Discover the magic of New Zealand winter on this 19 day small group tour. Begin your journey in the mild tempratures of the North Island and look out as the landscapes change as we head south before finding yourself immersed in the winter wonderlands surrounded by snow capped mountains in the depths of the South Island. This itinerary creates the perfect summary of New Zealand with cultural experiences, geothermal discoveries and relaxing hot pools, you are sure to leave feeling refreshed, rejuvinated and ready for more.
Discover the magic of New Zealand winter on this 19 day small group tour. Begin your journey in the mild tempratures of the North Island and look out as the landscapes change as we head south before finding yourself immersed in the winter wonderlands surrounded by snow capped mountains in the depths of the South Island. This itinerary creates the perfect summary of New Zealand with cultural experiences, geothermal discoveries and relaxing hot pools, you are sure to leave feeling refreshed, rejuvinated and ready for more.
Days
- 19 days, 18 nights
Group size
- Max 24
Start / finish
- Auckland / Christchurch
Return
- See itinerary for details
Accommodation
- 18 nights — Auckland, Hahei on the Coromandel, Waitomo, two in Rotorua, two in Wellington, Kaikōura, Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, three in Queenstown, one at Lake Hawea or Wanaka, two at Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef, and two at Hanmer Springs. Rooms are dorm share.
Transport
- An air-conditioned mini bus with a driver guide, and the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait between the two islands.
Meals
- 11 breakfasts.
Route
Included experiences
- Cook Strait — the Interislander crossing, past the Marlborough Sounds into the South Island
- Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach — the Coromandel coast on day 2
- 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
- Waiotapu Thermal Park and Huka Falls on the road south
- Taihape — gumboot throwing, the town's own peculiar sport
- Wellington — a free day for Te Papa, Zealandia or the waterfront
- Marlborough — wine tasting at a cellar door, with a cheese pairing
- Kaikōura — the peninsula walkway for seals and seabirds
- Lake Tekapo — the Church of the Good Shepherd and the hot springs
- Mount Cook National Park — the Kea Point track and the Tasman Glacier lookout
- Queenstown — three nights and a free day in the adrenaline capital
- Arrowtown, #ThatWanakaTree, the Crown Range Lookout and the 45th Parallel
- Franz Josef — a free day at the 12km glacier, with Lake Matheson and Thunder Creek Falls
- Hanmer Springs — entry to the thermal pools and the heritage forest walk
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
4.9
Based on 39 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 39 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the drivers, who are described as knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, often joining walks, sharing information about the country and helping the group feel like a community. Many reviewers highlight the trip as a convenient, hassle-free way to see both the North and South Islands without their own transport, with organised activities, accommodation and scenic stops, and several solo travellers note it as a good way to meet people. The flexibility of the hop-on-hop-off format is frequently mentioned, alongside recommendations to allow extra days in certain locations. The most common criticism concerns the itinerary, with several travellers finding particular stops such as Lake Mahinapua and Westport unnecessary and lacking things to do, while others note reduced bus frequency in the off-season and limited breakfast options.
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.
“Super fun”
I had the most brilliant time travelling across New Zealand with Kiwi Experience. The drivers were brilliant. They were always helpful and friendly. The company helped organise lots of fun activities for discounted prices. They were always extremely helpful. I met some incredible people travelling. I certainly made some wonderful memories. Would highly recommend using their services to help you explore New Zealand.
“I can confidently say I fully recommend visiting New Zealand. ”
Kiwi Experience is a great way to do this. My small group leader Ricky was both great to talk to, but also kept the trip very well organised. I paid more to do the small group tour to take the pressure off solo travelling, and I’m really glad I made this decision. I was able to enjoy myself without the hassle of planning both my next accommodation and transport. I credit both him and the group I met with Kiwi Experience as a solo traveller for making this such a memorable time. This was during September with the ‘Chilled Kiwi’ small group tour for 19 days. A little bit of luck with good weather in this period allowed me to experience both warm beaches and snow capped mountains within such a short period.
“An amazing service made for an unforgettable trip.”
I would highly recommend the kiwi experience to anyone planning to visit New Zealand. Our driver Kelvin clearly had a passion for his job and a breadth of knowledge to satisfy any questions we had. Entertaining and educational I could not have been more satisfied!
“Highly recommend!!!”
Kelvin was the best driver ever #weloveyou hope you like your emotional support bear since u don’t have us anymore
“19-day Grand Kiwi Experience”
I participated in all the optional activities and the tour became one of the best ever. I strongly recommend to everyone to do everything! Don't save your money…
“Do it”
As a first-time solo traveler, choosing to explore New Zealand with the Kiwi Experience was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. What truly made the trip extra special was our incredible driver, Lightning. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about New Zealand but he also made the effort to truly connect with everyone. He joined us on hikes, taught us new games, and made the long drives just as enjoyable as the destinations themselves. I met amazing people and made lifelong memories. I’d absolutely recommend the Kiwi Bus to anyone—especially solo travelers—wanting to experience the best of NZ in an adventurous, social, and stress-free way.
“19-day Grand Kiwi Experience”
I participated in all the optional activities and the tour became one of the best ever. I strongly recommend to everyone to do everything! Don't save your money…
“Despite going in winter season 10/10 recommend”
Kiwi experience was a great way to tour the country of New Zealand with making sure you don’t miss anything throughout the country. Both North island and South Island are broken up very thoughtfully. The driver you have also makes a huge difference. I had a young guy named Lightning that was extremely professional, great at his job, and had a great sense of humor.
“Thank you Kiwi experience for a holiday of a lifetime.”
What an incredible trip I've just had with Kiwi Experience. The driver. Dillon was amazing. With stories. Information. History, etc. He was just perfect. The Kiwi bus stops at all the best places, and you also get to benefit from seeing those little gems to break up longer journeys. They will organise trips and accommodation, if you want them too, or you can do what you want when you want. It offers flexibility that you can stay in one place longer than others knowing another kiwi bus will be there the next day. Although these buses are fantastic for younger travellers (18 - 29), I am in my 50s and found the whole experience fantastic.
“Tina was awesome.”
Very good experience.
“Highly recommend!!”
Do it! It’s a great way to see New Zealand, and you meet lots of people who have travelled all around the world.
“ I loved this trip and would recommend Kiwi Experience :)”
I did the South and Sound Hop on Hop off tour and really enjoyed it. Nice way to see a lot of the country and enjoy the stunning scenery whilst also connecting with new people. This way of travelling is suitable for those who want the safety net of a group, yet the hop on hop off feature allows for plenty of flexibility if one were to spontaneously change plans. Additionally, the drivers were very friendly knowledgeable, and quite likeable. A special shoutout to Mahn for being incredibly kind and helpful. Lastly, the only downside of this tour were the stops in Westport as well as Lake Mahinapua which took place consecutively and could not really be skipped. Neither of these places have much to offer in terms of scenery or things to do, especially Lake Mahinapua. Speaking for others who were on my bus we did not really enjoy these two locations, nor did we understand why they were included as stops.
“I had an amazing time with Kiwi Experience. ”
I booked the Back Yard pass and added Kaikōura as an extra stop (which was absolutely no problem thanks to the nice people at the Kiwi Experience service center). Yes, it can be tiring being on the bus almost every day, but the drivers make sure it doesn't get too much with lots of fun stops on the way. Our driver guide Frazer was fantastic. He was always there to help and very knowledgeable about the places we visited. My tip would be to make sure you have some extra days to spend in Taupo, Wellington, Abel Tasman, or Christchurch. All in all a great experience and I'd book it again.
“That way you can fully enjoy your trip.”
It is really hassle-free! It is cool not to have to worry about accommodation, breakfasts or driving.
“Unsure what to expect but the whole experience was incredible! ”
So many beautiful and interesting spots, very glad to have a tour guide to take us to the places we may not have known about. Our tour guide, Cliff, is one of the nicest people I’ve met. So knowledgeable about the country and absolutely great with everyone on the trip! I had the Fat Kiwi pass so got to enjoy north and South Island!
“I had the best time on the kiwi experience!”
There was never a dull day on the bus as they always keep you active with lovely scenic walks and cafe stops. I felt like it showed me all the best bits of New Zealand and I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on any of it. On the bus itself we became like a little family and I made friends on there that I will have for life. The bus driver Ricky also felt like a part of the bus family. He engaged with the group like a friend but also did his job perfectly by informing us of everything we needed to know about where we were going and all those bits and bobs. Overall the trip is very well organised and as a solo traveler I found that it was the best way to travel New Zealand!
“Thank you for an otherwise great organization.”
Overall, I really appreciated the experience—it was a great way to explore New Zealand! A special shoutout to our driver, Mhan. He was fantastic—his driving was smooth, and it was clear that he genuinely cared about our group’s experience. Having him as a driver made a big difference! That said, I do have two comments regarding the itinerary (South and Sound). There were two stops that, in my opinion, could have been avoided, especially since they happened on consecutive days. The second one—Lake Mahinapua —felt particularly unnecessary and like a waste of time. With so much to see in New Zealand, this stop didn’t add much to the experience. Additionally, staying in a hotel in the middle of nowhere with no alternative activities meant we had no choice but to either join the party or just sleep. More flexibility in stop choices would definitely improve the experience.
“Recommend!”
Kiwi was great! Our guide Tim was an excellent driver, guide and overall guy. We were very happy with Kiwi.
“It was a wonderful trip.”
This was my first time participating in a Kiwi experience. The drivers worked incredibly hard, not only driving but also guiding us, and even helping us walk the trails after getting off the bus. Our driver, Cliff, even helped three young people on the bus retrieve lost items. Cliff was very helpful in answering our questions about the trip, and he was especially concerned about whether I understood his English. Cowboy Jason was a huge help, solving our transportation problems; we want to thank him again.
“I had a great time with the Kiwi experience!”
The buses were always on time and the drivers were very knowledgeable about the country and the activities that could be done everywhere. The only small downside was that the buses don't run as regularly in the off-season and I had to stay in some places longer than I would have liked. For me it was the best way to explore NZ without my own car.
We've just finished the Grand Kiwi tour and it ran smoothly from start to finish, largely thanks to our guide Tina. She constantly went above and beyond to make sure everyone got to do what they wanted, staying humble about the extra effort she put in. She was also very knowledgeable about Maori culture, happily answering our questions and giving commentary on New Zealand's history along the way.
“Tina is the best tour guide ever!”
I recently wrapped up the Grand Kiwi Tour and found it fantastic, largely thanks to guide Tina. She was endlessly generous with her time, always stepping in to assist everyone and making sure we still got to do the activities we'd picked even when weather forced last-minute cancellations. Her upbeat energy kept the mood great even through long travel days and early starts. A truly memorable trip because of her.
“Unforgettable trip!”
My sister and I joined a 19-day small-group Kiwi tour and got to experience how gorgeous this country is, trying new things and building new friendships along the way. Guide Teo, also known as Terence, was fantastic, full of engaging stories about the culture and country, and clearly passionate about everything he shared. He made the whole trip unforgettable.
“Amazing 19 days on grand kiwi tour”
This 19-day trip (GKT) delivered so much fun, great friends, and amazing views. Our guide Teo, also known as Terence, tells brilliant stories about the country and its culture with real passion, while also keeping everything organised and making sure we had a good time. An unforgettable 19 days thanks in large part to him.
“19 Day grand Kiwi”
A brilliant 19-day Grand Kiwi trip, great for solo travellers. I tried plenty of activities I wouldn't normally choose, and the group quickly felt like family - I even missed them once the tour ended. Guide Terrence made everything even better with his deep knowledge of New Zealand and genuine warmth, always making sure everyone got the most from their time there.
“Amazing Experience!”
A friend and I took the 19-day tour covering both islands and had a really enjoyable time with a great group. Guide Terrance shared plenty of background on New Zealand's culture and history and gave helpful advice on optional activities, useful if you're on a budget. Given the transport, accommodation, meals, and activities included, the price felt fair, and lodging mixed hostels with hotels.
“Brilliant Tour, even better tour guide Tina”
This 19-day small-group tour through both islands was made brilliant by our guide Tina, who rearranged activities and drew on her local contacts to make things special even with only four of us along. The paid extras - swimming with dolphins, the black-water labyrinth, heli-hiking - were real highlights, though they add to the cost. Kiwi Experience seems well respected locally, but refunds for cancelled activities could be slow.
I joined in on every optional activity and it turned this into one of the best trips ever - I'd tell anyone not to hold back on spending if they've travelled halfway around the world, since the included program alone isn't enough. We saw so many beautiful spots, especially in the South Island. The bus was comfortable with luggage stored separately in a trailer, and accommodation varied but was generally good. I might well come back one day.
“Best. Trip. Ever”
Just wrapped up the 19-day GKE Tour, and guide Terrence was outstanding throughout - he went above and beyond, and his knowledge and love of New Zealand really showed. I doubt I'd have seen as much without the guided format, and would happily recommend it to anyone. Lodging was lovely and breakfasts were generous each morning. 10/10.
“Coolest tour guide”
My 19-day tour of New Zealand with guide Terrence was outstanding from start to finish. His expertise, passion, and warm hospitality made every stop memorable, and Kiwi Experience tailored things nicely as we explored the landscapes and local culture. The logistics ran smoothly and Terrence's humour added extra joy throughout - I'd highly recommend him as a guide.
“TRIP OF A LIFETIME”
I signed up for the Grand Kiwi Experience, covering nearly every highlight of both islands, guided by the excellent and entertaining Terence. He drove well, kept us informed about New Zealand, and stayed flexible about what we wanted to see and do. I was nervous starting out as a solo traveller, but the group made it the trip of a lifetime.
“Incredible tour with a great driver!”
My 19 days here showed me so much of this incredible country. Driver Terrence was excellent and the trip overall was great - I felt genuinely sad when it ended.
“BEST EVER!”
Best 19 days I've spent in New Zealand, meeting amazing people and taking in stunning scenery under guide Terence. Highly recommend this tour to anyone.
“Loved it!”
My North and South Island tour, the 18-day itinerary, was brilliant from start to finish. Driver Tina was fantastic, full of knowledge and great energy. I hadn't realised the group changes partway, since the tour combines a 7-day North Island leg with an 11-day South Island leg, but both groups were lovely and it's easy to make friends solo. I'd worried about pressure to pay for extras, but Tina always found a free alternative when we skipped one.
I joined the small group tour starting on the 10th of February. Hamish, our guide, was excellent - approachable, knowledgeable, and I'm grateful to him.
The trip was excellent - I'd recommend it to anyone visiting New Zealand. Guide Hamish was passionate, funny and knowledgeable, going beyond expectations.
My thoughts on this Kiwi Experience tour: I loved the places we visited, though time felt short in spots like Wellington and Christchurch.
This is a nice tour, though pricier than expected, since a lot of activities aren't included. It also felt rushed since we changed hostels every day.
“19-day Grand Kiwi Experience”
The tour itself was really nice and some of the extra activities were nice additions. However, the breakfast options were a bit limited if you can't eat yogurt…
