New Zealand Trails - The Trip of Your Lifetime!

New Zealand Trails - The Trip of Your Lifetime!

New Zealand Trails - The Trip of Your Lifetime!
5
Multi-day ToursBike ToursEco ToursHiking & Camping ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
The real New Zealand hiking experience in comfort & style! We run multi-day hiking tours and easy-going active adventures.
Queenstown, New Zealand

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
Travellers talk about
(18 reviews)
(17 reviews)
(15 reviews)

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles190 reviews
Excellent
187
Very good
1
Average
2
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0
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dschulz2017
Cornelius, NC1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
Our trip to New Zealand was amazing! The World Heritage itinerary was perfect for us with amazing sights and a great mix of activities. Our guide, Daniel, was the best guide that we've ever been with. NZ Trails made things very easy so that we were well-prepared for the trip and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended!
Written 18 March 2024
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.

Angela L
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
We chose to do the 8 day Pure South tour as it looked like it covered the “best of” the hikes in the South Island. We did many wonderful hikes and were rewarded with great views along the way. There were other fun activities such as a cruise on the Milford Sound, a flight to Siberia Valley, and a swim with the Hector Dolphins.
We stayed at some lovely towns and the accomodation were all very good.
The two guides, Megan & Cassidy, looked after everything and everyone so well. They were professional, efficient, tireless, fit and also great companions.
We were so happy to have chosen New Zealand Trails to guide us for our holiday in New Zealand.
Written 17 March 2024
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.

Mauiknutson
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
NZ Trails tour was our best vacation ever! From the booking the reservations to the guides, everyone we came in contact with via email, telephone or in person, they were phenomenal. The guide even catered to my dietary preference! Thank you for all that you do....your team delivered beyond our expectations. This was the sentiment from our entire tour group.

NZ Trails raised the bar for other tour companies, and I wish you would service other countries!

Thank you again for creating wonderful memories for us!
Written 14 March 2024
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.

DayTrip46456476688
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
New Zealand Trails is a great way of traveling in a group with a guide during which you experience the awesome hiking tracks of South Island with peace of mind.
Your accommodation, food and transport is taken care of and is of high standard.
The guides Tony and Blake provided a fantastic service with a wealth of knowledge of each track. Each gave an incredible adventure to remember.
Written 14 March 2024
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.

daddy00
Northern Virginia, VA207 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We always had New Zealand / Australia on our "bucket list" and then everyone we knew who had been to both would tell us "We spent two weeks in Australia and one week in New Zealand ... it should have been the other way around."

We were also on a quest to get my wife to her 6th continent (in the quest for 7) so it was natural to plan our "trip of a lifetime" to New Zealand - and for her 60th birthday on top of it all.

We did research about 9 months before the trip and decided we liked small-group / "boutique" tours, and we found New Zealand Trails and love the fact it was run by Kiwis and sold themselves as "we take you where we would take our friends and family."

After much deliberation, we settled on the Pure South tour for 8 days, since we did not have enough vacation time for a two-island tour. We wanted to catch the most breathtaking scenes we had scene in photos and film - namely Milford sound and all those beautiful "Lord of the Rings" mountain scenes. That was definitely the South Island.

The 8 days we spent on this tour were, in the words of my wife "the best active vacation we have EVER taken" - and mind you this includes an Antarctic Cruise (which was also mind-blowing). The number of things we did and saw in only 8 days was amazing, thanks to New Zealand Tours' planning and execution. There were some tough days when we needed a little ibuprofen (hiking 1400 feet, biking 9 miles, etc.) but our guides were wonderful, and we always felt they were trying to take good care of us while also challenging us within our physical comfort levels.

So, when your friends ask, "what did you do in New Zealand?" if you tell them "I flew a bush plane into a remote valley and hiked and jet boated out", will they believe you? How about "I took a helicopter to New Zealand's largest glacier and hiked it with a legendary guide." No way! That doesn't even include majestic Mount Cook and the Hooker Valley Track, the haunting Milford Sound Cruise, or quaint Akaroa and it's little Hector's dolphins.

And should we remind you we are in our early 60's? That age range +/- 10 years seems to be NZT's "sweet spot", though we've seen younger and older travelers. They just know how to do New Zealand right. And you should to. The memories will last you a lifetime.
Written 12 March 2024
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.

MsDiApril
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
This action-packed itinerary was varied, exciting, educative, and was lead by skilled, enthusiastic, personable, informed leaders who loved their job and brought fun and adventure to the group. Our age group range was fairly wide and we all felt included and valued. I have been raving about your trip ever since my return home. Well done and Thank you. Since Feb 2023, when I first started this journey of planning and preparing, I've looked forward to your trip. Congratulations on a great travel company. Your office staff, the staff that plan these trips and your adventure staff are all fantastic. Thank you.
Written 6 March 2024
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.

jonathan l
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
At first, I was going to try to put my own thing together, but as soon as I started to look into that it became pretty clear that that would not be the best option for my first visit. The travel, hotels, food and any activity passes, like the plane in Kaikoura, the cruise on Milford Sound, etc. would have taken time away from taking all of New Zealand in, just the logistics of putting it all together would have been too much, so going with NZ trails was 100% the correct thing. The intangible things like the local knowledge and where to find a good coffee, not to mention all the snacks on the bus. I just cannot so enough positive things about NZ trails, especially for Becky putting it all together and Blake for guiding us all over the south island, and Brynee for making the trip fun. The way that we had a big hike then a chill day was nice too. The way that we got to take the plane up when the dolphin swim was cancelled for weather, was such a nice surprise. I have thought about it, and I really cannot think of anything that would make it better, well maybe a 30 day tour....but seriously an absolute first class experience. I would do another trip with you guys without question
Written 5 March 2024
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.

Margaret J
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
I went on the five great walks and it was absolutely amazing the scenery and the experiences were out of this world. The guides were kind and helpful especially with an old croc like myself with a bad hip. The accommodation was excellent and the food delicious. A wonderful experience and NZ trails are the only company that gives you the Stewart island well worth a visit. So do yourself a favour and book a trip with NZ trails.
Written 4 March 2024
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 leaving such a lovely review for us. I'm so glad that you had a great time on your trip and that your guides looked after you so well. We feel very privileged to be able to share off-the-beaten-track experiences like Stewart Island with our guests and I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed visiting it too!
Written 4 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Patricia B
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
NZ is a beautiful country and NZ Trails enabled us to enjoy several highlights in our time there. The Guides were exceptional and their knowledge, flexibility and professionalism ensured all our goals and needs were met. Highly recommend this company.
Written 4 March 2024
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 kind words about your trip with us, I'm so glad you had an amazing adventure here in New Zealand. It was our pleasure to show you around our backyard!
Written 4 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Beth S
Pikesville, MD5 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
I took both the Masterpiece Tour (South Island) and Sweet North (North Island) during the NZ summer. My goal was to have an active vacation and to see the amazing natural beauty of this country. I had a terrific time, with some truly nice and interesting fellow travelers. Here are the pros and cons of traveling with NEW ZEALAND TRAILS.
PROS: 1. The ITINERARIES: I felt as though I was having a distinct, fresh adventure daily. The itineraries are well thought out. The average driving time per day is 3 to 4 hours, with some longer and rare shorter days in the van. But all the drives are broken up, often with good walks or short hikes. 2. PIVOTTING: Because this is an active vacation, weather and other conditions can get in the way. But the guides seem to know how to turn lemons into lemonade. On my trip, a day with swells to high to complete a kayak trip became a shorter kayak trip plus a visit to "Hot Water Beach" on the North Island, which was an interesting, fun and pretty alternative. From travelers who had been on different trips I heard about alternate hikes when it was too windy to do a high ridge hike, and a scenic plane ride when the sea was too choppy for swimming with the dolphins. 3. WEBSITE AND COMMUNICATIONS: The communication prior to the trip was clear and detailed. If I had a question, the office got back to me by email or even phone as soon as the time difference allowed. The website has a ton of information. Very professional. 4. OPTIONS: Not everyone on my trip was equally able. Our hikes with longer ascents or mileage were always presented with options. Everyone was happy. 5. HOTELS/COTTAGES: not always up to date but spacious (except for in Chjristchurch) and clean.
CONS: 1. GUIDE TRAINING: I had 1 guide on the Sweet North who was not ready for prime time. I had 3 on the Masterpiece (there are usually two, but one became sick, so someone substituted). All 4 were guiding for the first time this year, so expect the same. I really liked the 3 Masterpiece guides. Once gave us some historical background, told some stories and taught us Maori phrases. Another guide gave us a little information about plants and insects. The third was so bubbly and fun that you just had to love her. But generally when I travel abroad on vacation, even on active vacations, I've had guides that give a lot more background (historical, cultural, natural). I asked about the guide training. Apparently, it is focused on safety (trail safety, driving safety, food safety). There is no guide education for other enrichment, so it's by chance that any enrichment occurs. I feel that this is a major deficit. 2. VAN SIZE: We joked on my first trip (Masterpiece) that we felt like sardines in the van. Then I got to Sweet North and it was so much worse. I am attaching a photo. Absolutely no place to stretch out and bring an extra bag. The day packs were either on the floor (and then no leg room), on our laps, or stacked precariously in the back, over our suitcases. I am 5'3" and was only comfortable in some seats. The men were pretty squished in. I did see some small buses on the road that would have made our lives much, much more pleasant. These are not inexpensive tours, and I feel that corners were cut at our expense. I did complain to the company, but they were not about to send us a larger vehicle. 3. MAORI VILLAGE on Sweet North: it was crowded, our tour group was close to 40, it was hard to hear the guide and it was her first time guiding. There was a lot to see but it was rushed and cursory. We should have had a guide just for our group of 15. I know that there are other Maori cultural centers in Rotorua, so perhaps a pivot should have been made when all the cruise ship buses arrived at the same village.
FINAL ADVICE: If you feel comfortable driving on the left side of the road, the North Island is easily and more comfortably accomplished on your own. It is more populous than the South Island, so you will be closer to towns in case you need rest stops or help. You will have some long drives, but at your own pace.
FINALLY: I love New Zealand and any discomfort was worth it. But seriously, guys, get larger vehicles! And give your guides some reading material and set out expectations for enrichment opportunities.
Written 2 March 2024
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.
It’s Amanda here, the General Manager of New Zealand Trails. I’m glad to hear that overall, you really enjoyed your trips with us and that you felt so well looked after by Becky, Jodi and your Masterpiece guides. We pride ourselves on the high level of service we provide, the amazing itineraries we have designed, and our ability to be flexible so that we can cater for all fitness levels. I’m very sorry about the experience you had with our vehicle on your Sweet North. To add some context to the picture attached to this review, our supplier made an error with the configuration of the vehicle, and the overhead shelf where we normally store day packs was missing. Unfortunately, as it was the peak of the summer season, we were unable to exchange the vehicle with our supplier but as soon as our operations team heard about this on the morning of day two of the trip, we immediately made a plan to resolve this which involved storing day packs in the boot which freed up space inside the vehicle for the remaining four days of the trip. We use top-of-the-line Mercedes Sprinters for our vehicles which are the most premium vehicle option available in New Zealand and the safest size for travelling on the busy and narrow roads here in New Zealand. We do take all feedback very seriously and are always looking for ways to improve our trips, so our operations team is doing a full review of all our vehicles to make sure that they are the most comfortable options for travelling New Zealand while still maintaining our high safety standards. We also have some new checks and balances in place to make sure that each vehicle we are being provided by our supplier meets our requirements.
Written 4 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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NEW ZEALAND TRAILS - THE TRIP OF YOUR LIFETIME! (Queenstown) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go