Our Core Values

Our Mission

New Zealand Awaits’ mission is to provide our guests with exceptional travel experiences that not only enhances their lives, but also the lives of the people in the communities they visit.

Excellent Customer Service

We strive to provide the highest quality experience to our customers through honesty, sincerity, respect and professionalism.

Environmental Sustainability

New Zealand has spectacular natural beauty, and it’s our responsibility to do all we can to sustain it for those who come after us, future travellers and future generations. We limit our group tours to 12 travellers, lessening our impact on the environment, and allowing us to work with smaller local operators who value environmental responsibility.

Social Responsibility

Supporting local communities and small business owners is extremely important to us. We stay in New Zealand owned and operated lodging wherever possible. We use locally owned and operated activity providers supporting them in sustaining their businesses. In return we receive exceptional experiences with real local people, not anonymous companies.

Our Services

Independent Travel

  • what is it

    If you’d love to explore New Zealand more independently, rather than on one of our guided tours, we can help plan your trip so you’re time and money is well spent, so you stay in gay-friendly or gay owned lodging, and where you’ll meet our wonderful partners who will give you exceptional quality experiences. Not all companies are created equal, and we ensure you enjoy high value lodging and activities that focus on outstanding customer service and authentic experiences. Very often that level of service is found off the beaten path or out of the major tourist centers, and we help you connect with these people. This also helps sustain those small business owners strengthening those local communities.

  • Ready to Go Trips

    These are expertly created self-drive trip itineraries designed specifically for independent travellers. They include:

    • Rental car (compact car) with unlimited kilometers and no-excess insurance
    • Pre-booked 3 and/or 4 star accommodation – option to upgrade
    • Domestic transport (ferries, flights) as detailed in itinerary
    • Trip packet containing detailed notes, directions, contact information, vouchers and more
    • Arrival greeting and introduction to New Zealand

  • ‘One of a Kind’ Trips

    These trips are designed in collaboration with you, based on your dreams and interests. Using our local knowledge, we’ll design your dream vacation. We’ll listen to what you want, learn how you want to travel, find out what’s important to you in a travel experience, and ensure that’s exactly what you get. Get in touch now to start this process.

Privately Escorted

  • What it is

    For many, a trip to New Zealand is a bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime experience. With one of our private escorts, we ensure that every last detail is taken care of. From initial planning, during your travel in New Zealand, through to your return home, you can sit back, relax, and focus on the magnificent scenery you’re viewing, the exceptional experiences you’re having, the amazing people you’re meeting, and the memories you are creating.

  • You Choose

    Whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple, or in a group, we’ll work with you to design the experience of a lifetime. We can privately escort you on any of the itineraries on our website, or we can design a new tour specifically for you and your companions based on your desires. Perhaps you want a special family vacation, a way to celebrate a life milestone or anniversary, a reunion for special friends, or have a deep interest in nature, birds, hiking, biking, fishing, or food and wine … because we are locals who have extensive and current information, as well as relationships with the people best suited to serve you, we can ensure your journey is unique designed just for you.

Small Group Tours

  • WhAT IT IS

    When we say ‘Small Group Tours’ we mean it! You’ll be one of no more than 12 travellers, enjoying highly personalised service and attention from your Kiwi Guide, who ensures you are taken care of along the way. Sharing the thrill and excitement of a new place with only a few other like-minded travellers enhances your experiences and leads to lifelong connections. It also means you benefit from access to experiences, places, or lodging that are not an option for bigger groups. It’s a win-win!

  • Why Us?

    In addition to keeping our groups really, really, small, we also include in our tour price multiple experiencesguided by local experts. We understand the value of connecting you with true locals. It’s why we have spent years developing relationships with so many small owner/operators – typically people who have lived there for decades, and are descendants of multiple generations in the same area. It’s the most authentic way to experience another country and culture.