New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

We appreciate all that First Light Travel did to make our trip to New Zealand such a fantastic experience. Everything was planned out perfectly and we enjoyed every minute of it. The accommodations in each town were wonderful and the excursions, tours, and tastings were all delightful and exactly what we expected. Having our own drivers also allowed us to really enjoy the scenery and to not have to worry about getting from point A to point B across both the South and North islands. First Light Travel was there for us from the very beginning as we started planning the trip, until we returned home, and was very responsive and helpful every time we reached out to them.

Many thanks to the team at First Light Travel for making our self-drive New Zealand South Island vacation so special. From the planning to on-the-scene modifications, we could not be happier with their services. Special shout out to Meli for matching our requests for hotels and excursions flawlessly. Every detail was expertly planned and executed. If you prefer a self-drive vacation, as do we, First Light Travel is at the top of the travel industry. Highly recommended!

Highly recommend booking through First Light Travel for New Zealand. Our family of three had an absolute ball thanks to the wonderful staff. Shout out to Tatyana for organising an amazing North Island itinerary and Meli for prompt on-the-ground assistance. We will definitely be booking again through First Light.

From our very first phone call from Heidi, we knew we were in safe hands! She customised the 'Full Monty' South to North Experience trip to include places we wanted to visit. Nothing was too much trouble and our personalised itinerary which was perfectly paced for our adventure around New Zealand. Once booked, Guest Services took over and we received a comprehensive daily plan including accommodation, visits, driving distances and tips to enhance our journey. Everyone was aware of our arrival, and it was reassuring that someone local was just a phone call away should we need them. We have no hesitation in recommending First Light Travel to anyone wanting to spend time in this wonderful country. Kia Ora atu Heidi and all the team in Guest Services.
 

We’ve just returned from our second trip with First Light Travel. This time a phenomenal 3 week North Island self‑drive tour, and once again the experience was flawless. Every detail, from our Auckland Airport pickup to the perfectly chosen 4x4, was organised with care and precision. The itinerary was outstanding, with memorable highlights including Waiheke Island, Waitomo and Ruakuri Caves, Rotorua’s cultural experiences, and the Bay of Islands cruises. Our accommodation was consistently excellent, with standout stays at Plume Villas, Adina Apartments, and King & Queen Hotel Suites. The attentive planning and seamless logistics made the entire 21‑day journey effortless. This is why we keep returning. For the exceptional service, thoughtful touches, and travel made truly stress‑free.

I was a little nervous figuring things out on my own so I looked for a travel agency that could help us make it easy. Nicole helped us have a fantastic trip and gave us great suggestions on how to make the most of our two week adventure. When I told her we wanted to see everything Lord of the Rings she found me stuff I hadn't even seen on any travel guides. I was so impressed and excited! She also hooked us up with fun activities we could only get there like wine tours, star gazing, and adventures in the beautiful country side. I was so glad we had First Light set it all up for us because we could just show up where we needed to be and they had everything figured out with hotels, activities, car rentals, and flights. My husband and I had the best time in New Zealand and I couldn't imagine doing this trip without them! 

Gina really took the time to understand what I was looking for. She didn’t blink when I said we wanted to travel within four weeks and somehow made it all come together, even with a 4-year-old in tow. No small feat! Our itinerary flowed really well. It was busy but never overwhelming. An epic journey in an unforgettable destination. We’d absolutely do it again and would recommend First Light Travel to anyone who will listen.
 

I have no hesitation in recommending First Light Travel as a well organisation who have an exceptional team working for their clients benefit. Everything is organised for you - just rocked up on the day and enjoy the adventure. We loved the sheer beauty of the South Island. It was everywhere and helped by the brilliant weather we had. I would definitely book with First Light again. Thanks team for all you've done for us.

So happy with the service provided by First Light Travel, from the ease of planning and putting together our itinerary, accommodation and activities, through to the peace of mind having the team on hand should something go wrong. Having all of the details in our daily schedules, including reminders to call tour operators, driving times and accommodation check in and check out times ensured that everything worked like clockwork. Some of our activity favorites were the Tasman Glacier Lake cruise, and the Franz Josef twin glacier helicopter flight. I highly recommend First Light Travel.

This holiday trip was an intention of my wife and I for many years. First Light helped and nudged us to pull it off in a spectacular way! I would not have been able to plan such a logistically intense but absolute adventurous six weeks! The staff assisting us were extremely knowledgeable of the New Zealand highlights and it showed in the itinerary throughout the trip. We enjoyed every aspect of the trip and often reflect back on the uniqueness of what we experienced! We both loved the mountain biking, sea kayaking, hiking and sightseeing. The activities that we booked through you were fantastic. One in particular was out of Rotorua, kayaking across a lake where we enjoyed natural hot springs and a dinner, then a sunset paddle back stopping at a glow worm cave along the way and finally viewing the Southern Cross stars!