New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

I can't say enough good things about First Light Travel! We worked with Marcella who helped us create our dream custom itinerary for our 2 week honeymoon. She was very patient, knowledgeable, and quick to respond. Once we actually got to New Zealand, all of our expectations were exceeded when it came to hotels, excursions, and other recommendations. We felt very well taken care of and didn't have to worry about a thing other than enjoying ourselves! This was the trip of a lifetime and we are so grateful for the help.

Thank you Kirsty! We had a blast. New Zealand is a stunning country and the first country my husband wants to return to very soon. It was a perfect celebration of his 60th birthday. It was a seamless few weeks, well though out and given us many fond memories.

First Light Travel made booking a big trip for two families of four, travelling together from Australia, a breeze. We found an itinerary online from First Light which was close to what we were thinking, then reached out to and worked with Bernadette and Katarina to tweak and fit in everything we wanted. They took care of all the bookings, which was too overwhelming to do on our own! The accommodation selections were great, recommended tours and activities all enjoyed and the trip was hassle free. We absolutely loved our South Island adventure, thank you!

We've used several companies over the years to travel with and First Light Travel is among the top travel agencies that we have experienced. Our time in New Zealand was almost magical due to their planning. Everyday was like a new adventure to experience and we looked forward to the variety of activities that were scheduled.

When we started planning our honeymoon, we quickly realized we had no idea how to plan an epic vacation. Gina and the First Light team put together an excellent itinerary that catered to our preferences and turned it into our favorite trip ever! The time spent in each location was perfect, and coincidentally helped when we ran into a few weather related reschedules. For the price, everything exceeded our expectations! We loved it all, but we especially loved the day in Milford sound with the scenic flight back. We also loved the franz Josef helicopter, the steamboat ride & dinner. There wasn’t a bad activity on the itinerary.

I recently had the pleasure of booking a trip to New Zealand with First Light Travel, and I can say without a doubt that it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The decision to travel with them was an easy one, primarily due to how simple and efficient the planning and booking process was. Everything was seamless, and their responses to my inquiries were always prompt, relevant, and accurate, which made the entire journey feel smooth and stress-free.

The itinerary provided was spot on and tailored to my interests. I felt well-informed and prepared throughout the trip, with all the details I needed laid out clearly. One highlight of the trip was Rotorua, where I had the chance to explore the hot springs and geyser areas. It was absolutely amazing—such a unique experience that I'll remember for years to come.

The activities suggested were a perfect fit for me, and I didn't come across any that I didn't enjoy. The accommodations were great, just as I expected, and the transport was all very convenient. One minor hiccup I encountered was driving around Auckland, especially with the ongoing construction and one-way streets. While it wasn’t ideal, I understand there’s not much that can be done about that.

As for the value, I can confidently say the service I received represented excellent value for money. It was a great trip, and I truly appreciated how First Light Travel managed the details.

The only small suggestion I’d have is for them to include restaurant recommendations in the itinerary. The hotel we stayed at wasn't particularly helpful in that regard, and having a few go-to dining spots would have been helpful.

All in all, I had a wonderful time, and I would absolutely recommend First Light Travel to friends, family, or colleagues planning a trip to New Zealand.

I recently traveled with First Light Travel and had a fantastic experience. I decided to book with them because of the excellent support from my consultant and the ease of the entire planning and booking process. I was impressed by how prompt, relevant, and accurate their responses were, and the level of detail in the itinerary was incredibly helpful. It clearly outlined each step of my journey, which made everything so much easier.

There were a couple of minor things I wanted to mention. First, Ezi Car Rental no longer has a counter inside the Auckland Airport terminal. You need to follow the signs for "Rental Cars" outside the terminal and across the carpark to their office. Second, the phone number provided for confirming the Milford Sound cruise with Southern Discoveries was incorrect, so it would be great if that could be updated to the right number.

I absolutely loved the Milford Sound cruise and the Trans-Alpine train ride through Arthur's Pass. The accommodation at the Quest Cathedral Junction in Christchurch was excellent and exceeded my expectations. However, I had some issues at the Te Anau Distinction Luxmore Hotel. While the location was central, the room was clean, and the staff were excellent, the lack of air conditioning combined with warm weather and noise from nearby bars made it difficult to sleep comfortably.

Overall, I feel the service I received was great value for money. I would definitely recommend First Light Travel to friends, family, and colleagues. All the activities were perfectly suited to my interests, and I felt everything was professionally presented. My holiday was everything I hoped it would be, and the detailed planning made it even more enjoyable.

Everything from start to finish was good. We were kept ip to date with everything and when a change if activity was required due to cancellation of whale watching because of weather conditions, our consultant sorted this out straight away. Accommodation and activities were excellent as were recommendations of things to do at each place we visited. We had the holiday of a lifetime!

Heidi, From the very first contact (your phone call to me) following my initial email, you were extremely helpful and informative while we thought through what we wanted from our first NZ holiday. Your very first proposal / itinerary was amazing, and exceeded our expectations. With just a little modification, that was the one we went for. Everything was clearly detailed day by day. We just needed to mention my name at each hotel / motel, and each activity, and we were checked in. All so easy. Heidi, we can't thank you enough for bringing this holiday of a lifetime to life. Thank you.

Our plan in visiting New Zealand was to experience a variety of places and outdoor adventures this extraordinary county has to offer. We did enough research to pick out highlights but did not know how to fit that into a month. Danielle at First Light Travel was a wealth of information and provided great suggestions to build an itinerary that fit our interests and allotted time. She hooked us up with interesting places, great hikes high in the mountains, strolls on stunning beaches and experiences we might not have known to do including searching for kiwis at mid-night. (They are nocturnal and we saw three). We recommend First Light Travel to get the best of New Zealand.