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Winery Tours

Classic New Zealand Wine Trail

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Embark on an unforgettable journey through New Zealand’s renowned wine regions with our 15-day Classic New Zealand Winery Trail.

This tour combines the best of New Zealand’s North and South Islands, offering a unique blend of wine tasting, stunning landscapes, and cultural experiences. Best of all, our tours are fully customisable to suit your travel style and interests.

Enjoy a guided tour of Waiheke Island, known for its boutique wineries like Casita Miro, Kennedy Point, and Stonyridge. Savour the views over the Hauraki Gulf and enjoy a delicious lunch at Mudbrick Winery.

Travel to Taupō, with a stop at the magical Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. Continue to Napier, renowned for its Art Deco architecture and exquisite wines. Visit iconic wineries such as Pask Winery, Te Mata Estate, and Elephant Hill. Explore the Wairarapa region and its charming town of Martinborough, home to renowned wineries like Palliser Estate and Ata Rangi.

Explore the South Island’s Wine Country

Cross the Cook Strait to Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine-producing region. Visit celebrated wineries such as Rock Ferry Wines, Johanneshof Cellars, and Cloudy Bay Vineyards. Continue to Kaikōura for a whale watching tour, then travel to Christchurch, exploring the Waipara wine region along the way.

Experience the Best of Central Otago and Queenstown

Head to Lake Tekapo for a night of stargazing atop Mt John. Journey through the scenic Lindis Pass to Central Otago, known for its Pinot Noir. Enjoy a private winery tour in the Cromwell Basin, visiting top vineyards like Mt Difficulty, Felton Road, and Carrick. Spend your final days in Queenstown, with a wine sampler tour that includes a visit to Gibbston Valley’s underground wine cave.

This tour offers a perfect blend of relaxation, Luxury and world-class wine tasting. We can also shorten the tour to fit your schedule, ensuring you still experience the highlights. This tour is best enjoyed with a private guide, so you can fully immerse yourself in the experience without worrying about drinking and driving. If you have extra time, we can easily extend your trip to include more incredible destinations. Let us craft the journey of your dreams!

Build your own tour
The activities listed above are just a glimpse of what’s possible! We pride ourselves on creating bespoke experiences tailored to your interests and desires. If you have specific activities or destinations in mind, let us know, and we’ll craft a personalised itinerary just for you. Every journey is unique, and we’re here to make yours perfect. Dream big – your adventure is waiting to be customised!
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Hillside view at Mt Difficulty Wines

Top attractions in this tour

Your 15-day road trip itinerary

15-day journey exploring x key destinations across New Zealand's diverse landscapes.
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 14
DAY 15
DAY 1
Auckland Arrival

YOUR DAY

Guided: Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, a private shuttle 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.

Full Itinerary
DAY 2
Waiheke Island Winery Tour

YOUR DAY

This morning you will take a short walk to the Auckland ferry terminal to ferry out to Waiheke Island to enjoy a guided tour of the Island, stopping at a number of boutique wineries such as Casita Miro, Kennedy Point Winery and Stonyridge for wine tastings. You will finish your tour at Mudbrick Winery where you will enjoy a delicious lunch with incredible views out over the Hauraki Gulf towards Auckland City (lunch is additional cost). Return to Auckland in the late afternoon, and perhaps enjoy dinner at one of the wonderful waterfront restaurants that line the Viaduct Harbour.

Three of our favourite wineries:

Casita Miro/Miro Vineyard: Miro Vineyard is in the Onetangi wine-growing region and comprises a 4.2 hectare vineyard and the outstanding Tapas restaurant called Casita Miro. Views from the vineyard are spectacular, looking out over the vines, the village and the sea.

Kennedy Point: Kennedy Point Vineyard is Waiheke Island’s only certified organic vineyard, set amongst 300-year-old pohutukawa trees overlooking Waiheke Island’s Kennedy Bay. At our cellar door you can complement your wine tasting experience with delicious local oysters, cheeses and smoked salmon.

Stonyridge Vineyard: Stonyridge Vineyard is the ongoing dream of owner Stephen White. It was in 1981 after a 3-year adventure in Europe that Stephen came to love the culture and lifestyle of the Mediterranean and the great red wines of France, Tuscany and California. After extensive climatic research Stonyridge was discovered as the ideal north facing site to ripen and produce a world class Bordeaux style red wine.

Full Itinerary
DAY 3
Auckland to Taupō

YOUR DAY

276 km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you’ll escape the busy city and head straight for the centre of the island – towards the volcanic plateau. On your way visit the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. Here you will undertake a 45 minute walking/boat tour of the largest cave in the area, to see the magical glow worms that light up the cave ceiling. There is also the option to undertake a more adventurous trip, such as a 3 hour tubing trip on an underground river (please let us know if this may be preferred). Heading Further south, stop at the mind-blowingly powerful Huka Falls en route, you will reach Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake.

Full Itinerary
DAY 4
Taupō to Napier (Hawkes Bay)

YOUR DAY

143km, 2 hours driving

Today you head to the East Coast to the beautiful seaside city of Napier. Napier was flattened by an earthquake in 1931, which led to massive rebuilds in the Art Deco Style, making this iconic city a beautiful hub of period architecture, and nowadays it is also well known for producing exquisite food and wine. The region has a lovely coastal feel and along with its high annual sunshine hours, makes it perfect for growing grapes. The region’s sunnier warmer climate is most suited to Bordeaux style reds such as merlot and syrah but also fantastic chardonnay.

Full Itinerary
DAY 5
Hawkes Bay Wineries

YOUR DAY

This morning you will take a guided art deco walking tour to appreciate the beautiful architecture of the city.

Afterwards, you will be taken on a winery tour, visiting several wineries around the Hawkes Bay area. The region is famous for their wines and have won international acclaim for both red and white varietals. There are over 70 wineries in the area and this afternoon you will visit 4 or 5 of the best, including wine tastings at each and a complementary cheese platter.

Tonight is free to enjoy the city – perhaps dine at one of the wonderful seaside restaurants to sample some of the region’s delicious fare!

Three of our favourite wineries:

Pask Winery – Named after CJ Pask was a topdressing pilot who discovered the regions potential for grapes. Try the “Declaration” cabernet merlot malbec.

Te Mata Estate – A leading Hawke’s Bay winery and arguably the first producer to win international respect and demonstrate Hawke’s Bay could consistently produce Bordeaux style reds. Try the “Bullnose” syrah made from grapes in the Bridge Pa Triangle winegrowing district.

Elephant Hill – A beautiful setting shadowing the coastline, this winery also has vines in the Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle districts.

Full Itinerary
DAY 6
Napier to Martinborough

YOUR DAY

267km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will travel south down to the Wairarapa region. It is a quiet farming region off the typical tourist map.

The Wairarapa grape growing region is in the warm rain shadow of the Tararua and Remutaka ranges, allowing an ideal place for viticulture. The region is famed for fine pinot noir and is known as the birthplace of the grape where in the 1880s it was first planted by French settlers. Much of the industry has become centred around Martinborough, a quaint little town to the south of the region.

Three of our favourite wineries:

Palliser Estate – The biggest winery in Martinborough with beautiful grounds and a large selection of wines for tasting. The estate boasts vineyards across the district. Recommended is the Riesling with lime notes and the “Dog” series pinot noirs.

Ata Rangi – One of New Zealand’s most visited wineries founded by former dairy farmer Clive Patton in 1980. Pinot Noir is the star wine here having won the coveted Bouchard Finlayson Trophy for the best Pinot Noir at London’s international wine and spirit competition three times.

Cambridge Road Vineyard – A rustic small producer that follows biodynamic principles. Winemaker Lance Redgwell produces several experimental wines such as “dovetail” a blend of Syrah and pinot noir.Murdoch James Estate- A little drive out of town down Dry River Road and down a poplar lined driveway is this multi level winery. Martinborough’s only hillside vineyard noted for its “Blue Rock Syrah”

Full Itinerary
DAY 7
Martinborough to Blenheim (Marlborough)

YOUR DAY

3.5 hour ferry, 2 hours total driving

This morning you will make your way south to Wellington and farewell the North Island and sail to Picton in the stunning Marlborough Sounds, the gateway to the biggest wine producing district in New Zealand, Marlborough. Marlborough produces roughly 70% of New Zealand’s exported wine volume.

The Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough has long been considered among the finest examples in the world. The district is split into two main valleys with most of the wineries situated in the Waiau River Valley. Further south the Awatere River Valley produces its own distinctive styles of wine reflective of their different geography and climate. The reason the Marlborough region has been so successful in wine production is due to the high sunshine hours, cool nights and the free draining alluvial soils. Today you will have plenty of tasting on the cards!

Three of our favourite wineries:

Rock Ferry Wines – From humble beginnings growing grapes under contract for top New Zealand wine producers, husband and wife, Tom Hutchison and Fiona Harvey, embarked upon creating a wine estate based on organic winegrowing practices to showcase the inherent characteristics of their vineyard properties. Wanting to maintain complete control over the quality of their wines, they established their own winery in 2009 at the Orchard Vineyard. Highly respected winemaker, Allan McWilliams along with Winemaker Jordan Hogg and their dedicated team, continue to produce premium, sought-after organic wines today.

Johanneshof Cellars– Just off the main road towards Blenheim nestled into the hills is this German owned winery. Try the method traditionelle and the gewürztraminer. The wine cellar cave here built in 1993 is 50m long.

Cloudy Bay Vineyards – Iconic and perhaps the best known New Zealand wine label internationally makes a good last stop for the day. The interior of the cellar door is immaculate and you can view the production line through the glass wall behind the counter. Renowned initially for it sauvignon Blanc, the other wines include chardonnay, pinot noir, late harvest Riesling and a great sparkling named ‘Pelorus”

Full Itinerary
DAY 8
Marlborough Private Wine Tour

YOUR DAY

If you want to experience the cellar doors of Marlborough at your own pace on your own this is the perfect way to do it. We work with you to plan the perfect day out, visiting the best cellar doors, and ensuring you get a great experience. You will be driven around in our comfy Mercedes Sedan and be looked after for the entire day.

Standard tasting fees are included in the tour cost and lunch is at your expense.

Your private tour picks you up at your accommodation – you choose the start time and any cellar doors you want to visit or let us fully guide you to experience a great day out in Marlborough. The standard tasting fees for up to 6 cellar doors are included in the cost of the tour.

Full Itinerary
DAY 9
Blenheim (Marlborough) to Kaikōura

YOUR DAY

128 km, 2 hours driving time

Today you’ll drive South down State Highway 1, eventually reaching the Pacific Coast. Down this beautiful rugged coastline you will spot Kaikōura, where you will stay tonight.

This afternoon you will take a whale watching tour of 3 hours. Keep a look out for Sperm Whales, Humpback Whales and Orcas as well as many species of Dolphin.

On reaching Kaikōura, we recommend venturing to our number one Kaikōura look out spot where you will experience the stunning beauty of the mountains meeting the Pacific Ocean. Stop by the Kaikōura Seafood BBQ Kiosk for an al fresco dinner tonight by the sea (optional).

Three more of our favourite wineries:

Te Whare Ra – A small winery but one of the oldest in the region. It produces excellent desert wines and gewürztraminer.

Wither Hills – One of Marlborough’s larger wineries with a nice grassy outdoor courtyard to relax and taste. During vintage they have a vine library where you can pick and taste a grape to see if you can correctly identify its variety. The restaurant here is a good option for lunch with everything made on site.

Yealand’s Estate – Further down the road towards the township of Seddon in the Awatere Valley we get to the largest privately owned vineyard in New Zealand. Taste the difference between an Awatere Valley sauvignon Blanc and a Wairau one

Full Itinerary
DAY 10
Kaikōura to Christchurch via Waipara

YOUR DAY

189km, 2 hours 30 minutes driving

This morning you will leave Kaikōura and drive south into the Waipara wine growing region. This region is sheltered from the cool easterly winds by the Teviotdale Hills and has a predominating limestone sub rock giving different characteristics to the wine produced here.

You will stop in for lunch at Black Estate Winery. Enjoy their wines served alongside delicious organic, biodynamic & spray-free produce grown and fished by local people and cooked with care by head chef Olly Le Maitre and his team.

Black Estate farm three small properties organically and biodynamically. They find that when working in harmony with our natural world we have healthier vines and lives. They want to grow vines that produce fruit with quality and flavour, expressive of its place and season. Black Estate believe that healthy soils are the obvious foundation for this quality, so they farm to give back to the land, regenerate life and nurture the existing life in the soils, plants and wildlife there.

Continue to Christchurch in the afternoon.

Two of our other favourite wineries:

Pegasus Bay Winery – This winery is famous and holds a place in the book “100 most iconic wine estates” The Rieslings here are highly renowned.

Torlesse Wines – Open since 2000 and one of the oldest wineries in the region. It’s an old converted red barn that is a winery as well as a cellar door. Try the late harvest sauvignon Blanc and the gewürztraminer.

Full Itinerary
DAY 11
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo + Stargazing

YOUR DAY

228km, 3 hours driving

Christchurch is known throughout New Zealand as ‘The Garden City’. You have time this morning for a city tour. This city tour could include a visit to ‘The Sign of the Kiwi’, the most panoramic of Christchurch’s viewpoints, a stroll in the botanic gardens and drive around the bays of Christchurch taking in Lyttelton which was the gateway for many of Christchurch and the Canterbury region’s first settlers. This afternoon you will make your journey inland and south to Lake Tekapo. Perhaps soak in the thermal pools on the lakeside (optional – extra cost) and see the famous Church of the Good Shepherd up close. Following this, you could drive to the top of Mount John to take in some of the most stunning 360 degree views New Zealand has to offer!

Tonight you will enjoy a stargazing tour atop Mt John with Dark Sky Project. At 1,029m high, Mt John offers unrivalled 360-degree views across the largest accredited International Dark Sky Reserve in the world. Their expert astronomy guides bring the night sky to life, sharing the science and the stories of our Southern skies. Take in the incredible Milky Way, far off planets, star clusters, solar systems, and even distant galaxies; every night sky beholds something different.

Full Itinerary
DAY 12
Lake Tekapo to Queenstown via Wanaka

YOUR DAY

263km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you will travel back over the Lindis Pass (965m) to Central Otago, known for its Merino Sheep and wool industry. First perhaps stop at a local salmon farm and sample fresh or smoked salmon. From there you head through to the beautiful lakeside town of Wānaka. Options here include a visit to the famous Rippon winery maker of biodynamic wines, this long-running, family-owned lakeside vineyard offers a tasting room . Following this, head over the Crown Range to Queenstown and perhaps visit the Cardrona Distillery for a gin, whisky or vodka tasting en route.

Stay at Gibbston Valley lodge & Spa tonight and enjoy a wine tasting and dinner.

Full Itinerary
DAY 13
Private Central Otago Winery Tour (Cromwell basin)

YOUR DAY

Enjoy a day of discovery and indulgence on a fully private winery tour with return transfers. Explore five of the finest Cromwell Basin vineyards and indulge in some of the best wines in New Zealand, as well as a delicious vineyard lunch. You’ll also have a chance to wander around the Cromwell Heritage Precinct on Lake Dunstan. The chosen winery tastings on your tour can be planned for you, or you are welcome to choose some of your own if you have a preference.

A few choices:

Mt Difficulty – Located in Bannockburn, the heart of Central Otago’s wine country, Mt Difficulty is celebrated for its sublime Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. With vineyards spread across Central Otago, including prestigious sites in Gibbston and Bendigo, each wine reflects the distinct terroir and microclimates of the region. The winery’s renowned restaurant offers panoramic views that are as breathtaking as the wines themselves.

Felton Road – Situated on the north facing slopes of Bannockburn, Felton Road is a leader in biodynamic winemaking. With a commitment to organic practices since 2002, the vineyard produces premium Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The winery’s strict adherence to natural methods and minimal intervention in the cellar allows each vintage to express the pure essence of its landscape, making every bottle a true representation of Central Otago’s unique environment.

Carrick – Named after the historic gold-mining town and mountain range, Carrick sits in Bannockburn, a region revered for its rich soil and ideal climate conditions. As a certified organic vineyard, Carrick is dedicated to producing small batches of estate-grown wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The winery also features a restaurant and cellar door, where visitors can enjoy locally sourced ingredients paired perfectly with their organic wines.

Full Itinerary
DAY 14
Queenstown Wine Sampler Tour

YOUR DAY

Did someone say Queenstown wine tour? It’s time to pinot! Travel in premium Mercedes vehicles visiting four of Central Otago’s finest and off the beaten track cellar doors, including a visit to New Zealand’s famous Gibbston Valley underground wine cave. Look, smell and taste over 18 spectacular cool-climate wines and enjoy an optional scrumptious lunch (additional cost ordered on the day) whilst your charismatic wine guide and knowledgeable cellar staff educate and amuse you with local winemaking facts and stories.

Three of our favourite wineries:

Amisfield – Made more famous by a royal visit from Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2014, this winery has long been an outstanding producer in the region. It is famed for its wild yeast fermented pinot noir but also produces some nice whites.

Gibbston Valley Winery – One of the first wineries in the region founded in 1981 by Irish entrepreneur Alan Brady who from an early time believed the region would be suited to pinot noir. The winery has vineyards both on the property and down the road in the hotter drier Bendigo region near Cromwell. Wine cave tours are available here.

Peregrine Wines  Set majestically in the rugged mountainous beauty of Central Otago, this privately owned producer is committed to enhancing the environment with both their organically certified estates and winery and their ‘hands on‘ involvement in the conservation of New Zealand’s native birds, the Saddleback, Mohua and Karearea. Peregrine is renowned for producing wine that is truly representative of the Central Otago region, drawing only the very best hand-picked fruit from 11 sites around the Pisa, Bendigo and Gibbston sub regions.

Full Itinerary
DAY 15
Queenstown Departure Day

Today you will transfer to Queenstown Airport for your further travel arrangements. We trust you’ve had a wonderful time here in New Zealand!

Onward flight is not included.

Full Itinerary
What’s included?
Your choice of accommodation. Silver (4 star), gold (5 star) or platinum (luxury lodge) options available
Most breakfasts, select lunches and dinners
A choice of self-drive and 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
Community Support
Community Support
Contributions to local businesses and communities
Explore New Zealand's major wine regions in style with a private driver/tour guide. The last thing you'll want to do after tasting New Zealand's finest wines and delicious local produce is get behind the wheel! Let The Road Trip chauffeur you between wine growing regions, experiencing New Zealand's natural wonders and culture along the way.
Alex
General Manager

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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
The Trip of a Lifetime
We had a phenomenal experience with The Road Trip. The whole team that we worked with (Alex, Shani, Denina, Matt and others who worked behind the scenes) was incredible! I tend to be a demanding customer, because I have high expectations and I'm very detail oriented. There are 6 key things I look for when selecting a travel agency and The Road Trip delivered on all of those things! LOCAL - they are a local agency, and actually have visited the places they are recommending. I don't want a travel agent who is just googling stuff - I can do that myself. I want a recommendation from an EXPERT who truly understands me and the experience I am hoping to create for my trip. The Road Trip team are EXPERTS and I knew I could fully trust that they were speaking from personal experience when they crafted all the details of our trip. I also especially love that they make the drives interesting by giving you information and cool places to stop. They specialize in road trips, obviously, but I loved that touch bc it's a LOT of work to research good hikes along a route on your own. They make it easy! LUXURY - Splurging on travel is my vice. I live for it and if I am not planning a future trip I feel sad! The Road Trip did a great job of delivering on what I was looking for while still sticking to the budget I provided. And I mean it when I say I'm demanding, especially in this regard. CUSTOM - Alex was the main person I worked with in the initial planning stages and he truly listened to what I was looking for: luxury, adventure, and a good use of our time to maximize the 2.5 weeks we had. The first itinerary he set for us showed me that he knew what I wanted and it only took us a few small tweaks here and there to land on the final. TIMELY - Gosh, they work fast! It took only 5 DAYS between the first time I spoke to Alex for an introductory call and initial discussion to landing a near final itinerary. I also loved that I was able to schedule a call to start, instead of trading emails. It's just more personal and easier to chat through what you are looking for. Also, I should mention that the whole trip was booked just 3ish months before the trip, because I made a sort of "last minute" decision that we wanted a big fun trip and we had only one window of time where we could easily get away from work for 2.5 weeks. To me, getting everything booked quickly was incredibly important and I really appreciated Alex and the team's urgency. ORGANIZED - The team uses a great tool that lays out every detail of the trip starting from the drafts to the documents provided for the actual trip. Everything was in an app and the level of detail satisfied my insanely Type-A personality that craves information. I could simply pull up the app and I knew everything in store for us that day. I did translate the details to a single page itinerary for my own purposes, but I always do that bc it ensures I am fully aware of the itinerary and all the critical times. TRUTH/TRANSPARENCY - I had asked to add Bay of Islands into the itinerary after the first couple of drafts and specifically asked to stay at specific luxury accommodation. Alex looked into it for us and then informed me that there was a promo (Pay 2 nights, get a 3rd free) that was only open to guests booking directly. It was not available to bookings via travel agency. He openly told me this and recommended we make that booking ourselves to take advantage. This shows that The Road Trip is transparent and dedicated to making sure their customers get the best possible experience. I already trusted Alex, but this made me trust him even more! CUSTOMER SERVICE - (this last one is most important to me). Everything went super smoothly on the trip, until the last 3 days when high winds (despite gorgeous sunny days) caused a couple of things to be canceled, most importantly our Fly-Cruise-Fly to Milford Sound, which I was SO looking forward to. No one to be blamed of course, not The Road Trip, or any of their vendors - sometimes it happens, weather is weather and safety is critical! However, I called the Road Trip team and spoke to Matt and asked if there was ANY WAY we could get rescheduled before we left the country and within LESS THAN AN HOUR he had managed to reschedule all our activities for the last couple of days so we could still go on ALL OF THEM. I was so impressed and SO grateful to him for making this happen for us. Not to mention, after he reorganized everything for us, he gave us his personal cell number just in case we needed to contact him urgently if anything else came up. Thankfully I didn't need to use, I certainly didn't want to bother him, BUT it made me feel like an incredibly valued customer! When I first set out to plan this trip, I contacted 5 agencies with the intent on selecting one after seeing first draft itineraries. I had spoken to Alex personally over a google chat and reviewed 3 drafts of an itinerary with him all before I even heard back from the other travel agents. I told all the rest of them that I had already found an amazing company who was delivering on the white glove customer service experience I expect from travel agents, especially for a luxury vacation. I knew pretty much right after speaking to Alex that I was going to book our trip with The Road Trip and now I've given you many reasons to do the same. You won't regret it, let them plan the trip of a lifetime for you.
Ruchie
Dec 2023
Great, fun and memorable times in New Zealand
Alex and team at the Road trip were great! Attention to details, willingness to make adjustments at the last minute, and planning our whole trip in New Zealand to be a truly enjoyable experience, were all things that we appreciate. The adventures were so fun and the people who took us on our adventures were great! Thank you for making our holiday one of the best ones..
Lisa Sofiar
Dec 2023