Top 10 Private Tours in South Island, New Zealand

Enjoy getting off the beaten track with this exciting off road 4x4 tour in Skippers Canyon! Accessing Queenstown’s hidden scenic gems means leaving the highway and taking to the back roads to unveil a world you’d never know existed. As a local family owned and operated business, with years of local knowledge, our Off-Road 4x4 guides know how to navigate the long-forgotten adventure trails to amazing gold rush settlements and stunning scenery now forever captured on film by Lord of the Rings.

Inclusions: Small personalised tours to stunning locations, Guaranteed individual forward facing window seats, Free refreshments provided on selected tours, Free pick up and drop off to your accommodation, On-site IPad multimedia presentations, Guides are knowledgeable friendly locals

Exclusions: Gratuities

Waterfalls, deserted beaches, coastal rainforest, and rare wildlife can all be found in the Catlins. Explore this remote part of the South Island on a private day trip from Dunedin. You'll learn about early Maori inhabitants and European settlers from your personal guide, who has a Department of Conservation (DOC) concession with access to unforgettable places.

Inclusions: Gratuities, GST (Goods and Services Tax), National Park fees, Light refreshments, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Lunch

An experienced local chauffeur/guide will take you on an exciting wine and gourmet experience on this private, full-day tour from Blenheim. You will enjoy stunning scenic views of the Marlborough wine region and taste the sensational wines and seriously delicious gourmet treats and cuisine. Your interests are the priority for the day and can also include the Heritage air museum, award winning gardens, local producers of crafts and talented artisans. Your tour is custom made especially for you.  Your chauffeur/guide is a professional local to ensure you receive the very best Marlborough has to offer. Your tour will be in a comfortable 6 seat vehicle with wide window view advantages. Tours depart from Blenheim with flexible tour times to suit your own schedule. Treat yourself to this tour of discovery and experience the very essence of Marlborough.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Gourmet treat tasting, Wine tasting, Chocolates, Local guide, Private tour, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Lunch

Have an exclusive experience for up to 8 people on a private boat tour. With many tours in New Zealand to choose from, why not try something incredibly different and special on this jet boat adventure. You will be in the surrounds of extraordinary nature with the option to bring your own lunch. This is the only mountain to sea jet boat tour in New Zealand. This private tour includes the boat and local owner who is also your driver and personal guide for up to 2.5hours with your choice of tour duration. You will learn about the natural history, flora and fauna and the rainforest.

Inclusions: Warm Wollen Jacket available, Insect repellent, Life Jackets, Postcard souvenir, Coffee and/or Tea

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off

This is your chance to photograph one of the most spectacular and majestic places on Earth; Queenstown and the Southern Lakes. This full-day private photography tour will take you to the iconic locations you see in brochures as well as those special spots only a local would know, to explore and capture the beauty and splendor for yourself. This tour is designed for photography enthusiasts and your guide is a passionate landscape photographer, with years of local knowledge. Enjoy 8-9 hours of visiting some of the most interesting and beautiful destinations close to Queenstown and around the Southern Lakes. The weather in this amazing region is constantly changing bringing many moods that to the mountains, lakes, rivers and forests. Whatever the conditions we always know where to take you to and how to capture unique scenes of outstanding natural beauty.

Inclusions: Private tour for small-groups or individuals, Flexible itinerary, Advice on creative composition and using your camera, Local photographer guide, Comfortable 4WD, Light refreshments, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Lunch (Opportunity to buy lunch), Camera (Nikon D5100, available to rent)

Marlborough wines and Marlborough gourmet treats are the highlight of this tour.  When you want a small group and a comfy small mini van style for you and your friends this is the tour for you! No more than 9 seats  gives you a relaxed and personal experience tasting delicious wines and hearing about our great wine and food region that sets the amazing passion and memories for your visit. The scenic journey along the way will knock your socks off (astound you!) and you have the option of enjoying the beautiful water ways of the Marlborough Sounds and tasting our local seafood sensations with wine of course. If you are staying in Blenheim or Picton you are picked up from your accommodation and returned at the conclusion of your tour. 

Inclusions: Bottled water, Food tasting, Wine tasting, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour, Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Lunch

See the best of New Zealand’s stunning South Island on this unforgettable 8-day tour! Traveling by private luxury vehicle you’ll visit all the highlights of this amazing destination on an counter-clockwise route from Christchurch. Explore Arthur’s Pass, see West Coast rainforests from Franz Josef Glacier, and visit Mount Cook and Queenstown. Customize your tour to your preference with a range of optional activities (own expense) including helicopter rides, mountain walks, bungee jumps and more! The service that we provide is a private luxury tour service, not a large group tour. Other than our friendly tour staff you will not be sharing your tour with anyone outside of your own party so you can rest assured that this is your tour and we’ll do exactly what you want to make it your perfect trip. With a round-trip transfer from Christchurch Airport or your local hotel plus seven nights of accommodation included, this adventure-laden tour enables you to see the South Island with ease.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Private tour, Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), Live commentary on board, Professional tour guide (who is also the driver), Transport by private vehicle and all fuel charges, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Round-trip airport transfer (Christchurch), 7 nights accommodation in your selected category of hotel

Exclusions: Gratuities, Optional activities, Personal expenses, Food and drinks, not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner)

Whether you live here or are visiting we have found the best places to photograph our dark skies. We also know how to plan positioning with the moon and weather. The darkest skies are around the new moon. But also we think we take some stunning images when the moon is full as a lunar portrait. Moonlight rocks! These long winter nights in NZ Wintertime coincide with Matariki or the Maori New Year. Come along with us this Winter 2019 and find out more of navigation using the stars, constellations and how to find the Matariki stars. At the very least we can show you the galactic Kiwi! We shoot your portrait with the galactic core as a backdrop while explaining the southern skies.

Inclusions: Hot chocolate & brownie, WiFi on board, PhotographyProfessional photographs - supplied digitally, a small selection within 24...

Exclusions:

Marlborough’s wines are treasures that have only come to light in a relatively short space of time. Jimmy has worked in the Marlborough wine industry for 20 years in a variety of roles including work in viticulture,cellar, sales and as a wine tutor. He loves the region and has a strong knowledge of all aspects of the business. Through industry contacts he is able to help you look behind the label and discover the delights of this beautiful wine region.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch, Mahi tailor made private tasting and tour at extra cost. All other standard tasting fees included

This isn't your average wine or beer tour! I've carefully sought out the best of the best. These are Queenstown's boutique taste makers. Leave the tourist trail behind and let me take you on a personal journey to meet the folks who's passion, love for their craft and location sets them apart from the rest. Take a place that is widely considered one of the top wine regions in the new world, a recent explosion in craft & microbreweries and add in the pioneering kiwi spirit and you have the perfect recipe for an all out taste adventure. Wine and beer are made, first and foremost to just be enjoyed. So, whether you're the Einstein of wine or just here for a good ol' time, come sip, slurp & savour the best local flavours. **Please Note: I'm not a large commercial operator or tour company and prefer to focus on smaller group sizes as I believe this allows for better connections to be made and a more valuable experience for travellers.

Inclusions: Beer & Food Pairing, 20+ Tastings Included, Environmentally Friendly Water Bottles Provided To All Guests, Snacks, Air-conditioned vehicle, Direct Accommodation Pick-Up/Drop-Off Included, Carbon footprint offset: For each trip, more native trees are planted in the region.

Exclusions: