One of the foundations of New Zealand's representation of itself to the world has been as a premier place of adventure. New Zealanders who have gained world recognition in outdoor leisure pursuits are used to promote this adventurous depiction of New Zealand. They are the focus of and contribute to the discourse which guides the New Zealand understandings of adventure. The social understanding these adventurer identities seek to sustain, and how it evolves will have considerable impact on their lives but also the sustainability and validity of adventure as an educational avenue. This paper is a component of doctoral research exploring outdoor adventure meanings in New Zealand over the last half century. Guided by the ideas of sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, the study examines and interprets the distinction and cultural capital of renowned New Zealanders in the field of outdoor adventure. Nine established and three aspiring adventure identities were investigated through their autobiographic adventure texts, memoirs, web pages, externally authored articles in print media and where possible individual interviews. The analysis focuses on the context, traits, skills and values associated with adventure experience. The adventure narrative in these accounts is predominantly an individual experience focused on personal challenge, control and decision making. The adventure identities are presented as or portray themselves as role models of an adventure experience that is critical to social development and sustainability. They all share a positive perspective of the educational benefits of adventure experience. They do however have divergent ideas on what should be understood as adventure. The common populace representations of adventure, particularly in New Zealand, as the Bungy jump thrill or survival epic are representations most participants in the research sought to re-define.