Discover Aotearoa
Dramatic fjords, geothermal wonders, Middle-earth filming locations, and pristine wilderness — both islands of New Zealand, guided by experts who know every hidden corner.
The World in Two Islands
Few countries on Earth compress such extraordinary diversity into such a compact geography. New Zealand rewards explorers at every turn.
The South Island dazzles with the dramatic fjords of Milford Sound — carved by glaciers over millions of years — the adventure capital of Queenstown, accessible glaciers descending through temperate rainforest, and the sweeping Southern Alps. The North Island captivates with geothermal wonders at Rotorua, the rich cultural heritage of the Māori people, the glowworm grottos of Waitomo, iconic Middle-earth film locations, and subtropical coastal beauty.
From adrenaline-pumping activities to serene wine tasting, world-class hiking to wildlife encounters found nowhere else on Earth — New Zealand offers unforgettable experiences for every kind of traveller. With some of the planet's most photogenic landscapes, a strong commitment to conservation, and a deeply welcoming culture, it consistently ranks among the world's top travel destinations.
What Makes Cooee Tours Different?
- Small guided groups (max 16) for personal attention and flexibility
- Expert local guides with deep knowledge of Māori culture, geology, and ecology
- Sustainable tourism with Qualmark-endorsed operators
- Exclusive access to hidden gems beyond the tourist trail
- Flexible itineraries combining icons with off-the-beaten-track discoveries
- All-inclusive packages — accommodation, transport, entries, and guides
- Tiaki Promise — we care for New Zealand's land, sea, and culture
South Island Tours
Milford Sound & Fiordland
Often called the eighth wonder of the world, Milford Sound is a spectacular fjord where sheer rock faces rise 1,200 metres from dark waters, permanent waterfalls cascade hundreds of metres, and rainforests cling impossibly to granite cliffs. As part of the Fiordland National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the planet's most dramatic natural amphitheatres.
🚢 Milford Sound Cruises
2-hour scenic cruises past Mitre Peak, Stirling Falls, and Bowen Falls with expert wildlife commentary and a good chance of encountering dolphins and seals.
🥾 Milford Track Day Walks
Experience sections of "the finest walk in the world" — one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks — with breathtaking alpine and fiord scenery at every turn.
🚁 Scenic Flights
Helicopter or small-plane tours provide extraordinary aerial perspectives over Fiordland's maze of fjords, peaks, and ancient beech forests.
🛶 Kayaking
Paddle beneath waterfalls and explore hidden coves inaccessible to larger vessels. The most intimate way to experience Milford's scale.
🐟 Underwater Observatory
Descend 10 metres to view unique deep-water species that thrive in Milford's unusually dark, layered fjord waters — a phenomenon found nowhere else.
🌊 Doubtful Sound Overnight
More remote and three times longer than Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound offers an overnight cruise experience of complete wilderness silence.
🐬 Wildlife
Bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, Fiordland crested penguins, and endemic birds including the kea (alpine parrot) and the rare takahē.
☀️ Best Season
December–March for stable weather. Waterfalls are most spectacular after rain. October–November offers spring blooms with fewer crowds and lower prices.
🗺️ Getting There
4-hour scenic drive from Queenstown through stunning mountain passes, or 25-minute scenic flight. Overnight tours depart from Te Anau.
Queenstown — Adventure Capital
Perched on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and ringed by the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown pulses with energy. The world's first commercial bungee jump happened here in 1988, and the town has never stopped pushing the boundaries of what's possible in a spectacular alpine setting.
🪂 Skydiving
Tandem jumps from 15,000ft over the Remarkables range — possibly the most scenic skydive on Earth.
🪢 Bungee Jumping
Kawarau Bridge (birthplace of commercial bungee), Nevis (134m), or the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
🚤 Jet Boating
360° spins through the narrow Shotover River canyon — a heart-pounding NZ original.
🎿 Skiing & Snowboarding
Coronet Peak and The Remarkables are world-class ski fields operating June through October.
🚠 Skyline Gondola & Luge
Ride to Bob's Peak for panoramic views, then luge back down through the hillside track.
🍷 Central Otago Wine
Gibbston Valley and Central Otago produce world-acclaimed Pinot Noir in dramatic schist-and-tussock landscapes.
More South Island Highlights
🏔️ Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand's highest peak (3,724m) dominates this alpine wonderland. Glacier walks, scenic flights over the Tasman Glacier, and world-class stargazing at the Dark Sky Reserve.
🧊 Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers
Walk to glacier terminals or take a helicopter hike onto the ice. These accessible glaciers descend through temperate rainforest — a combination found nowhere else.
🌿 Christchurch & Canterbury
The Garden City rebuilt with innovation and resilience. Visit the Cardboard Cathedral, Botanic Gardens, and nearby Akaroa's French heritage and Hector's dolphins.
🌊 West Coast Wilderness
Rugged coastline, Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, pristine rainforests, and historic gold-mining towns along the wild Tasman Sea.
🍇 Marlborough Wine & Sounds
World-renowned Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, intricate waterways of the Marlborough Sounds, and the Queen Charlotte Track for cyclists and hikers.
🏘️ Arrowtown & Glenorchy
Historic gold-mining village famous for autumn colours, and Glenorchy's Middle-earth landscapes used as filming locations for Lord of the Rings.
North Island Tours
The North Island pulses with geothermal energy, Māori heritage, and iconic film locations — a wholly different experience from the South Island's alpine grandeur.
Rotorua, Hobbiton & Māori Culture
Rotorua — Geothermal Wonderland
Rotorua sits atop one of the world's most active geothermal regions, where the earth's raw power creates an otherworldly landscape of spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools, and vivid mineral terraces. It is also the heartland of Te Arawa — the cultural capital of Māori New Zealand.
♨️ Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Champagne Pool, Artist's Palette, and the vivid turquoise Devil's Bath — the most spectacular collection of geothermal features in New Zealand.
🌋 Te Puia & Pōhutu Geyser
The 30-metre Pōhutu Geyser erupts up to 25 times daily. Combined with the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute for a complete cultural and geothermal experience.
🏡 Whakarewarewa Village
A living Māori community where geothermal energy has been used for cooking, heating, and bathing since ancient times. Still inhabited and operational today.
🥩 Māori Hangi & Cultural Evening
Traditional earth-oven feast with kapa haka (song, dance), pōwhiri (welcome), and storytelling — an authentic window into Māori culture and identity.
🌲 Redwoods Treewalk
Suspended walkway through towering Californian redwoods, with night-time lantern tours creating a magical forest atmosphere.
💆 Polynesian Spa
Natural hot mineral pools overlooking Lake Rotorua — the most therapeutic geothermal bathing experience in New Zealand.
Hobbiton Movie Set — Step Into Middle-earth
Visit the world's most famous film location from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata is a permanent attraction featuring 44 individually designed hobbit holes, the Party Tree, Bag End, and the fully functioning Green Dragon Inn. It's 90 minutes south of Auckland and pairs perfectly with Waitomo the same day.
View Hobbiton Tour Details →Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Drift in silence beneath a living constellation of thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms — a species unique to New Zealand and Australia. The famous underground boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto is one of New Zealand's most magical experiences. Adventure options include black water rafting, the 100-metre Lost World abseil, and the accessible Ruakuri Cave walk.
View Waitomo Cave Tours →More North Island Destinations
🏙️ Auckland — City of Sails
New Zealand's largest city spans two harbours. Climb Sky Tower, explore volcanic cones, sail Waitemata Harbour, and take the ferry to wine-rich Waiheke Island.
🐬 Bay of Islands
144 subtropical islands with turquoise waters. Swim with dolphins, visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and cruise to the famous Hole in the Rock.
🌋 Tongariro National Park
Dual UNESCO World Heritage site. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19.4km) is widely regarded as one of the world's best single-day hikes.
🏛️ Wellington — The Capital
Te Papa National Museum, vibrant craft beer scene, Weta Workshop (special effects studio), and gateway to the South Island by Interislander ferry.
🏖️ Coromandel Peninsula
Cathedral Cove's stunning rock archway, Hot Water Beach (dig your own thermal spa), native forest, and a scenic coastal drive from Auckland.
🌊 Lake Taupō
New Zealand's largest lake, formed by a supervolcano caldera. Skydiving, trout fishing, Huka Falls jet boat, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing as a day trip.
Multi-Day New Zealand Packages
Everything handled — accommodation, transport, entries, and expert guides. You just bring your sense of adventure.
5-Day North Island Discovery
5 Days · Small Group · From Auckland
The essential North Island introduction — covering Auckland's city highlights, Rotorua's geothermal wonders, Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo's glowworms, and the Bay of Islands' subtropical beauty.
- Auckland city highlights & Waiheke Island option
- Rotorua geothermal parks & Māori hangi
- Hobbiton Movie Set guided tour
- Waitomo Glowworm Cave boat ride
- Bay of Islands cruise & Waitangi Treaty Grounds
7-Day South Island Explorer
7 Days · Small Group · From Queenstown
New Zealand's most scenic island at its best — from Queenstown's adventure heartland to Milford Sound's majesty, Aoraki/Mt Cook's grandeur, and the Franz Josef glacier descending through rainforest.
- Milford Sound scenic cruise with wildlife
- Queenstown adventure activities of your choice
- Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park & Tasman Glacier
- Fox & Franz Josef Glacier walks
- Christchurch city & Akaroa French heritage
10-Day Grand Tour
10 Days · Both Islands · Auckland to Queenstown
The classic New Zealand end-to-end journey — from Auckland through the best of the North Island, across the Cook Strait, and down through the dramatic South Island to Queenstown. Includes inter-island flight.
- Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton & Waitomo
- Wellington capital highlights & Te Papa
- Queenstown adventure activities
- Milford Sound full-day cruise
- Aoraki/Mt Cook & Mackenzie Basin
14-Day Ultimate New Zealand
14 Days · Both Islands · Premium Lodges
The comprehensive New Zealand experience — covering both islands in depth with premium lodge accommodation, scenic helicopter flights, exclusive small-group experiences, and unhurried time at each destination.
- All North Island highlights with extra depth
- Scenic helicopter flight over Milford Sound
- Premium lodge accommodation throughout
- Exclusive private experiences at key sites
- Doubtful Sound overnight cruise option
What's Included in All Multi-Day Packages
- Quality accommodation (3–4 star with private facilities) throughout
- Professional driver-guide with expert local knowledge of culture and ecology
- Comfortable modern small-group coaches or vans (maximum 16 guests)
- All national park fees and attraction entries as per itinerary
- Selected meals (breakfast daily; selected dinners and lunches)
- Inter-island travel where applicable (ferry or domestic flights)
- Detailed pre-departure information and support from our team
New Zealand Adventure Activities
New Zealand invented adventure tourism with the world's first commercial bungee jump in 1988. Today, every conceivable thrill activity operates in some of the planet's most spectacular settings.
Skydiving
Tandem jumps over Queenstown, Lake Taupo, Bay of Islands, or above the glaciers — each an extraordinary perspective.
Bungee Jumping
Kawarau Bridge (43m, birthplace of bungee), Nevis (134m), and Auckland Harbour Bridge — three very different thrills.
White Water Rafting
Shotover River, Rangitikei, and Kaituna with its famous 7-metre waterfall drop — New Zealand's rivers don't hold back.
Jet Boating
360° spins through the narrow Shotover and Dart River canyons at high speed — a uniquely New Zealand invention.
Heli-Skiing
Access untouched powder fields in the Southern Alps via helicopter for the ultimate off-piste experience.
Canyoning
Abseil waterfalls, jump into deep pools, and slide down natural rock chutes in stunning canyon environments.
Ziplining & Canopy Tours
Fly through native forest canopy in Rotorua, Queenstown, and Nelson with experienced instructors.
Paragliding
Soar over Queenstown, Wanaka, or Nelson with instructors — tandem flights require no experience.
New Zealand's Great Walks
New Zealand's nine Great Walks are some of the finest multi-day hiking routes on Earth, covering fjords, volcanoes, coastlines, and rainforests. Most require advance booking.
Milford Track
53km through Fiordland — "the finest walk in the world." Four days through glacial valleys and alpine passes to Milford Sound.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
19.4km day hike across active volcanic terrain with emerald crater lakes, ancient lava flows, and Southern Alps views.
Routeburn Track
32km linking Mt Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks through spectacular alpine terrain. One of the world's great short walks.
Abel Tasman Coast Track
60km through golden beaches and native coastal forest in New Zealand's smallest national park — walk or kayak.
Essential Travel Information
Everything you need to know to plan your New Zealand adventure with confidence.
🗓️ When to Visit New Zealand
✈️ Getting to New Zealand
Direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Auckland to major New Zealand airports take 3–5 hours. Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia all operate trans-Tasman routes daily.
For moving between islands, domestic flights (Air New Zealand, Sounds Air) or the scenic Interislander ferry connect Wellington and Picton — a beautiful 3.5-hour crossing through the Marlborough Sounds.
💰 Costs & Currency
Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Cards are widely accepted. ATMs available in all towns and cities. Contactless payment is universal.
Daily budget (independent): $100–200 NZD for mid-range travel excluding tours and accommodation. Our guided packages bundle all major costs for excellent value.
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand but appreciated for exceptional service. A 10–15% tip at restaurants is common in cities.
📋 Visas & Entry
Australian citizens and permanent residents do not need a visa to enter New Zealand and may stay indefinitely.
Most other nationals can enter visa-free for up to 90 days with an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), available online before travel. A $35 NZD tourism levy applies.
Check the official Immigration New Zealand website for your country's current requirements before booking.
🎒 What to Pack
- Layered clothing — NZ weather changes rapidly even in summer
- Waterproof jacket (rain is possible year-round everywhere)
- Comfortable walking shoes and hiking boots with grip
- Sunscreen — UV levels are extremely high, especially in summer
- Insect repellent — sandflies are particularly fierce on the West Coast
- Power adapter: Type I 230V (same as Australia — no adapter needed)
- Camera with spare battery and ample storage
🛡️ Travel Insurance
Strongly recommended — and required for some adventure activities we offer. Ensure your policy explicitly covers adventure activities you plan to do: skiing, bungee jumping, skydiving, and white water rafting all require specific adventure sports cover.
New Zealand's ACC scheme covers injury costs for all visitors but does not cover non-injury medical costs, cancellations, or lost property. Comprehensive travel insurance fills these gaps.
New Zealand Tour FAQs
Answers to the questions our guests ask most often before booking their New Zealand adventure.
How many days do I need for New Zealand?
Should I visit the North Island or South Island first?
What is the best way to see Milford Sound?
How much does a New Zealand tour cost?
Are New Zealand tours suitable for families?
Can I customise my New Zealand itinerary?
What wildlife will I see in New Zealand?
Is travel insurance necessary for New Zealand?
Sustainable New Zealand Tourism
New Zealand leads the world in sustainable tourism through the Qualmark and Tiaki Promise initiatives. Cooee Tours is committed to protecting the environments and cultures we have the privilege to visit.
Qualmark Endorsed Operators
We partner exclusively with Qualmark-certified eco-tourism operators who meet New Zealand's national quality and sustainability standards.
Māori Cultural Partnership
We support Māori-owned and operated tourism businesses, ensuring our guests experience authentic cultural stories told by those who hold them.
Small Groups, Small Footprint
Maximum 16 guests reduces our environmental impact in sensitive national park environments and ensures a genuinely personal experience.
Tiaki Promise
Every Cooee traveller receives the Tiaki Promise guide — a commitment to care for New Zealand's land, sea, nature, and culture while travelling safely.
Carbon Offset Options
All Cooee Tours packages offer voluntary carbon offset options, contributing to verified New Zealand conservation and reforestation projects.
Conservation Education
Our guides educate all guests on endemic species conservation, biosecurity (don't bring fruit!), and the importance of New Zealand's predator-free future.
We acknowledge and respect the tangata whenua — the indigenous people — of Aotearoa New Zealand, and honour the enduring relationship between Māori and the land, waters, and skies of this extraordinary country.
Begin Your New Zealand Journey
From Milford Sound's misty fjords to Rotorua's bubbling mud pools, Hobbiton's rolling hills to Queenstown's alpine adventures — Aotearoa awaits. Let our expert team craft your perfect New Zealand adventure.