New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

The travel itinerary was well laid out and met our expectations on what we wanted to see in New Zealand. We particularly enjoyed the overnight stay on Doubtful Sound, the scenery in Milford Sound was spectacular and the ice berg tour on Tasman Lake at Mount Cook exceeded our expectations. Overall we were very pleased with First Light Travel. It was good to have a knowledgeable person providing us with recommendations on what to see based on our budget and schedule.

One recommendation I must make if anyone is staying in Blenheim the restaurant at the Chateau Marlborough was next level. We ate there all 3 nights and each time it was fantastic with great service too. There was a change of our itinerary due to sale of accommodation a few weeks before departure but the alternative offered was excellent.

First light travel were a joy to work with from start to finish. I normally do all our research and reservations but as we had an incredibly busy year including moving states, retirement and family obligations I chose to use a travel agent. I have no regrets it was so easy and everything went according to plan. . I highly recommend and would use FLT again.

We absolutely loved Hobbiton, the redwood tree walk, and the Glacier Explorers Tasman boat trip. Also really enjoyed the bike trip in Queenstown and loved Onsen Hot pools. The Milford full day trip in a small coach + boat trip was the way to go vs. self driving. The 2 kayak trips - Okarito and Abel Tasman were definitely highlights!! All the wine tours were also really wonderful. All of the Sydney stuff was also great. Zoo + Biking + Opera House. - awesome.

Our experience with you - guiding us through the planning process was amazing. I had lived there and travelled pretty extensively years ago. As I began this on my own - I quickly became overwhelmed. You listened, made great recommendations, shifted things around to suit our needs and thankfully booked everything for us. You really made the experience stress free. We are grateful! I would definitely work with you all again and we have already recommended you to friends considering trips to NZ!

First Light travel put together an amazing and comprehensive itinerary of NZ highlights for us as first time visitors. It included all our bucket list items, rental car and accomodation reservations and a daily list of what we doing, where and how far we were driving and any activities that required additional confirmation once we got there. Our agent Danielle was a pleasure to work with and we would certainly enlist their help for future travels.

First Light worked hard for us from the beginning to be sure we had the experiences we wanted. Yet, with enough time to really enjoy them. Everything was seamless, easy and well organized. Even, when we had to unexpectedly alter our plans to return home, First Light came through to make our remaining time in NZ wonderful and got us into activities we had planned for future days. All of our accommodations exceeded our expectations.

We contacted First Light Travel looking for some help planning our Anniversary trip to New Zealand and Australia. We had a phone consultation with Danielle who listen to what we wanted and put together an amazing trip. We were taken care of from the moment we cleared customs to when we were dropped off at the airport for our flight home. I would highly recommend using First Light Travel. 

Taylor booked for us a self drive from Christchurch, to Mount Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Wanaka, Franz Josef Glacier ending with a TranzAlpine Train ride back to Christchurch.

She was very responsive and took notes of our requirements and needs, making sure the holiday was slow and well paced as we requested. We didn’t want to see everything but instead, savour the memories together. Throughout the booking process, she listened patiently and went through multiple iterations of the itinerary until we crafted what we were looking for.

The lodges were well chosen, a mix of luxury hotels and well curated lodges with friendly and knowledgeable local hosts. The experiences were bespoke and we especially enjoyed the horse riding experience in Glenorchy which allowed us to the experience the great New Zealand Outdoor off the beaten path with our enthusiastic guide.

When things didn’t go as planned due to weather issues, she was quick to response in country and help us resolve and find alternatives.

Looking forward to our next holiday with First Light Travel and Taylor.

Gina and the rest of the team at First Light Travel provided us the trip of a life time -- 45 days touring Australia and New Zealand.

From helping us plan our itinerary to booking our logistics and accommodations to ensuring 'everything was perfect' when we arrived, Gina and her team were with us every step along the way.

Our trip highlights were many including:

- viewing the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House at night
- snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef
- dining in a tiny Thai eatery in the multi-cultured city of Melbourne
- exploring the untamed wilderness of Tasmania's Cradle Mountain Reserve and the Tasman's Sea Coastline
- seeing more stars than one can imagine on a clear night at Mount Cook
- learning about the Maori people and their culture in Rotorua
- looking through the geo-thermal mist while hiking the Waimangu Volcanic Valley
- witnessing the fortitude and resilience of the people of Christchurch and Napier to overcome mother nature's earth quakes
- experiencing the stillness and solitude of the Doubtful Sound fiord when a boat shuts off its engines
- seeing kangaroos, emus, wombats, Tasmanian Devils, whales, seals, albatrosses, penguins and glow worms
- enjoying the magic of Hobbiton, seeing the beauty of the 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, riding the Transalpine train to Arthurs Pass and watching the sunrise over the 'Remarkables' at Queenstown

Gina, thanks for sharing Australia and New Zealand with us!

We entrusted our Honeymoon to First Light Travel and were so glad we did! Their consultation service was exceptional, Natalie helped with suggestions for activities and listened to all our needs. During our trip there were some unfortunate cancellations due to extreme weather but the team at First Light travel couldn’t have been more helpful, rearranging trips and accommodation to ensure we made the most of every moment. We are very grateful to the team and would recommend them to anyone looking to explore NZ and the surrounding countries!

First Light Travel provided an exceptional travel experience! Gina was fantastic at tailoring our trip to match our needs and interests, ensuring everything went smoothly. The booking process was easy, the itinerary was well-planned, and the provided information was accurate and helpful. Highlights included Milford Sound, Queenstown’s skylift, and even the BBQ, which exceeded expectations. Our accommodations, especially in Auckland, were stunning, and transport drivers were friendly and incredibly helpful. Exceptional service and value—we’d highly recommend First Light Travel!