New Zealand Tours with a Private Driver

New Zealand is a diverse and endlessly fascinating country, but it can be tricky to get beyond the tourist hotspots and discover the true gems when your visit is brief. Travelling with a private driver on your New Zealand tour solves this problem.

Instead of rushing past the unforgettable viewpoints and worthwhile detours, let your guide reveal the very best of New Zealand while you relax and take it all in.

Your private driver will help you capture exactly the New Zealand experience you want, whether that means hiking stunning trails, tasting superb wines at our famous vineyards, discovering private beaches, encountering native wildlife, or visiting Lord of the Rings filming destinations.

There is no better way to discover New Zealand – especially if you have only a few precious days or weeks to take it all in.

What to Expect on a Tour with a Private Driver in New Zealand

In some ways, travelling with a private driver is similar to a self-drive holiday. You have all the flexibility and freedom to explore that you would expect with your own vehicle.

However, in other ways, your guided experience will be so much richer and more relaxing than a self-drive vacation could ever be. More than that, many of our clients feel like their guide has become a close friend by the end of their tour.

Read on to see to discover 7 benefits of choosing a privately guided tour experience with New Zealand Guided Tours.

1. Travel with an experienced local guide

Each of our guides is a local New Zealander with a lifetime of knowledge about our beautiful country. In addition, our guides have a great deal of experience in leading tours throughout both islands.

Drawing on this experience, your guide will:

• Structure each day to make the most of detours and worthwhile stops along the way
• Plan lunch stops based on recommended restaurants and cafés
• Help you discover the highlights of each destination based on your group’s interests, whether that means museums, natural wonders, playgrounds, or hiking trails
• Keep you informed about what you see, and what your options are each day

There’s no better way to experience a local’s perspective of New Zealand. Meet our Guides here>>

2. All transport and all transport-related costs are included

Our private tours are all-inclusive, which means we include all vehicle hire costs, fuel costs, and guiding costs in the tour package. You don’t need to pay for anything except certain meals and souvenirs on a day-to-day basis.

This also means you don’t need to worry about airport transfers or getting to and from dinner in the evening, because your private driver is at your service from the moment you arrive in New Zealand to the moment you leave.

In addition, where most tourists would travel on a large bus to and from a sightseeing destination – such as Milford Sound tours leaving out of Queenstown or Te Anau – your guide will get you to and from the destination in the comfort of your own tour vehicle. This helps you save on the costs and inconvenience of joining a larger group tour for the driving portion of the experience.

3. Travel in a luxury touring vehicle

No matter what size of group you visit with, we arrange a spacious luxury touring vehicle that will allow you to explore the country in comfort.

For couples and smaller groups, we arrange 4WD tour vehicles with lots of leg room for a more intimate feel.

Medium-sized groups can stretch out in our larger luxury tour vans, which are highly comfortable and designed for a premium experience.

Finally, our largest New Zealand tour groups travel in full-sized tour buses with a designated driver, leaving your tour guide free to entertain and see to the needs of your group as you travel.

4. Enjoy entertaining and illuminating commentary throughout your tour

Did you know that New Zealanders once captured deer by helicopter to begin what is now a lively deer farming industry?

Did you know that none of the pine trees you see around the country are native?

And did you know that the eels in New Zealand’s rivers can live for up to 100 years and eventually migrate thousands of miles to spawn near the Pacific island of Tonga?

New Zealand is a truly unique and fascinating country, and you’ll only appreciate its most entertaining quirks with a local guide to share them. From its unusual native wildlife to its early Māori history, New Zealand holds a treasure trove of memorable stories that your guide will share through the course of your travels.

5. Experience New Zealand like a local with your private driver

From top to bottom, some of the most memorable parts of New Zealand are the ones that lie off the typical tourist routes. Your guide will help you look past the crowded destinations and help you find the true gems.

With direction of your private driver in New Zealand, you can:

• Watch the sunset from the dramatic Piha Beach near Auckland
• Taste wines at a handful of truly superb vineyards that aren’t advertised to tourists
• Encounter cheeky keas (native mountain parrots) at Arthur’s Pass
• Take in views from a tricky-to-find yet stellar lookout over Tasman Glacier
• Walk through a natural limestone cave that cuts beneath a hillside at Cave Stream
• Soak in the splendour of some of New Zealand’s best mountain scenery at a hidden viewpoint in Glenorchy
• Discover hidden waterfalls around the country

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6. Enjoy a tour solely catered to your interests

Many of our clients choose to book customised New Zealand tours with a private driver based on special interests. For instance, we have planned photography tours, Lord of the Rings tours, adventure tours, hiking tours, and wine-tasting tours.

We can also accommodate special requirements, whether that means travelling with young children who prefer a slower pace and lots of playground visits, or choosing accessible destinations.

In addition, your guide will get to know you throughout your tour and will work with you to tailor your experience based on your vision of a perfect New Zealand holiday. Whether that means plenty of leisurely mornings with brunch at excellent cafés, or venturing down hidden valleys to explore enticing detours, your guide will add excitement and personalisation to your tour at every turn.

We aim to pair you with a guide who is particularly knowledgeable about your areas of interest. For instance, if you want to enjoy stellar day hikes around the country, we will choose a guide who knows the best trails and can lead you on guided walks if you wish.

7. Travel at your own pace

The flexibility and ease of a New Zealand tour with a private driver is what makes the experience so enchanting.

Instead of sticking to strict timetables on a larger group tour, or worrying about making it to activities on time with a self-drive holiday, you can relax knowing your guide will handle the details. Whether you want a packed schedule with as many tours and activities as you can fit into your stay, or a leisurely meander through the country, your guide will help you travel at whatever pace suits you best.

Included in our New Zealand Tours with a Private Driver

We aim to provide an all-inclusive experience so you don’t have to worry about budgeting while on the road.

Our New Zealand tours include:

• Transport in a private luxury vehicle
• Excellent accommodation
• Private tour guide/driver
• Unmissable tours & activities  
• Meals as included in tours, with the option to include daily breakfast
• Dynamic pricing based on group size

We have made a deliberate choice not to include most meals, because there are so many excellent and varied restaurant options across the country that most visitors prefer to choose what sounds best as they go. Your guide will recommend their favourites and plan around good stopping points for lunch on days with longer drives.

However, you do have the choice to add daily breakfast if you would prefer the convenience of eating at your accommodation. Unless you wish to upgrade to 5-star accommodation, this usually means a continental breakfast platter that is provided to you in your room.

And if you are travelling in a large group, we do have the option to pre-book all meals to create a fully packaged experience. Get in touch with our planning team today>>

Browse our tours with a private driver in New Zealand

We offer a range of New Zealand tours with a private driver to choose from. Whether you wish to visit the North Island, the South Island, or both islands, we have designed a wide range of itineraries to spark your imagination.

In addition, we offer special interest tour packages for luxury, family, or Lord of the Rings tours.

Begin planning your New Zealand tour with a Private Driver

From start to finish, our team is here to help you conceptualize, plan, and book the New Zealand trip of a lifetime.

You can either look through our tour packages to find a tour that suits, or reach out to our team for help designing a customised itinerary.

For more inspiration, read our blog, where you can find posts on Lord of the Rings tour suggestions, luxury travel inspiration, and much more.