New Zealand Self Drive Tour Reviews

First Light Travel did a flawless job of planning and arranging this once in a lifetime vacation, and we truly couldn't be more happy with their service! Special shout out to Natalie for being so friendly and responsive, and for working so closely with my husband to plan this dream vacation.

First Light Travel was absolutely amazing to work with! Specifically, we worked with Marcella, who created a perfect vacation for us through New Zealand. We wanted to see all the lord of the rings sites that we could and she put together an amazing itinerary that allowed us to see so much! Even got engaged at Hobbiton which was a dream! Marcella was so attentive to our needs and would help find alternatives to activities when we did not want the original ones she suggested. Such a delight to work with and will absolutely be using her again whenever we travel back to New Zealand!

For first time New Zealand visitors like us, having Jasmin Cinel from First Light make all the arrangements made everything so much easier. The website has excellent itinerary recommendations, and Jasmin worked with us to refine our own tour, including airport pickups, rental car, accommodations and all activities. I am certain we would not have seen or done nearly as much without her help.

Our trip was wonderfully organized with excellent attention to details. The activities that were chosen were generally excellent and a lot of fun.

I recently booked a 12-day LOTR road trip in New Zealand with First Light Travel, and I couldn't be more impressed with their service. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and well-organized. They took care of everything-including car rental, accommodations and activities-which allowed me to simply enjoy my trip without any stress.

I recently had the pleasure of booking a trip to New Zealand with First Light Travel, and I can say without a doubt that it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The decision to travel with them was an easy one, primarily due to how simple and efficient the planning and booking process was. Everything was seamless, and their responses to my inquiries were always prompt, relevant, and accurate, which made the entire journey feel smooth and stress-free.

The itinerary provided was spot on and tailored to my interests. I felt well-informed and prepared throughout the trip, with all the details I needed laid out clearly. One highlight of the trip was Rotorua, where I had the chance to explore the hot springs and geyser areas. It was absolutely amazing—such a unique experience that I'll remember for years to come.

The activities suggested were a perfect fit for me, and I didn't come across any that I didn't enjoy. The accommodations were great, just as I expected, and the transport was all very convenient. One minor hiccup I encountered was driving around Auckland, especially with the ongoing construction and one-way streets. While it wasn’t ideal, I understand there’s not much that can be done about that.

As for the value, I can confidently say the service I received represented excellent value for money. It was a great trip, and I truly appreciated how First Light Travel managed the details.

The only small suggestion I’d have is for them to include restaurant recommendations in the itinerary. The hotel we stayed at wasn't particularly helpful in that regard, and having a few go-to dining spots would have been helpful.

All in all, I had a wonderful time, and I would absolutely recommend First Light Travel to friends, family, or colleagues planning a trip to New Zealand.

I chose FirstLight Travel after they were recommended multiple times in a NZ travel Facebook group I joined. From my very first conversation with Bernadette (who has since moved on from her position), I knew I had made the right choice. Katarina, who took over for Bernadette, only confirmed it. The whole impetus for the trip was to visit Hobbiton for my birthday, everything else would be a bonus. And what incredible bonuses they were! From a bird sanctuary island to kayaking in glow worm caves to amazing cultural performances - we never lacked for new things to discover. My cousin and I loved every new place we got to explore and every new adventure we got to experience. We definitely left a little bit of our hearts in New Zealand by the end of our two weeks and we cannot wait to go back for round two!

Danielle at First Light Travel made my trip to New Zealand with my sister absolutely perfect! She was very patient with us as we requested changes to the itinerary until it was exactly what we wanted and more. The activities were thrilling (Hobbiton, multiple LOTR day and half-day tours, Milford Sound, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, etc.) and the accommodations were all so nice. It the trip of a lifetime and the trip of my dreams! 11/10!

We used First Light for a trip to the North island in January 2025. They put together an amazing itinerary, found great lodging and interesting activities that I don’t think would have been easy to organize in our own. They were very useful and helpfulfor our trip!

We entrusted our Honeymoon to First Light Travel and were so glad we did! Their consultation service was exceptional, Natalie helped with suggestions for activities and listened to all our needs. During our trip there were some unfortunate cancellations due to extreme weather but the team at First Light travel couldn’t have been more helpful, rearranging trips and accommodation to ensure we made the most of every moment. We are very grateful to the team and would recommend them to anyone looking to explore NZ and the surrounding countries!