Inclusive tourism is about minimising barriers, reducing uncertainty and increasing accessibility when exploring New Zealand.
Find suitable accommodation, transport, activities and accessible beaches.
Whether it's skydiving, kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park or exploring outdoor tracks around New Zealand, with the right resources you can find activities to suit you.
Let someone else take care of the logistics of planning your trip.
Travellers requiring wheelchair hoists can contact Accessible Kiwi Tours(opens in new window) and Accessible New Zealand(opens in new window) as they specialise in small group tours at a slower pace and can accommodate travellers with mobility needs.
When you book a tour with Ability Adventures(opens in new window) they can take care of equipment hire on your behalf and ensure their recommended accommodation options suit your needs in advance.
With over 15,000 km of coastline in New Zealand, you're never far from the ocean. During the summer months make your way from the dunes to the waves by beach access mat.
Your local i-SITE staff can point you in the right direction of an accessible beach or view this map of accessible beaches in NZ(opens in new window). If you're visiting the many beaches in the Auckland region you can hire a beach wheelchair.(opens in new window)
Spend time with nature and enjoy wheelchair and buggy accessible tracks(opens in new window) across the country, for more detailed maps with images check out Accesibel(opens in new window).
Making Trax(opens in new window) are experts in inclusive adventure tourism and have worked alongside many adventure tourism activities to adapt equipment to suit everybody. Bungy jumping, kayaking, paragliding, kayaking and rafting are all possible and can be booked through the Inclusive Directory(opens in new window).
Motorsports enthusiasts can self-drive a V8 Muscle Car at Highlands Motorsports(opens in new window) their 5.0L custom-built racing Mustang is adapted with hand controls and is suitable to be driven with limited leg mobility. You'll be accompanied by a professional driver who will guide you through seven fast laps of the racing circuit.
Visit the Inclusive Tourism Directory(opens in new window) to find activities with the Trax Seal of Approval to suit your adventurous abilities
International airports in New Zealand have great access and informative ground staff. Find out about your access needs at these main airports Wellington Airport(opens in new window), Auckland Airport(opens in new window) and Christchurch Airport(opens in new window)
Air New Zealand staff are trained to assist passengers who are with flying with a wheelchair(opens in new window), and passengers who have a visual or hearing impairment. Plan your arrival into New Zealand with the Air New Zealand assisted travel site(opens in new window).
The New Zealand Transport Agency has a list of public transport providers for each region(opens in new window). For over 30 years Total Mobility has been a helpful resource for finding discounted disability transport(opens in new window) in each region. It's always good to plan ahead and local councils can give more information.
A road trip, is one of the best ways to access New Zealand's beauty. Accessible vehicles are available nationwide with most rental companies offering a wide range of vehicles in their fleet, including hand-controlled, wheelchair suitable vehicles, left foot drive and swing out seat vehicles. Disability Rentals(opens in new window) have seven offices nationwide, Mobility Vehicle Rental(opens in new window) offer pick up and delivery of vehicles to anywhere in New Zealand, and Freedom Mobility(opens in new window) have a large fleet of vehicles for hire and also offer modified vehicle driver training lessons.
Mobility parking permit applications(opens in new window) are available for locals and international travelers(opens in new window) and should be organised prior to the start of your trip as processing times may vary. International parking permits are not recognised in New Zealand.
Driving here might be different than in your country so before you get behind the wheel read our tips for driving in New Zealand.
Find the perfect day out that meets all of your accessibility needs in the Accessible Day Out library (opens in new window)
It's always a good idea to call ahead and double-check to see if accommodation is suitable for your needs. Once you've selected your destination on Airbnb(opens in new window) sort through suitability by searching through more options and filtering through the list of accessible options.
