The 10 Best Tour Companies in New Zealand 🏅 [2024]

© Backyard Roadies

Backyard Roadies

You can’t get more local than Backyard Roadies who formed out of the pandemic showing locals their awesome New Zealand “backyard”. Well, it’s time to show international travellers the highlights too on their variety of New Zealand tours ranging from 10 to 21 days! To add to the “Kiwi” vibe, Backyard Roadies is not only 100% New Zealand-owned and operated, but they go the extra mile to make their guests feel like locals, spending more time at each destination than most other tours. With small groups and a mix of male and female guides, Backyard Roadies offers fun, safe and great-value tours for all.

More About Backyard Roadies

Age Range of Passengers: 18-40+-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Boutique hostels and lodges
Meals: All breakfasts and some dinners.

Find out more about this tour company on backyardroadies.com.

© Wild Kiwi

Wild Kiwi

Best described as a “flashpacker” tour, Wild Kiwi takes travellers aged 18 to 30-something on an awesome adventure around the North Island, South Island (or both) in a luxury Mercedes vehicle with plush leather seats, USB ports, WiFi and more. They pride themselves on small group sizes, so you tend to really feel like a family by the end of your New Zealand tour. While their North Island tours are very decent, their South Island tours hit the most destinations.

Learn more about touring with Wild Kiwi in What is it Really Like to Travel With Wild Kiwi?

More About Wild Kiwi

Age Range of Passengers: 18-30-something-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 18
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: All breakfasts and one group dinner per week of travel.

Find out more about this tour company on wildkiwi.com.

© G Adventures

G Adventures

The international tour company offers a huge range of tour options in New Zealand. From a seven-day excursion in the North Island to 20+ days exploring the whole of New Zealand, there’s something to suit most travel times. G Adventures specialises in small group tours, where accommodation in budget-style hostels and lodges is included in the tour rate, as well as most breakfasts and a few other meals along the way. Some usually paid activities are often also included in their tours, such as guided walks, surf lessons, conservation farm visits, a Maori cultural experience and much more.

More About G Adventures

Age Range of Passengers: 18-39-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 20
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: Most breakfasts, limited lunches and some dinners

See G Adventures’ full range of New Zealand tours on Tourradar.

© Haka Tours

Haka Tours

Tour New Zealand with the locally-owned Haka Tours. From adventure tours for young travellers on a budget to premium tours for older travellers and even snowsports tours, Haka Tours just about does it all. While some tours offer more budget options, like staying in hostels and lodges, others are especially for over-30s staying in upmarket accommodations. Either way, passengers get to enjoy breakfasts each morning and the odd dinner. A small number of paid activities are included in the tour rates, from traditional Maori canoe paddling in Abel Tasman to the scenic ferry cruise between the North and South Islands.

More About Haka Tours

Age Range of Passengers: 18-50-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Hostels, lodges and hotels
Meals: Most breakfasts and limited dinners

Find out more about Haka Tours’ complete offering on Tourradar.

© Luxury Gold

Luxury Gold

Catering to a range of discerning travellers but mostly mature travellers, Luxury Gold offers a way to travel New Zealand in style. There are plenty of activities included in the experience, such as jet boat tours, the TranzAlpine train, kayaking in Milford Sound, a cultural performance in Rotorua, city sightseeing tours and much more. In between the excitement, enjoy stays in luxurious hotel accommodations with many including dinners with wine and a full buffet breakfast.

More About Luxury Gold

Age Range of Passengers: 5-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 40
Accommodation: Hotels
Meals: Most breakfasts, limited lunches and some dinners with wine.

Compare Luxury Gold‘s tours on Tourradar.

© Flying Kiwi

Flying Kiwi

Offering the ultimate outdoor adventure tours, Flying Kiwi easily earns a spot on this list of the best tour companies in New Zealand. They are the only tour company taking you to New Zealand’s scenic campsites (with tents included) while giving you the option to hire mountain bikes to make use of the array of free bike trails across the country. If you’re not into mountain biking, no worries; they hit the New Zealand hotspots too for the must-do activities, as well as take you on free guided walks. Many meals are also included in the tour which you’ll enjoy as a group.

Learn more about what it’s like to travel with Flying Kiwi in The Perfect New Zealand Bus Tour for Active Travellers.

More About Flying Kiwi

Age Range of Passengers: 18-65-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 26
Accommodation: Hostels, camping and cabins
Meals: Most breakfasts, some lunches and most dinners.

Compare Flying Kiwi‘s tours on Tourradar.

© AAT Kings

AAT Kings

“Kings” of the New Zealand touring scene, AAT Kings is a well-established tour company in New Zealand offering tours for a wide age group, from families to seniors to everyone in between. Their tours of the North Island and South Island, as well as national tours, pack in plenty between a significant amount of included meals and included activities that you’d usually have to pay for. While their tours go to some major hotspots and interesting excursions, they never feel “too rushed”.

AAT Kings is also one of the New Zealand tour companies we list in The 5 Best New Zealand Tours for Seniors (Over 40s, 50s & 60s).

More About AAT Kings

Age Range of Passengers: 5-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 58
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: All breakfasts and some lunches and dinners.

Compare AAT Kings‘ tours on Tourradar.

© Active Adventures

Active Adventures

For more time in the great outdoors of New Zealand, choose Active Adventures. The New Zealand tour company offers various adventure tours with options catering to hikers, mountain bikers, families or travellers who want to try a bit of everything. Their tours tend to stick to just one of the main islands but ensure that you make the most of your chosen island. What’s more, everything is covered from all meals (except on a “free day”) to accommodation!

For more active tours, check out the 5 Best Hiking Tours of New Zealand: Guided Tours Around NZ!

More About Active Adventures

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

Find out more about Active Adventures on Tourradar.

© Kiwi Experience

Kiwi Experience

Choose from two types of tours with Kiwi Experience: flexible hop-on hop-off tours or all-inclusive small-group tours. Either way, one of New Zealand’s longest-running tour companies shows young travellers and backpackers an amazing time around New Zealand. If you’re looking for the “party bus” vibe, their hop-on hop-off tours are famous for it (depending on the crowd, of course), while the small-group tours keep things more intimate with a group of like-minded travellers.

Learn more about Kiwi Experience’s all-inclusive tours in The 10 Best Backpacker Bus Tours in New Zealand or their hop-on hop-off buses in What is it Really Like to Travel with Kiwi Experience?

More About Kiwi Experience

Age Range of Passengers: 18-49-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16 or 30+
Accommodation: Hostels and lodges
Meals: None on hop-on hop-off; most breakfasts and some dinners on small-group tours.

Compare Kiwi Experiences‘ tours on Tourradar.

© Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel (Premium)

Update: Intrepid Travel’s standard tours are now operated by Haka Tours (see above). This listing refers to Intrepid Travel’s premium offering known as Intrepid Premium. 

Popular for their intimate tours for discerning travellers, Intrepid Premium is well worth considering at your New Zealand tour company. The international tour company offers small-group tours hitting most of the top destinations across New Zealand. Swap busy dorm rooms for twin-share rooms in hotels, motels and lodges. A substantial number of meals are usually included in their tours, as well as a wealth of activities like a Milford Sound cruise, entry to a kiwi house and more. Their premium tours truly are the most inclusive New Zealand tours.

More About Intrepid Travel

Age Range of Passengers: 15-99-year-olds
Maximum Group Size: 16
Accommodation: Hotels, motels and lodges
Meals: Most breakfasts and some lunches and dinners

Compare Intrepid Premium‘s tours on Tourradar.