Welcome! It is great to know you are serious about coming to New Zealand. In order to ensure your trip to NZ is the most rewarding travel experience of your life, you need to figure out what type of trip you are looking for.

Firstly, you need to decide if you want to travel on your own (called FIT in the travel industry), or in a group, with a guide.

FIT – Free Independent Traveler
If you like to make all the decisions for yourself, and want to have the ability to choose where you go and what you do everyday, then this is your style of travel. There are many resources available for you to choose from which will help you to get around New Zealand and have a great vacation.

If this is how you plan to travel throughout New Zealand, I would suggest these websites to be excellent sources of information for you:

• Lonely Planet Guide – New Zealand - www.lonelyplanet.com

• Rough Guides – New Zealand - www.roughguides.com

Guided Tours
If you don't want to have your nose stuck in a guide book all the way around New Zealand, then consider a guided tour. Many of our clients have likened our tours to having their very own, living guide book! Not only are all the daily decisions about accommodation, meals and travel route taken care of, but you have the knowledge and insight of a local Kiwi who can fill you in on the history and culture of local areas and give you a truly authentic travel experience.

So, if guided tours appeal to you, here are the basic types of tours.

Scenic Tour
If you are looking for a trip which visits those “must see” places in New Zealand , a scenic tour might be for you. This type of tour does not involve much outdoor activity or adventure, it is more relaxed and generally is a luxury experience, with minimal activity. I would expect your guide on a scenic tour to have good knowledge of the culture & history of New Zealand, but probably not when it comes to flora & fauna etc.

Hiking Tour
New Zealand is the ultimate destination for a hiking tour. Generally traveling in small groups (up to 16 people), a hiking tour should involve daily walks into nature with an experienced local guide. This is a great way to see New Zealand, and experience the outdoors, whilst learning about the history, culture, flora & fauna from your guide. The activity levels of hiking tours vary from easy to strenuous. To read more about New Zealand 's great hiking trails, go to the About NZ part of our site, and click on New Zealand Hiking Trails.