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A Journey on Two Wheels: Ultimate North Island Cycling Adventure

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Traverse New Zealand’s North Island on the ultimate cycling adventure tour, featuring pristine coastlines, lush forests, historic landmarks, and rugged mountains.

This North Island cycling adventure covers iconic trails like the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, Hauraki Rail Trail, 42 Traverse, and Remutaka Cycle Trail, offering unparalleled opportunities for adventure and cultural immersion. Whether you’re an avid cyclist or a weekend warrior, our tailored tours provide the perfect blend of active exploration and comfortable accommodation, ensuring an unforgettable experience in the heart of Aotearoa.

Why This Tour Stands Out:

Flexible Cycling Options: Choose between the freedom of a self-drive cycling New Zealand adventure where you drive between each location or the expertise of having one of our private drivers take care of it all for you. Whether you prefer to explore at your own pace or seek local insights and support, our bespoke NZ cycling tours cater to all preferences and skill levels, providing a personalised journey tailored to your needs.

Iconic Bike Trails:  Ride through New Zealand’s premier North Island cycle trails. These include the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, Hauraki Rail Trail, 42 Traverse Trail, and Remutaka Cycle Trail. Each trail offers stunning landscapes, from pristine coastal vistas and lush forests to historic landmarks and rugged mountains, ensuring a diverse and exhilarating cycling experience.

Cultural and Scenic Highlights: Immerse yourself in New Zealand’s rich Māori heritage and discover exclusive experiences along the way. Enjoy guided tours like the Manea – Footprints of Kupe, visits to the Hobbiton Movie Set, and the Lake Taupō Māori Rock Carving Cruise, connecting deeply with the land and its vibrant culture.

Premium Accommodation & Reliable Transport: Stay in carefully selected accommodations with breathtaking views. Enjoy the comfort of premium transport with a driver/guide, or self-drive in a fully insured vehicle.

Personalised Options Throughout: Whether you’re travelling with family, friends, as a corporate group or as a couple, our tour caters to a variety of needs and preferences. Customise your activities and cycling routes to embrace thrilling adventures, immersive cultural experiences, or a perfect blend of both, ensuring a unique and memorable journey for every participant. We can extend this tour to include our South Island Cycle Tour.

Build your own cycle focused tour
The activities mentioned are just a small sample of what’s possible! We specialise in crafting bespoke adventures tailored to your preferences and passions. If there’s something specific you’d love to include, share your ideas with us, and we’ll create a customised itinerary that’s uniquely yours. Every trip is one-of-a-kind, and we’re dedicated to making yours exceptional. Let your imagination soar – your personalised adventure awaits!
BUILD YOUR TOUR

Top attractions in this cycling tour

Your 13-day road trip sample itinerary

This 13-day journey exploring 6 key cycling destinations across the North Island diverse landscapes.
  1. DAY 1
    1. Auckland Arrival (Ahi)
  2. DAY 2
    1. Auckland to Bay of Islands (Paihia)
  3. DAY 3
    1. Twin Coast Cycle Trail Day 1
  4. DAY 4
    1. Twin Coast Cycle Day 2
  5. DAY 5
    1. Hokianga Harbour to Auckland
  6. DAY 6
    1. Auckland to Thames + Cycle to Paeroa (Hauraki Rail Trail Day 1)
  7. DAY 7
    1. Cycle Paeroa to Waihi (Hauraki Rail Trail Day 2)
  8. DAY 8
    1. Pauanui to Turangi via Hobbiton
  9. DAY 9
    1. 42 Traverse Guided E-Bike Trail (National Park)
  10. DAY 10
    1. Turangi to Wellington
  11. DAY 11
    1. Wellington - Remutaka Ranges
  12. DAY 12
    1. Wellington Day Tour
  13. DAY 13
    1. Wellington Departure Day
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 7
DAY 8
DAY 9
DAY 10
DAY 11
DAY 12
DAY 13
DAY 1
Auckland Arrival (Ahi)

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a shuttle driver will be waiting for you as you clear customs. This driver will take you to your accommodation in the city. The day and night are free to spend at your leisure and your guide will meet you tomorrow morning.

Self Drive: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport you will collect your rental vehicle within the airport terminal. Make your way to your inner city accommodation where the day and night are free to spend at your leisure and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Tonight you will enjoy an Authentic New Zealand dining experience like no other, at Ahi.

He Korero Kai ō Aotearoa – A New Zealand Food Story

4 snacks + 4 courses (vegeterian courses available)

The te reo Māori word ‘Ahi’ means ‘Fire’. The cooking connection is obvious but, for us, Ahi also speaks of the fire in our bellies to deliver the best New Zealand kai in the most authentic way.

The entire Ahi Whānau is united by its love of Aotearoa, its food and people, and sharing the warm feelings of Manaaki and Whanaungatanga.

Bespoke options today include:

  • Visit the Maritime Museum
  • Skydiving Adventure
  • Dine at SkyCity Orbit 360
  • City Cycling Tour
  • Waiheke Island Wine Tasting

Plus, many more experiences tailored to your interests (please share what you love!)

Full Itinerary
DAY 2
Auckland to Bay of Islands (Paihia)

YOUR DAY

227km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will head over ‘The Harbour Bridge’ and say goodbye to New Zealand’s largest city to be greeted by Northland ‘The Winterless North’, famous for its gigantic kauri trees, Māori culture and its stunning beaches.

En route you could visit the Kauri Museum to learn all about New Zealand’s most ancient tree and how its significance has developed over time (optional – extra cost).

You will then visit Whangarei, the capital of the Northland region where you can view the stunning Whangarei Falls, known as the most photographed waterfall in New Zealand due to its ease of access, picturesque bush surrounds and guaranteed 365 day of the year flowing cascade. From here you head north to Paihia, the hotspot of the well-known ‘Bay of Islands.

Bespoke options today include:

  • Dolphin Watching Cruise
  • Fishing Excursion
  • Paihia or Langs Beach Relaxation
  • Visit to Mangawhai, Matakana and Goat Island on your way up
Full Itinerary
DAY 3
Twin Coast Cycle Trail Day 1

YOUR DAY

68km, 1 hour driving

45 km cycling

This morning you will make your way to Kaikohe to collect your bikes, get fitted up and start this fantastic 2 day 82 km journey on the incredible twin coast cycle trail.

Today you will be cycling the Eastern Section of the trail. Between Kaikohe and Kawakawa/ Taumarere is mainly an old rail corridor 45 kms of easy riding. Passing through native bush and northland farmland over suspension bridges. In Taumarere station you will catch a train to Whangae with Bay of Islands Vintage Railway which adds to this incredible day out. From Whangae station you will ride the remaining leg to Opua where you will be collected by shuttle and driven back to Kaikohe after a fantastic day of riding.

Spend the night in Paihia and enjoy dinner in one of the many fantastic waterfront restaurants.

Full Itinerary
DAY 4
Twin Coast Cycle Day 2

YOUR DAY

34km, 30 minutes driving

45 km cycling

40km, 30 minutes driving

This morning make your way back to Kaikohe to collect your bikes.

Riding the western section of the trail you will cycle along the old rail corridor to Okaihau where a few refreshment stops are available (it will depend on the season as to how many are open – if you have special dietary requirements we recommend bringing your own or pre buying in Kaikohe).

You then ride on out of town down into the Utakura valley and alongside the river through some fabulous native bush. Time for a picnic and a stop at Snow’s farm, a perfect place to have your lunch and have a there is a comfort stop there (no food kiosk available at present).

Ride on through early settled farmland and onto the boardwalk which takes you over the mangroves at the top edge of the Hokianga Harbour to Horeke, where a short ride on gets you to the historic Mangungu Mission House and your 3pm shuttle pick up point!

Spend a night overlooking the spectacular Hokianga Harbour.

Full Itinerary
DAY 5
Hokianga Harbour to Auckland

YOUR DAY

261km, 3 hours 40 minutes driving 

This morning you will discover one of Aotearoa’s best cultural experiences – Manea Footprints of Kupe. A unique multi-sensory journey into the Māori world. Manea – Footprints of Kupe is a 75-minute multisensory journey of guided storytelling – through art, taonga (cultural treasures), film, performance, digital interaction, and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings. The descendants of Kupe welcome you, as do the spirits of our ancestors. Enter Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe, our sacred cradle of tribal histories. Walk with us in the footprints of our ancestor – Kupe the intrepid, Kupe the voyager, Kupe the discoverer.

Following this, you will drive through Waipoua Forest where you will have the opportunity to see gigantic, ancient kauri trees on one of several forest walks in the area. New Zealand only has around 1 percent of its beautiful Kauri trees remaining and they can only be seen in the Northern part of the North Island.

Heading South to Auckland down the west coast through Dargaville, you arrive in Auckland in the evening.

Full Itinerary
DAY 6
Auckland to Thames + Cycle to Paeroa (Hauraki Rail Trail Day 1)

YOUR DAY

114km, 1 hour 45 minutes driving

42km, 6-7 hours cycling (including lunch stop)

This morning you will leave New Zealand’s biggest city and head towards the small town of Thames. Located on the doorstep of The Coromandel, Thames was once a hotspot for gold mining and today serves as a peaceful coastal town known as a gateway to outdoor adventures. In Thames you will meet Jolly Bikes who will kit you up for 2 days days e-biking on the Hauraki Trail. (You will leave your car overnight in Jolly Bikes secure parking lot).

Embark on a journey through the Hauraki plains, following the Hauraki Rail Trail out of Thames with captivating views of the Kaimai Ranges. Ride over the numerous little bridges and pass the farm animals. Pause for morning tea at the Matatoki Cheese Barn before reaching the historic town of Paeroa, the birthplace of the ‘World Famous in New Zealand’ L&P drink. Explore antique shops and enjoy an overnight stay in Paeroa.

Full Itinerary
DAY 7
Cycle Paeroa to Waihi (Hauraki Rail Trail Day 2)

YOUR DAY

34km, 4-5 hours cycling (including lunch stop)

Ride from Paeroa through the most popular section of the Rail Trail following the Ohinemuri River through the dramatic Karangahake Gorge, a deep canyon cut through the Kaimai Ranges. This distinctly different landscape includes the cascading Owharoa waterfall, photogenic gold mining sites, and freaky Windows Walkway that burrows through a shadowy side-gorge. The pièce de résistance is an amazing 1100-metre long railway tunnel, wobbled through with the aid of a torch or headlamp. Ride through the Victory Battery, the largest quartz ore processing plant in Australasia and one of the biggest industrial sites in New Zealand in the early 1900’s. Visit the Gold Discovery Centre in Waihi. Get the inside story as you rattle the drill, crank the handles, push the plunger and become immersed in interactive activities before calling it a day!

You will conclude your journey with a 4 pm shuttle back to Thames. You will either collect your rental car, or re-meet your tour guide from the secure carpark at Jolly Bikes. From here take the drive over to the beachside town of Pauanui where you will spend the night.

Full Itinerary
DAY 8
Pauanui to Turangi via Hobbiton

YOUR DAY

306 km, 4 hours driving

This morning you will farewell the Coromandel and head south to Taupō, stopping on route at Hobbiton  and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. Here you will take a 2 hour tour of Hobbiton and its many hobbit holes and enjoy a drink at the Green Dragon pub at the end, as well as a delicious buffet feast in the festive party marquee! From here you will head to Taupo where you will enjoy a scenic cruise to the famous Māori Carvings on Lake Taupō. Get up close and personal to the Ngātoroirangi Māori carvings, and appreciate the culture and craftsmanship in a relaxed setting. Take a stunning tour of Lake Taupō’s bays as you cruise along the coastline. The journey is 90 minutes with an extended viewing time and educational commentary of both the region, history and cultural significance of the carvings themselves. From here it’s a short drive to the town of Turangi where you will overnight in the vicinity of the incredible Tongariro National Park.

Full Itinerary
DAY 9
42 Traverse Guided E-Bike Trail (National Park)

YOUR DAY

Embark on a full-day guided e-bike adventure along the famed 42 Traverse Trail in the Central Plateau. Enjoy stunning views of forests, valleys, and volcanic landscapes as you tackle stream crossings, logging tracks, and exhilarating downhill sections with the assistance of a reliable eBike.

Travel through the Tongariro Forest, offering breathtaking vistas of Mt Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe, reminiscent of Middle Earth. Start your day in Turangi, where you’ll receive your E-Bike, a safety briefing, and transportation to the trailhead.

Ride through challenging climbs and thrilling descents, with scenic pitstops and a lunch break by a beautiful stream. After lunch, conquer the trail’s toughest climb followed by winding downhills. Conclude your adventure with a shuttle back to Turangi in the evening, possibly stopping for celebratory hot chips in National Park.

Full Itinerary
DAY 10
Turangi to Wellington

YOUR DAY

323km, 4 hours driving

Heading south through the towns of Waiouru (NZ Army Base and museum) and Taihape (Gumboot throwing capital of the world!), you end up in the Wellington region.

You will arrive in Wellington in the afternoon to discover New Zealand’s capital city. Here you could take in sights such as Mt Victoria – Wellington’s most spectacular viewpoint with 360 degrees of the city, harbour and mountain ranges in the background or Te Papa – our national museum. In the evening perhaps have a wander through the bustling streets of Wellington where you can enjoy a meal on the waterfront (optional – extra cost).

Full Itinerary
DAY 11
Wellington - Remutaka Ranges

Today you will discover the incredible Remutaka Cycle Trail.

The flagship daytrip of the Remutaka Rail Trail, this is suitable for riders of all levels, and can be lengthened or shortened to suit you. 18/35km of easy/moderate riding.

We meet you directly at Port at 9.15am and shuttle you up to either Maymorn (for a 25-35km, slightly more challenging ride) or Kaitoke (for an 18-28km easy ride), where you start your adventure with a very gradual incline through native bush. Pass through tunnels (headlights provided!) and over bridges, while checking out information boards detailing the enormous task of constructing the old fell railway system. Reach the summit – a large grassy plateau perfect for a picnic or cold drink – then enjoy a fun (but easily controllable!) descent to Cross Creek in the Wairarapa, surrounded by some of NZ’s most scenic farmland. From Cross Creek you then follow a 2km single lane track to the Car Park, where you can either wait for the shuttle at 2pm, or continue biking up to the cafes and pubs at Featherston (a further 10km) and we’ll pick you up at 2:15pm before driving you back to Wellington’s Port.

Finish off a great day with dinner at the famous Logan Brown, on Wellington’s vibrant and exciting Cuba Street.

Full Itinerary
DAY 12
Wellington Day Tour

YOUR DAY

Come with us and explore the Coolest Little Capital in the World! To kick things off we will drive up to the Wellington Botanic Gardens to see a great view of Wellington City and the Wellington Harbour and take the historic cable car down to Lambton Quay.

Next up, Zealandia! This is the world’s first full-fenced urban ecosanctuary with an extraordinary 500 year vision to restore a Wellington Valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a ground breaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back in to the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years!

Following this we will check out some awesome exhibitions at Te Papa – New Zealand’s National Museum, as well as take a stroll about the wonderful Wellington waterfront.

Weta Cave is next, which includes a guided tour behind the scenes at Weta Workshop where you can learn about the digital effects and creation of props used in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Tonight perhaps enjoy a meal in the central city.

Full Itinerary
DAY 13
Wellington Departure Day

Today you will transfer to Wellington Airport. We trust you have had a fantastic time in our beautiful country and wish you safe travels to your next destination.

Please let us know if you want to extend your trip and enjoy our incredible South Island tour. 

Full Itinerary
What’s included?
E-Bike or bike hire & all gear required at each activity/trail
Shuttles for cycling days to maximise your days
Ability to extend your tour with more trails (speak to us)
Your choice of accommodation. Silver (4 star), gold (5 star) or platinum (luxury lodge) options available
Most breakfasts, selected lunches and dinners
A choice of self-drive or privately guided transport
In-depth and detailed custom travel guide
Listed activities (the list is fully customisable)
Full insurance coverage on rented vehicles
Overnight parking where necessary
Custom tour creation with one of our travel experts
What’s not included?
Return international flights
Personal travel insurance
Some lunches and dinners
Individual shopping and souvenirs
Extra, optional activities

Why book a privately guided road trip

Bespoke Itineraries
Bespoke Itineraries
Personalised tours tailored to your preferences
Authentic Kiwi Experiences
Authentic Kiwi Experiences
Genuine insights into New Zealand's culture
Flexible Bookings
Flexible Bookings
Secure and adaptable travel arrangements
Private Travel Safety
Private Travel Safety
Safe, crowd-free, intimate exploration
Local Expertise
Local Expertise
In-depth knowledge from a Kiwi-owned business
New Zealand's Top Awarded Tours
New Zealand's Top Awarded Tours
Winner of Tripadvisor’s ‘Travelers choice’ over multiple years & our 100+ 5 star reviews

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The experience of our lives
We chose New Zealand as our honey moon emphasizing in visiting some Lord of the Rings filming locations as well as experiencing other NZ wonders. The team of The Road Trip made a great job in designing a perfect itinerary for us. First, Alex worked with us for months during many backs and forwards, never forcing us towards any set or standard itinerary, but always adapting the itinerary to our preferences and making sure we made the most of our time. We finally settled a part guided and part self-driven itinerary. We also indicated that we where not willing to spend a lot of money in fancy hotels, and he made sure our accommodation was always nice but affordable. The time and effort he put into it was really remarkable. The whole booking process was smooth and straightforward, and we always received all the help we needed from them, always keeping quick and easy communication. Once there, our guide Bruce was really kind and helpful. We learned a lot about NZ with him and he was always willing to do all in his power to make sure we could do all our planned activities, even when we needed to react to unfavourable weather conditions. Also, Shani from the reservations team was always reachable to make any changes or adjustments needed. We constantly felt cared and supported, and we don't have any doubts that they all did their best to help us enjoy our time. It was truly a memorable trip and we need to thank all of them for it. We fallen in love with New Zealand. We will return there, and we will definetly do it with The Road Trip.
Alfredo LL M
Nov 2024
New Zealand North Island Lord of the Rings Tour
Pick these guys if you are interested in a great tour of New Zealand - they know what they are doing. Had a fantastic time in the North Island tour that started in Auckland and ended in Wellington. Our group visited many Lord of the Rings film locations, including Hobbiton, Helms Deep, etc. and special effects wizards Weta Workshop. We learned about Maori culture and traditions. We went white water rafting and enjoyed sumptuous meals at River Valley Rafting. Our guide, Bruce, was very knowledgeable and accomodated our various requests ("Can we get ice cream?"). I am already planning to use them for a tour of the South Island. Highly recommended.
sn-traveller-AUS
Oct 2024
Exploring New Zealand aka Middle Earth
"It has been a dream of ours to visit New Zealand for many years and The Road Trip exceeded all of our expectations. From the start of planning our trip, months prior to visiting New Zealand, Road Trip answered all of our questions and concerns. The Road Trip put our minds at ease through the organization of creating our 12 day itinerary, providing transportation from and to each airport, and by booking each hotel and tour. Through booking each daily activity for our stay in New Zealand, Road Trip also took the time to cater the tour to focus on our interests and our love for Lord of the Rings movies (filming locations). Furthermore, we cannot be remiss in thanking our tour guide, David, who went above and beyond to ensure we were able to see and experience as much of ‘Middle Earth’ as possible. We will forever be grateful for David as he truly brought our dream holiday to life. His recommendations and knowledge of local restaurants, trails to hike, wineries, and cafes were spot on. It was unbelievable that each day seemed better than the last. As we continue to reminisce about our trip by looking back at photos and sharing our experiences with family and friends, our hearts are full. With beautiful weather each day during our stay (which many shared with us is unusual during winter months), we were able to take in all of the beauty New Zealand holds. David said it best, “you guys had the picture-perfect brochure every day,” and he couldn’t be more accurate. Thank you, Matt, David, and The Road Trip for your unwavering efforts in creating the perfect holiday!" With grateful hearts, James and Lindsey
Lindsey B
Jul 2024
Trip of a lifetime!
We can’t say enough positive things about The Road Trip. From our initial contact with Alex we (group of four) felt well taken care of, like we were the only ones they were assisting. Other companies were happy to provide plans but The Road Trip were the only ones to develop a plan that captured our interests (i.e. culture, landscape, wine, culinary), in other words, they listened. The unique dining in Christchurch was a special treat – it was such a fun evening. In retrospect there is not a single accommodation, dining, or tour we would have changed, a testament to the great planning The Road Trip team did. Of note is the great job they did in providing support, the Reservation Team (thanks Denina!) were on top of every detail (hotels, transfers, car rental, meals, excursions …) and subsequently the trip was seamless, we just focused on enjoying ourselves. The app used for the trip plan included all our itinerary and reservation information (with links) and worked extremely well. It included information on dining, activities, and shopping that we consulted many times for dining and hikes. Our trip was spectacular with great memories, The Road Trip was a key reason why!
Tom C
Jul 2024
Fantastic Road Trip in the South Island
Just had 21days in NZ south island. The Road Trip crew organised everything and it was faultless! The tour was tailored to our wants and what we were into. The App was just great so we were never concerned about if we were on time or what to see on the way.Cannot recommend this crew enough! The month of May is perfect for what we wanted to do. Again thanks to the Road Trip crew for a great holiday. There is not enough room here to write about all the great things we saw and did. The Kiwis are great!
Ian S
Jun 2024
Wonderful time touring the South Island of New Zealand. Highly recommend The Road Trip Tour Company!!!
A little late in posting this review, but it was such a wonderful experience I wanted to make sure I let Alex and our guide Constance know what a great time we had. Kudos to Alex for putting together a fantastic itinerary on such short notice and to Constance for her knowledge, wit, and patience with the four of us spry 60+ year olds. She was an amazing host who loves her country and loves to share its history, she was a fantastic driver as well, she knew when we needed to get on the road and knew so many short cuts during rush hour traffic, she made us so happy we weren’t driving. As a side note, being from the States, I would highly recommend not driving, we’ve driven NZ and Australia before and having a driver is sooo much more enjoyable. We highly recommend The Road Trip!!! Thank you again Alex for making our vacation amazing!!!
AliT-SoCal
May 2024
The Road Trip is the best way to organize a great trip to New Zealand
The Road Trip team did an outstanding job organizing and scheduling our recent visit to New Zealand. There were no issues communicating with them from the States and they made it easy to schedule a video call and discuss what would best match our interests and priorities. Alex and the team then sent us a first draft itinerary to review .They had excellent suggestions and many great options. Lastly, they sent a final itinerary and an app to use throughout our trip. Communication throughout the process and the trip was easy and the app was fantastic --it had all the information we needed each day – hotel reservations, activities, meals etc. and we appreciated the many suggestions in the app for places to visit and activities so we could tailor each day to our liking. Because our trip was so successful, we’re planning to use The Road Trip to return to New Zealand in 2025. It’s by far the best way to organize a great trip to New Zealand that is tailored for you.
Janet S
May 2024
Amazing NZ vacation with The Road Trip New Zealand company.
The Road Trip New Zealand organized a 12 day road trip in the South Island for us! Alex and his team were focused on making the best arrangements to meet our goals for this trip. The team began by finding out what our interests were and then matched a road trip itinerary designed to meet our goals. The pace of activity in each day was good ( Though New Zealand is very very big and we could have spent easily a month exploring the country....or more). We will have to return! Highlights in the South Island are many including the helicopter ride to the top of Franz Josef Glacier, tramping through the rainforest, the Amisfield Winery wine pairing lunch, and our walks around Auckland to discover restaurants and see the sights. Dealing with the Road Trip New Zealand team was easy, they took the time to listen to us, pay attention to our budget and put together a great trip. Communicating with them from the other side of the world was easy and we found the team responsive to our emails. Many thanks for all your help in making this trip memorable!!
RB L
May 2024
Wonderful trip
I had a great trip with my friends. New Zealand is beautiful. This time I experienced it. The views and scenery were spectacular. I hope I can comeback to NZ again.
Tiến H
Apr 2024
Wonderful, custom made New Zealand road trip with "The Road Trip"
If you are looking for a bespoke tour of New Zealand's South Island, I would recommend going with the Road Trip. Other than for day trips, my wife and I avoid bus trip tours. We want my own agenda and dislike waiting for a large group of people to assemble and don't like being part of herd following a flag around and having to be rushed to the next place. After doing extensive research about the places we wished to visit and after looking at several companies, We decided to go with the Road Trip. We were able to talk directly with Matt about our interests and he put together a two week tour agenda. After reviewing, I added some things and changed others to get exactly the route and agenda we wanted. Chris M. was our guide and excellent driver and quickly learned what we liked and the types of things we wanted to do and see. We were able to make changes on the fly and spend as much or little time at each place as we wanted and arrive at our next lodging spot early - or later if we wanted more time someplace. When our whale-watch tour was cancelled, Chris suggested a steamboat tour and BBQ lunch as an alternative which was an excellent choice. He also knows interesting local and out of the way places to stop for views, walks, breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks, many which we likely would not have discovered on our own or at a convenient time. Chris was very personable, accommodating and polite and had a great sense of humor. He is well versed in NZ flora and fauna and can identify native birds and plants and provide a lot of info about them. He is also quite knowledgeable about Maori culture, history and lore. He is well travelled and has many interesting life experiences and stories to relate. We spent many hours in the car so I believe we got to know one another quite well. Thanks again to the Road Trip and to Matt and Chris for taking good care of us and giving us a truly memorable experience!
usclapps
Mar 2024
An amazing service! Highly recommend!
Having never been to New Zealand before we wanted to self drive and asked the Road Trip to suggest an itinerary. We spoke to Matt via Zoom and discussed our interests, time lines and budget. Within a short period of time Matt sent us a suggested itinerary. We met again via Zoom and discussed the plan. Each day we looked forward to opening the App and following the suggested route as we explored NZ. Points of interests, suggested cafes and rest stops along the route did not disappoint. All of the accommodation and activities were excellent. Wonderful to arrive in a city and look at the suggested restaurants, etc. we followed the the Road Trips suggestions most evenings for dinner and were delighted we did! On a couple of occasions, timings for activities were altered by the provider and our App was immediately updated and a email was also sent to us. We loved New Zealand, we thoroughly enjoyed The Road Trip’s staff and services. This is the way to travel!! Highly recommend! 10/10!!!
Vacationer588794
Mar 2024
Had the trip of a lifetime thanks to The Road Trip!
Highly highly HIGHLY recommend The Road Trip to plan your New Zealand adventure. Everything was planned perfectly between the hotels and the adventures. Their recommendations were spot on and we had the trip of a lifetime. There were 8 of us ranging from teens to late 60s and the adventures we had were perfect from climbing to jet boating to staying on the Milford Sound. We didn’t have any hiccups, everything was booked perfectly and made to be so easy! We just showed up and everything was good to go! We will be back one day and have The Road Trip team plan another vacation for us! Well done team and THANK YOU SO MUCH!
KCaissey
Mar 2024
Great trip planning !
Our itinerary was planned so well. There were 4 of us (2 couples) and the activities were just as we wanted which was a mixture of adventures, leisure time, variety of lodging including off the beaten path ones. They were accommodating and receptive to our wishes.
teeseeann
Feb 2024
Definitely use The Road Trip to plan your journey in New Zealand
We used The Road Trip to plan out our 18 day "Road Trip" in New Zealand and it was one of the best things that we did. We talked to them about what we wanted to see, where we wanted to go and they took care of everything. We spent 13 days in the South Island and 5 days in the North Island and it was basically "turn key" for us. We showed up at the airport in Christchurch and they took care of the car rental, all of our hotels / motels, the excursions that we wanted to go on, provided us points of interest along our drive including suggested hikes, things to do in the cities that we visited as well as restaurant recommendations. All of these I have typically done myself on other trips, but having them do it on this trip was worth every penny and made things much more enjoyable and significantly less stressful. Even after we started our journey they were very responsive to some changes that we made on the fly (because of weather). I would highly recommend them - in fact we asked if they provide these services in other countries because if they did we would definitely use them!
Jim H
Feb 2024
Use the Road Trip team for your trip to NZ
I highly recommend using The Road Trip team to plan your NZ trip. We booked our trip in March 2020 and due to the pandemic, we obviously had to cancel. The Road Trip team helped us to rebooked when NZ opened its borders without having to forfeit any of our deposit moneys. We ultimately took a self-guided tour in 2024 where the Road Trip team helped us to plan an itinerary that met our specific needs and timeline. The final itinerary was perfect and we followed it to a tee, including the GPS recommendations. All our hotel, car rental, flight and excursion confirmations were booked as outlined in our detailed itinerary. In other words, we didn't have any problems when we arrived at hotels, to pick up cars, catch flights or do excursions such as gondolas, boats, trains, helicopters, etc....They also helped us to book some excursions at the last minute. We loved all the hotels they booked. And finally our helicopter excursion was cancelled due to weather and the Road Team transferred the booking with the same helicopter company to a different city and tour so we wouldn't miss out. It was also nice knowing that the Road Trip team was there to support us during our stay. Again, I highly recommend The Road Trip team. They stuck with us for four years! I am soooooo glad we used them. You should too.
Marco C
Feb 2024
New Zealand Trip of a Lifetime
Road Trip NZ helped us plan a 15-day independent tour of New Zealand and we can't say enough good things about them. We started with some ideas of what we wanted and they provided suggestions to improve the trip plan. During planning and during the trip itself they were easy to reach and responded quickly. They coordinated a rental car for us on the North and South islands and booked all accommodations and planned activities. For each stop, we chose the "level" of hotel (platinum, gold, silver). No matter what level was selected, the accommodations were excellent for that type of stay (roadside motels to big city hotels). The included meals, and activities were all first-rate and every time we walked into someplace new, they had our information and checked us in quickly. Road Trip NZ provided an easy to use customized phone app that had all of the needed trip information: directions, places to eat, interesting stops along the way, and additional activities at each location. For directions, activities, or food, the app never steered us wrong. Highlights of the trip included a wine tour of Waiheke Island, Heli-hike on Franz Joseph Glacier, Hobbiton, Waimangu Valley, and jet boating. I highly recommend that everyone visit New Zealand and use Road Trip NZ to plan your trip of a lifetime.
Sharon G
Jan 2024
Couldn't be better ......
Responding at very short notice for a trip over the Christmas period, The Road Trip pulled together a well balanced week of sightseeing and activities. Kinloch hotel and Lana Hotel were both first class and our driver/guide, Chris Martin was a good driver, always on time and came with a great sense of humor. Very happy with our week.
globalguy
Jan 2024
December NZ road trip : Spectacular scenery and memorable experiences.
We had a wonderful road trip with my family of 4 along with my mum and uncle. We were surrounded by beautiful scenery while en route, not just at the destinations. The experiences and activities catered to the more active and sedate family members allowing each to experience NZ at their own pace . Several parts of the route were windy, and each day required 2-5 hours of driving either in parts or in a stretch. We were fortuitous to have my husband, who is experienced driving long distances abroad and in NZ to take us from place to place. Even so, the Toyota Hiace was challengeng to manoeuvre around the few hundred kilometres of steep windy bends. The weather was generally kind to us while we were there in NZ in Dec while we were there from 17-30 Dec 2023.
Jacqueline W
Jan 2024
Tasting Menu of New Zealand!
It was a most fabulous three week honeymoon in beautiful New Zealand! Our team at Road Trip (Matt and Denina) put together and booked an incredible itinerary. A true "tasting menu" of New Zealand. We decided on a self-drive option and presented Matt with a challenge (my husband's list was lengthy). After a couple of back and forths via email and a zoom call we ended up with one week on the North Island and two on the South. They booked everything; from the rental cars (Ezi Rentals - excellent), to the lodgings (all comfortable, clean, breakfast included and perfectly located), domestic airline tickets, and several things to do (kayaking, glow worm caving, etc). Except for our lunches and dinners everything was pre-paid which made it sooooo easy. Their detailed itinerary included so many suggestions for side trips, tips for the best photo opportunities, when to top off on gas and restaurant/cafes suggestions. Denina responded so quickly to our on the road requests to change times for certain activities or type of car (we wanted more trunk space). There is NO way we would have been able to enjoy this perfect "tasting menu" of New Zealand without The Road Trip. We wholeheartedly recommend using them for your trip to NZ! Thank you Road Trip team.
Jacalyn Y
Dec 2023
South Island of NZ
First time in New Zealand so hired the road trip to travel the South Island. The views were amazing as expected. The staff were very responsive and tried their best to make our trip smooth. They customized the trip to our budget and it was easy to enjoy each day following the itinerary. Please be more involved in choosing activities to get the maximum benefit
Jongdae L
Dec 2023