NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's best.
New Zealand's 13 most popular safari tours, in one place. What each one is actually like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
4.5-hour eco safari by catamaran from Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour to spot whales, dolphins, seals, penguins, seabirds, and more.
“Great experience. Good knowledgeable crew and the vessel was stable. Had a good time on board. Do this for sure”
3.5 hours from Wellington into private farm country for panoramic Cook Strait views and close Wellington fur seals, plus native bush stops.
“Guide Sara was awesome - knowledgable and fun! Sara lives on the property so has intimate knowledge of the farm operations”
4WD safari from Wellington to Otari forest, Terawhiti Station, the leaning lighthouse, and Tongue Point fur seals.
“Chris was an absolute delight filled with knowledge and stories and seeing the seals was amazing 😍”
A 2-hour Waiatoto River jet boat safari near Haast with rapids, rainforest options, warm gear, snacks, and Tasman Sea views.
“Nice trip, safe and informative. Our operator/guide was great. The rest of my 100 character minimum.”
Akaroa 4WD to Flea Bay plus guided sea-kayaking in Pohatu Marine Reserve, with gear, wildlife sightings, and scenic photo stops.
“Absolutely fantastic tour. Ben, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the area, plants and wildlife. Visiting Flea Bay felt like such a privilege, such a beautiful place. So quiet and peaceful. We were lucky enough to see penguins out on the rocks and also lots of fur seals with their babies. The kayaking was great,…”
A small-group 4WD safari in Wanaka with exclusive farm access, alpine wildlife, and tea plus big Central Otago views from Ridgeline.
“Wonderful day. Great climb up the mountain, plenty of wildlife, good information about the area and a relaxing cup of coffee at the top.”
Drive a Suzuki Jimny on guided 4WD bush tracks outside Rotorua, with radio help, safety gear, and under-5s free for families.
“Wow. I got the adrenaline rush on this. My guide, Brendan made it more fun and gave good advice. There was a few of the obstacles I thought oh oh, what have I let myself in for, but was over before I knew it”
Fly 45 minutes over Kaikoura Canyon to spot whales and dolphins, then land on remote hilltops for wide ocean views with pickup.
“We absolutely loved our helicopter flight! We were incredibly lucky to spot a sperm whale, and learning about the different types of whales made the experience even more special. Flying in a helicopter alone was already unforgettable, Read more”
Kayak with private access to Pigeon Island’s bird sanctuary from Glenorchy on calm Lake Wakatipu. See flightless birds and glacier peaks.
“Great experience. Nice and kind guides. Whole family enjoyed (including 10, 13, and 15 years old daughters).”
Jet boat eco safari on NZ’s West Coast UNESCO World Heritage area. Forests, Southern Alps views, and whitebait breeding grounds in 2 hours.
“Highly recommend this tour! Learned about the area, the community, the kiwi repopulation efforts, and more. Scenery is spectacular.”
Kayak Lake Wakatipu to Pigeon Island’s wildlife sanctuary on a private 2.5-hour safari from Queenstown—spot Wekas and enjoy tea.
“Amazing views and the host was great, the car ride to glenorchy was a good opportunity to see more of Queenstowns scenery and the kayaking was easy to pick up!”
90-minute stargazing at Martinborough’s dark-sky reserve with Hari and Sam, telescopes for Saturn and the Milky Way, plus VR if cloudy.
“What a fabulous night. As the sun set the magic of the night sky appeared. This was a relaxed and extremely informative evening. Two expert star gazers introduced us to planets, galaxies, nebula clouds, clusters, red and blue stars. The highlight seeing Saturn in all its glory, rings and moons etc.”
Private stargazing near Martinborough in a Dark Sky Reserve with 16-inch telescopes, VR sky shows, and astrobiology.
“Fantastic night out in a field. Really glad that getting this place certified as a dark-sky reserve has worked out, because it was definitely worth venturing out here as a couple of newbie stargazers. The people running it (sorry, forgot your namesRead more”
