New Zealand is the place every other country’s scenery secretly measures itself against. Fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, geysers, beaches that look photoshopped and a population of sheep that has the good manners to stay in the background of your photos. It is also a long way from home: roughly 24 hours of flying, which is exactly why most people want to see as much as possible once they get there, and why the choice of tour matters more than usual.
This guide compares every tour on our New Zealand tours page, from three-week grand tours of both islands to a four-day ride along a former railway line. The big questions are simple: how long, how big a group, how much walking, and do you want the flights included? We answer each one, along with the honest drawback of every tour.
The quick answer
- If you want everything arranged, flights included, pick Land of the Long White Cloud.
- If you want the most complete small-group trip, pick Ultimate New Zealand (24 days).
- If you like to walk, pick Discover New Zealand.
- If you want comfort and character, pick Luxury New Zealand Encompassed.
- If you are travelling alone, pick Solo New Zealand with a Cook Islands stay.
Every New Zealand tour compared
| Tour | Days | Price from | Physical rating | Group size | Flights included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Both islands, small group | ||||||
| Discover New Zealand: Auckland to Christchurch – 18 Days | 18 | £8,059 pp | Medium | Max 14 | No | Walkers, active travellers |
| New Zealand Explorer: Auckland to Christchurch – 19 Days | 19 | £6,720 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | Wildlife, a gentle pace |
| Ultimate New Zealand: Bay of Islands to Franz Josef – 24 Days | 24 | £6,264 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | The most complete trip |
| Luxury New Zealand Encompassed: Auckland to Queenstown – 18 Days | 18 | £8,295 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | Comfort and characterful stays |
| Both islands, coach and tour director | ||||||
| Untamed New Zealand: North & South Islands – 17 Days | 17 | £6,224 pp | Medium | Not stated | No | Nature and Maori culture |
| New Zealand: Land of the Long White Cloud with Flights – 21 Days | 21 | £8,529 pp incl. flights | Low | Max 25 | Yes | Everything included, with flights |
| Singapore & Grand Tour of New Zealand: North & South Islands – 22 Days | 22 | £6,479 pp incl. flights | Low | Not stated | Yes | With a Singapore stopover |
| With extras | ||||||
| Solo New Zealand with a Cook Islands Stay – 20 Days | 20 | £8,499 pp | Low | Max 27 | Yes | Solo travellers, plus the Cook Islands |
| Grand Tour of New Zealand with Australia & Flights – 26 Days | 26 | £8,699 pp incl. flights | Low | Not stated | Yes | Plus Melbourne and Sydney |
| Short and on a budget | ||||||
| New Zealand South Island Express: Hostel Adventure – 9 Days | 9 | £924 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | A budget South Island loop |
| One Week in New Zealand’s North Island for 18–35s – 8 Days | 8 | £825 pp | Low | Max 16 | No | North Island for 18–35s |
| Walk New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park – 4 Days | 4 | £1,276 pp | Medium | Max 12 | No | Fiordland on foot |
| Cycle New Zealand: The Otago Central Rail Trail – 4 Days | 4 | £846 pp | Low | Max 12 | No | A gentle bike ride |
Prices are per person, twin share, live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). The lowest price can apply to a later departure, so check the dates you want on each tour page.
Ask us which New Zealand tour fits →
Both islands in a small group
Small-group tours of both islands typically run Auckland to Christchurch or Queenstown, with up to 12 to 16 travellers and a leader driving a private vehicle. They differ in pace, comfort and how many walking boots you’ll need.
Discover New Zealand: for walkers
Discover New Zealand: Auckland to Christchurch – 18 Days
- 18 days
- From £8,059 per person
- Max 14 people
- Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, New Zealand
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, October, November
Eighteen days with a tour leader and six to 14 travellers. You cruise to the volcanic island of Rangitoto, explore Rotorua, and have a free day in Tongariro National Park for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, often called the best day walk in the country. In the South Island you walk a section of the Abel Tasman coast, see the Pancake Rocks, walk to Fox Glacier, take a jetboat in Mount Aspiring National Park, spend a night on Milford Sound and trek the Hooker Valley below Aoraki Mount Cook.
Suits: active travellers who’d rather walk to the view than drive past it. The honest drawback: some nights are in motels, only a lunch and two dinners are included, and departures are few.
New Zealand Explorer: wildlife at a gentle pace
New Zealand Explorer: Auckland to Christchurch – 19 Days
- 19 days
- From £6,720 per person
- Max 16 people
- Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, New Zealand
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, November
Nineteen days with a tour leader and five to 16. Hobbiton, a lakeside lodge near Rotorua with a Maori cultural experience and hangi lunch, Wai-o-tapu’s thermal colours, wine in Hawke’s Bay and Art Deco Napier, two nights in Wellington, then Abel Tasman by boat and on foot, the Great Coast Road, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, a free day in Wanaka, a cruise on Doubtful Sound, albatrosses at Dunedin and the Moeraki Boulders.
Suits: first-timers and wildlife lovers who want comfort and time to look. The honest drawback: breakfasts and two lunches are the only meals included, and departures are few.
Ultimate New Zealand: the most complete small-group trip
Ultimate New Zealand: Bay of Islands to Franz Josef – 24 Days
- 24 days
- From £6,264 per person
- Max 16 people
- Auckland, New Zealand to Christchurch, New Zealand
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December
Twenty-four days with a local leader and up to 16, by private vehicle, ferry and train. It goes further north than most, with a full-day cruise to the Poor Knights Islands, the Bay of Islands and Waitangi, then Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel, Hobbiton, Rotorua with a hangi and haka, Lake Taupo, Wellington and Zealandia, Kaikoura, Lake Ohau, Queenstown, Wanaka with a boat to Mou Waho Island, two nights at Franz Josef and the TranzAlpine train across Arthur’s Pass.
Suits: travellers with time who want both islands properly. The honest drawback: hotels and motels are comfortable rather than characterful, and it’s a long trip.
Luxury New Zealand Encompassed: comfort and character
Luxury New Zealand Encompassed: Auckland to Queenstown – 18 Days
- 18 days
- From £8,295 per person
- Max 12 people
- Auckland, New Zealand to Queenstown, New Zealand
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December
Eighteen days with a tour leader and up to 12 by private vehicle, in upscale hotels with some memorable extras: a lodge in Tongariro National Park, two nights in a rainforest tree hut at Franz Josef and an overnight cruise on remote Doubtful Sound. You also taste wine on Waiheke Island, see the Waitomo glowworms and Hobbiton, cruise Wellington’s harbour at dusk and finish in Queenstown.
Suits: couples and food lovers who value comfort. The honest drawback: it’s one of the priciest trips here, and not an active one.
Both islands by coach, with a tour director
Land of the Long White Cloud, with flights
New Zealand: Land of the Long White Cloud with Flights – 21 Days
- 21 days
- From £8,529 per person incl. flights
- Max 25 people
- Starts and ends in United Kingdom
- Physical rating: low
- Flights included
- Departures in January, February, April, September, October
Twenty-one days with return flights from the UK, a tour director, hotel porterage and three- and four-star hotels. Inclusions are generous: the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and a cruise to the Hole in the Rock in the Bay of Islands, Waitomo, Hobbiton, a hangi dinner and Maori performance at Te Puia, the Interislander ferry, an Abel Tasman cruise, the TranzAlpine, a helicopter flight with an alpine landing on Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
Suits: first-timers who want everything sorted, flights included. The honest drawback: groups of up to 25, and three nights go on the flights.
Untamed New Zealand (17 days) is a coach tour with a tour director that leans into nature and Maori culture: an evening at Te Puia, a forest walk with Maori guides in Whirinaki, Napier, the wine and dark skies of the Wairarapa, Marlborough, Kaikoura, remote Lake Ohau and an overnight cruise on Milford Sound. Singapore & Grand Tour of New Zealand (22 days) breaks the long flight with a night in Singapore and a city tour, then covers both islands with a helicopter flight at Franz Josef, the TranzAlpine and three cruises, with flights included.
With extras: solo travellers, and Australia
Solo New Zealand with a Cook Islands stay
Solo New Zealand with a Cook Islands Stay – 20 Days
- 20 days
- From £8,499 per person
- Max 27 people
- Starts and ends in Auckland, New Zealand
- Physical rating: low
- Flights included
- Departures in February, March, October, November
Twenty days just for solo travellers, with a room of your own at no extra cost, a dedicated host, return flights from London plus flights to the Cook Islands, and a UK airport lounge. Fourteen nights touring both islands, from the Waitomo glowworms and Rotorua to a winery dinner in Napier, Wellington, the TranzAlpine, Franz Josef, Queenstown and a Milford Sound cruise, then four nights at a beachfront resort on Rarotonga.
Suits: solo travellers who want company on the road and a beach at the end. The honest drawback: groups of up to 27, and scenic flights cost extra.
Grand Tour of New Zealand with Australia (26 days) covers both islands, then adds Melbourne, Puffing Billy, the little penguins of Phillip Island and Sydney with a sunset dinner cruise, with all flights included. Departures are rare, and Australia is limited to the cities.
Short trips and budget options
South Island Express: the budget loop
New Zealand South Island Express: Hostel Adventure – 9 Days
- 9 days
- From £924 per person
- Max 16 people
- Starts and ends in Christchurch, New Zealand
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Year-round departures
Nine days from Christchurch with a local leader and up to 16, staying in multi-share hostel dorms: Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd, two days in Queenstown to bungy, jetboat or hike, Wanaka, two nights at Franz Josef for a glacier walk or optional heli-hike, then the West Coast back to Christchurch.
Suits: younger and budget travellers who’d rather spend the money on a bungy. The honest drawback: dorms and shared bathrooms, and most activities cost extra.
One Week in the North Island for 18–35s (8 days) runs from Wellington via Taihape, the gumboot capital of New Zealand (a title nobody else is contesting), to Rotorua with a Maori village tour and a zorb ride, Mount Maunganui and Auckland, in hostels.
Walk Fiordland National Park
Walk New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park – 4 Days
- 4 days
- From £1,276 per person
- Max 12 people
- Starts and ends in Queenstown, New Zealand
- Physical rating: medium
- Flights not included
- Departures in January, February, March, April, November, December
Four days with a guide and up to 12, based in a hotel in Te Anau: a jet boat across Lake Manapouri to a guided hike on the Kepler Track, the Milford Road with walks among the glacial valleys and waterfalls, and an e-bike ride to finish, with transfers from Queenstown.
Suits: walkers who want Fiordland without a multi-day hut trek. The honest drawback: Fiordland is one of the wettest places on earth, so pack a good jacket and a sense of humour.
Cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail (4 days) follows an old gold-fields railway from Clyde through Central Otago’s tussock hills, with gentle gradients, daily rides of up to 55km, bike hire and luggage transfers. It’s the easiest bike ride you’ll ever brag about.
How to choose
By time. Under ten days: the South Island Express, the North Island trip, Fiordland and the Otago trail, perfect as add-ons. Seventeen to 20 days: Untamed, Discover, Luxury, Explorer and the solo trip. Three weeks or more: Land of the Long White Cloud, the Singapore tour, Ultimate New Zealand and the Grand Tour with Australia.
By budget. The hostel trips are by far the cheapest. Among the grand tours, Untamed, Ultimate and Discover sit lower, and Luxury, the flights-included tours and the solo trip sit higher, though those with flights include the airfare. Live prices are in the table above.
By fitness. Most tours are rated low. Untamed, Discover and the Fiordland walk are rated medium.
By travel style. A coach and tour director on Untamed, Land of the Long White Cloud and the Singapore tour; a private vehicle with a leader on the small-group trips; hostels on the budget trips.
When to go
New Zealand’s seasons are the reverse of ours. The southern summer, December to February, brings long days and the busiest roads; spring (October and November) and autumn (March and April) are milder and quieter, with blossom and lupins in spring and golden poplars in Central Otago in autumn. Most of these tours run from October to April. The months for each tour are in its fact panel above.
Before you travel, check the FCDO travel advice for New Zealand. Most UK visitors need an NZeTA (electronic travel authority) before they fly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best New Zealand tour for first-time visitors?
Land of the Long White Cloud includes flights and covers both islands in 21 days. For a small group, try the New Zealand Explorer or Ultimate New Zealand.
How long do I need for New Zealand?
At least two and a half weeks for both islands. Three weeks or more lets you add the far north and slow down.
Is there a New Zealand tour for solo travellers?
Yes, Solo New Zealand with a Cook Islands Stay gives you a room of your own at no extra cost, with flights included.
Which New Zealand tours include walking?
Discover New Zealand includes the Abel Tasman, Fox Glacier and Hooker Valley walks, with a free day for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The Fiordland walking trip is a short add-on.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
Most UK visitors need an NZeTA before travel rather than a visa. Check the FCDO travel advice for the latest rules.
Are flights included?
Flights are included on Land of the Long White Cloud, the Singapore tour, the solo trip and the Grand Tour with Australia. The others are land-only, and we can arrange flights.
Ready for New Zealand?
Tell us how long you have and how active you want to be, and a Travelisto specialist will compare the New Zealand tours with you.
Keep planning
- All escorted tours in New Zealand
- Escorted tours in Australia
- Solo escorted tours
- New Zealand holidays
Prices are live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). Tour details and dates can change; your specialist will confirm everything before you book.
