Why Choose Ability Adventures as your disability travel specialist?

Ability Adventures are a Qualmark Endorsed Visitor Service – New Zealand tourism’s official mark of quality – with over 15 years of experience in creating memorable holidays for people of all abilities.

Through our extensive knowledge of New Zealand and database of disability-friendly tourism operators, Ability Adventures tailor make holiday itineraries and provide guided tours so that you can experience the real New Zealand through all the senses, and access its natural wonders regardless of your level of mobility or other impairments.

 

Learn more about Ability Adventures Services travel partners

 

Our tours are run according to ‘The Tiaki Promise‘. Tiaki means to care for people and places. New Zealand is a beautiful country, and everyone has a responsibility to look after it. This promise ensures that New Zealand is kept clean and beautiful for future generations. We ask all those who travel with us to follow this promise so that you too become a guardian acting to preserve our beautiful home, Aotearoa / New Zealand.

 

We’re working with Trees That Count to help mitigate our carbon footprint over the next 50 years and help protect New Zealand’s threatened biodiversity.  That’s good for our carbon footprint, and good for Aotearoa

 

Qualmark endorsed visitor activity.

Sandie Grant: Ability Adventures owner, adventure planner and travel guide

Marina Hanger - Ability Adventure travel guide, adventure planner and owner.

Sandie Grant is an accomplished Occupational Therapist with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare sector, specialising for more than two decades as clinical wheelchair and seating therapist.

Starting her tour guiding career at 19 with a summer job at an environmental tour company, Sandie has since worked extensively with Eco Tours and later with Ability Adventures, assisting during peak travel seasons.

Her extensive travel experiences have enriched her guiding capabilities, allowing her to reveal hidden gems and enrich the travel experiences of her clients.

Sandie, an avid outdoors enthusiast, enjoys camping and traveling around New Zealand with her family in their campervan. Originally from the South Island, she now resides in the Bay of Plenty on the North Island, maintaining her love for the mountains through activities like tramping and skiing.

Her specialisation as a wheelchair and seating therapist has equipped her with a profound understanding of the accessibility challenges faced by individuals in a world designed primarily for the able-bodied. This insight drives her commitment to enhancing holiday access for all, fuelled by a passion for sharing the beauty of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Sandie is dedicated to meticulously planning and arranging holidays for visitors, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience from arrival to departure. Her approach emphasizes building rapport and trust, ensuring her clients have peace of mind and the confidence to fully enjoy their time in New Zealand.

“Travelling to another country can be a massive leap of faith, so building rapport and trust at the beginning is so important. Once the itinerary is decided I enjoy making all the holiday arrangements so that everything is organised, from the moment you arrive until your departure. It’s about giving people peace of mind and the confidence to holiday in New Zealand.”

Begin planning your New Zealand adventure – contact Ability Adventures now.

Marina Hanger: Ability Adventures consultant and part-time travel guide

Marina Hanger - Ability Adventure travel guide, adventure planner and owner.

Marina Hanger graduated as an Occupational Therapist in her early 20’s and has since worked in a wide variety of health care settings.   In addition, she has over 30 years’ experience in the tourism industry.

As co-founder of one of New Zealand’s first eco-tourism companies, Marina was also involved in researching, planning and leading wilderness, adventure and personal development programmes within New Zealand for blind and visually impaired people of all ages. She went on to establish Ability Adventures in 2008 to support people with disabilities and older people to enjoy the adventure of travel.

After selling the business to Sandie Grant, Marina stayed on as a consultant and part time guide.

“I love showing people around our beautiful country. That and the challenge of designing holidays where a disability is not a hindrance or limiting factor, crafting itineraries to be fully accessible for each travelling group member.

 “As well as providing unforgettable accessible holidays for me as a New Zealander it is also about sharing our homeland, its stunning natural environment and importantly the value of adventure in our lives. I love seeing people of different abilities and ages getting out there enjoying travel just like everybody else.”

Begin planning your New Zealand adventure – contact Ability Adventures now.

Laura Squires: Ability Adventures travel guide

Ability Adventures Tour Guide, Laura Squires

Laura is a qualified Occupational Therapist with a decade of experience in the health industry. In her spare time, she loves exploring New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes and its diverse wildlife. Laura is a keen traveller and has been to 32 countries and counting. She is passionate about experiencing other cultures.

As a tour guide with Ability Adventures Laura is committed to ensuring your holiday in New Zealand is the ultimate kiwi experience no matter what your abilities are.

Begin planning your New Zealand adventure – contact Ability Adventures now.

What our guests are saying

I'm very glad I found you!!
I am very glad I found you, 😊, it has made these Group arrangements much less stressful having the expert at the other end

Claire, Tour Wholesaler, Australia/New Zealand, March 2023 (private self-drive group tour)

The planning, accommodation, and itinerary were superb!!
Thank you so so much for a really wonderful trip.  The planning, accommodation, and itinerary were superb.  I really appreciate the work you put into making everything work for me, and will definitely recommend you to others.  Take care and heartfelt thanks

Bernadine, New Zealand, October 2022 (private guided tour)

Our guys had such a wonderful holiday!!
I absolutely loved looking through the photos!  Thank you for being so easy to contact and supporting our guys to have such a wonderful holiday.  You can see the joy in these photos!  I would definitely recommend Ability Adventures to anyone looking for this kind of service.

Service Manager, Idea Services New Zealand, September 2022 (private guided group tour)

Thanks for going the extra mile!!
Thanks for going the extra mile at every stage!  You delivered great support from beginning to end, and I would highly recommend Ability Adventures, unreservedly.

Niz - New Zealand, November 2021 (private self-guided tour)

We had an awesome time!!
Thank you so much.  We had an awesome time and appreciate your fab organizational skills.

Sue - New Zealand, March 2021 (private guided tour)

Wonderful Self-drive Tour 
We have just come back from a 21 day self-drive tour around New Zealand perfectly organized by Ability Adventures. We got married two months ago and being two wheelchair users we chose this tour operator to organize our honeymoon. We wanted to visit the country by ourselves and Marina organized for us a wonderful self-drive tour caring about every aspect: from renting a car with hand controls to booking wheelchair accessible accommodation and activities. All was fantastic

Alessandra - Italy, Dec 2019 (private self-drive tour)

Exceptional experience 
Thank you for an amazing journey through New Zealand. You have outdone our expectations and we have enjoyed an exceptional experience.

Debra Kerper - Easy Access Travel, USA, 2019 (group tour)

Dream Holiday
"With my wife and I being dependent on electric wheelchairs for mobility we thought a dream holiday to NZ's South Island was impossible, or completely inaccessible for our family. We then enlisted Marina's support and she made it all happen - an amazing action-packed holiday for my family. From the moment we arrived at the airport we were in Marina's safe hands and we were able to completely relax without having to worry about a thing."

Kevin, Australia, Sept 2018 (private guided tour)

Thank you so much for a fabulous, fun, physical and exciting week.
"It exceeded our expectations. The organisation has been brilliant."

Sue Thoms, NZ, February 2018 (tailored tandem cycling adventure)

We had the most amazing time
"Your input has enabled us to have the most wonderful holiday. You certainly live up to your name of "Ability Adventures". Many, MANY thanks!"

M & M Gates, UK, February 2018 (tailored, accessible self-drive tour)

Five stars - Ability Adventures provided us with the holiday of a lifetime.
"Our 2.5 week tour surpassed our expectations and took our family on adventures we never thought were possible or achievable. We would recommend Ability Adventures to anyone wanting a fully inclusive holiday experience."

Silberstein Family, Sydney, Australia, Dec/Jan 2018 (guided, accessible, multi day tour)

Amazing time
"We can't thank you enough for the amazing time."

USA guests, Nov 2017 (guided, accessible, multi-day tour)

Highly recommend to anyone needing assistance. Making the impossible possible!
"We had an amazing experience with Marina and would highly recommend her to anyone needing assistance. Her background as an occupational therapist and her love of the outdoors are a winning combination!!!"

Barbara Starr, USA April 2017 (guided, accessible, multi-day tour)

Just great!
"Good choice of venues visited, great access and very interesting. Tour manager, Marina, was excellent as was tour guide Gary. Very friendly and helpful. We had a wonderful day."

Ros Wallace, Assist Travel, Nov 2016 (cruise ship excursion)

Thanks for your professionalism
"I really enjoyed working with you. Thank you for your professionalism and all your help."

Carol, Travel Agent, Germany, Nov 2016 (Self-drive tour)

Exceeded expectations
"I can't thank you enough for the tour you planned and executed for me. The trip exceeded my expectations."

Joy, South Australia, Jan 2016 (guided multi-day tour)

Thank you
"My clients where very happy with the journey! Thank you very much! "

Patricia, Travel Agent from Switzerland, Dec 2015 (self-drive tour)

Recommend Ability Adventures
"Kay loved her time in Queenstown and would recommend Ability Adventures to her friends"

Kay - Auckland, 2014 (Self-drive tour)

Truly remarkable holiday

It has been so delightful to experience the beauty of New Zealand with you. You made this a truly remarkable holiday for us. Thank you for all your hard work, attention to detail and careful driving 🙂

Scott, Mel and Eric - USA, February 2024 (private guided tour)