Taking a tour can offer your clients a stress-free way of seeing the country. Choose from many different types, from budget day trips to the most luxurious private guided tours.

A tour can be a hassle-free way for your clients to visit New Zealand and is ideal for those who have limited time or are not confident travellers.
Tour options range from all-inclusive package tours to hop-on, hop-off bus tours and self-drive tours, so you can find the perfect fit for your clients.
Even if your clients are travelling independently for the most part, consider including a tour for part of their itinerary – whether its a one-day sight-seeing tour or an overnight walking or cycling tour.

Options for tours range from independent to guided or group tours. Independent tours offer maximum flexibility – assistance with planning the itinerary, but once in New Zealand, your clients will be on their own – while guided and group tours are an easy way to experience popular itineraries.

For those seeking a packaged tour, major guided tour operators include Great Sights, AAT Kings, Gray Line New Zealand, Johnston’s Coachlines, Kirra Holidays and Pacific Tourways.

Kiwi Travel and Tours offers both pre-planned tour packages and custom-designed tours to suit your clients’ needs. Chartering a coach allows you to plan the perfect itinerary – some companies also provide assistance with planning or will design a custom itinerary to suit your precise needs. Try Tours and Travel New Zealand, Leopard Coachlines, Orlova South and Guthreys Coachlines.

For free independent travellers, there are some good hop-on, hop-off coach tours designed for backpackers. Try Kiwi Experience, Magic Travellers Network and Stray.

Also look for specialist tour operators such as Red Carpet Tours, specialising in The Lord of the Rings location tours, or Green Realm Travel, with its luxury small group tours.

Back to top ^

Self-drive or Tour

Choose between the independence and flexibility of self-drive or the convenience of joining a tour.

Self-drive
Maximum independence, so visitors can go wherever they want to go.
Campervans are equipped with beds, cooking facilities and sometimes bathrooms, so hirers can stay at good-value holiday parks.
Freedom camping is frowned upon – except in designated areas.
New Zealand roads are generally of a good standard and main highways are sealed.
Most car rental companies do not allow hirers to drive on unsealed country roads or beaches.
The minimum hire age generally varies from 21 to 25 years of age.
Hirers must hold a valid car licence from their home country or an International Driving Permit.

Tour
No need for your clients to plan the details – they can just enjoy the view during the journey.
Hop-on, hop-off coach passes are a good-value and flexible compromise.
Some bus companies offer package deals for backpackers and aim to get off the beaten track with services to out-of-the-way places.
Rail journeys are an excellent way to see some parts of the country, though the New Zealand rail network is not entirely comprehensive.
Guided tours allow travellers to benefit from local knowledge to see and experience things they might otherwise miss.
Touring with a group and meeting other travellers can be an enjoyable social experience.

Back to top ^

Chartered Coaches

Chartering a coach and driver combines flexibility in planning an itinerary to suit your clients with all the advantages and convenience of a coach tour. Some charter companies can also offer assistance with planning or custom-design an itinerary to suit your clients’ needs.

Back to top ^

What Kind of Tour Operator do you Need?

Independent Tours Assistance with planning your clients’ itinerary; once in New Zealand, however, visitors are on their own.

Guided Tours A tour with a knowledgeable local guide will help your clients to discover the real New Zealand.

Group Tours Your clients can experience popular New Zealand itineraries on a multi-day group tour including accommodation.

Sightseeing Tours One-day sightseeing tours offer a deeper insight into particular areas of interest for your clients.

Back to top ^

A – Z Reference

Tour Operators

AAT Kings Tours Pty Ltd
www.aatkings.com
ANZ Nature Tours New Zealand
www.anznaturetours.com
Cycle Turismo
www.cycleturismo.com
Flexi-pass
www.flexipass.co.nz
Flying Kiwi Adventure Tours
www.flyingkiwi.com
Gray Line New Zealand & Scenic Coachlines
www.graylinetours.co.nz
Green Realm Travel
www.greenrealmtravel.com
Guthrey Coachlines
www.guthreys.co.nz
Hiking New Zealand
www.hikingnewzealand.com
Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tours
www.hobbitontours.com
InterCity Group
www.intercity.co.nz
Johnston’s Coachlines
www.johnstons.co.nz
Kirra Holidays
www.kirraholidays.co.nz
Kiwi Experience
www.kiwiexperience.com
Kiwi Travel & Tours
www.kiwitravelandtours.com
Learning Journeys
www.learningjourneys.co.nz
Leopard Coachlines
www.leopard.co.nz
Luxury NZ Tours Ltd
www.luxurynztours.co.nz
Magic Travellers Network
www.magicbus.co.nz
Moatrek
www.moatrek.com
Newmans Coach Lines
www.newmanscoach.co.nz
New Zealand Link Travel Ltd
www.nzlink.co.nz
Orlova South
www.orlovasouth.co.nz
Pacific Tourways
www.pacifictourways.co.nz
Pavlovich Coachlines
www.pavlovich.co.nz
Red Carpet Tours
www.redcarpet-tours.com
Reesby Coachlines
www.reesby-buses.co.nz
Rural Tourism
www.ruraltourism.co.nz
Spiritual Tours
www.relievecorporatestress.com
Stray Travel
www.straytravel.com
Tours and Travel New Zealand
www.toursandtravel.co.nz

Back to top ^