Discover New Zealand landscapes on this 13 day small group tour. Begin your journey in the North Island and discover the beaches and landscapes before trekking south to the snow dusted mountains where rivers and lakes will be a sight you see often. This itinerary creates the perfect hybrid of authentic New Zealand experiences, geothermal delights and hot pools to relax your mind and body.
Discover New Zealand landscapes on this 13 day small group tour. Begin your journey in the North Island and discover the beaches and landscapes before trekking south to the snow dusted mountains where rivers and lakes will be a sight you see often. This itinerary creates the perfect hybrid of authentic New Zealand experiences, geothermal delights and hot pools to relax your mind and body.
Discover New Zealand landscapes on this 13 day small group tour. Begin your journey in the North Island and discover the beaches and landscapes before trekking south to the snow dusted mountains where rivers and lakes will be a sight you see often. This itinerary creates the perfect hybrid of authentic New Zealand experiences, geothermal delights and hot pools to relax your mind and body. Highlights Explore the stunning beaches of the Coromandel Marvel at the Glowworms in Waitomo Immerse yourself in the Māori culture in Rotorua Visit the vibrant capital of Wellington Spot marine wildlife in Kaikoura Discover the vibrant city of Christchurch Walk in the shadows of Mt Cook Experience the thrills of adventure capital Queenstown
Days
- 13 days, 12 nights
Group size
- Max 24
Start / finish
- Auckland / Queenstown
Return
- See itinerary for details
Accommodation
- 12 nights — Lylo in Auckland, Hahei Beach Resort on the Coromandel, Waitomo Chalets, two at Haka House Rotorua, two at Haka House Wellington, Dusky Lodge at Kaikōura, Hotel Give in Christchurch, Lakes Edge at Lake Tekapo, and two at Nomads Queenstown, or similar. Rooms are dorm share.
Transport
- An air-conditioned mini bus with a driver guide, and the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait on day 8.
Meals
- Two dinners. A welcome evening on day 1 and a group dinner in Queenstown on day 11.
Route
Included experiences
- Cook Strait — the Interislander crossing, past the Marlborough Sounds into the South Island
- Ruakuri Cave — a guided tour of the Waitomo underground, plus the Karangahake Gorge Windows Walk
- Mitai Māori Village — an evening cultural experience in Rotorua
- Wai Ariki Hot Springs — a restorative thermal soak on the shore of Lake Rotorua
- Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel
- Mount Cook National Park — the Kea Point track and the Tasman Glacier lookout
- Lake Tekapo — the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Tekapo hot springs
- Lake Pukaki — the blue water on the drive into Queenstown
- Marlborough — wine tasting at a cellar door, with a cheese pairing
- Kaikōura — the peninsula walk, with whales and dolphins offshore
- Waiotapu Thermal Park and Huka Falls on the road south
- Taihape — gumboot throwing, the town's own peculiar sport
- Wellington — two nights, with Te Papa, Zealandia and the waterfront
- Ruakuri Scenic Walk — sculpted cliffs and limestone arches at Waitomo
- Queenstown — three nights, with Milford Sound bookable as a day trip if you want it
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 26 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 26 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the knowledgeable, friendly and helpful drivers and guides, who are frequently noted for sharing stories, history and information about New Zealand and its Māori culture, as well as helping participants plan and book activities. Many highlight the well-organised nature of the trip, the easy-to-use booking apps and the flexibility of the hop-on, hop-off format, which suited both solo travellers and those wanting independence within a group. Reviewers often mention the wide range of stops and activities, including glowworm caves, geothermal sites, glacier and skydiving experiences and various walks and hikes, and value the chance to meet other travellers. Some note that certain activities were cancelled due to weather and that a few stops felt unremarkable. The most common criticism concerns the accommodation, with several travellers finding the hostels tiring, of poor quality in places, or unsuitable for a wider age range.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“KIWI EXPERIENCE”
The Kiwi Experience has been one of the best experiences I’ve been part of. I couldn’t have had a better time travelling the beautiful North and South Islands of New Zealand.
Our driver Reuben is an absolute legend and kept us up to date on where we were and history around all of the places we passed through and stayed. Reuben ensured we all had the best time and got to experience everything we could.
I would recommend anyone who is looking to meet new people and see some amazing places around NZ to do it through KiwiE. I have previously done group travel but this has by far been my favourite trip. The organisation is second to none and so easy to book activities and accommodation.
I have met so many amazing people who have hopped on and hopped off the bus.
Thank you Kiwi E for making my adventure of New Zealand so fun!
“Would 100% recommend and do again!”
Absolutely incredible time with Kiwi Experience.
My friend and I did the North Island tour and were fortunate enough to have Kelvin as a driver and tour guide. He was incredibly informative about every stop (and all the places in between) while being very engaging and friendly throughout even with very early starts.
The coach was in good shape, the other people on the tour were nice and friendly, and the suggested accommodation was always of good quality and affordable.
“10/10”
Completed the Tiki hop on/off tour last month and absolutely loved it. My drivers Tawh and Joe were both really amazing guides and people who added so much to the journey. I'm so glad I decided to book Kiwi Experience as a solo traveller since I got to see and do so many incredible things that I definitely would not have been able to experience otherwise all by myself, especially as a non-driver in New Zealand. I think hop on/off particularly is a great option for people want their independence and flexibility while still being part of a great group of people and having that sense of security when it comes to both safety and organising everything. I also appreciated how we were always given a chance to do a food shop at a supermarket before arriving at some of the more remote locations, that was really useful. Although some of the drives can feel pretty long, the many stops and walks that are included definitely help with the pacing and again allowed me to see things I wouldn't have been able to normally - my favourites were the Karangahake Gorge walk, Taranaki Falls hike, Cape Foulwind Seal Colony, Thunder Creek Falls and Lakes Rotoiti & Pukaiki. Other highlights of the trip for me included the Hahei Explorer, Hobbiton, the Redwoods & Te Puia at Rotorua, the Franz Josef Glacier Scenic Adventure, the costume party at Lake Mahinapua and Queenstown & Milford Sound. Would definitely recommend :)
“Can’t recommend enough”
We are excited with the travel, organization, hospitality. Our guide Scott is wonderful, keeping everything under controll, retelling so much interesting about the places we travelled and helping in everything. We were happy to travel with him, and enjoyed every moment we spent in the journey.
“Fantastic !”
Had an absolutely amazing time with the Kiwi Experience bus. Big shoutout to Mister Cowboy. He knows a lot about the country and about Mãori culture. His stories were amazing and when he was talking everyone would listen attentively. Also his questions of the day really make you think about life and you could partake if you wanted, but you were not obligated to do so. Most of the people in our bus would participate and I think it really brought us closer together as a group. Cowboy was incredibly helpful to everyone, giving great advice about activities and going out of his way to help people plan all the activities they wanted. He always told us to book activities early, but it's never too late to ask him if you forgot to book and in (I think) all cases he was able to get people on their preferred activities. Absolute legend. If I ever come back to New Zealand I'll definitely book another Kiwi Experience trip with Cowboy on the Steel Horse. Best driver of the company hands down!
In my opinion some places could've been skipped, like Westport and Lake Mahinapua, because there was just nothing there. Still had an amazing trip, but would've been better without those 2 destinations.
“Northern Crossing - Small Group Tour”
I was in a group of five, at 81 probably the oldest Kiwi Experience participant you've ever had, but had a wonderful time because the group was warm and inclusive. Most of our group was not interested in white water rafting, bungie jumping, or zip lines but we enjoyed the rest. Our guide was friendly, helpful, and knew the countryside very well. I think he threw in a few little extras, lovely trails and viewpoints he had discovered, all close by and all quite wonderful. We enjoyed getting to know each other and parted friends.
“Thank you!”
I had an amazing time on the Tiki hop on hop off pass. Our driver Scott was great - he had a good laugh with everyone on the bus and was very informative on the journeys. Kiwi was a great way to make friends to travel alongside and I’d recommend it to anyone!
“The trip in the small group was fantastic.”
It was an unforgettable time with so many amazing experiences. Even though some things were unfortunately canceled due to the weather, we made the best of everything. Our tour guide, Tawh, knows an incredible amount about New Zealand, and you could ask him anything. It was a great time, and I can recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure.
“Great !”
Richie is awesome. Awesome full of life amazingly knowledgeable human being. Great music taste. He has Good history and funny stories and is a real human with an interesting background and such a genuine lovely guy. Only thing I would say is that the hostel in queens town was bloody nasty and If the demographic of this trip is aimed at people from all ages it's not too suitable. Good location tho. Can't remember the hostel name but it was grim. Also at the rainforest hostel there were no sides to the top bunk!!! Dangerous and I don't know how to get this message to them to at least put some side rails up.
“Memorable!!”
I booked the hop-on, hop-off South and Sound bus tour, and it was great. I had the flexibility to do my own thing and book different places to stay, from dorms in hostels to single rooms or hotel rooms. The drivers and guides were funny and shared lots of anecdotes, and the apps for booking buses, places to stay, and tours were so easy to use. The customer service was also very fast and helpful. I highly recommend it and wish there were more ideas like this for road trips in Europe
“Thank you so much!! ”
We had the best time with Kiwi Experience- thanks to our tour guide Ricky. Everything was perfect.
“Best experience ever!”
Great trip accommodation good lots seen on the trip top and helpful tour leader
“Great day out!”
The whole trip was amazing! Tina made the trip run smoothly and everyday was so fun and enjoyable! Would highly recommend anyone to do the kiwi experience small group tour !
“Had a great time with Kiwi Experience.”
Our driver Kelvin was awesome !
“ New Zealand is a fantastic country!!!”
A very nice trip with wonderful people and a very good guide and driver. Recommended!
“Really recommend it”
Thank you all for the awesome experience by organizing the bustours and providing guidance perfectly.
“Couldn’t recommend the small group tour enough! ”
I had an amazing week & met the most wonderful people that I hope will be friends for life. The Kiwi Experience is a perfect way to see New Zealand & make memories to last a lifetime. Would highly recommend doing the skydive over Abel Tasman and kayaking around Kaiteriteri Bay! Our driver, Connor, was amazing! So kind, friendly, chatty and such a laugh. He took really good care of us all & ensured we all had the best experience possible, I can’t thank him enough :)
“Good!”
Amazing !!!
“Can highly recommend!!”
Had an amazing time on &off the bus.
“10/10”
Highly recomended.
“ Overall I would highly recommend this tour”
I really enjoyed the tour. Everything was well planned and our guide Tim gave us plenty of options for activities. I booked the things I really wanted to do in advance like skydiving, heli hike and onsen pools; luckily the weather played along and was able to do them all! It was very worthwhile that way. We had a fun group as well and got to spend NYE in Queenstown! Staying in hostels did become a bit tiring by the end but was an experience nonetheless.
“You won't be disappointed!”
I recently completed a Kiwi Experience tour starting in Auckland and covering some of the most stunning locations in New Zealand: Hot Water Beach, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Abel Tasman, Westport, Lake Mahinapua, Franz Josef, and Queenstown. From start to finish, it was an incredible journey, and I can't recommend Kiwi Experience enough! One of the highlights of the trip was the fantastic drivers. They were not only friendly and helpful but also incredibly knowledgeable about the areas we visited. They went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time, offering insider tips, sharing fascinating stories, and always being there to answer our questions. A special shout-out to Cowboy(Jason), our driver, who was absolutely amazing! His enthusiasm was contagious, and he made the journey even more enjoyable. The itinerary itself was perfect, offering a diverse range of experiences. We relaxed on the beautiful beaches of Abel Tasman, explored the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, marveled at the glowworm caves in Waitomo, and sadly we didn't get to do the glacier hike in Frank Josef due to weather. Each stop was unique and memorable. Kiwi Experience took all the stress out of planning and traveling, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the beauty of New Zealand. The buses were comfortable, the accommodations were well-chosen, and the fellow travelers were a fun and diverse group. If you're looking for an unforgettable adventure in New Zealand with amazing drivers and a well-planned itinerary, look no further than Kiwi Experience.
“Highly recommend!”
Very good, met nice people
“The best experience”
Usually I travel on my own and it was a first time I was traveling with an organized tour and I must say that it was a really good choice - we were following some plans but also had a lot of time for ourselves and a lot of options what we wanna do and see. Good tour for people that feel good in a group but also for individualists!
“WOW”
Had a great time
“A hassle free travelling trip in New Zealand, great option…”
I took the Dogleg pass since it matched my 13 free days, and it was a smooth, well-organised way to see New Zealand without worrying about driving or accommodation. Driver Dylan was outstanding - knowledgeable, caring, and his music suited the scenery perfectly. My main gripes were patchy trip info in the app and uneven quality between hostels, plus some over-tight schedules at a few stops.
