New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

First Light were the first people we contacted regarding our trip to New Zealand and from start to finish were most helpful in helping us to fulfil this trip of a life time. They kept us up to date ,when we were traveling around New Zealand, of any disruptions that we might encounter and were on the end of the phone if we needed them. Thank you.

First Light Travel created a well organized and well designed itinerary which allowed us to concentrate on the beauty and novelty of New Zealand. he suggested and provided activities were suitable to our interests and abilities. Given that this was a self driving tour, we had a great deal of flexibility to go where and when we wanted to. As a result, we were less dependent on organized activities than would be the case with a larger group. Nicole strongly suggested that we do the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise which was a very good idea.

There were no worries about surprises awaiting us. The trip proceeded like clockwork. Thanks for the good work.

This was a dream trip for us and I had no idea how to plan a whole month’s journey. First Light saved me hours of research and booking time. All of the details from car rentals, activities and lodging were well planned and made the trip easy and enjoyable.

Jessika did an amazing job of planning our vacation. She chose great tours and sights for us to see. This was a once in a lifetime trip and I will never forget all the great memories. There were no problems with any of our reservations or our itinerary. Everything went so smoothly. Loved staying at the Hermitage at Mt. Cook. Seeing the sun shine on the snow peak was unforgetable. Enjoyed Hokianga harbor a great deal and it was unexpected. Thank you Jessika

Four of us just returned from a 3 week trip to the North and South Islands of New Zealand . First I must mention what a beautiful country New Zealand is, from its breathtaking landscapes ,the vibrancy of the communities and the friendliness and warmth of the people. Learning about the Maori culture was a highlight of the trip.
While researching travel agencies I settled on First Light Travel.It was important to me to use the expertise of a local agency if possible . First Light Travel more than exceeded our expectations. I worked with Marcella Johnson. She was very professional, available when needed, and very instrumental in helping me set up our itinerary. She worked well within my budget. We chose to have private drivers on each island which made it possible to concentrate on just having fun without having to worry about the logistics of driving . Not only did they drive us from one place to another ,they made sure to recommend scenic stops, as well as places for lunch they thought would be of interest to us. Everything went off without a hitch. The hotels, as well as the tours she arranged were exceptional. Marcella helped us to choose activities that met all of our needs.
I (and my family) would highly recommend a trip to New Zealand, and in order to have the best experience possible you should contact First Light Travel.

Recently returned from a fabulous trip to New Zealand. We chose First Light Travel to put together our trip, as they had great reviews. Marcella did a great job working with us to include as many nature related experiences as possible and advised us on best time of year to travel. In all, we spent about 5 weeks visiting both islands. This included a two day trip to Stewart Island staying in a beautiful Boutique Lodge. Probably the best holiday we have ever had. We loved New Zealand; the people; the food; the cities and the wonderful scenery. Great variety in what we saw and the time spent in each location suited us well. All the hotels/accommodation were excellent. Easy driving and good roads. Certainly this holiday exceeded our expectation. Thank you Marcella!

Heidi Gillingham was very responsive and provided an excellent amount of detail and description in the whole holiday. All questions were answered promptly. Everything booked was confirmed on arrival, no hiccups which helped with the enjoyment of the trip

There is an advantage to using a local travel agency to assist in planning a trip to an area that you are not familiar with. While you can research on your own, it's likely you would miss something memorable. Our two week+ self-drive tour of the South Island really was marvelously executed. The timing of the stops, hotels, and activities was well thought out. We did a fair amount of coastal cruises, wine tasting, wine tasting, helicopter flights, the whole thing. Most everything was small groups, and sometimes just by ourselves with a guide. No big buses. Highly recommended.

First Light Travel made booking a big trip for two families of four, travelling together from Australia, a breeze. We found an itinerary online from First Light which was close to what we were thinking, then reached out to and worked with Bernadette and Katarina to tweak and fit in everything we wanted. They took care of all the bookings, which was too overwhelming to do on our own! The accommodation selections were great, recommended tours and activities all enjoyed and the trip was hassle free. We absolutely loved our South Island adventure, thank you!

Everything from start to finish was good. We were kept ip to date with everything and when a change if activity was required due to cancellation of whale watching because of weather conditions, our consultant sorted this out straight away. Accommodation and activities were excellent as were recommendations of things to do at each place we visited. We had the holiday of a lifetime!