Plan the Adventure of a Lifetime…
Our Small Group Journeys are unique to Silver Fern Holidays. They combine must-see sights with off-the-beaten-track experiences and friendly places to stay.
Each of our Pure Discoveries tour itineraries includes amazing sights that you’ll remember forever, balanced with opportunities to enjoy New Zealand in your own way. So whether you want to take lakeside walks or taste a new pinot noir, Silver Fern Holidays helps you get the most out of each day.
And our experienced driver-guides want to share their New Zealand with you: their favourite beach, the best view, their local café… maybe even introduce you to their mates! This means no two escorted tours with Silver Fern Holidays are the same.
Featured in
Kauri
Auckland > Christchurch
23 Day North & South Island Tour
Our ultimate 23-day tour from the Bay of Islands to the Southern Alps in a comfortable vehicle driven by a superb guide.
Pohutukawa
Auckland > Christchurch
20 Day North & South Island Tour
This Small Group Journey takes you through some of our favourite places and spaces in the North and South Islands, discovering fantastic coastlines and immersing you in Maori Culture and history.
Kowhai
Auckland > Queenstown
19 Day North & South Island Tour
Explore the wide sandy beaches of the Coromandel coastline; dip your toes in the azure blue waters of Abel Tasman National Park after a guided hike through the sub-tropical bush and journey deep into Fiordland National park on the Milford Mariner Nature Cruise – one of our all-time ‘must do’ experiences on a trip to the South Island.
Rimu
Auckland > Queenstown
16 Day North & South Island Tour
Join us for this Small Group Journey to explore the highlights of the North and South Islands. Unleash your adventurous spirit in the adrenaline capital of Queenstown, and make the most of the abundance of walking opportunities the country has to offer as you travel through New Zealand’s fabulous landscapes.
Mount Cook Lily
Wellington > Queenstown
14 Day South Island Tour
This tour squeezes more jaw-dropping scenery into 14 days than any other! If you’re the thrill seeking type, South Island has an unparalleled variety of landscapes – from the majestic Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, to the stunning views over Dunedin harbour and beyond from the Otago Peninsula.
Koromiko
Auckland > Wellington
11 Day North Island Tour
This tour takes in the stunning sights of North Island on a journey past ancient Kauri Trees to the sparkling pacific waters of the Bay of Islands. Further south you’ll visit the Art Deco town of Napier and enjoy the wonderful wines of the Hawkes Bay region before arriving in Wellington, ‘The coolest little capital in the world’.
Why book with Silver Fern Holidays?
- Flights co-ordinated with your Tour Dates
- New Zealand small group tours devised by us, just for you
- No more than 16 like-minded people per group
- See, touch, taste the real New Zealand
- Must-see & off-the-beaten-track sights in one trip
- Great value with choice of included experiences
- Special places to stay from B&Bs to city hotels
- Great driver-guides & local experts
- Every departure date guaranteed to run
Call us on +44 (0) 1636 813 544
Flights Included as Part of Your Small Group Tour
As an ATOL bonded tour operator, we can book flights on your behalf with any of the major airlines flying out of the UK… something many New Zealand tour operators don’t offer.
If you would like to book your flights through us, just let us know which route you would like to fly and in which class – Business, Premium Economy or Economy – and we’ll provide you with a quote as part of your small group holiday.
In most cases, you will not have to pay for your flights until your balance is due.
Stopovers in the Best Locations
Jetlag can definitely dampen the enjoyment of the first few days of your holiday, so we recommend adding a stopover on the way to New Zealand, even if you decided to fly straight home at the end of your trip.
The most popular destinations are the key hubs of Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
We can book excellent hotels in these locations and recommend tried and tested sightseeing activities, too.
Pre-Tour and Post Tour Arrangements
If you’d like to spend some time in New Zealand before your tour starts, we are able to arrange accommodation in your tour hotel to save you changing rooms. We can also organise your transfer from the airport.
Auckland: M.Social £295 per room per night incl breakfast and Private Airport Transfer.
Wellington: Double Tree by Hilton £295 per room per night incl breakfast and Private Airport Transfer.
Similarly, at the end of your holiday, extra nights can be added to your tour itinerary. More extensive arrangements are also possible, just get in touch to discuss your requirements.
Queenstown: Scenic Suites Queenstown £295 per room per night incl breakfast and Private Airport Transfer
Christchurch: Distinction Hotel, Christchurch £295 per room per night incl breakfast and Private Airport Transfer
The Buck Stops With Us!
All our small group trips are operated by us through our Hamilton Office under our brand, Pure Discoveries.
No third parties are involved which means if you have a problem, an issue to sort out or a question, we’re always on hand to provide the answer.
Small Group Means Small Group
The maximum number of travellers we take on a small group tour is sixteen, but in practice the average Pure Discoveries group size is eight to ten participants.
Comfortable Travel Close Up
Our coaches are very comfortable and well maintained with great legroom, headroom and panoramic windows so you can really take in the beauty of New Zealand.
On a small group tour, you’ll experience a wonderful mix of incredible scenery including golden sandy beaches, sparkling clear rivers and lakes, ice age glaciers, thermal hot springs, majestic fiords and ancient forests.
We think New Zealand should be experienced up close, so we always encourage you to get out of your seat and into the landscape to explore at every opportunity – with a local guide on hand to tell you all about it, too!
Good Company
In a small group, it’s easy to find common ground with fellow travellers and enjoy a variety of dinner table conversations.
We dispense with “coach tour” admin, like asking you to wear a name badge, we think good manners and good humour are more important than strict timekeeping.
Discovering New Zealand in this way offers potential for serendipitous surprises and a lot of fun.
Great Leaders, Expert Guides
New Zealanders are rightly proud of their country and aware that visitors have travelled a long way.
Kiwi’s are passionate about showing visitors the best of New Zealand. So not only are our hand-picked tour leaders safe drivers in all conditions, but they are also happy personalities, full of knowledge and enthusiasm, insights and practical advice.
At certain points on the tour, we meet up with a local guide to add his or her expertise to enhance your experience. These include Kiwis who are wildlife, eco, geothermal or Maori specialists with whom you can engage on a personal level and really engage with what New Zealand has to offer.
Flexible Schedules
With a small group, we can be more flexible with each day’s timetable, creating opportunities for surprise encounters and time for stops en route.
So, if someone spots a Takahe, we can stop for a photo and if it’s 90 degrees in the shade we can cool down at the beach before we hit the road again. It’s all about that New Zealand life, in every way!
Combine Independent Travel with a Small Group Tour
Since we operate both independent tailored holidays and escorted group holidays, you can combine these to create your own unique tour of New Zealand and experience the best of both worlds.
Begin on North Island by joining our Koromiko Tour and arrive in Wellington to commence your own trip, or vice versa. Travel independently through North Island and then join our Mount Cook Lily tour of the South Island. Whatever works best for you.
Your Choice
Our tours include a choice of experiences in four key locations: the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Abel Tasman National Park and Wanaka.
For example, if you are a Lord of the Rings fan and want to experience all things Middle Earth, you can visit Hobbiton from Rotorua while your partner marvels at the geothermal sights of Waimangu Thermal Valley – all these are included in the tour price.
In other locations, you’ll also have free time to enjoy optional experiences at your own cost, or just take the time to chill out and relax.
The choice is always yours.
You’re Sure of a Warm Welcome
Our smaller groups means we are not confined to staying at large mass-market hotels and we’re able to include a wonderful mix of accommodation.
Sometimes we choose a large city hotel because of its central location, but wherever possible, we opt for tried and tested smaller family-run properties with their own character so that you can enjoy some real Kiwi hospitality.
Guaranteed Departures
All our small group tour dates are guaranteed departures. So, whether we have half a dozen travellers or a full complement of passengers, you can rest assured you can make your international travel plans accordingly, without concerns as to whether your holiday will go ahead or not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Group Journeys
Touring Questions
- Your tour includes all your New Zealand land travel, plus the care and attention of your driver guide. If other transportation is mentioned in the itinerary (such as a ferry crossing or train journey) this is included in the price of your tour
- Breakfast is included every morning, as are any special meals mentioned in the daily itinerary.
- All activities and entrance fees for everything explicitly outlined in the itinerary are covered.
- International air fares are not included.
We understand that you want to take in as much as possible during your journey, so we make frequent stops when traveling between destinations. As a general guideline, we aim to stop at least every 2 hours for opportunities to take photos, use restrooms, and address urgent needs like grabbing a coffee. Our goal is to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience while exploring New Zealand’s stunning landscapes.
It does vary. We like to get you out of the coach as much as possible – so even on the longer drives there will be frequent stops. An average daily drive would be 4 hours. There are longer drives, closer to five hours from Napier to Wellington, from Fox Glacier to Wanaka and from Mount Cook to Christchurch.
New Zealand airport transfers are included on all our Tours. If however, passengers have made their own pre/post tour arrangements outside of the itinerary then airport transfers are not included.
During our tours, each hotel we stay in offers complimentary Wi-Fi, although in one hotel, Wi-Fi is not available in the bedrooms. In remote areas like the West Coast of the South Island, internet connections and download speeds may be intermittent. If you have any crucial online tasks to attend to during your stay, please inform your driver guide beforehand, and they will assist you in getting connected.
All our tours have breakfast included every morning. Please note if your tour includes an overnight stay in Whitianga, breakfast is included at a local café – not the accommodation property.
Additionally, special meals at specific locations are included throughout the tour, as clearly indicated on the daily itinerary. In instances where a meal is not included, your knowledgeable driver guide will be able to offer recommendations for the finest cafes or restaurants in the area.
Alcoholic beverages are not included in your tour meals; all drinks are at your own cost. The exception to this is the meal at Mission Estate, Napier which includes a glass of wine with your dinner.
If you are joining a tour that visits Marlborough, you will have a wine tasting included at one of the region’s premier wineries.
Many of our tours offer several Your Choice options; exciting choices included in your tour (NO extra cost) that you can choose between. Once you have a confirmed booking in place we will provide selection details for the Your Choice options available for your specific tour, you simply need to choose between the options! Please note that when taking part in one of our Your Choice activities, you will be joining a shared public tour that is operated by one of our trusted supplier partners.
Our tours cater to a range of activity levels to accommodate various preferences and fitness levels. Whether you’re seeking an adventure or more leisurely exploration, there are options available to suit your needs. Whenever possible we encourage guests to join activities at a level appropriate to their preference and abilities. Additionally, our knowledgeable driver guides are always on hand to offer recommendations and assistance, ensuring that everyone can fully enjoy their New Zealand experience.
To enable our guests to see as much of New Zealand as possible, we do have some early starts and busy days of travel.
Not necessarily. Some of our tours are modular and form part of an extended itinerary. This means guests may join or leave the tour at different points. While you’ll share parts of the journey with fellow travellers, their overall itinerary may begin earlier or continue beyond your travel dates. This flexible design allows for a more personalised travel experience with a wider range of tour durations for guests to choose from
We use small, agile motor coaches, granting us the flexibility to explore locations typically inaccessible to larger touring vehicles. Our purpose-built small coaches prioritise safety and comfort, boasting features such as reclining seats equipped with seat belts, adjustable footrests, USB charging ports, and movable armrests. With well-spaced seating arrangements, passengers enjoy ample legroom, while individual adjustable air-conditioning vents ensure personalised comfort throughout the journey.
Throughout your tour, our knowledgeable driver/host provides insightful local commentaries delivered clearly over the PA System, complemented by our proprietary GPS commentary system. As you traverse local highways and byways, our large tinted panoramic windows offer unparalleled viewing opportunities, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the scenic beauty of each destination.
We understand your desire to enjoy the scenic views of the beautiful New Zealand countryside from various seating positions. Hence, we implement a seat rotation policy on our tours to ensure everyone can experience different perspectives. While we cannot guarantee seats near the front, we ensure fairness by rotating positions among all passengers. Please remember you are travelling as part of a small group and will not be travelling in a large vehicle.
Recognising the significance of a rejuvenating sleep following a day of exploring New Zealand, we have meticulously selected all our accommodations. We opt for four-star properties, ensuring access to expected amenities and private ensuite bathrooms. Please refer to the accommodation tab on your selected tour.
Many of our accommodations are equipped with self-service coin operated laundries. Getting your laundry done while on tour is hassle-free, particularly at locations where we generally spend multiple nights, such as Rotorua, Nelson, Queenstown and Christchurch. You will be required to purchase your own detergent, and most facilities make a small charge for use of the washing machines and dryers. Dry cleaning services are also offered at several properties.
Absolutely no problem. The key is to inform us in advance, and we can assist with virtually anything. If you have any inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We will be in touch with you before your departure to ensure you have a full and detailed touring itinerary which will include the logistics around the start of your tour.
We strive to balance your tour days with thrilling activities and sightseeing. However, on select days of certain tours, there may be opportunities for optional activities (at an additional cost). We can provide a list of suggested activities for your consideration. Please feel free to inquire with us or your travel agent for more details.
Absolutely! We understand that everyone has unique preferences. Some may appreciate a little more solo time, while others enjoy the camaraderie of the group as much as possible. That’s why we incorporate free time into our trips, allowing you to tailor your experience according to your preferences as much as possible.
Most evenings are intentionally left free for this very reason. It’s common to see some people wander off on their own adventures while others gather for dinner or other activities together.
We’ll email you an itinerary and any vouchers required approximately 30 days before your trip. You will also receive a physical copy of your travel documents once you meet your driver guide. If there’s anything extra or special you need at any time, just let us know and we’d be happy to help.
Understanding our tour groups
We’ll email you an itinerary and any vouchers required approximately 30 days before your trip. You will also receive a physical copy of your travel documents once you meet your driver guide. If there’s anything extra or special you need at any time, just let us know and we’d be happy to help.
Our tours are designed to be enjoyable for individuals in good health with an average level of fitness. Some days involve a fair amount of walking and there are generally opportunities to do more if you want to. Often the level of activity is up to you with options to adjust your participation to suit your preferences, whether you prefer a more relaxed pace or are eager for more adventure.
Our tours in the past have attracted participants spanning from 35 to 85 years old, with the majority typically in their 60s. However, we prioritise attitude over age! We firmly believe that a positive mindset and an adventurous spirit are paramount on our journeys.
While we welcome individuals of all ages who share our outlook, we do not actively promote bookings from those under 30 years old. Additionally, we have an age policy where children under the age of 18 are not permitted to join our tours.
That’s the beauty of travelling with Pure Discoveries® – you are participating on a small group tour with like-minded individuals, so you are not on your own! Our tours consistently attract a mix of single travellers, couples, and friends, so travelling alone is perfectly comfortable. One of the highlights of our tours is the opportunity to meet fascinating individuals from different parts of the world. Take the leap and join us – it will likely become one of the most rewarding experiences you’ve ever had.
Small Group Tours by New Zealand Experts
Choosing a small group tour means you don’t have to worry about organising travel at all. With every one of our small group tours, we’ll arrange all of your transportation. We can even organise your initial flights to New Zealand! If you’d like to find out more about any of our tour packages, please do get in touch.