Flight Centre New Zealand general manager of product Sean Berenson said although destinations including Australia, the South Pacific and the UK were still popular, Kiwis were travelling further afield or looking for places that were off the beaten track but close to home.
"Travel is booming right now, more Kiwis than ever are vacationing overseas and as travel becomes more accessible and affordable the way New Zealanders are travelling is changing," he said.
"A cruise to Antarctica is no longer out of the question, neither is a holiday in South America, a tour through Iran, a rafting adventure in Fiji, or an expedition through the Amazon." With more carriers, routes and affordable flights available to New Zealanders, Berenson said there were no longer many destinations that were out of reach.
Intrepid Travel's regional director for Asia Pacific Brett Mitchell said there was definitely a feeling that Kiwis wanted to be intrepid and to try new things before anyone else.
Kiwis can travel from Auckland to Kenya from about $1649 return, flying Qatar Airways. Some return airfares to Iran started at $1579, also flying Qatar Airways.
Those wanting to fly to Cuba would be looking to spend at least $1550 via United Airlines.
It's not all about intrepid destinations. Many Kiwis were keen to try new experiences in some well-loved destinations.
Berenson said that might be exploring the Hinterlands in Queensland, instead of going to the beach, discovering Hawaii's outer islands or visiting less explored islands in the South Pacific such as Samoa, Tonga and Niue.
"The last few years has seen an explosion in 'experiential travel' as holiday makers look for unique experiences," said Berenson.
"Many want to now actually do something on vacation, not just relax on a beach.
"That has fuelled a rise in active travel, expedition cruising, culinary travel, wildlife travel and more."
• Explore the Herald's interactive, to find out Kiwi's top holiday spots.
