New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

Memorable family trip to New Zealand
My husband and I and our two teens just returned from a wonderful 2.5 week Self Drive trip to both the North and South Islands of New Zealand! Communication with First Light Travel and their Travel Designers was top notch right from the start. From the initial phone conversation to the many emails back and forth with itinerary adjustments it almost seemed to good to be true - that someone else was handling all of the details of our trip and all I had to do was show up in New Zealand! I'm glad I took that chance as it truly was the case. First Light took care of our airport transfer, car rental, accommodations and most of our activities. The majority of the accommodations that we stay at were perfect for our family and the cars that we rented were fuel efficient and comfortable. The highlight for my family in the North Island was Hobbiton and the Milford Sound Coach and Cruise from Queenstown was our South Island highlight. Gina's quick responses during our planning process and even when we were running late to check in for an activity were much appreciated. I highly recommend this company to anyone planning a trip to NZ. Thanks again First Light!

Our honeymoon trip was an unforgettable adventure thanks to First Light Travel's amazing planning (specifically Danielle Mueth’s). They handled every detail perfectly, from flights and accommodations to exciting activities. We especially loved the scenic flight from Milford Sound and the wine tour around Central Otago with Apallatian Tours - it was a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. We highly recommend First Light Travel, to anyone planning a honeymoon! Make sure you request Danielle as your travel advisor!

We were very pleased with the itinerary planned for us by First Light Travel. Although we had several excursions cancelled due to weather, the information packet given to us on arrival provided alternative activities which were quite enjoyable. Some of the accommodations were a little dated but all were clean and comfortable with friendly and helpful staff.

First Light did a wonderful job with all activities, accommodations and scheduling. They made a big job a very simple thing. Easiest and best trip ever.

 This was a daunting trip. The other side of the world, new experiences and a new travel company.
What a delight, was made very easy by Natalie, she was always at the other end of an email and didn’t disappoint. When there was a minor issue during the trip – she was on it and resolved.
I cannot thank her enough for her professionalism.

Our experience with First Light Travel was positive, we chose them primarily for their quality of information. While the booking process was smooth, I felt the need for a roadmap during the trip, as navigation wasn't always accurate. Despite this, the itinerary was appropriate and the information provided was helpful. I enjoyed all the activities recommended and found them suitable for my interests. Accommodations varied, with highlights including Tokoriki Island and several others. Transport overall met expectations, although there was a hiccup with the Trans Alpine train. I praise First Light Travel for their responsiveness and making my 4-week journey through New Zealand and Fiji worry-free. I highly recommend their services and suggest encouraging clients to spend more time at each location for a richer experience.

We had a fantastic experience with First Light Travel, choosing them for their excellent service, easy booking process, and quality information. Despite some time zone challenges, responses were always prompt and helpful. The itinerary was well-suited for the holiday, with accurate information provided throughout. Holiday experiences exceeded expectations, with activities perfectly aligned with interests, particularly enjoying island trips, hikes, and adventure tours. Accommodations met expectations, with favorites including Bay of Islands, M Social in Auckland, and Hermitage. While most activities were enjoyable, there were some issues with rushed tours. Overall, the value for money was exceptional, with commendations for the helpfulness in arranging transport and accommodations. Although there was a transition in consultants, the service remained helpful. and we would happily recommend First Light Travel to others and may consider recommending them to friends planning trips to New Zealand in the future.

We chose First Light Travel because they're awesome! Booking was a breeze thanks to their great service, easy planning, and unique travel options. They were super quick with responses and gave us all the info we needed. Our holiday plans turned out spot-on! From exploring The Rocks in Sydney to checking out Hobbiton and Tongariro Crossing, we had a blast. The accommodations, like The Pods and Airdale Boutiques, were top-notch. Transportation was smooth, and we felt we got great value for our money. Big shoutout to Danielle for making everything so easy—we'll definitely be recommending First Light Travel to our friends!

My wife and I traveled in March 2024 for over three weeks to New Zealand on a trip organized by Anna at First Light Travel.

The trip planning was a great mixture of activities, sightseeing time, touring throughout the country, very nice accommodations, and great service. First Light handed every detail from car rentals, accommodations, activities such as wine tastings, boat and sailing trips, and LOTR tours. Every single thing on our itinerary was well planned and communicated, and First Light also gave great suggestions on driving times, things to do, and quaint out of the way places. They even sent us an email during the trip advising us of road construction and to plan our drive time accordingly. They also recommended two cities (Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura) that we would not have planned to visit that we absolutely loved.

We have shared our great experience with others and plan to use First Light when we plan a 2025 trip to Australia.

First Light was always prompt and courteous with their responses, and really helped me to think through everything we needed for our trip.

Thank you Anna and the entire First Light team for a wonderful vacation!

From start to finish of our New Zealand vacation, we appreciated the help and planning that we received from First Light. Accommodations, vehicle, arranged tours and suggested tips and 'things to do', met or exceeded our expectations. We felt our agent listened to us in the planning stage and the cost was reasonable. What we loved the most about our trip: We were very happy to see our chauffeur when we arrived after our long flights. Redwoods Treewalk, we felt extra special with the express pass.
Kayaking and Maori carvings at Lake Taupo were very impressive and the paddle was just right. The Tasman Glacier Boat trip was interesting and fun. We enjoyed taking a hike up to the Hooker Lake glacier on our own and enjoyed that, too. Our Milford Track and Cruise was delightful. Stunningly beautiful. We loved our day on the bikes. I upgraded to an e-bike and I'm glad I did. It was a very windy day. The river trail was lovely.