My Favorite Tours I Did in New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries we’ve ever visited, and we actually lived here for a couple of years and found ourselves constantly awed by its unbelievable beauty and welcoming locals! While living here on both the North Island (in Kerikeri) and in Queenstown on the South Island, I got to try many guided tours – full disclosure, many were through my job as a receptionist at a luxury hotel chain.

And below I’ve reviewed my absolute favorite New Zealand tours – all of which deserve a spot on your New Zealand bucket list.

My Favorite Guided Tours in New Zealand

1. Milford Sound Cruise

• My rating: 4/5
• Priced from: $189 NZD
• Why I love it: One of the most-visited and unique parts of New Zealand

Milford Sound on the South Island (near-ish to Queenstown) is one of the most beautiful and dramatic places in the world. In fact, Rudyard Kipling renamed it the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. And the best (and really the only way) to see it is on a boat cruise. Because then you can get up close to its many waterfalls (they’re huge) and even spy cute wildlife from a small distance away.

This small boutique cruise experience is the one we picked (there are lots of options) as it offers a more personalized experience and because it’s a smaller boat, you can get up closer to the waterfalls and wildlife (such as seals and penguins). Our guide was also really knowledgeable with facts about the area, and he was quick to point out all the wildlife.

As I said, we were looking for a more intimate experience, and so decided on this small boutique cruise experience. Operated by Cruise Milford, this boutique boat has a maximum capacity of 75 guests. Meaning you’re getting a less-crowded and more personalized experience. A win-win in one of the most-visited parts of the country!

We were lucky, as there were only 30 people on our cruise. Bliss! The smaller boat can get up close and personal with the waterfalls as well as Milford’s famous seal residents. It’s also an hour and 45 minutes long cruise, in comparison to the 90-minute cruise time of most other operators.

As you cruise through the almost-black waters of the sound, your local skipper will detail the history of the area and point out any sights or wildlife (like penguins or seals) he spots along the way!

The tour has over 2,300 5-star reviews – so heaps of happy customers (like us). Plus, you can avail of their free cancellation policy – up to 24 hours before the cruise start time. Which is super handy, as we know how your plans can change.

YOU CAN BOOK THE SAME TOUR WE DID HERE!

2. Doubtful Sound Cruise

• My rating: 5/5
• Priced from: $479 NZD
• Why I love it: So peaceful and uncrowded

Ah, dreamy Doubtful Sound – one of my favorite places in New Zealand. This massive fiord (it’s 40 km long) is the deepest fiord in the country, and it’s insanely beautiful here. Think lush green towering mountains and crystal-clear water. It felt like I was in the movie Avatar!

It’s so quiet and peaceful here too, and its Maori name (Patea) literally means ‘place of silence.’ And that description couldn’t be more true; on a cruise here, the only other sounds you’ll hear are gushing waterfalls and birdsong!

This is the tour I did (twice), and although it’s a long day at 12 hours or more long it’s awesome and one of my favorite tours I did while I was living in Queenstown!

The cruise section of the tour is 3 hours long, and you’ll get to see giant forest-covered mountains and dark blue waters that is surprisingly so clear. You’ll also likely be lucky enough to spot dolphins, Fiordland Penguins, and fur seals along the ride. My favorite part about a Doubtful Sound cruise and why I prefer it to Milford Sound is that it’s so quiet – you likely won’t see another boat.

Along the boat cruise, your knowledgeable guide will provide a detailed commentary over the speaker system on what you’re seeing and the history of the area. I loved when the boat went all the way through the sound to where the sea meets the sound; it was so cool to see the difference in the water between the two. The water in Doubtful Sound was so calm in comparison to the choppy waters of the ocean!

Keep in mind that Doubtful Sound is hard to reach. From Queenstown, it’s over a 2-hour drive to Manapouri, where you must catch an hour-long ferry to the Wilmot Pass. Then, when you hop off the ferry, you must get on a 30-minute, very bumpy bus ride over the Wilmot Pass to your boat.

⭐BOOK IT⭐ You can choose from two departure times in Queenstown – 6:55 am or 7:40 am. This tour from Queenstown costs from $449 NZD per person.

3. Hobbiton

• My rating: 4/5
• Priced from: $130 NZD
• Why I love it: Amazing movie set, and I love LOTR

As you probably know, much of New Zealand was transformed into “Middle Earth” for the Lord of the Rings movie franchise. And the best and most immersive way to experience the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) magic is to visit the pristine set of Hobbiton on the North Island. 

I remember my Dad reading The Hobbit to me when I was younger, and I was absolutely enthralled by the magical world that Tolkien created with his words. Funnily, the Hobbiton I pictured in my head as a young girl (way before the movies) was exactly like the Hobbiton set I visited on my travels through New Zealand.

I was enthralled with Hobbiton from start to finish – I visited here twice and I cannot be more genuine when I say that YES, this Hobbiton Tour is 1000% worth it! I learned a ton of cool things both about the movie and about New Zealand in general!

The set is massive, and the tour experience is immersive, insightful, and full of original props. The care and thought that went into creating Hobbiton is clear as soon as you set foot on the site!

✨ This is the exact tour we did as we stayed in Matamata – so, we didn’t need transfers. We just met our guide at the entrance gate to Hobbiton at our selected time. We paid $130 NZD per person.

4. Cape Reinga & Te Paki Sand Dunes

• My rating: 4/5
• Priced from: $195 NZD
• Why I love it: An amazing part of the North Island

This is certainly one of the must-do activities in Northland. At the very tip of Northland (and around a 2.5-hour drive from Paihia) is Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand and the point where two oceans meet (the Tasman and Pacific).

Cape Reinga, or Te Rerenga Wairua in Māori, holds profound spiritual importance in New Zealand as the sacred departure point for the spirits of the deceased. The name means “the leaping place of the spirits.” After passing, Māori spirits, or wairua, journey north across the land along a revered path called Te Ara Wairua. At the headland, an ancient, twisted pōhutukawa tree, estimated to be over 800 years old, stands sentinel.

It is believed that spirits descend or climb its roots into the ocean to enter the underworld, or reinga. As their final farewell, the spirits travel from the water to the Three Kings Islands, specifically Ohaua, the highest peak, to gaze back at the mainland one last time before returning to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki.

FYI, to get the best photo of the Lighthouse, stand at the top of the hill directly facing it.

This guided tour from Paihia is a great option. It also includes a stop at 90-mile beach – a super-long beach that you can drive on.

And on your drive back from Cape Reinga to the Bay of Islands, make a stopover at the sand dunes in Te Paki, around a 5-minute drive from the lighthouse. You can go sand-boarding here; it’s so fun, and the scenery is akin to what I imagine the planet Mars to look like.

The tour costs $195 NZD per person.

5. Helicopter tour of Queenstown

• My rating: 5/5
• Priced from: $1,179 NZD
• Why I love it: See Queenstown from high above and go snowmobiling

For something truly bucket-list-worthy why not combine a scenic helicopter flight from Queenstown to the Garvie Mountain Range with an exhilarating guided snowmobiling tour.

This tour is 2.5 hours long and it includes a return scenic helicopter flight from Queenstown to the Garvie Mountains, where you will start your speedy snowmobiling adventure.

On the way there, you’ll soar over the Hector Mountains and Nevis River Valley. And when you land, it’s time to suit up for your fast-paced snowmobiling through stunning winter scenery. On your return helicopter flight, you’ll go a different way so that you can fly over the Western face of the Remarkables mountains.

It includes all equipment, including protective clothing, too. As well as pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Queenstown. Now, it is pricey at around $1,000 NZD per person – but when you think about it, it combines two bucket-list Queenstown activities!

If you’re on a budget but are really keen to fly in a helicopter over Queenstown’s snowy landscape, then consider this 20-minute helicopter flight. Which costs $359 NZD per person. For that price, you’ll get to land atop the Remarkables – and, fly over Lake Wakatipu and the other surrounding mountain ranges.

6. Helicopter tour of the Bay of Islands

• My rating: 4/5
• Priced from: $333 NZD
• Why I love it: See the best coastal scenery in New Zealand from above

See the stunning Bay of Islands from the best vantage point (in a helicopter), with an optional landing at the Hole in the Rock. You’ll fly over Cape Brett, Russell, and Waitangi en route to the Hole in the Rock. And the option to land atop the iconic natural landmark includes a walk led by a Maori guide.

Each seat offers stunning aerial views, and your pilot will share insightful commentary on the natural landmarks you pass. Choose from three tour options: a 20-minute scenic flight, a 35-minute tour that includes a landing on the Hole in the Rock, or a 1-hour adventure with a nature walk upon landing.

The best priced option is the flight lasts for 20 minutes (not including the stop on the Hole in the Rock) and costs from $330 NZD.

7. TSS Earnslaw Lunch & Farm Tour

• My rating: 4/5
• Priced from: $169 NZD
• Why I love it: See Queenstown from the water & have a delicious lunch

When we first arrived in Queenstown to live, we booked a TSS Earnslaw Lunch & Farm Tour through our hotel when we checked in. We were planning to just get the boat over to Walter Peak and straight back again, but when the receptionist told us about the incredible buffet lunch we could have over there and the fun Farm Show that was included, we decided to upgrade, and we’re really glad we did.

The TSS Earnslaw is a historic steamship that was built way back in 1912, and you’ll likely see it lazily chugging across Lake Wakatipu a couple of times a day.

As I said, we booked the lunch and farm tour option, which is 3.5 hours long. It includes an awesome lunch, a farm tour, and the return boat journey. The lunch is amazing (my husband said it’s the best meal he’s had in Queenstown) and the farm tour is so interesting. We got to witness a sheep-shearing demonstration and watch the sheepdogs round up the sheep.

Prices for the TSS Earnslaw lunch and farm tour start from $169 NZD per person.

Thanks for Reading!

I really hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite tours I’ve done while living in New Zealand – I think you’ll agree there’s a tour for every type of traveler listed above!

Last Updated on September 24, 2026 by snaphappytravel