Custom Luxury New Zealand Vacations,
Planned by Local Experts
Private drivers, luxury lodges, handpicked experiences and seamless support, designed by a Queenstown-based team who knows New Zealand personally.
Who can plan a luxury New Zealand holiday that feels personal, effortless, and genuinely local?
Our bespoke luxury travel planning is designed for travellers who want a beautifully arranged New Zealand holiday without the stress of organising every detail themselves. It suits couples, families and small private groups who value comfort, local knowledge, exceptional accommodation, private guiding and seamless support from a team based here in New Zealand.
This is ideal if you:
✓ Want a private customised itinerary
✓ Prefer luxury lodges and boutique stays
✓ Value private drivers and local guides
✓ Want support before and during travel
Queenstown-Based | TIA Member | 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist | Local Support
Featured Itineraries
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15-Day Luxury Lodge Journey
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10-Day South Island Luxury Journey
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14-Day Cities, Mountains & Lakes Journey
Meet Kathy and Wayne
The People Behind the Service
At the heart of New Zealand Luxury Travel Agents are Wayne and Kathy, Queenstown locals who bring together a genuine love for Aotearoa and a lifetime of global travel experience. Having explored the world themselves, they understand what makes a journey truly special — thoughtful pacing, seamless logistics, and those small details that quietly elevate the experience.
Living and working in New Zealand allows Wayne and Kathy to design journeys with real insight. From trusted local connections and exceptional accommodation to experiences you won’t find online, every itinerary is carefully crafted to reflect how you like to travel. Nothing is rushed, nothing is overlooked.
Above all, it’s about warm, personal service. You’ll work directly with people who care deeply about your time here and take pride in creating New Zealand journeys that feel effortless, exclusive, and genuinely memorable — the kind of travel that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.
Luxury Accommodation, Chosen From Real Experience
Where should I stay in New Zealand if I want somewhere truly special?
Choosing the right luxury lodge in New Zealand is not just about finding the most expensive room or the best view online. It is about knowing how a place feels, how it fits into the journey, and whether it is right for the traveller.
We are lucky to have stayed at many of the lodges and special properties we recommend, so our advice comes from real experience, not just brochures. One of our own highlights was a private outdoor dining experience at Huka Lodge, looking out over the Waikato River , the kind of quiet, personal moment that stays with you long after the trip.
These are the details we look for when planning your journey. A lodge may be perfect because of its food, its setting, its hosts, its privacy, or simply the way it lets you slow down and enjoy where you are. Whether it is a riverside lodge, an alpine retreat, a vineyard stay or a private villa, we help choose accommodation that adds something meaningful to your New Zealand experience.
Your accommodation should never feel like just somewhere to sleep. It should be part of the story of the journey.
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Eagles Nest
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Huka Lodge
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The Lindis
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Blanket Bay
Trusted by Discerning Travellers
Cynthia Argo
We always had a dream to go to New Zealand and Australia and thanks to Kathy at New Zealand Private Tours it became a reality! My husband and I just spent 17 amazing days in New Zealand, 6 destinations and 10 days in Australia, 4 destinations, all perfectly orchestrated by Kathy. She set us up with private drivers and guides to take us to each. Had we tried to drive ourselves, we would have missed all the hidden gems along the way! There were so many highlights: breathtaking scenery, wine tours, thermal springs, boiling mud pools, glow worm caves, exploring glaciers by boat and ski planes/helicopters and so much more! But if you asked my husband it would definitely be fishing with Chris Dorr!
We stayed in incredible accommodations and the food was delicious. Thanks to Kathy and her wonderful staff, IT WAS PERFECT!
Howard Jonas
WOW! Just got back from a two-week trip to New Zealand that Kathy at New Zealand Private Tours planned for us. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. Kathy took the time to listen to what we hoped to accomplish during our visit and then planned an itinerary that touched on everything we wanted to do and more. Our accommodations were all lovely boutique hotels and ranged from upscale to take your breath away, hello Fiordland Lodge & Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat. Some of our trip highlights included an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, seeing the penguins in Dunedin, landing on the glacier at Mount Cook and a nighttime hike through the rain forest in Rotorua to see the glow worms. We also got to experience the Māori culture. Throughout our stay the private drivers/guides showed us the beautiful countryside and educated us on the history and culture of New Zealand. The trip turned out to be an experience of a lifetime and would not have been possible with Kathy & Wayne at New Zealand Private Tours.
Why Travel With Us?
A small New Zealand company that treats your journey personally
We are not a large travel company and you are not just another booking number. We are a small, New Zealand-based team who take the time to understand how you like to travel, what matters to you, and how to make your time here feel special.
Because we live in New Zealand and work closely with guides, lodges, drivers and local operators, we know the little details that can make a big difference. Things like where to slow the pace down, which routes are worth taking, when a scenic flight is worth it, which lodge suits which traveller, and how to avoid days that look good on paper but feel too rushed in real life.
Nothing is cookie-cutter
Every itinerary we create is built around the individual traveller. Some clients want luxury lodges and private drivers, others want wine, wildlife, walking, helicopters, food, culture or quiet time in beautiful places. We use our local knowledge to shape the journey around you, rather than forcing you into a set package.
Local knowledge and secret details
A lot of New Zealand travel planning comes down to small decisions. Which side of the lake to stay on. Whether to drive or fly. Which stop is worth your time. Where to add an extra night. Which experience feels authentic rather than touristy. These are the details we help with, because we know the country personally and we care about getting the flow right.
Support while you travel
Once you are in New Zealand, you are not on your own. If weather changes, flights are delayed, or plans need adjusting, we are here to help. That local support gives you peace of mind, so you can relax and enjoy the journey knowing someone here is looking after the details.