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