Private Driver Hire
Private Driver Hire
5
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
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About
Private Driver Services,New Zealand wide.We provide Tours and Transfers in quality vehicles just for your own personal group or couples with experienced drivers at affordable prices. You can start and finish a tour in any city in New Zealand, you don't have to finish in the same city you started in. We do tours from Auckland,Rotorua,Wellington,Nelson,Christchurch, Greymouth or Queenstown,or ask if anywhere else you want to start or end in. We also provide daily tours and one way drop offs and pick ups around the Nelson Tasman region,including the Abel Tasman National Park,Golden Bay,Takaka,Te Araroa tramping trail Nelson/Marlborough section. We do Wine Tasting Tours in Nelson and Marlborough,Site Seeing Tours,or Tours to suit your interests and time available. We do Cruise Ship day excursions from Picton,Nelson,Lyttelton,Wellington,Tauranga or Auckland,and we can follow the ship and give you same driver in each port. Transfers between cities in both islands. Check our website out.
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5.0
45 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Wander05696316126
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
Paul Newton was a superb tour guide and reliable driver. He was flexible, thoughtful, and really to tell you the truth he saved our trip! Our ferry to New Zealand was cancelled and he caught it and texted us in time to make alternative plans. He even recommended an airlines and flight. Next thing we were there and he was right where he said he'd be. A great conversationalist and steady hand at the wheel, I wish we'd booked him for more of our trip on the south island. Highly recommend.
Written 3 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for taking the time to give us a review, we try our best to be onto it, so our clients have the best possible experience when in our care. It was a pleasure to have you on board and show you some gems around the top of the south island.
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brydon
Hamilton, New Zealand4 contributions
Nov 2022
We booked with Private Driver Hire for transfers between Nelson and both ends of the Abel Tasman Track. Leading up to the trip, Paul was very accommodating and communicative with our group. He picked us up promptly from the airport.
A number of our group experienced motion sickness on our drive from Nelson to the start of the track. When we mentioned this to Paul before starting our return journey and asked if he could take this into account when driving back to Nelson, he immediately became rude and dismissive. He said he'd never being asked to adjust his driving and didn't want to take any heed of our feedback.
We feared for our safety on the return trip. Paul sped, crossed the centre line multiple times (when there was no reason to do so) and gave us a very tense and uncomfortable trip. Upon arrival back in Nelson, Paul roughly handled all our bags, dumping them outside the van. This experience led to a very sour end to our Great Walk experience.
We would definitely not recommend use of Paul or this company. We will not be booking with them again.
A number of our group experienced motion sickness on our drive from Nelson to the start of the track. When we mentioned this to Paul before starting our return journey and asked if he could take this into account when driving back to Nelson, he immediately became rude and dismissive. He said he'd never being asked to adjust his driving and didn't want to take any heed of our feedback.
We feared for our safety on the return trip. Paul sped, crossed the centre line multiple times (when there was no reason to do so) and gave us a very tense and uncomfortable trip. Upon arrival back in Nelson, Paul roughly handled all our bags, dumping them outside the van. This experience led to a very sour end to our Great Walk experience.
We would definitely not recommend use of Paul or this company. We will not be booking with them again.
Written 18 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Over 7 months since our last trip to Abel Tasman yet he takes this long to decide to place a damning review?,i can recall a group of young travellers late teens early twentys one of which complained of feeling car sick.The Takaka hill is winding both ways,the centre line may be crossed on occasions as you drive it but only if safe to do so. A pretentious young man we wouldnt want to transport again was part of the group,his fellow travellers seemed content.Our vans are luxury mercedes sprinters with comfortable reclining leather seats,he is the first to complain in 8 years of business!
Most clients tour with us/me for weeks at a time around the entire country not just a 2.5 hour trip and the reviews speak for themselves.
Written 21 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Panya
5 contributions
Apr 2023
We had a wonderful,memorable and worthwhile in New Zealand as we travelled with Private Driver Hire. Full of thanks to Private Driver Hire. First,thanks Paul for giving us important informations we must have to make our plan the best as we spend time in NZ. Paul keeps in touch with us since first time requesting for information,on our arrival,till the end of our trip. Second, thanks to the drivers from in Auckland and South Island. Also the cars were wide space,good and convenient . Special thanks to Wayne Wardell,our driver in South Island.We recieved a warm welcome from him,a friendly and nice care taking driver,since first met. Wayne did not just driving,he took care of us throgh out the trip,giving us informations ,spent time playing with my kids,take care of my parents,and all sort of thing who could to make our trip memmorable. He did a marvellous job for us. He made our trip fantastic through his service,my parents and my kids just love him like member of our family group.We recommend Private Driver Hire to those who are lookking for the best car and driver service in New Zealand. The best of best,both drivers,service and manager.
Panya Buabuppha and family,Thailand
Panya Buabuppha and family,Thailand
Written 24 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for giving us a review,all our drivers are New Zealanders who are passionate about showing our clients the best spots around the country and ensuring your dream trip to NZ is the best experience.It was a pleasure to have your family tour with us.
Written 24 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John S
West Fargo, ND3 contributions
Feb 2023
We had a great travel experience in the South Island of New Zealand with Private Driver Hire. Prior to arriving on the South Island, Paul was responsive to our emails and provided a detailed itinerary with options that we customized with him in advance or our arrival. During the trip, he was an outstanding source of information about NZ and it's history, culture and sights. We visited Nelson, Abel Tasman, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Lake Tekapo and Christchurch. Paul was punctual, professional and friendly throughout the trip, and this vacation was a smooth and memorable one for us. We recommend Private Driver Hire to anyone looking for a private tour of New Zealand.
Written 7 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for giving us a review,it was a pleasure to show you some of the best scenic nature spots in the south island in the short time you had available here.Im glad our restaurant recomendations were on point,and glad you enjoyed the experience with us.Looking forward to experiencing some of your recommendations myself when touring your country in July.
Written 11 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Freedom783802
1 contribution
Dec 2022
We toured the South Island for 22 days. Beautiful scenery at every turn in the road! There were great activities for our young adult children, who took advantage of suggestions from the drivers Paul and Wayne. We can’t wait to return to the North Island! Thanks!!
Written 19 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for taking the time to give us a review, we really enjoyed showing you our best south island spots during your tour with us, and hope one day to show you the north island.
It was nice to have some americans back on board with us.All the best for 2023.
Written 22 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lex7430
Auburn, AL1 contribution
Nov 2022
Private Driver Hire is the way to go! After flying to NZ from USA we were exhausted and hesitant to learn to drive on the 'other side' of the road. But Paul was amazing. He helped us even change our tour around a bit to see some better sights in less time. This is the importance of hiring a local. They know the drive times, best views and attractions. Seriously wished we would have booked with them for longer. I would have napped more! But my husband really enjoyed talking with Paul while I snoozed. Big hugs to Paul and Family. Call us when you come to America!!
Written 14 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for taking the time to put on a review of us.I totally enjoyed showing you guys a bit of the north island,and would have loved to do the south for you,but hope you enjoyed yourselves.
Sweet home Alabama.merry xmas.
Written 20 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
stngrj
Singapore, Singapore3 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
We had a lovely experience in New Zealand with Private Driver Hire. Before the trip, Paul was responsive to our emails and provided a detailed itinerary to suit our travel schedule (we're from Singapore and went in early Dec!) During the trip, he shared lots of interesting things and was pretty accommodating to our preferences. We covered Christchurch, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown and Tekapo. Our favourite experience was at Milford Sound, and again Paul gave us more than enough info on what to expect prior to it. He was professional and friendly throughout the trip, and this vacation was a smooth and memorable one for us. Would highly recommend Private Driver Hire!
Written 12 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for taking the time to review us,it was a pleasure to share some of the best scenic nature spots around the south island with you on this 9 day trip,and hope you remember it forever!
merry xmas guys and the best for the coming year.
Written 20 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sally Quinlivan
Nelson, New Zealand36 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
After researching wine tasting tours around Nelson we contacted Paul and arranged our trip with him .
Even though it was just after the Nelson flooding he was confident our day could still go ahead and he had put a lot of thought into our trip . He recommended Forsters for our lunch which was fantastic and we were able to sample wine from four different vineyards .
Thank you Paul for going over and above . Our group of eight had the best day .
Highly recommended .
Even though it was just after the Nelson flooding he was confident our day could still go ahead and he had put a lot of thought into our trip . He recommended Forsters for our lunch which was fantastic and we were able to sample wine from four different vineyards .
Thank you Paul for going over and above . Our group of eight had the best day .
Highly recommended .
Written 27 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your time giving us a review,it was great to show you all around the Nelson wineries on a more typical sunny day!
Written 28 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jay T
Brisbane, Australia1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Family
Paul was easy going and accommodative & an excellent driver. You ought to be an excellent driver to steer those never ending winding curvy roads. He was keen to show off his beautiful country to us & that's what every tourist wants. He was courteous & he made sure we had an enjoyable experience right through. We can recommend him to anyone who is looking for a private hire car with a driver.
Thanks Paul :)
Saroja, Jaya and Prasadi
Thanks Paul :)
Saroja, Jaya and Prasadi
Written 23 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to give us a review,it was a pleasure to show you a few of our favourite spots.
Written 23 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charles
8 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
New Zealand is finally open to tourists again after 2 years of pandemic! After checking out a number of group tour, private tour, free and easy options with different companies, we decided to go with Private Driver Hire.
When we checked out with them, within a day, they came back to us with a quote and answered all our questions. They are extremely patient to reply all our questions. We found the quote to be reasonable and we went with them. After we paid the deposit, they came back with the itinerary for a 11 days 10 nights tour across South Island. They tried to put in everything for us, including Dunedin and Central Otago etc but because we wanted the tour to be more relaxing, we requested to take it out. So we covered Hortilika, Franz Josef Glacier (with helicopter ride), Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mount Cook and Tekapo.
We are from Singapore and it was truly a memorable journey as it was our first time to New Zealand. We took so many beautiful pictures that we would keep for a lifetime.
Our driver was prompt, always punctual, reliable and responsive. There wasn't a moment that we needed him that he wasn't there.
We saw the best of South Island with private driver hire! With lots of yummy food recommendation and nice scenic spots perfect for photos!
For anyone looking to have a customised tour in New Zealand, do check out them out. Highly recommended!
When we checked out with them, within a day, they came back to us with a quote and answered all our questions. They are extremely patient to reply all our questions. We found the quote to be reasonable and we went with them. After we paid the deposit, they came back with the itinerary for a 11 days 10 nights tour across South Island. They tried to put in everything for us, including Dunedin and Central Otago etc but because we wanted the tour to be more relaxing, we requested to take it out. So we covered Hortilika, Franz Josef Glacier (with helicopter ride), Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mount Cook and Tekapo.
We are from Singapore and it was truly a memorable journey as it was our first time to New Zealand. We took so many beautiful pictures that we would keep for a lifetime.
Our driver was prompt, always punctual, reliable and responsive. There wasn't a moment that we needed him that he wasn't there.
We saw the best of South Island with private driver hire! With lots of yummy food recommendation and nice scenic spots perfect for photos!
For anyone looking to have a customised tour in New Zealand, do check out them out. Highly recommended!
Written 11 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the review it was a pleasure to show you guys around the best scenic spots in the south island in the time you had available.FINALLY TOURING NEW ZEALAND AGAIN and having absolute enjoyment in showing people how much we love our countries best scenic spots,and sharing them with our clients.
Hope to see you again sometime perhaps to see the north island one day.
Written 14 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
barbhavOttawa_Canada
Ottawa, Canada45 contributions
I’m interested in doing a wine tour in Nelson probably 3 or 4 wineries (open to suggestion). Can you give me an approximate cost for a half day?
Paul N
Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand1 contribution
$300 nzd /Couple for Nelson and $400 nzd/couple for Marlborough.