9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown worth booking?
9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown is a 216-hour experience in Queenstown, New Zealand, from $4700 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 144 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 72 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (11)
- Duration
- 216 hours
- From
- $4700 per person
This signature 9-day, 8-night tour offers a perfect blend of daily travel, covering the majority of top attractions in both South Island (Milford Sound to Christchurch) and North Island (Rotorua to Auckland). The tour in
What you get
- Guide-driver exclusively for your group
- Private transportation
- If any optional activity is canceled by activity provider or unavailable, alternatives are provided
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Guided Kayaking or Whale Watching Cruise Ticket at Kaikōura
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Stargazing Activity Ticket at Lake Tekapo
- Optional ("With Tickets" Option): Redwoods Treewalk Ticket at Rotorua
About this experience
This signature 9-day, 8-night tour offers a perfect blend of daily travel, covering the majority of top attractions in both South Island (Milford Sound to Christchurch) and North Island (Rotorua to Auckland). The tour includes convenient transfer flight ticket, and optional must-do activities & luxury accommodations, ensuring you experience the best itinerary within your limited time in New Zealand without the hassles of planning endless things and driving long distances on your own. The itinerary is crafted to showcase the beauty of New Zealand in a relaxed style within an ideal number of days. Besides visiting and experiencing many of the top attractions in New Zealand, you may also opt for an unbelievably long list of renowned and carefully selected 14-16 activities, ensuring a diverse experience. Enjoy the luxury of a private tour, with a knowledgeable guide-driver and a vehicle exclusively for you. Start at Queenstown and finish at Auckland.
What's included
Included
- Guide-driver exclusively for your group
- Private transportation
- If any optional activity is canceled by activity provider or unavailable, alternatives are provided
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Guided Kayaking or Whale Watching Cruise Ticket at Kaikōura
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Stargazing Activity Ticket at Lake Tekapo
- Optional ("With Tickets" Option): Redwoods Treewalk Ticket at Rotorua
- Use of charging cables & emergency rain gear
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): International Antarctic Centre OR Punting on Avon OR Tram Ticket
- Optional ("With Tickets" Option): Cruise Ticket at Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound
- Optional ("With Tickets" Option): Geothermal Valley, Māori Cultural Experience & Dinner at Rotorua
- Optional ("With Hotels" Option): Accommodation for 8 nights in 4 to 5-star hotels with breakfast
- Optional ("With Tickets" Option): Glowworm Caves Tour Ticket at Te Anau
- Optional ("With Tickets" Option): Agrodome & Private Hot Pool OR River Rafting Ticket at Rotorua
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Auckland Museum or Waiheke Island Hop-On Hop-Off Explore Ticket
- On-board WiFi
- Packaged snacks & chocolates
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Gondola with luge rides & Thrill Jet Boating Ticket at Queenstown
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Scenic Helicopter ride ticket at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Hobbiton Movie Set Tour Ticket
- Standard Economy Transfer Flight Ticket from Christchurch to Auckland
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): Alpaca Farm Tour & Nature Cruise Ticket at Akaroa
- Packaged water bottles
- Optional ("With Tickets" option): TranzAlpine Scenic Train Ticket - Arthur's Pass to Christchurch
Not included
- Food & Drinks (except 8 x breakfast with "With Hotels" option)
- Travel Insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Queenstown
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Ends at
You will be dropped off at your preferred location anywhere in Auckland City.
Options you can book
With Hotels & Entry Tickets
With Accommodations: Includes accommodation for 8 nights in 4 to 5-star handpicked hotels with breakfast based on availability and season. With Entry Tickets: Includes Entry tickets for mentioned 14-16 activities. Pickup included
Without Hotels & With Tickets
Without Accommodations: This option excludes accommodations. Travelers must book their own accommodation. Date-specific location guidance provided. With Entry Tickets: Includes Entry Tickets for mentioned 14-16 activities. Pickup included
Without Hotels & Entry Tickets
Without Accommodations: This option excludes accommodations. Travelers must book their own accommodation. Date-specific location guidance provided. Without Entry Tickets: This options excludes entry tickets for activities. Travelers book their own desired activities. Timeslot guidance provided. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Waimate Journeys
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travelers should have their own comprehensive travel insurance
- Following your booking, the operator will get in touch to confirm your preferences, as applicable
- With the "With Tickets" option, traveler(s) may swap any of the included activities for alternatives of interest such as Skydiving, Wine Tasting, Golf, Horse Trekking, Scenic Flights, Swimming with Dolphins, Glacier hiking, Relaxing Spa Treatments, Ziplining, etc., subject to availability, cost differences, and route or schedule feasibility
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
5 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Small groups
5 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
An Incredible Journey Through New Zealand
We started our 9 day tour from Queenstown and headed to Doubtful Sound, where the cruise through the spectacular fiords was absolutely breathtaking. The peaceful surroundings, dramatic mountains and untouched beauty made this one of the highlights of our trip. We visited Te Anau Glowworm Caves and headed back to Queenstown. We absolutely loved the relaxed atmosphere aroudn the Wharf and Lake Wakatipu. The views were incredible and it was one of those places where we could simply sit, walk around, and enjoy the moment. Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo were unforgettable. We especially enjoyed the fun and relaxed experiences like Agrodome, the Māori cultural experience in Rotorua, and ending the trip at beautiful Muriwai Beach. Every day had something different, but the whole journey felt smooth and stress-free. We are very happy with the service provided by the Waimate Journeys and especially grateful to our guide for making the trip so enjoyable. New Zealand gave us some amazing memories, and we would definitely recommend Waimate Journeys to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand. Thank you for making our journey so memorable!
via Tripadvisor
Great Way to Explore Beautiful New Zealand
This 9 day tour was the great way to explore beautiful New Zealand. We covered many of New Zealand's must see places, but flexibility made this the trip special, as we informed our interest and they fit that activities to the itinerary and handled everything smoothly. Our guide was exactly what you would hope for in a private tour guide friendly, patient, knowledgeable, organized and always willing to help. The mix of nature, culture, adventure and relaxation kept every day interesting. This tour is a very easy and enjoyable way to see large part of New Zealand without worrying about bookings, driving or planning. If there is something you have always wanted to do then just inform it to the team and take advantage of customization.
via Tripadvisor
So Much to See and So Much to Do
We covered an incredible amount of New Zealand in just 9 days. Having private tour with guide made huge difference. If our activity get cancelled due to weather he quickly arrange the alternative that our day don't go waste. We could ask so many questions, and enjoy the journey without worrying about maps, parking, or schedules. The flight, hotels, transport and activities were all arranged smoothly, making our holiday very easy and enjoyable. We amazed with the Milford Sound drive it has so many beautiful stops to click picture with incredible scenery, so many waterfalls along the way. Akaroa is cute little beautiful town and Queenstown is very lively with so many adventurous things to do. While Mt. Cook glacier lake was just magical surrounded by beautiful snow peaked mountains and glaciers. I must say no words are enough to describe beauty of New Zealand.
via Tripadvisor
Stress Free Best Holidays
This was truly one of the best holidays we have had. They happily customized our itinerary. We shared our interest and they suggested great alternatives and activities that aligns with our interests. We choose horse trekking and opt for drive instead of TranzAlpine train ride. Drive to Milford Sound and Milford Sound cruise were wonderful experience. We just loved how many breathtaking scenic stops were there during the drive. Experience Maori Culture at Te Puia Village was one of the best activities we had. And relaxing private hot pool before ending the trip was the best idea suggested by Waimate Journeys. What we appreciated most was not having to worry about planning, coordinating, driving, parking or even where to eat. Our guide's restaurant recommendations were excellent. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a hassle free way to explore New Zealand while enjoying the holidays.
via Tripadvisor
A MUST experience if you’re traveling to New Zealand!!
Booking with Waimate Journeys was the best decision we made for our trip. From the beginning, Raghav and his team were so quick to answer all questions promptly. Once we met with him, he was so easy to communicate with, coordinating times and sending all our activities, hotels, and any additional information very clearly. His itinerary was absolutely perfect for first time New Zealand visitors, hitting all the big highlights. All the hotel options were wonderful. He is incredibly knowledgeable about New Zealand. He took care of every detail. You don’t need to worry about getting from point A to B. He takes the safety and comfort of his travelers seriously. Absolutely would recommend Waimate Journeys 10/10 and more. It is worth every penny.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 216 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 144h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $4700 to $27400
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Waimate Journeys, who run 10 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 58.1.
See everything Waimate Journeys runsWhy this scores 72
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Queenstown.
How much does 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown cost?
+
Prices start at $4700 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Queenstown usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown take?
+
Plan for about 216 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Queenstown is not rushed.
Is 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in Queenstown, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 144 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 216-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown?
+
Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Queenstown can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Queenstown and add a light layer if any part of the 216-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Queenstown within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Queenstown?
+
On Outty we rank every Queenstown experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown, Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown, Award Winning Premium Wine Tour Queenstown Tasting at 4 Wineries. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Queenstown?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for 9 Day South to North Island NZ Private Tour from Queenstown.
Pick your date
