The 7 Best New Zealand Tours Starting from Wellington 🗺️ [2024]

© G Adventures

G Adventures – South Island Encompassed

Start your adventure in Wellington with G Adventures where you’ll join the tour for their “Big Night Out” before jumping on the scenic Cook Strait ferry to the South Island. The 16-day tour is with a small group of up to 20 people, doing a range of activities like hiking, kayaking, cycling and bungy jumping (if you dare). Accommodation is included in the tour, featuring a couple of unique accommodations like a floating hostel and a hostel in the rainforest. All breakfasts and a few other meals are also covered, as well as free activities to enjoy along the way. The tour also conveniently ends in Wellington.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 16 days
Age Range: 18-39-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 20
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: 15 breakfasts and four dinners

Destinations

• Wellington
• Abel Tasman
• Westport
• Franz Josef
• Queenstown
• Milford Sound
• Lake Tekapo
• Christchurch
• Kaikoura

Find out more about this tour, including the price, by comparing G Adventures on Tourradar. Plus, check out shorter South Island trips in The 6 Best 10-12-Day Tours of the South Island.

© Haka Tours

Haka Tours – Southern Explorer

Explore the South Island with one of the more luxurious tours offered by Haka Tours. Their Southern Explorer New Zealand tour from Wellington takes you on a scenic ferry trip to the South Island where you’ll hit highlights like the Franz Josef Glacier, travel through the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train, and take on the adventure activities in Queenstown. With only up to 11 people per tour, you’ll get that small-group vibe and stay with fellow passengers in three- to four-star hotels on a twin-share basis. A few meals are also included. The tour ends in Christchurch.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 12 days
Age Range: 30-70-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 11
Accommodation: Hotels, motels and lodges
Meals: Six breakfasts and two dinners

Destinations

• Wellington
• Kaikoura
• Christchurch
• Lake Ohau
• Queenstown
• Wanaka
• Franz Josef

Find out more about this tour, including prices, by comparing Haka Tours on Tourradar. What’s more, if you prefer a small group like Haka Tours, be sure to check out The Best Small-Group Tours in New Zealand.

© Contiki

Contiki – Sweet As South

Hit the road with other young travellers on Contiki! Starting in Wellington, you’ll explore the highlights of the South Island, including three full days in Queenstown to experience the adrenaline activities and party. Accommodation in hotels and lodges on a multi-share basis, as well as a few meals, are all sorted so you can spend more time enjoying yourself. A few usually paid activities are also included, like a farm experience in Te Anau and wine and beer tasting in Central Otago. This tour ends in Christchurch.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 10 days
Age Range: 18-35-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 45
Accommodation: Hotels and lodges
Meals: Eight breakfasts and three dinners

Destinations

• Wellington
• Christchurch
• Lake Ohau
• Te Anau
• Queenstown
• Franz Josef

Find out more about this tour, including its price, by comparing Contiki on Tourradar. Plus, check out more tours for younger travellers in The Best Backpacker Bus Tours in New Zealand.

© APT

APT – Iconic North

Spend 8 days on the North Island with APT on their Iconic North tour. The tour caters to all, from families to seniors, taking passengers from the capital to the lesser-visited east coast of the North Island along with the Art Deco capital, Napier, all the way up to the subtropical Bay of Islands. Prearranged accommodation at upscale hotels along with some fine dining dinners included makes this New Zealand tour from Wellington ideal for the discerning traveller.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 8 days
Age Range: 8-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 200
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: All breakfasts and four dinners

Destinations

• Wellington
• Napier
• Rotorua
• Auckland
• Bay of Islands

Find out more about this tour by comparing APT on Tourradar. Plus, check out more tours appealing to more mature travellers in The Best New Zealand Tours for Seniors.

© Inspiring Journeys

Inspiring Journeys – The Endless Shores

Use Wellington as your starting city to explore the North Island with Inspiring Journeys. This small-group tour that welcomes families with older children up to seniors takes you to discover the glowworms of Waitomo, enjoy gentle walks in the forests of the Tongariro National Park and experience the Maori culture in Rotorua. Your accommodation includes four-star hotels where a buffet breakfast is available and a few other meals (with wine) are also part of the experience. You’ll also have the benefit of airport transfers. This tour ends in Auckland.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 8 days
Age Range: 12-90-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 20
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: Seven breakfasts and five dinners

Destinations

• Wellington
• Hawke’s Bay
• Rotorua
• Auckland

Find out more about this tour by comparing Inspiring Journeys on Tourradar. And compare this tour with other 11-day trips in The 5 Best 10-12-Day Tours of the North Island.

© Top Deck

Topdeck – Pure Adrenalin

An active tour for young travellers, Pure Adrenalin with Topdeck gets you to travel a little further on the South Island starting from Wellington. Hit must-see destinations, like Queenstown and Milford Sound, as well as off-the-beaten-track destinations like Fox Glacier and Abel Tasman National Park. The tour for 18-35-year-olds offers more luxuries than your standard backpacker bus, from accommodation in hotels, motels and lodges and all breakfasts included. Free activity inclusions are a Milford Sound cruise and mountain biking in Arrowtown.

Note: Tours are set to resume in 2023. 

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 11 days
Age Range: 18-35-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 48
Accommodation: Hotels, hostels, motels, lodges and cabins
Meals: 10 breakfasts, one lunch and three dinners

Destinations

• Wellington
• Nelson
• Kaikoura
• Christchurch
• Fox Glacier
• Queenstown
• Lake Ohau

Compare all of Topdeck’s New Zealand tours over on Tourradar. Plus, find more tours across New Zealand for a similar duration in The 10 Best 10-12-Day Tours of New Zealand.

© Luxury Gold

Luxury 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.