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Adventure Tours

Ultimate Thrillseeker, New Zealand Adventure Hotspots

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Looking for an adrenaline-fuelled adventure that will take you through some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes?

Look no further than our Ultimate Thrillseeker Adventure Tour! Experience the rush of black water rafting at Waitomo, zip line through native forests, kayak under a breathtaking glow worm display, explore colourful volcanic valleys, and immerse yourself in Māori culture. And that’s not all – the tour also includes rafting, Dart River Funyaks, and skiing for an action-packed vacation you’ll never forget!

You can experience our Ultimate Thrillseeker Adventure Tour as a self-driven or privately guided tour. If you’re comfortable navigating New Zealand’s terrain and prefer setting your own pace, a self-driven tour is perfect. But, if you want a personalised, tailored experience with local expertise, a privately guided tour is ideal.

 

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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Holiday travelers climbing a bridge high above the tree line

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 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.

This afternoon/evening depending on your flight arrival time, we recommend taking on the Skyjump off New Zealand’s tallst building – The Skytower! It’s the ultimate leap of faith – a jump from NZ’s highest building with nothing but a wire between you and the ground 192m down! SkyJump gives you 11 seconds of pure adrenaline as you plunge 53 floors down at a speed of 85kph. You’ll feel like a total boss when you stick the landing in SKYCITY Plaza (optional – not included).

Full Itinerary
DAY 2
Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton

YOUR DAY

250km, 3.5 hours driving

Today you farewell the ‘City of Sails’ and head south to Rotorua; a hot spot for Māori culture and geothermal activity.

En route you will visit Hobbiton and The Shire’s Rest, the only remaining film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. You’ll also enjoy a buffet style feast in the festive marquee next to the Green Dragon!

Arrive in Rotorua in the late afternoon and perhaps explore Kuirau Park mud pool reserve and view the stunning government gardens and lakefront.

Full Itinerary
DAY 3
Rotorua

YOUR DAY

This morning you will enjoy the Ultimate Canopy Tour with Rotorua Canopy Tours. This is an unforgettable 3.5-hour Canopy Tour journey. Venture deep into the wilderness to experience prehistoric New Zealand forest at its best.

Following this, the early afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa or the spectacular Treewalk of the redwood forest.

This afternoon you will take a guided walk around Te Puia where you will experience mud pools and geysers and visit the Māori Weaving School and Kiwi House. This is a chance to see our national bird up close. Following this, you will enjoy a Hangi (ground cooked traditional meal) and cultural performance which tells the stories of Aotearoa’s native Māori people.

Full Itinerary
DAY 4
Rotorua (Kahukiwi + Twilight Glowworm Kayak)

YOUR DAY

This morning you will take a three hour small group tour near Lake Rotoiti, which includes a visit to a marae, amazing scenery, storytelling and song from a local Māori guide.

This afternoon is free for leisure activities. Options include: Rotorua Gondola and Luge, zorbing, a trip to The Buried Village of Te Wairoa, or a visit to the spectacular Redwoods Treewalk! (all activities listed are optional – extra cost).

Tonight you will enjoy a Twilight Kayak Glow Worm Tour where you will discover your adventurous side as your guide leads you inside incredible hidden caves home to galaxies of glow worms.

Full Itinerary
DAY 5
Rotorua (Waimangu + Wai O Tapu)

YOUR DAY

Your first stop for the day is Waimangu Volcanic Valley – a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will see the world’s largest hot spring, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours. You’ll also enjoy a cruise above the once famous Pink and White Terraces, buried by the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886.

Your next stop for the day is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland- a Wonderland of Stunning Geothermal Activity. You will visit New Zealand’s largest thermal mud pool, sinter terraces and stunning hot and cold pools of many different colours.

This evening is free for leisure.

Full Itinerary
DAY 6
Rotorua to Auckland via Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Fly to Queenstown

YOUR DAY 

322 km, 4 hours driving + 2 hour flight

This morning you return North to Auckland, stopping en route at the magical Waitomo. Waitomo is New Zealand’s most extensive underground caving network, and is best known for the Glow Worm Caves. Here you will take a 3 hour guided blackwater rafting tour (Black Labyrinth) through the spectacular Caves and see the impressive glow-worms that light up the cave roof.

Following this, you continue to Auckland where you depart the North Island and fly south to New Queenstown. Queenstown is a beautiful town located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps.

Enjoy 4 nights in Queenstown.

Full Itinerary
DAY 7
Ski/Snowboard The Remarkables (Winter) OR Queenstown Adventure Day (Spring/Summer/AutumnSpring/Summer/Autumn)

YOUR DAY (Winter)

47km, 1 hour 10 minutes return

This morning you will drive up to the top of the Remarkables mountain ranges to hit the slopes. The Remarkables are a superb place to test out the New Zealand conditions. This world-class ski field really lives up to its name! There are breathtaking views to be admired, both from the slopes and from look out spots on the drive, featuring 360-degree views of Queenstown and the lake below and also many sites used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The Remarkables features a fantastic network of progressive terrain parks with wide, gentle slopes for beginners of all ages and big mountain steeps for the experts in the family. This field also boasts purpose built snow tubing lanes. After a fantastic day skiing we will head back down to Queenstown where there is the opportunity to dine in one of Queenstown’s many fine lakefront establishments. Your ski package today includes lift passes & recreational skis/snowboard + boot & pole hire (Helmets additional. Goggles and gloves cannot be hired, only purchased).

YOUR DAY (Spring/Summer/Autumn)

Today in and around Queenstown there are many possibilities. It is a day entirely for your leisure. For the adventurous among us there is skydiving, bungy-jumping, paragliding and white water rafting. For those who prefer to take a more relaxed approach to the day a cruise on the 100 year old TSS Earnslaw steam ship or a walk alongside Lake Wakatipu are not to be missed!

Full Itinerary
DAY 8
Queenstown - Glenorchy/Kinloch Day Trip (Dart River)

YOUR DAY

Today you will drive out to the head of Lake Wakatipu and experience the breath-taking scenery of the Glenorchy area. Surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, ancient beech forests and at the edge of Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks, the frontier town of Glenorchy has provided the backdrop for many films, including The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. You will also The ultimate, Full day Wilderness Jet boat and Funyaks adventure taking you on an unforgettable journey along the braided, glacier-fed Dart River. You will experience the unique combination of breath-taking scenery and an exhilarating ride as you are taken deep into Mount Aspiring National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Area.

Full Itinerary
DAY 9
Ski/Snowboard Coronet Peak (Winter) OR Coronet Peak Mountain Biking Day (Spring/Summer/Autumn)

YOUR DAY (Winter)

32km, 45 minutes driving return

Today we have another full day dedicated to hitting the powder. The beautiful Coronet Peak ski area is also nearby and sits above Arrowtown. Stunning high points and rolling trails offer seasoned skiers and snowboarders an experience to remember while the gentle lower slopes are perfect for beginners. Sitting at 1649m above sea level, don’t forget to take in the stunning views of the valley and surrounding snow capped peak. By the end of today’s ski run you should be really getting the hang of the kiwi ski style – both on and off the slopes! Perhaps enjoy the evening with a visit to Queenstown’s iconic Ice Bar or snuggle up in a cosy bistro in front of the fireplace.

YOUR DAY (Spring/Summer/Autumn)

Today you will enjoy Mountain biking on one of New Zealand’s favorite Mountains. Coronet Peak’s trails attract every level of rider offering wider, more flowy trails for beginners to runs filled with berms and expert features designed to challenge advanced riders. The views offered here are exceptional and with chair lifts to take you up, you won’t be as puffed out at the end of the day! Tonight enjoy the night life of Queenstown.

Full Itinerary
DAY 10
Queenstown (Skyline & Luge + Onsen)

YOUR DAY

Today you have an extra day to explore Queenstown as there is so much to see and do! In the afternoon, take a trip to the top of the Skyline Gondola to see the town and surrounding mountains and Lake Wakatipu from the best vantage point. You will enjoy a scrumptious lunch atop the hill in the exclusive Stratosfare restaurant with breathtaking views over Lake Wakatipu across to The Remarkables. You will also get to Luge! Jump in your specialised Luge cart and enjoy a thrilling, gravity fuelled downhill ride. Take it easy on the blue track or zoom around the curves and over the bumps of the red track, then hop on the chairlift and do it all over again – once is never enough!

Relax tonight in a private Onsen overlooking the beautiful Shotover River.

 

Full Itinerary
DAY 11
Queenstown to Lake Wānaka (Ski at Cardrona - Winter) OR (Mountain Cart at Cardrona - Spring/Summer/Autumn)

YOUR DAY (Winter)

67 km, 1 hour and 30 minutes driving

Today you will drive over the Crown Range to the picturesque lakeside town of Wanaka. En route you could visit Arrowtown, one of the key towns in the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. You can visit the historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and wander around the many boutique shops that the village has to offer.

Cardrona is a one of New Zealand’s top family friendly ski and snowboarding areas with 345 hectares of superb powder and magnificent views. After a fantastic day skiing we will head back down to Wanaka where there is the opportunity to dine in one of Wanaka’s many fine lakefront establishments. Your ski package today includes lift passes & recreational skis/snowboard + boot & pole hire (Helmets additional. Goggles and gloves cannot be hired, only purchased).

The afternoon is free to explore Wanaka and enjoy the scenery of this quaint resort town!

YOUR DAY (Spring/Summer/Autumn)

67 km, 1 hour and 30 minutes driving

Today you will drive over the Crown Range to the picturesque lakeside town of Wanaka. En route you could visit Arrowtown, one of the key towns in the Central Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s. You can visit the historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and wander around the many boutique shops that the village has to offer.

From here drive over the Pass to Cardrona. You’ll feel alive when you ride our three-wheeled mountain carts! The most accessible gravity-fuelled activity, this is the only place in the country you can have a mountain carting experience.

The afternoon is free to explore Wanaka and enjoy the scenery of this quaint resort town!

Full Itinerary
DAY 12
Wānaka (Wildwire)

YOUR DAY

Today is a chance to explore the beautiful lakeside town of Wanaka. Today you will experiance the best in adventure tourism with Wildwire’s adventures. The “Lord of the Rungs” is the world’s highest waterfall cable climb. Reaching the top will take you through 450m of vertical terraine. A climbing path, where climbers attach themselves to a cable that is fixed to the rock along the route, climber then climb the path on a series of metal rungs, pegs and ladders. This enables those with no climbing experience to reach remote locations and enjoy places and sights that they might not otherwise be able to experience. Tonight, relax in one of the many famous restaurants Wanaka has to offer.

Full Itinerary
DAY 13
Wānaka to Te Anau

YOUR DAY

260km, 3 hours driving

This morning your South Island tour takes you to the beautiful town of Arrowtown via The Crown Range, New Zealand’s highest highway. Arrowtown was an improtant location in the gold rush of Central Otago in the 1860s and is now a historic town with a very special vibe. Perhaps browse the preserved Chinese gold mining village or wander the boutique shops the town has on offer. Following this, perhaps enjoy a wine tasting at Amisfield Bistro & Cellar Door, overlooking the stunning Lake Hayes. This afternoon you will drive a further 2 hours to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park.

 

Full Itinerary
DAY 14
Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) Day Trip (Kayak)

YOUR DAY

240km, 4 hours driving

Be prepared for one of the jewels of the New Zealand landscape! The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most spectacular in the world and certainly a highlight on any New Zealand tour. En route you will see spectacular valleys, breath taking mountains and hopefully spot the cheeky Kea (New Zealand’s mountain parrot).

This morning you will experience all that the fjords have to offer with a 2 hour Kayak featuring pristine waterfalls and towering mountains plunging into the Tasman Sea (included activity). Keep a look out for dolphins, seals and the Fiordland crested Penguin.

On your trip back to Te Anau there is the opportunity to take some short walks in the Fiordland National Park.

Full Itinerary
DAY 15
Te Anau to Queenstown (Departure Day)

YOUR DAY

175 km, 2 hours driving

This morning you will head to Queenstown, ‘New Zealand’s adventure capital of the world’. Skirting your way around Lake Wakatipu makes for some stunning photography and you will be amazed by the Remarkables Mountain Range, one of the most famous back drops for Lord of the Rings.

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

 

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
It's great fun guiding thrill-seekers around New Zealand! It's always so satisfying to see the buzz that people get from New Zealand's unique adrenalin pumping experiences. What's even better is having a private driver/guide to chauffeur you between the adventures, so you can conserve your energy for the next jump, dive or raft!
Alex
General Manager

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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
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