Small Group Tours
Explore New Zealand in a small group with a knowledgeable guide while travelling alongside like minded travellers.
Discover itinerariesA more personal way to explore
Small group tours offer a more intimate way to experience New Zealand. With fewer travellers than traditional coach tours, journeys often feel more flexible and allow for deeper connections with the places you visit.
Groups are typically small enough to access locations that larger coaches cannot reach, from scenic backroads and national parks to smaller towns and local experiences. Along the way, experienced guides share insights into the landscapes, culture and history of the regions you travel through.
For travellers who enjoy the balance of guided travel and meaningful experiences, small group touring offers a relaxed and engaging way to explore New Zealand.
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Contact usHighlights of small group tours
Why book a small group tour with us
We work with some of New Zealand’s most trusted small group tour operators, offering journeys across the country’s key landscapes and regions.
Our Travel Specialists help match you with the right tour based on your interests, pace and group size, and make sure everything fits smoothly with any pre or post tour travel.
With our Best Price Guarantee, you can book with confidence, if you find the same tour for less, we’ll beat it before you book.
Prefer something more flexible?
If you like the idea of guided touring but want more flexibility, we can combine a guided tour with extra time before or after, creating a trip that fits you better.
Get in touchSmall group tour operators
G Adventures
For more than 35 years, G Adventures has been operating small group tours around the world, focusing on connecting travellers with local cultures and communities. Their journeys emphasise responsible travel and meaningful experiences while supporting the places they visit. In New Zealand, G Adventures itineraries explore national parks, scenic regions and cultural highlights while travelling in small groups with experienced local guides. These tours suit travellers looking for immersive experiences and a more adventurous style of small group travel.
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Highlights of New ZealandPure Discoveries
Launched in 2019, Pure Discoveries specialises in small group tours designed to showcase New Zealand’s natural landscapes and outdoor experiences. Travelling with knowledgeable driver guides, these journeys explore national parks, scenic regions and lesser known corners of the country. With small groups and carefully selected accommodation, Pure Discoveries tours offer a relaxed and friendly way to experience New Zealand while enjoying guided walks, nature experiences and local insights along the way.
Highlighted tour:
Kowhai Tour
Intrepid Travel
Founded in 1989, Intrepid Travel operates small group tours around the world with a strong focus on responsible and sustainable travel. Their journeys aim to create authentic local experiences while minimising environmental impact and supporting local communities. In New Zealand, Intrepid itineraries explore national parks, coastal landscapes and cultural highlights while travelling in small groups with knowledgeable leaders and a focus on meaningful travel experiences.
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Ultimate New ZealandGrand Pacific Tours Ultimate
Grand Pacific Tours Ultimate Small Group journeys offer a business class style of coach touring, with smaller group sizes, premium accommodation and a strong focus on comfort throughout the trip. With a maximum of around 20 travellers, you’ll travel in modern coaches with features like leather reclining seats, generous legroom and panoramic windows, creating a more relaxed and spacious experience on the road. These tours explore the country’s key regions and landscapes at a well-paced rhythm, combining high quality inclusions with a more personal level of service, making them a strong fit for travellers looking for a comfortable, fully guided journey with added attention to detail.
Highlighted tour:
19 Day Ultimate Showcase
Popular small group tours
Small Group Tour FAQs
A small group tour is a guided journey that travels with fewer people than a traditional coach tour, often around 10 to 20 travellers. This creates a more personal travel experience and can allow access to places that are less practical for larger groups.
Yes. Small group tours offer the benefits of guided travel while keeping the atmosphere more relaxed and personal. They suit travellers who want local insight, shared experiences and a well-planned itinerary without the scale of a larger coach tour.
Small group tours usually travel with fewer people and use smaller vehicles, which can create a more flexible and personal experience. Traditional coach tours often follow a more structured format with larger groups and bigger coaches, which can suit travellers who prefer a classic escorted touring style.
Most small group tours include accommodation, transport between destinations and selected activities. Depending on the itinerary, this may also include guided walks, cultural experiences, scenic cruises or some meals.
Yes. Many travellers combine a small group tour with independent travel, scenic rail journeys or a tailor-made itinerary before or after the guided portion of their trip.
Yes. Many small group tours appeal to travellers who want a comfortable, well-organised way to explore New Zealand while travelling in a smaller group. The pace and style vary by operator, so it is worth choosing a tour that matches your interests, activity level and preferred level of comfort. If you’re not sure which tour is right for you, get in touch.
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