A year or so ago, we were looking back through the feedback from our previous guests who had travelled to New Zealand with us, and hit on an idea…………..

What if we could offer some of the best benefits of Independent touring, such as the wonderfully personal, boutique bed & breakfast style accommodations, the ability to get off the beaten track and see the real New Zealand, and the flexibility that self drive offers, but with the additional benefits of group touring?

What if we could offer a small group touring itinerary so our travellers could sit back, relax and enjoy New Zealand without having to worry about navigating around, and could meet and get to know like-minded people but without being on a coach with 40 other people and the limitations that that brings?

So, we thought about it for a little while, and we worked on it for a long while, chatting to our team over in New Zealand, and the hosts of some of our favourite bed & breakfasts that we know so well, and finally, last year we launched our exclusive Small Group Journey programme.

Queenstown - a walk and a celebration!
Queenstown – a walk and a celebration!

Small Group Journeys are unlike other coach tours, for the very reasons we’ve listed above, and we’re super excited that the 2016 programme is getting booked up already!

So what’s so special about a Small Group Journey? Click here to find out!

We run six departures through the year, all named after some of New Zealands best loved fauna, and all offering carefully designed itineraries to ensure that you get to see the absolute best bits of New Zealand:

The Tane Mahuta 21 day tour that takes you on an adventure throughout the North and South Islands, travelling the length and breadth of the country with unforgettable sights along the way. From swimming with dolphins in the very north, to visiting the only mainland nesting sight for the Royal Albatross on the Otago Peninsula, you’ll experience some of New Zealands best wildlife close up.

The Pohutukawa 19 day tour. A slightly shorter journey, that begins in Auckland and travels south through the North and South Islands of New Zealand, taking in some of the most iconic sights and including dinner at one of New Zealands oldest wineries.

The Kowhai 17 day tour that takes you up to the bay Of Islands, and back down through the North Island and on to the South Island, including a memorable day in our favourite of New Zealands national parks, Abel Tasman.

The Rimu 15 day tour. Spend the night under the stars on the Milford Sound overnight cruise and visit the must see places in the North and South Islands.

The Mount Cook Lily 13 day tour is dedicated to the South Island. Spend time in glacier country and visit the pancake rocks at Punakaiki.

Enjoying a helicopter trip up onto the glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park
Enjoying a helicopter trip up onto the glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park
Dinner with new friends at Torrent Bay in the Abel Tasman National Park.
Dinner with new friends at Torrent Bay in the Abel Tasman National Park.

One of the advantages of Small Group Journeys is that they can be added on to a tailor made itinerary. So if you like the idea of joining a tour for the first part of your trip while you find your feet and get over the jet lag, and then explore independently, you could join our Koromiko tour of the North island, and we’ll create a tailor made itinerary for you to tackle the South island. Similarly you can join a Small Group Journey (Mount Cook Lily) in the South Island, and travel under your own steam in the North.

We’d love to hear what you think of our new Small Group Journey programme, so do comment and let us know!