The following are some of the more unique Airbnb experiences in New Zealand you can do.
How did I get to this point? I went to the New Zealand experiences page and sorted through the 100+ listings at the time I wrote this post.
Note: I have not been on these experiences personally. That said, I may earn a commission if you book an experience through the links below. This won’t alter the price you pay.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The wonderful world of the honeybee
2. Night Sky Photography for Beginners
3. The Art of Hat-Making
4. Ride Back in Time on a Big Wheel
5. Māori Waka Journey
6. Evening Kiwi Walk North Auckland
7. The Contemporary Jeweller
8. Trail run thru wild Wellington
9. Packrafting Queenstown- License to chill
10. Vogel Street Walk
11. Map of where the experiences are
1. THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE HONEYBEE
Manuka honey is one of the coolest things you can buy these days it seems. So why not learn more about the wonderful world of the honeybee?
On this Airbnb experience, you’ll get to wear a bee suit (you’ll be briefed on safety) as you begin to learn what goes into a hive.
You’ll learn:
- the honeybees life-cycle
- equipment used in beekeeping
- how to tell the different bees apart
- look into the difference between wax and propolis
And a whole lot more thanks to the passionate beekeeper, Richard.
And yes, you’ll get to taste the honey throughout the experience as you learn how the honey goes from honey to jar. You’ll take a jar home for yourself too.
What Past Guests Have Said: Richard is super passionate about bees and beekeeping! We had an excellent couple of hours learning all about these amazing insects and all of the things that go into producing jars of delicious raw honey on Waiheke Island. He even “converted” one of us from a non-honey eater into a total addict…nice work!!
Location: Waiheke Island, Auckland
2. NIGHT SKY PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS
The Wairarapa is currently in the process of applying to become a dark sky reserve.
So it makes a great location to begin learning about night photography where we can attempt to replicate the awesome photos we see on Instagram.
Sharisse’s Airbnb experience targets those who have a camera but haven’t learned the ins and outs of how to make the most out of it. Particularly under the night sky.
You’ll acquire tips, and gain the knowledge to start capturing Milkyway images of your own. Once you know the basics of what settings to use, she’ll assist you in taking some photos to learn how you can get different effects. I loved this photo Sharisse took of the night sky.
Location: Wairarapa
3. THE ART OF HAT-MAKING
This is pretty random, but I love it.
We all have worn hats throughout the years for various reasons, right? So we can relate to them in some way when joining this experience with Auckland’s only hat-maker, Martina.
You’ll learn about the art behind hat-making, diving into the history of the craft and how it’s changing in todays word. You’ll get to try out some of the antique tools Martina uses, and help choose the materials to be used in the hat-making you’ll see in front of your eyes.
What Past Guests Have Said: Enthusiastic and creative artform of millinery with beautiful materials.
Location: Auckland
4. RIDE BACK IN TIME ON A BIG WHEEL
Always thought it would be cool to ride a high wheel bike you’ll randomly see on cartoons? I certainly have!
It turns out if we were in Oamaru in the 1880’s we’d have seen plenty. And while they’re very rare now, the Oamaru Ordinary Cycle Club (great club name) has the opportunity for you to experience life on the high wheel.
They’ve got a fleet of high wheel bikes of various sizes, and you can learn to ride one on their Airbnb experience. According to previous guests, any fears will be quelled by Sophia and she’ll have you riding in no time. You’ll need to show you have a safe riding technique before graduating to the biggest bike size though.
And to finish the experience off, you’ll head to New Zealand Whiskey Co for a hot toddy.
What Past Guests Have Said: Sophia was fun and knowledgable. She was a great teacher and very encouraging. This was I unique experience in a super cool town! Well worth doing this experience.
A pennyfarthing spin through old steampunk-esque Oamaru, followed by a hot toddy in the whiskey bar, was perfection. Sophia and Mark were amazing hosts, and Sophia is a great teacher (even for an uncoordinated rider). I definitely recommend!
Location: Oamaru, Otago
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5. MAORI WAKA JOURNEY
There’s always more you can learn about the Māori culture (e.g. at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This experience gives you that and connects you with nature as you voyage in a waka across the Waikouaiti River.
Did you know the first people to arrive in NZ crossed oceans on waka? That’s pretty cool, and you’ll learn more about this, along with customs and traditions.
You’ll then help out by planting some native trees, replacing exotic species, and get a short beach experience.
What Past Guests Have Said: The Maori waka experience was most enjoyable. Our hostess thoughtfully contacted us several hours prior to inform us of the weather conditions with was most helpful. Our hosts were very welcoming and made us feel like family. Paddling the waka was fun and we appreciated being able to help the community by planting native plants. Lunch, provided at the quaint local cafe, was delicious and the perfect finish.
We had a wonderful experience with Tania’s family going out in the Waka’s. Wonderful stories and information unique to New Zealand. This was our favourite outing on our trip as a family.
Location: Waikouaiti River, Dunedin
6. EVENING KIWI WALK NORTH AUCKLAND
*not a real kiwi
Vanessa grew up with the Tawharanui Open Sanctuary as her backyard, and you can join her in the evenings with the opportunity to hear, and ideally, see the nocturnal Northern Brown Kiwi (the birdsong is crazy).
Don’t forget to leave your outdoor voice at home, as you’ll need to keep voices down to not scare them off. That’s why it’s best to have a redlight torch too.
With a guide so passionate about the area, being able to see kiwi in the wild is an awesome experience. One of the best things to do in Rotorua is too see the kiwi in captivity, but this is the best way to experience them, right? As the guest below mentions, this is a must-do activity in NZ.
What Past Guests Have Said: This was an unforgettable experience and Vanessa was an excellent host. She shared her knowledge and passion for the area and its wildlife from the moment we were collected to the moment we returned. We not only saw a number of kiwi but we were extremely lucky to spend time watching two graze undisturbed by our presence. Great biscuits too! A must do activity.
Outstanding experience, this is not to be missed. Great value, excellent service and we saw 4 kiwi. It’s a memory my 8 year old daughter will never forget and neither will I. Thanks Ness
Location: Tawharanui Open Sanctuary, Auckland
7. THE CONTEMPORARY JEWELLER
Looking to make your own New Zealand souvenir?
Jessica can help you out with that by sharing her passion for contemporary jewellery. When you arrive, you’ll get a rundown on what the different types of contemporary art is (Jessica has exhibited all over the world), by looking through books.
You’ll get your hands dirty learning how to use the new tools, before designing a piece of jewellery with your new skills. Creativity isn’t a 2-minute process, so you’ll be spending the day with Jessica learning, laughing, and making.
What Past Guests Have Said: If you have ever wondered what it was like to make jewellery put this experience at the top of your list. Loved every moment. Thanks Jess!
Thank you so much for a lovely day at your place. I had a great time designing and making my piece. I am so happy with what I produced thanks to Jess helping me. Lunch was great as well. I got to meet Jess’s husband and also his parents from Ireland which was a bonus. And of course lovely Indy their dog. The piece I made represents my holiday in NZ and I will treasure it. I recommend this experience to anyone visiting Queenstown.
Location: Arthurs Point (near Queenstown), Otago which is close to some cool Queenstown Airbnbs
8. TRAIL RUN THRU WILD WELLINGTON
As a passionate trail runner, I really like this idea. There’s nothing more annoying than arriving in a new place and wanting to go for a trail run, but you never quite know where you’re going. So you end up stopping to look at your phone to make sure you haven’t ventured too far off track.
On this Airbnb experience, Will meets you in the CBD with your pre-planned route (based on your preferences) that’ll finish at one of the main peaks in the city to get some (fingers crossed epic) views over Wellington. For a capital city, it’s amazing how quickly you can get into the bush, where native birds can be spotted and the hustle of the city feels a million miles away.
After your run back to the city, you’ll head to one of the dozens of craft breweries or trendy cafes for a beverage.
What Past Guests Have Said: Will was great and I had a really cool time he knew the trails well and has loads of knowledge on Wellington and NZ in general and had a really good run! 🙂
We had a great chat with Will, survived the hills, and had some delicious beers at the end. Would definitely recommend it, Five thumbs up 😀
Location: Wellington
9. PACKRAFTING QUEENSTOWN – LICENSE TO CHILL
Starting in Queenstown, you start by driving along Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy. From there it’s time to get off the beaten track in the Rees Valley. At the end of the road, you begin hiking through glacier cover peaks, waterfalls, and alluvial river waters.
After walking for a couple of hours with all the packrafting gear you’ll get the hang of the rafts before taking to the Rees River. It’s beginner-friendly, but these packraft skills will give you the opportunity to go on awesome independent adventures in the future.
The team has exclusive access to the Rees River, a popular filming location that wildlife love.
What Past Guests Have Said: Absolutely amazing experience Packrafting with the most unbelievable scenery. Incredible day and so happy we did this. Always pays to get off the beaten track. Cheers Huw!
Excellent day. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Huw and Will were great guides and instructors and everything was explained really well. We had lots of fun and learned new skills in a beautiful setting. Communication with Huw and Sarah was excellent from booking to the actual trip. Highly recommended.
Location: Starts in Queenstown
10. VOGEL STREET WALK
I love it when someone goes an inch-wide and a mile deep on a topic. And when it comes to Vogel Street in Dunedin, Athol knows more than possibly anyone. It’s the location of urban renewal in the city.
Dunedin has rediscovered its mojo of late and he’ll show you how that transformation is taking place on Vogel Street. You’ll learn about the importance of the area within history, and get to know the public spaces and some of the repurposed buildings.
He’s also one of those people who knows everyone in the area, so you never know which interesting people you’ll meet along the way.
What Past Guests Have Said: We found our hour-long tour with Athol fascinating–a chance to see and understand an area that few people get to experience. It’s a great example of ongoing urban renewal and creativity.
Athol’s Vogel Street Walk is particularly useful for solo travellers. I would not have enjoyed or understood the VSW experience if I’d just simply walked down the street on my own. Very interesting experience for people who enjoy architecture, history and culture.
Location: Vogel Street, Dunedin
WHERE ARE THESE AIRBNB EXPERIENCES IN NEW ZEALAND?
This map below will give you a chance to see where the destinations above are.
These New Zealand Airbnb experiences are pretty awesome, right?
It’s such a cool place for Airbnb to move into. If you’ve got a passion, there’s no reason why you can’t create your own experience to share with travellers. There are online experiences you can do too.
What do you think are some of the best Airbnb experiences in New Zealand are?
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Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.