New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

First Light Travel Reviews

To make your New Zealand travel dreams come true you need the right team in your corner.

That’s where we come in! We’ve been helping travellers enjoy the very best of New Zealand since 2001 and have learned plenty of tricks which will help you have a hassle-free and super fun NZ self drive holiday.

Here’s what our guests have to say about First Light Travel.

We have over 1200 five star online reviews - We are the highest rated New Zealand based travel agent and we have been around for nearly a quarter century!

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If we had tried to plan this trip on our own, it would never have been as memorable as was.

5
Sydney bridge climb
USA

Nicole did a great job learning our interests, matching our interests with activities, and making the arrangements. The Sydney Bridge Climb was fun and memorable. The Sydney Aquarium was excellent. We surprised how wonderful it was. We appreciated the unscheduled time that allowed us to wander and discover this gem. We loved the Lord of the Rings venues--WETA and Hobbiton. We are grateful that Nicole mentioned the Hobbiton Evening Banquet possibility early enough for Nicole to make reservations. All other activities suggested were terrific and enjoyable. The Maori events (Te Puia/Te Ra and the Te Po Indigenous Evening Experience were much appreciated. In Aukland we totally enjoyed the SkyCity Orbit 360 dining experience, and the Waiheke Island experience, as suggested, was a great way to end our once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Thank you, thank you!

If we had tried to plan this trip on our own, it would never have been as memorable as was. Nicole at FirstLight took the time to discuss our interests, get to know us, and plan activities that exceeded our expectations. Nicole was responsive to our preferences and made every activity one we enjoyed. Having a detailed and complete itinerary relieved us of the pressure of figuring out almost all of the details, yet allowed us enough unscheduled time to explore.


So much fun in South of New Zealand (Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown), I love New Zealand!

5
Snow landing Franz Josef
Singapore

Driver (Terry) is very professional and familiar with the tour route. Attentive to details. As he is familiar with the route, he knows where has good food and coffee places. As our helicopter ride was postponed (weather condition - Franz Josef), and we do not have next plan. Terry is quick in planning where to go next and also taking consideration of my mum walking speed. He followed us throughout the walks / hiking make sure we don't lost our way too. Very lucky, we able to take the Helicopter the next day! The original plan was delay a little bit but we manage to complete all the places that was plan in the itinerary. Thank you First Light Travel and also our driver Terry Looyer. After so much fun in South of New Zealand (Christchurch, Franz Josef, Queenstown), I love New Zealand! I will be back again to visit Auckland and Rotorua and will also definitely get First Light Travel to plan my trip again!


The only thing I may have changed would be to extend our trip by a week!

5
Glacier helicopter landing
USA

Had a great trip, and got to see many amazing things in NZ. Looking back, the only thing I may have changed would be to extend our trip by a week and have some down time with nothing scheduled so we could just relax between the activities. Not your fault, I told you I wanted to see as much as possible, it was just hard to know on the front end just how tired we were going to be. Loved the activities, the country was amazing and I would love to come back.

Fantastic trip. It was nice not having to figure out all the logistics myself. It made the trip pretty simple since everything was planned for us.


Throughout the whole process they were prompt and helpful, extremely patient and solutions oriented

5
Reflective Lake
Australia

I would recommend Heidi Gillingham and her team to manage your NZ travel Throughout the whole process they were prompt and helpful, extremely patient and solutions oriented Well done and our thanks to you


Kirsty did a brilliant job of listening to our wish list and packing in our requests

5
Sea Kayaking
UK

Loved it all but sea kayaking and swimming with dolphins were our absolute favourites Kirsty did a brilliant job of listening to our wish list and packing in our requests without making us feel rushed. We even managed to add a few extras along the way!


 


It was good ...... based on our budget and schedule.

5
Iceburg
Canada

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.


 


I have no regrets it was so easy and everything went according to plan.

5
enjoying the rainforest
Australia

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.


 


You really made the experience stress free. We are grateful! I would definitely work with you all again

5
Tasman terminal lake
USA

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.

5
lake fly fishing
Hole in the Rock
Trout
Tasman Glacier Lake
Lupins
Canada

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.

5
Whale watching
national park
rotorua lakes
USA

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.




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