Private guided tours of New Zealand are the perfect way to discover the wonders of this beautiful country. Sit back, relax, and let your guide handle the details as you traverse mountain passes, venture into hidden valleys, taste local flavors, and learn about the rich history and fascinating quirks of New Zealand.
Based in Wanaka, NZ, New Zealand Guided Tours offers carefully curated private guided tours of New Zealand. Travel with local guides as you immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery and rich culture of New Zealand.
From affordable group travel to bespoke luxury escapes, we cater to your schedule and preferences, arranging stress-free travel with a private guide as you create memories that will last a lifetime.
“New Zealand Guided Tours is one of the best companies we have ever traveled with.” – Diana Diver
“We could not have had a better experience. Francine was super responsive, our guide (Mark) was better than we hoped for – knowledgeable, fun, flexible, and resourceful.” – Elizabeth Cutter
“Every step of the vacation was flawlessly planned, but the best part of planning this vacation with you was the care, patience and attention to detail that you demonstrated throughout the booking process.”
We make it easy to plan your visit with a range of New Zealand private tour packages. Either book a tour package as it is or use these as a jumping off point to design a more customised tour.
With a wealth of knowledge to draw on, our team will work with you every step of the way to create an unforgettable experience, from choosing the best accommodation to scheduling your itinerary around your interests. And once you arrive in New Zealand, your guide will tailor your vacation based on what you want to see and do while here.
Our team is delighted to answer any queries you might have, and we are here to help at any point along the way, whether that is during the planning phase or while you are in New Zealand.
Whether you are looking for a cost-effective vacation or the ultimate in luxury indulgence, look no further than New Zealand Guided Tours.
Our boutique travel agency specialises in a wide range of holiday itineraries, which means we have inside knowledge on every aspect of your visit, from the most sumptuous luxury lodges to the ultimate must-do activities throughout New Zealand.
In particular, our private guided tours are perfect for:
Your private guide will enrich your New Zealand experience with insightful commentary, sightseeing excursions based on your interests, and insider knowledge of each destination. Meet our Guides.
Travel in comfort in the privacy of your own luxury tour vehicle. From 4WD vehicles for small groups to luxury tour vans and buses for larger groups, your tour vehicle will give you room to stretch out and enjoy the views.
From top-notch 4-star hotels through to exquisite luxury lodges, we book the very best accommodation in each destination.
In addition to sightseeing with your guide, we book an exciting range of tours and activities throughout New Zealand. Whether you want enjoy a scenic cruise on Milford Sound or a Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, we include everything in your private tour for ultimate convenience.
Many of the activities we include in our private guided tours of New Zealand involve meals. In addition, you have the option to add daily breakfast. However, unless you are travelling in a large group, we prefer to leave other meals unscheduled to give you the flexibility to explore each day’s sights at your leisure.
We aim to include virtually everything in our New Zealand tour packages, freeing you from stress so you can immerse yourself in discovering our beautiful country.
Your guide is there to make your vacation as seamless as possible, from the moment you arrive in New Zealand to the moment you depart. This includes transportation, scheduling, restaurant recommendations and shuttling, and any other services you require during your stay.
Step 1: Reach out to our team
We begin planning your private tour when you reach out to our team. Either choose one of our many New Zealand private tour packages or let us know what you are looking for so we can start designing a sample itinerary to suit.
We are very happy to communicate either via email or over the phone, no matter what country you are travelling from!
Step 2: Adjust your itinerary until you are 100% happy with your tour package
Our experienced team will work with you to tailor your itinerary until it matches exactly what you are looking for, whether that means changing which activities are included, squeezing in an extra stop, or modifying the tour to match your budget.
Step 3: Book your tour
Once you have given us the go-ahead and paid the deposit to book your tour, we take it from there.
Over the next week, our team will arrange your guide and vehicle, book your accommodation and activities, and put together an itinerary filled with sightseeing recommendations and details on each inclusion for your reference.
Step 4: Arrive in New Zealand!
Your guide will meet you at the airport as your unforgettable New Zealand tour begins. During your travels, your guide will handle all vouchers and scheduling – all you need to do is relax and enjoy your holiday!
For a small country, New Zealand offers a staggering diversity of experiences. Stunning scenery, thrilling adventure sports, rich cultural encounters, world-class dining…the list goes on.
Let these highlights serve as inspiration while you begin dreaming of your ideal New Zealand vacation.
From idyllic beaches to towering peaks, the breathtaking scenery of New Zealand alone is reason enough to visit.
On the North Island, stroll along secluded beaches and discover the geologic wonders of New Zealand’s volcanic past.
Meanwhile, the South Island beckons with vivid turquoise lakes, fathomless fiords, magnificent glaciers, and an ever-changing tableau of mountain scenery.
Whether you prefer thrilling adventure activities or family-friendly farm tours, awe-inspiring scenic helicopter flights or underground cave tours, New Zealand offers a wealth of memorable experiences.
For adventure enthusiasts, choose from jet-boat rides, skydiving, rafting, bungy jumping, canyoning, and much more.
And for those who prefer slower-paced sightseeing activities, these are often the best way to take in the grandeur of New Zealand’s epic scenery. Helicopter flights, scenic cruises, glowworm cave tours, and 4WD backcountry tours all open up a different side of New Zealand.
From the early days of New Zealand’s discovery, followed by years of settling both islands and establishing pounamu trade routes through the dramatic and varied landscapes inland, through to their unique co-governance established by the Treaty of Waitangi, the Māori people have long been the guardians and inhabitants of Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Discover the still-thriving heritage that comprises a large part of New Zealand’s identity. Witness a haka, participate in a traditional hāngī dinner, and learn the stories and traditions that shape New Zealand’s past and present.
With a mild climate ranging from subtropical to alpine, New Zealand offers a bounty of locally produced foods and wines, some of them internationally renowned.
Our coastal waters abound with delicious seafood, while our varied microclimates give rise to an incredible range of wine regions suited for different varietals. Feast on macadamia nuts in the Coromandel and stone fruits in Otago, deer milk cheese in Geraldine and oysters in Bluff.
If you have a particular interest in visiting wineries during your stay in New Zealand, we can craft a bespoke itinerary that includes visits to the major wine regions, such as Waiheke Island, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Central Otago.
New Zealand is not only home to its most iconic animal, the kiwi. Other unique native birds include keas (highly intelligent mountain parrots), fantails, bellbirds, and several varieties of penguins.
Add to this a fantastic abundance of sea life such as dolphins, seals, and many varieties of whales, and it is no surprise that New Zealand is a top destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
Encounter our charming native wildlife on predator-free islands, at well-established nesting sites, on dolphin-swimming excursions, and on wildlife cruises.
If you dream of discovering Middle-earth in real life, you can step into a fantasy land with an exciting range of filming location tours, including the iconic Hobbiton Movie Set Tour.
From Isengard to Edoras, the Misty Mountains to the River Anduin, New Zealand is just as epic as it looks on screen. Recreate the magic with props, stories from behind the scenes, and unique insights into how Middle-earth was brought to life.
Whether you prefer to travel with a guide or have never booked a private tour before, there are many great reasons to choose New Zealand Guided Tours for your New Zealand vacation.
Unlike many guided tour operators that plan New Zealand holidays from overseas, we live right here in the heart of the South Island. As locals who specialize in New Zealand travel, we have a deep understanding of what makes for a fantastic New Zealand vacation, no matter your interests.
In addition, our guides are locals with many years of experience. Their long familiarity with guiding visitors around New Zealand allows them to lead you on a seamless adventure through the iconic destinations and hidden gems of this beautiful country.
Rather than booking onto a large group tour that follows set itineraries and has little room for flexibility, why not allow yourself to experience New Zealand at your own pace?
Whether this means leisurely starts each morning or impromptu sightseeing, a private tour allows you to create your perfect New Zealand holiday one day at a time.
In addition, your guide becomes a key part of your experience when traveling with a private group. Many of our past clients have commented that their guide felt like a close friend by the end of the tour. From illuminating anecdotes to wry kiwi humor, your guide will keep you informed and entertained throughout your visit.
From photography tours to wine-tasting excursions, Lord of the Rings vacations to hiking expeditions, your guide can craft a fully tailored holiday based on any special interests your group might have.
Our travel planning team will start by designing an itinerary that includes whatever highlights are most important to you. From there, your guide will shape your days around whatever you most want to see, whether that be waterfalls, wildlife, or wineries.
Most visitors who have never driven on the left side of the road are understandably cautious when visiting New Zealand. The rules are different, the mountain roads are narrow and winding, and it can be intimidating to have to figure out a completely new way of driving without any practice.
Since public transportation in New Zealand is so limited due to the country’s small population, traveling with a guide is the best way to replicate a self-drive experience without needing to face the uncertainty of learning to drive on the opposite side of the road.
In particular, your guide can help you explore some of the unforgettable highlights that are not visited on bus tours or are tricky to reach via public transport.
Unlike pre-set group tours, where you pay the same price no matter how many travelers join the group, our privately guided tours become less expensive per person as your group gets larger.
Privately guided tours for a couple or a small family can be considerably more expensive than traveling with a larger group tour. However, once you reach about 6-8 members of your group, our tours can be surprisingly affordable. See our options for private small group tours.
In addition, we include a wide range of activities and attractions in our tour packages, which means you don’t need to pay to book these on the spot.
Finally, you might be surprised at how cheap 5-star accommodation is compared to other countries, especially if you’re traveling from somewhere with a favorable exchange rate. This is a popular choice for our tours as it enhances your experience without increasing the price too steeply.
As you begin planning your New Zealand vacation, browse our New Zealand private tour packages. These will give you a good idea of which highlights are most popular, what routes we recommend, and how much you can realistically see in the time you have available.
New Zealand tours are for those who want to experience the best of both islands. Shorter tours are fast-paced, with long days of driving or a domestic flight linking the two islands, while longer tours are able to spread out the travel and stop longer in each destination.
South Island tours put a spotlight on mountain scenery, from craggy peaks and glaciers to turquoise lakes and towering fiords. Combine sightseeing with adrenaline activities, hiking, or outdoor adventures for an immersive wilderness vacation.
Idyllic beaches, dramatic volcanoes, glowworm caves, geothermal reserves, and Māori culture are all on display on the North Island. With most of the highlights located in the central North Island, it’s easy to hop from one activity to the next and fill your days with excitement.
Choose from a range of specially designed tour packages:
No matter what you envision for your New Zealand vacation, we can make it happen. Contact New Zealand Guided Tours today to begin planning your dream holiday.
If you want to see the best of New Zealand’s epic mountain scenery, choose the South Island. Fiords, glaciers, snowcapped peaks, turquoise lakes, and braided rivers characterise this stunning slice of wilderness.
And if you want to pack a staggering diversity of experiences into a short visit, choose the North Island. You’ll find otherworldly volcanic terrain, glowworm caves, geothermal reserves, Māori cultural centres, idyllic beaches, and the charming Hobbiton Movie Set all within a short drive of Auckland.
However, if you have at least 10-14 days to visit New Zealand, you can easily explore both islands! For shorter visits, we recommend using a domestic flight to link the two islands and cut down on driving time.
A private guided tour is both more immersive and easier than a self-drive vacation.
On a private guided tour, your driver/guide handles everything, from scheduling and directions through to restaurant recommendations and sightseeing suggestions. This allows you to sit back, relax, and devote yourself fully to enjoying your time in New Zealand.
In addition, your guide takes you beyond the tourist hotspots to the locals’ version of New Zealand. Discover hidden viewpoints, secluded beaches, unforgettable boutique wineries, and local artisans. Plus, your guide will enrich your experience with stories and fun facts that leave you with a far deeper impression of this incredible country.
New Zealand Guided Tours offers the best private tours of the country. From our friendly and highly experienced guides to our excellent customer service, we receive consistently glowing reviews.
The best private tours of New Zealand balance discovery with relaxation, include both the must-see highlights and the hidden gems, and cater perfectly to the needs of your group.
Discover the best New Zealand vacation packages.
Not necessarily! Depending on the size of your group, private tour prices can be comparable to pre-set group tours – or even self-drive travel.
If you are travelling as a couple, a private tour is a more expensive way to see New Zealand. However, once you get up to 4 or 5 group members, the price approaches what you would pay for a pre-set group tour.
Of course, travelling with a private guide is a far more luxurious way to travel than joining a group tour! Some visitors opt for a private tour for exactly this reason, and we have a number of luxury tours to choose from if you want to indulge in the very best New Zealand has to offer.
Meanwhile, budget-conscious visitors often join up with another couple or family to keep the costs down while still enjoying the premium chauffeured experience.
If you want to enjoy pleasant summer weather, November through March are the best months to plan your tour.
However, New Zealand winters are mild and our spring and autumn weather can be surprisingly warm, so you can enjoy an unforgettable New Zealand experience at any time of year.
Christmas and the New Year are a popular time to visit, but prices are at a premium over the holidays. In addition, we have to work around check-in/check-out restrictions and minimum night stays in many destinations, which means less flexibility in your itinerary.
If you can only see one island, we recommend the South Island! This is where you’ll find our two most famous destinations – Milford Sound and Queenstown. With an abundance of mountains, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and picturesque coastline, the South Island is the most dramatic of the two islands.
However, the North Island is great for a shorter visit and is perfect for travelling with young children. Most of the highlights are situated within a few hours’ drive of Auckland, so you can pack your itinerary full of excitement without spending too much time on the road.
Contact your personal New Zealand Travel specialist today...
Contact us: +64 3 443 2111
E: info@newzealandguidedtours.com
Hours: Mon–Sun, 9am-5pm (NZDT)
CALL US
Phone: +64 3 443 2111
EMAIL US
info@newzealandguidedtours.com
OUR LOCATION
37 Reece Crescent
Wanaka 9305, New Zealand
POSTAL ADDRESS
PO Box 762, Wanaka 9343
New Zealand
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