The Top New Zealand Tours for Over 40s, 50s and 60s
It’s time to reward yourself with that trip you’ve always dreamed of! What’s more, you don’t have to be young to enjoy New Zealand thanks to the array of New Zealand tours for seniors. Whether you prefer a luxury coach tour staying in indulgent accommodation or enjoy a more humble small-group tour with like-minded people, you’ll find a tour to suit in New Zealand. From tours for active seniors to relaxing yet enriching experiences, we’ll go through some of our favourite tours in this guide to the best New Zealand tours for over 50s and 60s.
While you’re here, you might also want to delve into The Best National Coach Tours in New Zealand. Plus, find out more about exploring by bus in Travel by Bus in New Zealand: The Ultimate Guide.
5 Tips for Taking an Escorted Tour in New Zealand for Seniors
- Allow a day or two before and after your tour for your travel time to New Zealand, as well as to get over the jet lag and rest before hitting the road
- Pack light, but remember the necessities! Not only do you not want to be the person that everyone has to make room for, but you’ll especially want to remember to pack medication or any extra medication you might need – see 15 Essentials to Pack for New Zealand for tips
- Take it easy – the great thing about New Zealand tours for seniors is that they are slow-paced and allow for free time, but don’t try to fill up every second. Take the time to rest and recuperate when you can
- Use websites like TourRadar to compare tour companies that specialise in tours for seniors
- Be sure to budget for the meals that are not included in your tour – see How Much Does a Trip to New Zealand Cost?
© MoaTrekMoaTrek – Kakapo 21 Day Tour
Showing visitors beautiful New Zealand since 1971, MoaTrek has matured from backpacker trips to running one of the best New Zealand tours for seniors. They still go to the same breathtaking locations and local highlights, being local themselves, but have swapped the tents and tins of beans for ultimate comfort at fabulous four-star hotels. MoaTrek’s most comprehensive tour is the 21-day Kakapo Tour, incorporating both the North and South Islands, as well as both the highlights you’ve heard about and hidden gems that hardly any other tours get to enjoy. If you don’t have time for their 21-day trip, MoaTrek also has 9-day and 17-day tours that are well worth investigating.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 21 days
Age Range: 50+ year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 18
Accommodation: Four-star hotels
Meals: All breakfasts and four lunches
Destinations
- Auckland
- Hokianga Harbour
- Bay of Islands
- Rotorua
- Tongariro National Park
- Wellington
- Nelson
- Abel Tasman National Park
- Kaikoura
- Mt Cook
- Queenstown
- Wanaka
- Franz Josef
- Punakaiki
- Christchurch
Find out more about this tour on the MoaTrek website.
© AAT KingsAAT Kings – Northern Spotlight
Explore the best of the North Island with AAT Kings. The escorted Northern Spotlight tour for seniors starts in Auckland and ends in Wellington taking you to highlights like a traditional Maori dinner and performance in Rotorua, a boat ride through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, and passing through the glorious scenery of the Tongariro National Park. AAT Kings makes your trip to the North Island easy with the airport transfers, some meals and comfortable coach transport included.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 8 days
Age Range: 5-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 50
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: Seven breakfasts and four dinners
Destinations
Find out more about this tour by comparing AAT Kings on Tourradar. For more week-long tours on the North Island, see The Best 7-Day North Island Tours.
© TrafalgarTrafalgar – Contrasts of New Zealand
Get a taste of both the North Island and the South Island on the Contrasts of New Zealand tour with Trafalgar. The nine-day tour gets you to see the highlights of New Zealand at an easy pace, with experiences including a train journey through the Southern Alps, a tour through the Waitomo Caves, a Maori cultural experience and a Kiwi farm experience. Along the way, you’ll be staying in four to five-star hotels and indulging in a variety of included meals. Note that there is a domestic flight on the itinerary between Rotorua and Queenstown.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 10 days
Age Range: 5-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 50
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: Nine breakfasts, one lunch and six dinners
Destinations
Find out more about this tour by comparing Trafalgar on Tourradar. Plus, see how this tour compares to other 10-day tours in The 10 Best 10-12-Day Tours of New Zealand.
© Intrepid TravelIntrepid Travel – New Zealand Northern Trail
A tour for the more active senior, the New Zealand Northern Trail takes you through the North Island. Intrepid Travel offers more affordable small-group tours of New Zealand with accommodation on a twin-share basis included, as well as some breakfasts and limited meals. All of the highlights are included, from volcanic landscapes to the Maori culture and everything in between all squeezed in. Plus, with not a huge passenger count yet plenty of opportunities to meet new and interesting travellers and locals, this bus tour offers the “just right” experience.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 10 days
Age Range: 15-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Hotels, motels and lodges
Meals: Nine breakfasts and two dinners
Destinations
Find out more about this tour and prices by comparing Intrepid Travel on Tourradar. Plus, check out more tours from Auckland in The 5 Best New Zealand Tours Starting from Auckland.
© Luxury GoldLuxury Gold – The Endless Shores
Providing an alternative way to explore the North Island of New Zealand, The Endless Shores tour with Luxury Gold starts in Wellington and ends in Auckland. Stay in luxury hotels with most meals and a glass of wine included on this 8-day tour, which takes you to the Hawke’s Bay wineries and to see a cultural performance in Rotorua. See more tours from Wellington in The 6 Best New Zealand Tours Starting from Wellington.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 8 days
Age Range: 5-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 40
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: Seven breakfasts and five dinners
Destinations
- Wellington
- Napier (Hawke’s Bay)
- Rotorua
- Auckland
Find out more about this tour by comparing Luxury Gold on Tourradar. Plus, find more ways to travel in style in The Luxury Travel Guide to New Zealand.
© Inspiring JourneysInspiring Journeys – Inspiring New Zealand
Finally, to combine some sightseeing of the North Island with exploring the south of the South Island, consider the Inspiring New Zealand tour with Inspiring Journeys. The 10-day tour starts in Auckland, taking travellers of all ages on a small-group tour to experience the geothermal and Maori hub of Rotorua, then onto New Zealand’s capital, Wellington. You’ll then catch a flight to Queenstown (not included) where you’ll have the east of an airport transfer and the opportunity to cruise Doubtful Sound and explore Queenstown your own way. Tours also include luxury hotel accommodation, most meals and more.
Tour Highlights
Tour Length: 10 days
Age Range: 12-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 20
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: Eight breakfasts, two lunches and six dinners
Destinations
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Wellington
- Queenstown
- Doubtful Sound
Find out more about this tour by comparing Inspiring Journeys on Tourradar. See more tours on the South Island in The Best 10-12-Day Tours of the South Island.
More About Bus and Coach Tours of New Zealand for Seniors
That’s it for the best bus and coach tours of New Zealand for seniors. For more tours to compare them to, check out the following:
- The Best National Bus Tours in New Zealand
- The Best 20+ Days Tours of New Zealand
- The Best National Coach Tours in New Zealand
Finally, compare all of your bus travel options in our complete guide, How to Travel by Bus in New Zealand.
