About the road trip

Our Story

Inspired & Passionate Travellers

At The Road Trip our philosophy is to go out of our way to make our guests comfortable and happy. From the minute you make contact with us up until the end of your memorable private New Zealand tour. We always endeavour to drive you to the best possible scenic spots and always recommend and organise only the best activities along the way.

Our primary mission is to deliver exceptional service value with a real focus on individual bespoke itineraries that our guests take away as key lifetime experiences.

Because this is your tour however, you have the freedom to choose what you want to do during the day without being on a fixed itinerary such as on a large coach trip. Let me welcome you on ‘The Road Trip’ of a lifetime.

Tailored Experiences: With a meticulously crafted route, you can discover the iconic landmarks and off-the-beaten-path treasures that resonate with your interests. Say goodbye to rigid schedules and hello to a truly personalized adventure.

Unrivaled Expertise: With years of industry experience, our passionate team of experts possesses in-depth knowledge of New Zealand. We’ve curated our network of trusted partners, handpicking the finest accommodations, attractions, and experiences to ensure you enjoy an exceptional trip

Prioritizing Wellbeing: Your well-being is our utmost priority. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, private touring is the safest way to ensure your peace of mind throughout your journey. Our resilient approach to travel allows us to adapt seamlessly to changing circumstances, guaranteeing a secure and enjoyable experience.

Our Values

Journeys worth taking

When the opportunity arose for me to start guiding our New Zealand tours for people from various nationalities and all walks of life, I jumped at the opportunity.

I believe that it is always the little extras that go a long way in making my clients’ experience one that they will always remember.

I started The Road Trip after years of guiding tours in New Zealand, France and the UK and learning as much as possible along the way about what really makes a positive impact on customers. With a passion for nature and the outdoors, I believe in seeing not only the highlights of a country but also the hard to find back country spots that not many others know about. My country is like a large box of treasure but the beauty is in seeking out what would otherwise be hidden on a typical tourist map.

I look forward to meeting you!

Chris Cameron
The Road Trip Founder

Why Choose a Private Tour with Us?

After several years of running our fantastic tours of New Zealand, we have grown our brand ten times in volume but with that our service and level of client experience just keeps getting better and better.

We have even been mentioned in National Newspapers for the fact that we have now had several repeat travellers that absolutely love the flexibility and individual service level that we provide that just simply can’t be accomplished on a standard bus tour. One such group is even preparing for their 6th private tour with us!

You can find more about The Road Trip in the media here!

We are also a Qualmark Endorsed operator which ensures that we have been tested and graded as a high-quality operator in New Zealand which gives our guests peace of mind when booking a tour with us.

The Advantages of Private Touring with The Road Trip

You don’t have to share your itinerary with 50 other people on a coach (No waiting for the last person to return to the bus and wasting precious time on your once in a lifetime vacation)

If you want to have a more relaxed start to your day you can! (No bags down in the lobby at 7 a.m. every day)

You get to dictate where and when you stop (Our guides always know the best places for photos and while you’ll still get to see the main highlights you will see so much more and really experience NZ’s hidden spots that make it such a special place)

You have so much more time to explore

You simply get to visit places that bus tours are not able to! You can see several wonderful examples of off the beaten path locations on our Facebook page.

Our attention is focused entirely on YOUR experience and be rest assured that you aren’t simply one of 50 people on a standard package!

So how much does private touring cost in comparison with traditional “seat on coach” type touring?

This is a great question and there are actually several factors that determine the per person cost.

Number of people that you bring along with you

(A private tour exclusive for 2 people alone, for example, will cost more per person than if you brought along a group of 8 or 10 as there are more people covering the expenses of a driver).

The level of accommodation

You can choose anything from comfortable apartment-style accommodation all the way up to luxury lodges with private helicopter transfers such as this one.

The number of sightseeing activities

Whether you would like to take it easy and relax or include spectacular hot air balloon rides, glacier hikes and helicopter excursions, each custom tour has its own unique price point

The season and time of year

Travelling over the New Zealand low season will be more cost-effective than travelling over Christmas or New Years Eve as this is determined by accommodation rate fluctuations in popular tourist towns such as Queenstown.

Is private touring for me?

Taking all the above into account, we understand how incredibly busy day to day life becomes and why it is important that your vacation time remains a priceless memory for years to come. We take all the stress out of where to go, what to see and all the unknowns which at the end of the day impact on you having so much more time to enjoy your New Zealand experience. How incredible for our team and fantastic guides to take care of all the details for you, allowing you to simply relax and enjoy the scenery. Private touring is for those that desire a superior level of service and desire more than just a standard one fits all package. Please refer to what our guests have had to say on our Facebook page on what made their trip special.

Custom Self-drive Tours

Desire all of the above but would prefer to do the driving yourself?

No Problem! Our custom self-drive tours are designed with freedom and flexibility in mind but with the added security that we are here for you just a phone call away should you need assistance in any area. Everything is booked and arranged by us in advance to a tee meaning you won’t show up in one of the popular tourist towns and find that there are no rooms available.

We have spent years developing relationships with accommodation, activity and restaurant providers that really go out of their way to look after guests that have booked their trip with us. We look after our providers and in return, they provide a fantastic service to our guests.

We provide a GPS and route notes that mark out activities, restaurants and even hidden photo spots that remove all the guesswork for you. You will not get lost and worry about missing ‘that incredible walking track or photo spot’.

Self Drive Made Easy!

Our Travel app is powerful and showcases all the spots we know and love in New Zealand so we can share them with you! Each tour gets its very own custom notes to help you explore easily! This includes tips & tricks, accommodation, food and drinks locations, special walks, waterfalls, photo spots, and much more exclusive insider knowledge! See why traveling with us is the best below!

Please have a look through our client feedback over the last 6 years and see what they have to say about their experience with us.

We are here to ask any questions that you may need and here to help create an incredible user experience from the minute that you make contact with us. Contact us and you will be one step closer to a dream vacation of a lifetime around New Zealand.