Frequently Asked Questions

A) No you don’t, your tour is a private tour. This means your guide will be selected to match your group’s interests and requirements (i.e. language spoken), and your luxury tour vehicle will also be chosen to fit your group for maximum comfort.

A) Yes, your guide will be waiting at the airport for you with a sign-board reading your name. At the end of your tour, your tour guide will drop you at the airport in time for your departure flight.

A) No, your tour guide also acts as your driver. This is fantastic for visitors who are uncomfortable with driving on the left-hand side of the road! Additionally, all fuel and rental car costs are included in your tour package.

A) Yes. We find having the same guide throughout your tour enhances your experience. Many of our groups consider their guide a good friend by the end of their stay in New Zealand.

A) Yes, certainly! Your tour guide will drive you to any restaurants or locations you wish to visit throughout your tour. If you want to explore independently after arriving at your accommodation, you can make arrangements for your guide to collect you before dinner. However, if you are planning a late evening, there are restrictions on how late your guide is able to collect you, as they will need to be well-rested to drive safely each day!

A)  Yes, all of our tour guides have been carefully trained and selected to ensure we offer the best tour guides available in New Zealand. They will take you on an insider’s tour of New Zealand and offer priceless local knowledge that will give you a very special New Zealand experience.

A) We cater for single travellers or couples wanting a unique and personal tour of New Zealand, through to families, family groups, or groups of friends, through to larger groups of around 20 – 30 people. We can also cater to larger groups (30+ people) – please ask for more details.

A) Yes, we absolutely can cater for almost all dietary restrictions and allergies. Please advise at the time of booking what your requirements will be, so that we may book your activities accordingly.

A) Certainly! Let us know at the planning stage so we can arrange accessible accommodation and activities throughout your tour.

A) We take a 20% deposit to book your full holiday, with the balance due 45 days before your tour begins.

You can pay for your tour online using Visa or MasterCard via our secure online form, or through an international bank transfer. All payments are transacted in New Zealand dollars.

We try our best to minimise cancellation costs as much as possible if these do arise. As there is a considerable amount of administration involved in booking an itinerary, plus cancellation costs involved in terms of operator charges, there is a small charge if cancellation does arise. We do offer the option to hold credit for a booking at a later date to avoid some of these charges.

We also recommend all of our clients take out travel insurance in case of cancellation or other unforeseen circumstances.

A) New Zealand Guided Tours does not provide travel insurance. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance for the duration of your trip.

A) All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the country.

You may need to apply for a Visitor’s Visa, depending on your country of origin. Please read the full guidelines on the Immigration New Zealand website.

A) No, we are able to fully customise your holiday to suit any age of travellers, from the very young to the very wise!

A) Costs NOT included in our tour packages are as follows:

– Flights (domestic or international)
– Meals (except where included in activities. Breakfast is included in our luxury guided tours.)
– Travel insurance
– Personal spending money (for souvenirs or drinks, e.g.)
– Optional activities (which may be mentioned in each tour itinerary but not listed in the tour’s inclusions)

These exclusions are clearly outlined in each tour package – there are no hidden costs whatsoever.

A) As it is almost always much cheaper to book flights directly through the airline, we do not include international or domestic flights in our holiday packages.

However, we would be happy to help book your domestic flights if you require.

A) It depends on what you want to see while you’re here!

Mid-December through the end of February are the most popular months to visit New Zealand.

If you want to avoid the crowds yet still take advantage of our fantastic summer weather, the best months to travel are March, April, October, and November.

If you want to see a bit of snow, you can expect it to be covering the tops of the mountains across the South Island in the months of June, July, and August.

And if you want to travel over the Christmas/New Year’s holidays, we can certainly make that happen, though be prepared for crowds! And be sure to book at least nine months in advance. 

A) New Zealand’s seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the warmest months are December, January, and February, while the coldest months are June, July, and August.

Don’t let the cold months put you off, though – winters tend to be short and fairly mild.

A) Dress is informal and relaxed on most occasions. Smart casual clothes are acceptable at most restaurants.

In summer, include a light jacket or sweater in your luggage should the weather turn cooler. You can expect some rain, so don’t forget a light waterproof jacket or coat.

Pack warm winter clothing and plenty of layers if you will be visiting between May and September.

A) All major international credit cards can be used in New Zealand, and Travellers’ Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores. If your credit card is encoded with a PIN number, you will be able to withdraw cash from ATMs.