-buddy sessions – means many of your clients are amped and ready for a fitness-focused adventure across the Tasman. Are you ready?
Why a New Zealand active escape?
An active escape isn’t only about the #fitspo selfie from the top of a peak, mountain bike trail or from the post-workout hot tub soak. It’s a chance for your clients to reconnect with their senses, get inspired by the world around them, and feel fabulous while doing so.
An active escape provides:
- Physical rejuvenation: Whether it’s running, hiking, biking, or a mindful stroll, New Zealand’s stunning, unspoilt landscapes prove the perfect backdrop.
- Mental clarity: The significant mental benefits of connecting to nature, taking in fresh air, and spending time in wide-open spaces are now well-documented; all abundantly available across the entire Land of the Long White Cloud.
- Cultural enrichment: Visitors enjoy a deeper, soul-enriching connection in Aotearoa New Zealand, as they experience tiakitanga (guardianship of the people, place, and culture) and manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness, and generosity).
- Holistic active stays: From everything experienced on the trail, path, track or waterways to everything following – nourishing seasonal cuisine, soothing recovery experiences, and mindful relaxation practices – travel across the Tasman offers the ideal holistic active itinerary.
- Deeper purpose: New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes give visitors more than sightseeing, but experiences of self-discovery and betterment.
These all add up to happier, healthier clients who return to you with a passion for all they’ve experienced on their active escape.
Need-to-know active escape facts
- Did you know New Zealand has more than 1,555 walking and hiking tracks? Spanning less than an hour to all-day, as well as 11 Great Walks like the iconic Milford Track, your clients have ample choices, both independently and with operators offering guided experiences
- There are 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand. This premium network of cycling trails spans the motu (country), including popular trails. Such as the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, from the dramatic Southern Alps to the edge of the Pacific Ocean, and the Queenstown Trail, connecting Queenstown, Arrowtown, and the Gibbston Valley
- New Zealand also offers a calendar of world-class running events. Like Run the Forest in Rotorua and The Spectacle in Nelson, drawing both elite athletes and passionate everyday runners (and even the beginners who added running a race to their 2026 NYE goals)
How to sell New Zealand active escapes
Not sure how to sell an active escape? Lucky you have the experts on hand to incorporate running, walking, hiking, biking, and recovery experiences into your client’s dream itinerary.
Tourism New Zealand has several campaign resources to support. Find them on the Travel Trade website on the Active Escapes campaign landing page. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for an invitation to the upcoming Active Escapes webinar hosted by Tourism New Zealand (more info coming soon)!
You’ll also find Guidelines, designed to help you create well-rounded active itineraries to suit your clients and boost your bookings. Skip the brain work out as Tourism New Zealand has done it all for you, from messaging guidance to links to active imagery.
And who could forget the brilliant 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme?
Complete the latest Active Escapes Advanced Course for insider knowledge of active operators, insights into why it’s such a stellar destination for active trips, plus tools and resources for further learning.
Get active yourself on a self-famil
You may remember the excitement you felt when you read Tourism New Zealand’s self-famil programme hit over 440 discounts last year? It now has 480+ discounts from Qualmark tourism businesses across 25 regions!
In case you’ve been snoozing, the Explore New Zealand Self-Famil Discount Programme is their ever-growing travel industry discount programme that allows you and a companion to visit our neighbours on the ultimate self-famil, travelling at your own pace.
Whether you like to run, walk, hike, bike or skip straight to the rejuvenating experiences, learn more by watching the above video.
To qualify, you’ll need to:
- Work full-time as a travel seller
- Become a Graduate Specialist by completing the eight Foundation Courses within the 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme
- Be a member of the Tourism New Zealand Australia Closed Facebook Group
- Subscribe to the Australia Trade Newsletter
Once you’re in, you’ll have access to over 480 discounts, saving on accommodation, airfares, transport, and epic experiences, like heli-hiking on a glacier, cycling one of the Ngā Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, and soothing tired muscles with a hot tub soak.
Discover more
Ready to exercise your curiosity muscle and learn more? Visit the Active Escapes campaign page to download guides, and visit Tourism New Zealand’s Travel Trade Website to access downloadable resources, factsheets, videos, images, and inspiring itineraries.
This article is brought to you by Tourism New Zealand.
