5 year validityOn all experiences and vouchers
Free exchangesOn all voucher purchases
4.6 star ratingFrom 114k+ customer reviews
To exchange your experience, select a product, add it to cart and proceed to checkout.
Once there, enter your voucher number to exchange for a different experience.
An 18th birthday is a milestone, and the best 18th birthday gift ideas are the ones they'll still be talking about years later. Give a skydive, a raft down the Kaituna, a parasail over the Bay of Islands or a day at the high ropes with mates. Book one for yourself, or give it as a gift.
An 18th birthday is a milestone, and the best 18th birthday present ideas are the ones they'll still be talking about at 30. Everything here is an experience, from a skydive to a raft down the Kaituna to a day at the high ropes with mates. At 18, they can also sign up for these in their own name, with no parent or guardian consent needed for the skydives. Here's where to start.
A tandem skydive is the classic way to mark turning 18. In Auckland, jump from 13,000ft or 16,000ft at Parakai. In Queenstown, the private drop zone at the base of The Remarkables has 9,000ft, 12,000ft and 15,000ft jumps, and Wānaka has the same three heights, at 9,000ft, 12,000ft and 15,000ft.
For the highest jump in Taupō, the 16,500ft skydive has up to 75 seconds of freefall. Over Abel Tasman, jump from 10,000ft, 13,000ft or 16,500ft from Motueka. See all skydiving, including Auckland, Queenstown, Wānaka and Taupō.
Rotorua has plenty for a group. The Kaituna River white water rafting trip is three hours with transfers from Rotorua, including a plunge down the seven metre Tutea Falls. The Monster 4X4 thrill ride is 10 minutes in a roll-caged truck up near vertical slopes, and the ZORB globe ride rolls you downhill in a giant ball. In Queenstown, the 60 minute KJet ride runs up to 95km/h. See things to do in Rotorua, Queenstown, white water rafting and jet boating in Queenstown.
In the Bay of Islands, go solo, as a tandem for 2 or as a group of 3. Prefer to paddle? The glowworm kayak tour at Lake Karapiro is three hours at twilight, and the half day sea kayak hire in Kaikōura is for two experienced paddlers. See parasailing and kayaking and canoeing.
At Woodhill Forest, 35 minutes from Auckland, the high ropes courses suit every level and end with a flying fox. Choose Tree Hugging for a beginner day, Branching Out for a bit more challenge, High Flyer for a trapeze, or Tarzan's Test, 15 metres up. See high ropes in Auckland.
The shark cage snorkel at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's in Auckland gets you face to face with four shark species, and the Agrodome farm show and tour in Rotorua is 2.5 hours of sheep shearing and farm life. See gift ideas for groups and go karting.
Buying for someone specific? Browse gifts for him, gifts for her, gifts for your boyfriend, gifts for your girlfriend and gifts for kids. For other milestones, see 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th birthday gifts, all birthday gifts, or graduation gifts, some gift inspiration and ideas by occasion.
An experience is a good choice, because they'll remember it long after they'd have lost track of a thing. Think about what they'd do with a free weekend, whether that's a skydive, a rafting trip or a day out with mates.
No. On the Queenstown, Wānaka, Taupō and Abel Tasman skydives, anyone under 18 needs consent from a parent or guardian, so at 18 they can book in their own name. Weight limits still apply, so check the product page.
Yes. The parasailing flight for 3, the sea kayak hire for 2, the Kaituna rafting trip and the high ropes courses all work for a group of friends, and the Agrodome farm show suits a mixed group.
RedBalloon vouchers are valid for five years from purchase, so they can book when it suits them.