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The 10 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand 🚐 [2025]© NZPocketGuide.com
The 10 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand 🚐 [2025]

The 10 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand 🚐 [2025]

© NZPocketGuide.com
Article Single Pages© NZPocketGuide.com
Article Single Pages© NZPocketGuide.com
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Last Updated: 30 May, 2025

The Top New Zealand Tours with Small Groups

Written By Real Travel Writers; Not Algorithms

Don’t be just another number on a large coach tour. Enjoy a more intimate experience by taking a small-group tour in New Zealand! Small-group tours in New Zealand are usually for up to 20 people as a maximum on a minibus or custom vehicle where social dynamics are made a little easier when you can talk to everyone in your group, as well as never feeling like things are too “crowded”. There is a range of New Zealand small-group tours to choose from, from adventure-based tours to more easy-going tours for the mature crowd. We’ll go through some of our favourites in this guide to the best small-group tours in New Zealand!

Before we begin, don’t forget to bookmark Travel by Bus in New Zealand: The Ultimate Guide for even more tips.

Table of Contents

5 Tips for Taking Small-Group Tours in New Zealand

  1. Allow a day or two before and after your tour for your travel time to/from New Zealand, as well as time to get over the jet lag and explore your arrival city
  2. Pack light! Don’t be that guy that everyone has to make room for, especially when small-group tours use smaller vehicles – see our New Zealand Packing List
  3. Use websites like TourRadar to compare small-group tour companies and make use of the standard cancellation policy should your travel plans change
  4. Be sure to budget for the meals that are not included in your tour – see How Much Does a Trip to New Zealand Cost?
  5. See if your chosen tour company has a Facebook Group. That way, you can connect with fellow travellers before the tour begins!

For more tour advice, check out the 15 Tips to Make the Most of Your Bus Trip.

The 10 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand ???? [2023]© Wild Kiwi

Wild Kiwi – Northern Voyager

A small-group tour in luxury Mercedes vehicles, Wild Kiwi knows how to get travellers around in style. The custom vans fit up to 18 people for a more intimate experience. What’s more, the tours are especially for 18-30-something-year-olds so you know you’ll be with like-minded people.

The Northern Voyager is an excellent way to explore the North Island in one week, looping back to Auckland via the geothermal hub of Rotorua, the volcanic Tongariro National Park and the bohemian surf town of Raglan. Accommodation in hostels and lodges is included – with the option to upgrade to a private room, as well as all breakfasts and one group dinner.

Tours of the South Island are also available, as listed in The 5 Best 7-Day Tours of the South Island.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 7 days
Age Range: 18-30-something-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 18
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: All breakfasts and one dinner

Destinations

Find out more about this tour on wildkiwi.com. For more week-long tours on the North Island, see The Best 7-Day North Island Tours.

The 10 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand 🚐 [2025]© All Ways Tailormade

All Ways Tailormade – Magic of New Zealand

A trip of a lifetime, the All Ways Tailormade’s “Magic of New Zealand” tour is a luxurious, fully escorted 28-day experience crafted exclusively for UK travellers. Designed for those aged 50+, this comprehensive small-group journey includes everything from international flights and chauffeur-driven airport transfers in the UK to superior accommodation, most meals, and a wide range of exceptional included excursions – from whale watching in Kaikoura to cruising Milford Sound and exploring Rotorua’s geothermal wonders.

With just 20 guests per tour and top-tier service aboard Oceania Coachlines, this New Zealand adventure offers unbeatable comfort and value for travellers seeking a premium once-in-a-lifetime experience of Aotearoa.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 28 days from the UK (25 days in New Zealand)
Age Range: 50+ travellers
Maximum Group Size: 20
Accommodation: Premium hotels and lodges
Meals: Daily breakfasts, 14 dinners and 2 lunches

Destinations

Find out more about this unforgettable, fully inclusive New Zealand holiday at awtm.co.uk. Plus, explore more premium tours in our guide to The Best 20+ Days (3-4 Weeks) Tours of New Zealand.

Haka Tours© Haka Tours

Haka Tours – South Island Lick

To explore the South Island, consider this small-group tour with Haka Tours. The South Island Lick tour starts and ends in Christchurch, taking young travellers via mini-coach to highlights like Queenstown, Wanaka and the Franz Josef Glacier. The tour also includes a scenic train journey through the Southern Alps, as well as all accommodation in hostels and lodges and daily breakfast.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 7 days
Age Range: 18-39-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: All breakfasts

Destinations

Find out more by comparing Haka Tours on Tourradar. For more week-long tours around the country, including small-group tours of New Zealand, see The 10 Best 7-Day Tours of New Zealand.

The 6 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand ???? [2023]© Active Adventures

Active Adventures – Ultimate South Island Adventure

Offering hiking tours of various durations across the North Island and South Island, Active Adventures’ most popular choice is the Ultimate South Island Adventure tour. This tour can be catered to what you prefer with a choice of multiple day hikes and multi-day hikes. You’ll explore hotspots of the South Island that very few visitors get to experience, with gorgeous hikes in the Fiordland National Park, Franz Josef, Queenstown and more.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 14 days
Age Range: 16+-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 14
Accommodation: Hotels, lodges, inns and huts
Meals: All breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except for on the “free day” in the itinerary)

Destinations

Find out more about this tour by comparing Active Adventures on Tourradar.

G Adventures© G Adventures

G Adventures – Highlights of New Zealand

Explore both islands in just over two weeks with G Adventures. The small-group tour specialists offer the Highlights of New Zealand tour for active travellers, including experiences like digging your own hot pool in the Coromandel, guided walks, a cruise of Doubtful Sound and more. A few meals are included in the tour, as well as accommodation in hotels, motels and a Maori village.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 15 days
Age Range: 12-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Hotels and motels
Meals: Eight breakfasts, one lunch and two dinners

Destinations

Find out more about this tour and others by comparing G Adventures on Tourradar. For more national tours of New Zealand, see The Best 20+ Days Tours of New Zealand.

The 6 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand ???? [2023]© Exodus Travels

Exodus Travels – Trekking in New Zealand

Explore both New Zealand islands with a small group on the Trekking in New Zealand tour. This 19-day hiking tour with Exodus Travels starts in Auckland and ends in Christchurch, taking you to hiking highlights like the Tongariro National Park, Milford Sound and the Fox Glacier. All activities listed in the action-packed itinerary are included in the tour, such as a heli-hike in Mt Aspiring National Park, a short flight between Wellington and Nelson, and a water taxi cruise in the Abel Tasman National Park. All meals and accommodation are also included in the rate.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 19 days
Age Range: 16+ years old
Maximum Group Size: 11
Accommodation: Hotels, lodges, cabins and huts/camping
Meals: 14 breakfasts, 16 lunches and three dinners

Destinations

Find out more about this tour by comparing Exodus Travels on Tourradar. Plus, check out more tours with a small group count in The Best Small-Group Tours in New Zealand.

Adventure Junkies© Adventure Junkies

Adventure Junkies – NZ Adventure

Experience the more adventurous side of New Zealand with Adventure Junkies! Their NZ Adventure tour is an ultra small-group tour taking up to 10 people to some of the highlights of the South Island. The tour starts in Christchurch and ends in Queenstown, taking adrenaline junkies to go white water rafting on a grade 5 river, stunning forests for hiking, kayaking in Milford Sound, and your choice of adventure in Queenstown. Other inclusions are accommodation, and both breakfast and lunch daily.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 10 days
Age Range: 18-65-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 10
Accommodation: Apartments and motels
Meals: All breakfasts and all lunches

Destinations

Find out more about this tour by comparing Adventure Junkies on Tourradar. Plus, check out more tours from Christchurch in The 5 Best New Zealand Tours Starting from Christchurch.

The 6 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand ???? [2023]© Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel – New Zealand South Island Adventure

A more active tour of New Zealand from Christchurch taking you to more destinations on the South Island, the New Zealand South Island Adventure tour with Intrepid Travel is well worth considering. The small-group tour lasts 12 days starting in Christchurch and ending in Queenstown. While there are plenty of highlights on the itinerary, including a Milford Sound cruise, it’s the off-the-beaten-track locations that are sure to stick with you, such as the historic mining towns of Reefton and Westport, the less-visited but no less impressive Fox Glacier and even the sub-antarctic Stewart Island!

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 12 days
Age Range: 15-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 12
Accommodation: Hotels, motels and cabins
Meals: 11 breakfasts

Destinations

Find out more about this tour, including prices, by comparing Intrepid Travel on Tourradar. For more small-group adventures, head to The Best Small-Group Tours in New Zealand.

The 6 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand ???? [2023]© Kiwi Experience

Kiwi Experience – Southern Crossing

If you’ve only got just over a week to explore the South Island and you’re on a budget, you might as well join the small-group adventure with Kiwi Experience. Their Southern Crossing is a top choice, starting in Christchurch and hitting the highlights of Franz Josef via Arthur’s Pass, the adventure capital Queenstown and a day trip to Milford Sound.

For more tours from Christchurch, check out The Best New Zealand Tours Starting in Christchurch.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 8 days
Age Range: 18-49-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Hostels
Meals: All Breakfasts and one dinner

Destinations on the 8-Day Tour

Find out more about this tour by comparing Kiwi Experience on Tourradar.

The 6 Best Small Group Tours in New Zealand ???? [2023]© Inspiring Journeys

Inspiring Journeys – The Long White Cloud

Finally, to combine some sightseeing of the North Island with exploring the south of the South Island, consider The Long White Cloud tour with Inspiring Journeys. The 19-day tour starts in Christchurch, taking travellers of all ages on a small-group tour to experience the glacial hub of Franz Josef and Milford Sound, winding through the South Island and crossing the Cook Strait to Wellington and beyond. Tours also include luxury hotel accommodations, most meals and more.

Tour Highlights

Tour Length: 19 days
Age Range: 12-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 20
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: 18 breakfasts, three lunches and nine dinners

Destinations

Find out more about this tour by comparing Inspiring Journeys on Tourradar.

More About Small Group Bus Tours of New Zealand

That’s it for our list of the best small group tours of New Zealand. If they didn’t quite speak to you, however, how about these alternative listings?

Finally, compare all of your bus travel options in our complete guide, How to Travel by Bus in New Zealand.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

About Laura About Our Team

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