6 South Island Tours from Auckland Worth the Money

1.10 Day North to South Island NZ Private Tour from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $6,686Our pick

Travel from Auckland to the South Island with a private guide-driver, an included Rotorua or Auckland to Christchurch flight, and flexible activity choices. Expect Hobbiton, Māori culture at Te Puia, alpine stops, Queenstown and Fiordland. Hotels, many activity tickets and a return flight are optional, so check which package you are pricing.

“Absolutely incredible experience! Can’t say enough for the work done to ensure we had a great time - from questions answered before we booked, to flexibility with dates, to working through details as we prepared and even adapting on thRead more”

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2.5-Day New Zealand North and South Island Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 10 reviews · from $1,364Best value

Spend five days travelling from Auckland to Christchurch, with four hotel nights and stops for Waitomo’s glowworm caves, Rotorua’s geothermal valley, the Cook Strait ferry and Kaikoura whale watching. This is independent touring, not one continuous escorted group: transport and activity providers change along the way. The Coastal Pacific train runs from Picton to Kaikoura only from October 1 to April 30.

“The tour was ok, but why 5 days' tour is only 4 days tour with one free day? Heidi and Uolevi”

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3.6 Day South Island New Zealand Private Tour from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $3,909

Fly from Auckland to Christchurch, then travel south for six days with a guide-driver and vehicle reserved for your group. Choose between Kaikōura or Akaroa, Milford or Doubtful Sound, and several optional activities, including the TranzAlpine train, stargazing, a Mount Cook helicopter flight and Te Anau glowworm caves. Hotels and some tickets depend on the option you book.

“Just finished an amazing New Zealand Tour. I am still processing how stunning it all was. From the moment we greeted by our guide, everything felt smooth, personal, organized and thoughtfully planned.”

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4.12 Day New Zealand Private Tour from Auckland to Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $8,470

Travel from Auckland to Queenstown with a private guide-driver and your own vehicle, plus a flight between Wellington and Christchurch. The 12-day route pairs Hobbiton, Rotorua and two scenic trains with alpine lakes, Fiordland and Stewart Island. Choose from optional activities such as whale watching, a Mount Cook helicopter flight and Māori cultural experiences. Hotel and activity-ticket packages are optional.

“We loved how smoothly everything was flowed from the North Island to the South. Not having to plan a single thing was such a relief, everything was taken care of. Some days were adventurous while others were scenic, which was the perfeRead more”

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5.7 – Day North to South Island Grand Tour – Auckland to Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $1,790

Travel from Auckland to Queenstown in a small group of up to 15, with local guides, four-star stays in four towns, a Waitomo Caves tour, Māori cultural and geothermal experiences, a Cook Strait ferry, coastal rail travel, whale watching and a drive past Aoraki/Mount Cook. Rail service runs October through April; winter travel uses a coach.

“Perfect tour to see North and South Islands in a short time. Great itinerary + very well planned + awesome drivers/guides. Each stop was perfectly coordinated. We found all of our the drivers/guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. The fRead more”

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6.4 Day Tour to Milford Sound, Mount Cook & More from Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $2,637

Fly from Auckland to Queenstown, then cross the South Island with a private guide-driver. The four-day route pairs Te Anau’s glowworm caves and Milford Sound with Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo stargazing, Arthur’s Pass and the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch. Hotels and activity tickets are optional package choices, so check exactly what your selected price includes.

“Marvelous journey. It was the perfect short getaway, with 4 days to explore. The trip included most must-see attractions and activities. We were thrilled to find a tour that covered both Milford Sound and Glowworm Caves.”

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