OFF-ROAD BUGGY RIDE
Hop on our 5-seater buggy and enjoy the ride with our experienced guide at the wheel.- 1.5 HOURS
- $600 NZD
- FREE PHOTOS!
IN THIS SECTION
OVERVIEW
Take the whole family or friends group on an unforgettable adventure through Franz Josef Glacier’s stunning rainforest and wilderness. Our expert guides are at the wheel, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride while they navigate the comfortable, fully-covered 5-seater buggy through rivers, muddy tracks, and the ancient glacier riverbed. Perfect for families or groups up to five people, this tour is suitable for children aged 4 and up.
Discover the beauty of a temperate rainforest that feels like stepping back in time, all within the UNESCO World Heritage area. Your guide will share stories about the forest, the Franz Josef Glacier, and the incredible scenery along the way, making this a fun and educational experience for all ages.
No matter the weather, this is a fantastic wet-weather activity—gear up and embrace the adventure. The 5-seater buggy is fully covered.
Plus, you’ll receive free photos and videos from your journey to relive the excitement long after the tour ends.
WHO CAN JOIN
- Our Off-Road Buggy Ride can suit anyone 4 years of age or older! With our expert guides behind the wheel – you can sit back and enjoy the ride!
- There’s room in the buggy to comfortable seat 5 adults, or a mix of adults and children.
BUNDLE
AND SAVE!
Book 2 tours to save 10% (COMBO10*)
Book 3 tours to save 15% (COMBO15*)
* Direct bookings only. Not valid with other offers. Discounts apply only when booking 2 or more different guided tours with us.
WHAT TO BRING
- Camera/ phones are welcome.
- You may leave any personal belongings locked up in our gear shed on the tour.
What’s Included
- FREE high quality digital photos
- Jackets
- Helmets
- Gumboots
- Pants
- Sunglasses
- Buffs (on dry days)
- Gloves (when it’s cool)
*Please note for safety reasons our 5-seater buggy is only driven by our tour guides. Please view our T&C’s for more information.
REAL STORIES FROM REAL ADVENTURERS
Great experience! We chose the 5 person buggy tour, which was perfect for our family of 4. Karl was an awesome guide and host. Took great care of us from beginning to end and really shared with us his true excitement and love of the breathtaking nature that he’s so lucky to enjoy all the time. We got to bounce through the riverbed and the bush and even got out a couple of times to enjoy the scenery and play in the flowing glacial waters. We were so lucky with the weather.
Highly recommended!
Kenneth Kwok
REAL STORIES FROM REAL ADVENTURERS
Buggy ride – fabulous fun!
My 12-year son and I did a buggy ride through the forest and riverbed tracks this afternoon – it was a lot of fun. There’d been a lot of rain the previous day -, but they provide full wet weather gear. A really great way to spend some time while at Franz Josef, with enough thrills to keep it entertaining and exhilarating! Definitely recommend.
JRMDY, Christchurch, New Zealand
REAL STORIES FROM REAL ADVENTURERS
The best quad bike track in the world
What an amazing experience we loved every minute of this experience. Fantastic host who took us through streams and forests we could t have wanted anything more.
Susie J
GALLERY
FAQS
What is the difference between the Off-Road Buggy Ride and the Off-Road Adventure Tour?
On the Off-Road Buggy Ride, your experienced guide drives the five-seater buggy while your group sits back and enjoys the journey. No one in your group needs to drive.
On the Off-Road Adventure Tour, guests drive their own quad bike or two or three-seater buggy after completing a safety briefing and test-track assessment. Both experiences explore Franz Josef’s rainforest tracks and glacial riverbed terrain.
Who is the guide-driven Buggy Ride best suited to?
The Buggy Ride is ideal for families with younger children, groups travelling together and anyone who wants to experience the off-road terrain without driving. It is also a good option for guests who would prefer to focus on the scenery while an experienced guide handles the vehicle.
How many people can ride in the buggy?
The buggy carries up to five passengers in addition to your guide. It can comfortably accommodate five adults or a mixture of adults and children. The fixed booking price covers between one and five passengers.
How old do children need to be?
Children must be at least four years old to join the Off-Road Buggy Ride. Your guide handles all the driving, allowing families with children who are too short for our self-drive buggies or double quad bikes to experience the off-road terrain together.
Does the Buggy Ride follow the same tracks as the quad bikes on the Off-Road Tours?
Yes. The five-seater buggy can explore the same rainforest tracks, muddy terrain and glacial riverbed as our self-drive quad bikes and buggies. The Buggy Ride usually departs separately, so your group can enjoy the experience at its own pace.
What happens if it rains?
The buggy has a roof for shelter, and we provide waterproof jackets and pants, gumboots, helmets and any other protective equipment required for the conditions.
Rain adds more puddles and mud to the journey and brings the surrounding rainforest to life. Tours operate in wet and dry weather whenever conditions are safe.
Are photographs included?
Yes. Your guide will take high-quality photographs and videos throughout the experience, which are included free with your tour. Guests are also welcome to bring phones or cameras.
Can we book the guide-driven buggy alongside self-drive quad bikes or buggies?
Usually, subject to vehicle and guide availability. The self-drive guests must complete a safety briefing and test-track assessment, so a combined experience takes approximately two hours rather than the standard 1.5 hours.
Please contact our team before booking so we can arrange the vehicles and departure together.
CANCELLATION
We want you to be confident when you book directly with us! We provide hassle-free full refunds without any penalties. We do ask that any cancellations and changes are made a full 24 hours prior to the trip time. Cancellations made within the 24 hour time frame cannot be refunded (for any reason including medical or other) so please let us know in time if you need to change, or cancel your booking! Private/Group bookings or charters incur a 48 hour cancellation policy.
We reserve the right to cancel tours if minimum numbers are not met or in the event of unsafe conditions, in which case full refunds are issued.
We're here to help, so feel free to drop us an email if you have any questions.
