'Boutique Journeys' Small Group Touring
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Our escorted ‘Boutique Journey’ tours are just that – OURS – created by us, exclusively for our guests. Not only are our itineraries unique, but we choose to tour with no more than 16 guests per tour, as we believe that travelling in smaller groups results in a better experience. Guests will enjoy good company and find common ground with like-minded travellers with the potential for serendipitous surprises, a lot of laughs and perhaps new friends for life.
We offer amazing opportunities to get close to the real New Zealand, covering the country’s ‘must see’ iconic sights, along with smaller scale, more personal adventures and experiences that simply aren’t possible for a coach tour with 40 or more passengers. This results in a flexible, in-depth, comfortable, good-humoured and unforgettable journey, rather than a standard ‘coach tour’. Each of our itineraries includes amazing sights and free time for clients to enjoy New Zealand in their own way, whether it be throwing themselves off a mountain or tasting a new pinot noir. |
Small Groups, Good Company
Our 16-seater vehicles are agile enough to explore roads less-travelled, approaching New Zealand’s most beautiful sights – both iconic and hidden gems – from a different angle. We can get off the beaten track just as easily as we can cruise Highway 1. The vehicles are very comfortable with good legroom, headroom and picture windows so guests can see where they’re going. We don’t want you to experience New Zealand through plate glass, so we take every opportunity we can to get you off the coach! Our small group size also means we can dispense with ‘coach tour’ admin like asking you to wear a name badge. Good manners and good humour are more important to us than strict time-keeping.
Great Leaders, Expert Guides
Kiwis 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, enthusiasm, insights and practical advice, They 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 each Boutique Journey tour is totally unique. At various points on our journey we meet up with local guides who add their expertise to enhance our guests' experience. These include Kiwis who are specialists in wildlife, environment, geothermal or Maori culture, and with whom you can engage on a personal level. Our Tour Leaders will also go the extra mile – often literally - to showcase some of New Zealand’s hidden gems!
Flexible Schedules
With a small group there can be more flexibility about each day’s timetable, creating opportunities for surprise encounters and stops en-route. Tours can stop along the way for a photo opportunity; if there’s a new exhibition at a museum we can linger longer, and if it’s 90 degrees in the shade, we can cool down at the beach before hitting the road again. You also have the flexibility to combine a small group tour with a tailor-made itinerary, so if you wish to see the North Island at your own pace and join a tour to explore South Island that’s fine by us! Our Boutique Journey tours range from 10-21 days with six different tours to choose from, so we’re sure there will be one to suit you.
Getting Up Close and Personal
You will never forget your first sight across Auckland harbour, or of majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook, but your happiest memories may well be of our guided walk through the Waimangu Valley, comparing wine notes in Hawke's Bay or enjoying a leisurely lunch in a Coromandel café.
Hospitality
Our itineraries include a wonderful mix of handpicked B&B’s, Home and Farmstays, Luxury Lodges and Hotels, made possible by travelling in a small group and ensuring guests have the opportunity to experience some real kiwi hospitality. We seek out accommodations with amazing views to wake up to, in great locations and with friendly hosts who will add to the enjoyment of your stay with their generosity and knowledge of the area they call home. Sometimes we choose a large city hotel because of its central location, but wherever possible we opt for smaller properties with their own character to enable a real ‘home away from home’ experience, packed with real kiwi charm, character and hospitality.
Guaranteed Departures
All our tour dates are guaranteed departures, regardless of whether we travel with two, four or 16 passengers. You can be confident in making travel plans accordingly.
Our 16-seater vehicles are agile enough to explore roads less-travelled, approaching New Zealand’s most beautiful sights – both iconic and hidden gems – from a different angle. We can get off the beaten track just as easily as we can cruise Highway 1. The vehicles are very comfortable with good legroom, headroom and picture windows so guests can see where they’re going. We don’t want you to experience New Zealand through plate glass, so we take every opportunity we can to get you off the coach! Our small group size also means we can dispense with ‘coach tour’ admin like asking you to wear a name badge. Good manners and good humour are more important to us than strict time-keeping.
Great Leaders, Expert Guides
Kiwis 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, enthusiasm, insights and practical advice, They 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 each Boutique Journey tour is totally unique. At various points on our journey we meet up with local guides who add their expertise to enhance our guests' experience. These include Kiwis who are specialists in wildlife, environment, geothermal or Maori culture, and with whom you can engage on a personal level. Our Tour Leaders will also go the extra mile – often literally - to showcase some of New Zealand’s hidden gems!
Flexible Schedules
With a small group there can be more flexibility about each day’s timetable, creating opportunities for surprise encounters and stops en-route. Tours can stop along the way for a photo opportunity; if there’s a new exhibition at a museum we can linger longer, and if it’s 90 degrees in the shade, we can cool down at the beach before hitting the road again. You also have the flexibility to combine a small group tour with a tailor-made itinerary, so if you wish to see the North Island at your own pace and join a tour to explore South Island that’s fine by us! Our Boutique Journey tours range from 10-21 days with six different tours to choose from, so we’re sure there will be one to suit you.
Getting Up Close and Personal
You will never forget your first sight across Auckland harbour, or of majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook, but your happiest memories may well be of our guided walk through the Waimangu Valley, comparing wine notes in Hawke's Bay or enjoying a leisurely lunch in a Coromandel café.
Hospitality
Our itineraries include a wonderful mix of handpicked B&B’s, Home and Farmstays, Luxury Lodges and Hotels, made possible by travelling in a small group and ensuring guests have the opportunity to experience some real kiwi hospitality. We seek out accommodations with amazing views to wake up to, in great locations and with friendly hosts who will add to the enjoyment of your stay with their generosity and knowledge of the area they call home. Sometimes we choose a large city hotel because of its central location, but wherever possible we opt for smaller properties with their own character to enable a real ‘home away from home’ experience, packed with real kiwi charm, character and hospitality.
Guaranteed Departures
All our tour dates are guaranteed departures, regardless of whether we travel with two, four or 16 passengers. You can be confident in making travel plans accordingly.
Tane Mahuta
Pohutukawa
Kowhai
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17 Day New Zealand 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 overnight experience - one of our all-time 'must do' experiences on a trip to the South Island. |
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Rimu
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15 Day New Zealand 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, take the unforgettable journey into Milford Sound for a unique overnight experience and make the most of the abundance of walking opportunities the country has to offer. |
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Mount Cook Lily
Koromiko
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10 Day North Island Tour
This tour takes in the stunning sights of the 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'. |
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