4WD Tours
3–4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 95% of travellers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$334
per adult
Nomad Safaris
Nomad Safaris
4.5
4WD, ATV & Off-Road ToursSafarisTaxis & ShuttlesWalking ToursDay Trips
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Nomad Safaris offers guided 4WD and Quad Bike tours around the Queenstown Lakes area. Half or full day and charter options are available. We offer very popular tours to Lord of The Rings filming locations where you can experience the phenomenon that is LOTR. We also run tours to Skippers Canyon or Macetown where you visit old goldmining ghost towns and hear about the unique history of pioneer New Zealand and have a go at goldpanning for yourself.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Nomad Safaris
4WD Tours
4–5 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$293
per adult
4WD Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 91% of travellers
91% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$277
per adult
4WD Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$293
per adult
Day Trips
5 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$252
per adult
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
1,806 reviews
Excellent
1,502
Very good
183
Average
48
Poor
37
Terrible
36
kec
Southlake, TX10 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
My adult sons and I had a day tour with our guide Graham from Nomad Tours.
It started in the morning with him picking us up in a Tesla from our hotel to take us to jet boating on the Dart River. He he picked us up from the jet boat tour and then took us through some wonderful woods where a variety of the Lord of the rings scenes were filmed.
We had a spot of tea in the forest and then proceeded on with the tour. Graham then dropped us off for a fabulous lunch and came back and pick us in a Toyota Land Rover to begin an afternoon off roading at a variety of sites throughout Queenstown area including Skippers Canyon and Arrowtown.
We have been fortunate to travel to some wonderful places and experience some fabulous guided tours...but this one topped them all.
The tour was first-rate and our guide was the best we’ve ever had. We strongly recommend Nomad Safaris and you would be wise to ask for Graham as your guide. He was extraordinary.
It started in the morning with him picking us up in a Tesla from our hotel to take us to jet boating on the Dart River. He he picked us up from the jet boat tour and then took us through some wonderful woods where a variety of the Lord of the rings scenes were filmed.
We had a spot of tea in the forest and then proceeded on with the tour. Graham then dropped us off for a fabulous lunch and came back and pick us in a Toyota Land Rover to begin an afternoon off roading at a variety of sites throughout Queenstown area including Skippers Canyon and Arrowtown.
We have been fortunate to travel to some wonderful places and experience some fabulous guided tours...but this one topped them all.
The tour was first-rate and our guide was the best we’ve ever had. We strongly recommend Nomad Safaris and you would be wise to ask for Graham as your guide. He was extraordinary.
Written 2 January 2020
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.
LLulu16
Hong Kong, China30 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Our trip to Milford was cancelled due to bad weather and we had picked up a brochure from Nomad Safari’s the night before. So glad we did, called Connor who confirmed their 4x4 trips were good for rainy days so we booked their 4WD Experience - ‘take the wheel and have a go yourself’.
Our guide for the afternoon was Graeme, he was fantastic. Graeme was very knowledgable and experienced and was super calm and reassuring throughout.
We spent 4 hours driving a lovely old style Land Rover Defenders, they don’t make them like that anymore. First you get to practice on a small course to get confident with the car before being let loose on the more challenging routes. Some great off-road tracks through fantastic scenery, driving up and down mountain sides, through rivers and generally seeing what these lovely cars were made and built for. We really enjoyed the day, it was such a highlight. We were lucky to have Graeme as a guide, he was a star, as was that old Defender! Would highly recommend, thanks for a fantastic experience.
Written 3 February 2020
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.
Kia Ora Lulu,
Thank you so much for leaving a review, we really appreciate it.
We are sorry you experienced the awful weather and it affected your trip. However, off-roading is always better in the rain and we are glad Graeme was able to show you the ropes of 4WD.
Written 10 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
theguysinsf
San Francisco, CA8 contributions
Jan 2020
We booked the half day afternoon Rings tour. We didn't know what to expect because one of us vaguely remembered the movies and the other knew nothing about them. Happily, this turned out to be one of the most pleasurable tours we have taken anywhere in the world. We can honestly say the reason for this was our guide/driver, Jenny. She was encyclopedic with her knowledge of the movies, the flora and fauna, Queenstown, geography, New Zealand, animals,and anything else that came up in conversation. She was totally professional and has a contagious enthusiasm. She is also an excellent driver who can navigate winding mountain roads in heavy winds, watery streams, and extremely bumpy off-road terrain and make her passengers feel secure.
Even though Jenny was super special, the tour itself is delightful. It took us out of Queenstown and into forests, river beds, farmland, and close to the majestic mountains in the area. We enjoyed the tour just as much as our 3 British fellow passengers, who were Rings fanatics. Definitely a highlight not just of our current holiday in New Zealand, but of our travels over many, many years.
Even though Jenny was super special, the tour itself is delightful. It took us out of Queenstown and into forests, river beds, farmland, and close to the majestic mountains in the area. We enjoyed the tour just as much as our 3 British fellow passengers, who were Rings fanatics. Definitely a highlight not just of our current holiday in New Zealand, but of our travels over many, many years.
Written 13 January 2020
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.
WOW what a great review! This is certainly one to read out at the next staff meeting, thanks so much for taking the time to write this! Jenny certainly does have a contagious enthusiasm, and an incredible local knowledge. SO glad to hear you had an amazing afternoon, and we are delighted to hear it was a highlight of your trip!
Written 28 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wander627489
Arlington, VA3 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
This was really a charming trip. Our guide, a former film editor from Brazil, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She not only showed a dozen beautiful places, she was able to explain which parts of the scenery had been used in the Lord of the Rings films and to explain how film techniques like forced perspective had been applied. We would never have found these places on our own, and if we had we wouldn't have known what we were looking at. The scenery in the Queenstown area is amazing, and it was really helpful to have someone to show us around the less traveled parts of the countryside.
Written 15 March 2020
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.
Kia Ora,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, we really appreciate it. Bruna is a fantastic guide and loves Lord of the Rings. The scenery around Queenstown is stunning and we are so glad you got to experience our little slice of paradise. We hope to see back in these parts soon!
Written 16 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Melissa
1 contribution
Apr 2021
Our work group of 13 had a fantastic time on our Nomad/Shotover Combo Tour - somewhat bespoke, due to our own time restrictions but Emily from Nomads was fantastic at working out what would fit best for our group and time restraints.
We were collected from our hotel by Peter, Renato and Rob who took us to the Shotover Jet. While the weather was less than ideal, we didn't let the rain dampen our spirits and still had an absolutely blast - the laughter heard over the roar of the jet's engine can attest to that. While the rain though the glasses we were given to wear fogged up pretty quickly, and we were in agreement it'd be worth doing again on a nice day, to actually see more of the journey, not seeing exactly what was coming made that experience that bit more exhilarating! After the jetboat ride the lads piled us back into the trucks and we headed off to the Skippers Canyon, where we went in about 4kms and back out again. What a trip! While the sheer drop is disconcerting, it was clear the drivers knew what they were doing and we were in good hands. They had lots of great information to share, and kept us entertained (a great distraction from what lay below!) From Skippers we took the backroad into Arrowtown, where we then headed through/across the Arrow River for lots of river crossings and some good 4WD fun. Be prepared to bounce off your seat - and ladies, wear a sports bra! Our drivers then dropped us off at our lunch location and there ended our tour. A wicked experience and enjoyed by all. Thanks Nomad!
We were collected from our hotel by Peter, Renato and Rob who took us to the Shotover Jet. While the weather was less than ideal, we didn't let the rain dampen our spirits and still had an absolutely blast - the laughter heard over the roar of the jet's engine can attest to that. While the rain though the glasses we were given to wear fogged up pretty quickly, and we were in agreement it'd be worth doing again on a nice day, to actually see more of the journey, not seeing exactly what was coming made that experience that bit more exhilarating! After the jetboat ride the lads piled us back into the trucks and we headed off to the Skippers Canyon, where we went in about 4kms and back out again. What a trip! While the sheer drop is disconcerting, it was clear the drivers knew what they were doing and we were in good hands. They had lots of great information to share, and kept us entertained (a great distraction from what lay below!) From Skippers we took the backroad into Arrowtown, where we then headed through/across the Arrow River for lots of river crossings and some good 4WD fun. Be prepared to bounce off your seat - and ladies, wear a sports bra! Our drivers then dropped us off at our lunch location and there ended our tour. A wicked experience and enjoyed by all. Thanks Nomad!
Written 11 April 2021
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.
Hello There
Thanks so much for taking the time to write us this awesome review! So glad that your experience with us was epic from booking right until the drop off!
Written 9 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BierRunner
Columbus, OH21 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Top notch! Perfect for the super LOTR fan, with plenty of stories about the movies and there creations to go along with the places they were filmed. Even if you are not a fan, the views of the lake and mountains are stunning. Our guide, Graham, was especially knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining. Highly recommend.
Written 4 January 2020
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 the recommendation, and taking the time to leave such a great review!
Written 19 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
richardhart2016
Auckland Central, New Zealand5 contributions
Jul 2020
The team at Nomad were just some of the best Kiwis ( and overseas staff) we ran into in our family Southern lakes trip recently .Having pulled out of a treacherous Skippers Canyon self guided DIY tour to disaster ( not recommended ) we approached the team at Nomads and they immediately came up with an improvised plan for our family of four semi adventurous thrill seekers which was off the charts . Well run , friendly and really accommodating i cant recommend them highly enough .
Richard
Richard
Written 21 July 2020
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.
Hi Richard! Thank you for your review! Glad we could help coming up with a trip that you all enjoyed!
Written 9 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kaitlin
1 contribution
Oct 2020 • Friends
We had the best time on our tour. We were taken to some hot spots around Queenstown with amazing views of the city and then onto skippers canon and some 4WD off reading. Our tour guide, Marcelo, was amazing. He had so much knowledge of the area and kept us entertained the entire time (even in the rain) it was an awesome day.. Couldn’t recommend this company more, they were incredible!
Written 22 October 2020
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 so much for your lovely review!
We are so glad you had a great time despite the rain, Marcelo really is a fantastic guide!
We hope you will join us on tour again in the future!
Written 22 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
leron2506
Singapore, Singapore6 contributions
Sept 2022 • Friends
Quad biking. First time trying and it was awesome! They had pick up from our hotel or nearby, then drove us to the base camp on Queenstown hill. Went through safety tips with us, and got us geared up and did the training. Training was done clearly and they made sure all was good before we went up the hill. Guide was Jay and Brendon who were patient and friendly. Every part of the quad bike I felt like we in safe hands.
Went on the trip with relatives and the older ones did not want to do the experience on their own so Brendon took them on the same ride but in a buggy. It was equally fun and they do not need to do the driving on their own.
We were fast in reaching the top, the view was awesome! The guide even provided refreshment such as hot choc, coffee or tea (with milk if you choose!) with some biscuits and bread.
We were early making our way down. We could have just ended the ride then, but seeing we were faster, the guides offered to drive us and let us experience their more advanced and more technical track. So we went on the buggy and I was lucky enough to be the pillian on the guide’s quad bike. Exhilarating!
We then slowly made our way downhill back to base camp. And they transported us back to our pick up point. The whole tour was about 3.5-4
Went on the trip with relatives and the older ones did not want to do the experience on their own so Brendon took them on the same ride but in a buggy. It was equally fun and they do not need to do the driving on their own.
We were fast in reaching the top, the view was awesome! The guide even provided refreshment such as hot choc, coffee or tea (with milk if you choose!) with some biscuits and bread.
We were early making our way down. We could have just ended the ride then, but seeing we were faster, the guides offered to drive us and let us experience their more advanced and more technical track. So we went on the buggy and I was lucky enough to be the pillian on the guide’s quad bike. Exhilarating!
We then slowly made our way downhill back to base camp. And they transported us back to our pick up point. The whole tour was about 3.5-4
Written 8 September 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 encouraging and really helpful review for our older customers - no one is ever too old to have fun in Queenstown!
Yes the buggy is a great option for those with slightly less confidence or even our young clients not old enough for the quads.
Jay and Brendon will no doubt enjoy reading your comments
Written 20 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark W
Russell, New Zealand24 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
Rob met us at Arrowtown as we were staying in Wanaka and took us directly up the Arrow River engaging 4WD about 30 seconds after picking us up. After bouncing through the first of many river crossings and checking we were happy with the ride we continued farther up river to the old abandoned gold mining town of Macetown. Learning and witnessing the massive effort and landscape alteration the pioneers managed was an amazing experience and, if you enjoy a very bouncy 4x4 ride like us, a must do for anyone interested in NZ's early European history. Rob was a great host and really knew the area, the 'road' and the history.
Written 19 April 2021
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.
Hello!
Thanks so much for this fantastic review of your trip with Rob! We are so glad to hear you had a blast and we do hope to see you here again in Queenstown soon!
Written 9 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello, I'm keen on the Glenorchy LOTR trip but my hubby and I are bringing along my 18month and 3 year old boys. Is that possible?
Written 26 September 2019
Hi , Yes! Not . problem at all! We take guests of all ages,and can provide carseats upon request :)
Written 2 October 2019
What type of toilets are available on safari of the scenes tour?
Written 14 August 2018
We stop at public toilets on route
Written 3 May 2023
Hello, would the tour suitable for 18th month kid please?
Written 18 April 2018
Hi Truong, our tours like Queenstown Lord of The Rings - Wakatipu Basin, Glenorchy Lord Of The Rings, Skippers Canyon trip are fine for 18 month kids. We provide infant seats. Quad biking, Queenstown 360, and Macetown wouldn't be suitable.
Written 18 April 2018
What is the half day river tour that you provide from queenstown please
Written 9 March 2017
Hi there, We have our Safari of the Scenes: Wakatipu Basin tour that does a few river crossings as well as other filming locations around the Queenstown area. We also have a Macetown Tour available, which is our most 4WD adventurous tour. This follows the Arrow River all the way up to the historic gold mining town of Macetown. Both of these tours are approximately 4hours in Duration and Depart at either 8am or 1.30pm
Written 9 March 2017
Hello, i am planning to go there on next may.. Is there any different about the schedule (morning and afternoon)? Which one better on may (autumm).. Thankyou..
Written 1 December 2016
Hey Leo, thank you for interested in our tours. We have 3 tours - Wakatipu Basin, Glenorchy and Sippers Canyon, all run morning and afternoon, rain or shine. Morning and afternoon departures are exactly the same. Wakatipu Basin trip is really popular in May because Autumn colours are stunning! Look forward to seeing you then.
Written 3 December 2016
Hello Yokohama, thank you for interested in our trips. Yes, we operate all year all weather, even the ground be covered by snow, our 4WD vehicles can easily complete all trips. Look forward to seeing you this winter :)
Written 4 June 2016
Is the quad bike easy for all ages and what level of fitness required? Thanks!
Written 12 October 2015
Hi, The quad bikes are easy to ride, but we do not take riders under the age of 16. Fitness level is not an issue at all. Look forward to seeing you!
Written 22 October 2015
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