The 10 Best Private Tours in Otago Region, South Island

Enjoy getting off the beaten track with this exciting off road 4x4 tour in Skippers Canyon! Accessing Queenstown’s hidden scenic gems means leaving the highway and taking to the back roads to unveil a world you’d never know existed. As a local family owned and operated business, with years of local knowledge, our Off-Road 4x4 guides know how to navigate the long-forgotten adventure trails to amazing gold rush settlements and stunning scenery now forever captured on film by Lord of the Rings.

Inclusions: Small personalised tours to stunning locations, Guaranteed individual forward facing window seats, Free refreshments provided on selected tours, Free pick up and drop off to your accommodation, On-site IPad multimedia presentations, Guides are knowledgeable friendly locals

Exclusions: Gratuities

Waterfalls, deserted beaches, coastal rainforest, and rare wildlife can all be found in the Catlins. Explore this remote part of the South Island on a private day trip from Dunedin. You'll learn about early Maori inhabitants and European settlers from your personal guide, who has a Department of Conservation (DOC) concession with access to unforgettable places.

Inclusions: Gratuities, GST (Goods and Services Tax), National Park fees, Light refreshments, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Lunch

This is your chance to photograph one of the most spectacular and majestic places on Earth; Queenstown and the Southern Lakes. This full-day private photography tour will take you to the iconic locations you see in brochures as well as those special spots only a local would know, to explore and capture the beauty and splendor for yourself. This tour is designed for photography enthusiasts and your guide is a passionate landscape photographer, with years of local knowledge. Enjoy 8-9 hours of visiting some of the most interesting and beautiful destinations close to Queenstown and around the Southern Lakes. The weather in this amazing region is constantly changing bringing many moods that to the mountains, lakes, rivers and forests. Whatever the conditions we always know where to take you to and how to capture unique scenes of outstanding natural beauty.

Inclusions: Private tour for small-groups or individuals, Flexible itinerary, Advice on creative composition and using your camera, Local photographer guide, Comfortable 4WD, Light refreshments, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Lunch (Opportunity to buy lunch), Camera (Nikon D5100, available to rent)

Untouched Backcountry Heli Tour where the helicopter is yours for the day with your own private guide to explore some of the most remote corners of the lower South Island, touching down in magical places where it feels like Giant Moas could still wander out of the wilderness. This exclusive private tour will have you getting up close to wildlife, rainforests, waterfalls, glaciers and New Zealand's most famous attraction without crossing paths with another tourist. Featuring Mt Nicholas Station: Pioneer Living on a Remote Farm, Lake Erskine: An alpine lake with icebergs surrounded by hanging glaciers, Picnic at Lake Quill above Sutherland Falls, Martins Bay to visit a NZ fur seal colony, Milford Sound, Isobel/Tyndall Glacier via valley of the waterfalls/Earnslaw Burn.  

Inclusions: Helicopter & Pilot, Private Guide, Bottled water, Picnic Lunch, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Lunch, Snacks

Exclusions: Gratuities

See the best of New Zealand’s stunning South Island on this unforgettable 8-day tour! Traveling by private luxury vehicle you’ll visit all the highlights of this amazing destination on an counter-clockwise route from Christchurch. Explore Arthur’s Pass, see West Coast rainforests from Franz Josef Glacier, and visit Mount Cook and Queenstown. Customize your tour to your preference with a range of optional activities (own expense) including helicopter rides, mountain walks, bungee jumps and more! The service that we provide is a private luxury tour service, not a large group tour. Other than our friendly tour staff you will not be sharing your tour with anyone outside of your own party so you can rest assured that this is your tour and we’ll do exactly what you want to make it your perfect trip. With a round-trip transfer from Christchurch Airport or your local hotel plus seven nights of accommodation included, this adventure-laden tour enables you to see the South Island with ease.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Private tour, Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), Live commentary on board, Professional tour guide (who is also the driver), Transport by private vehicle and all fuel charges, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Round-trip airport transfer (Christchurch), 7 nights accommodation in your selected category of hotel

Exclusions: Gratuities, Optional activities, Personal expenses, Food and drinks, not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner)

On the Queenstown Personal Private Tour, join me (your very own private guide) in my comfortable Land Rover Discovery as I show you around to the most beautiful spots to snap an Instagram shot, best cafes for homemade treats, where to get the best coffee, pretty walks, interesting local art galleries, must-do adventures, top wineries and  whatever tickles your fancy. It's a relaxed and flexible way to enjoy one of the coolest resort towns in the world at your own pace with none of the hassles perfect if you don't want to bother with a rental car (especially if you're not used to driving on the left side of the road)!.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Professional Private local driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour, Transport by private vehicle, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch

We photograph your tour professionally, so you can sit back and relax. From posed photographs through to candid ones, we'll be helping you feel relaxed in this beautiful place creating images you'll treasure for decades to come. All of our tours are private and our Land Rovers have full leather interiors. You won't be sharing the vehicle with anyone other than your guides and your party. Nor will we be rushing, we want you to wind down. We are DOC concession holders, SMS Safety Management Audited and NZTA Licensed Operators, so you can relax knowing you're in very safe hands.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Food and Drink - a light meal, snacks and fresh spring water will be provided for you, Professional photographs - supplied digitally, a small selection within 24 hours or during the trip

Exclusions:

If a Milford Sound Personal Private Tour isn't on your bucket list yet, it should be! Milford Sound is one of the most well-known New Zealand attractions for good reason. Of all the Milford Sound day tours available, hands down the best way to see Milford Sound is with your own personal guide. I'll whisk you away from the long queues and buses into my comfortable Land Rover Discovery where we can stop wherever and whenever you like on our way to this incredible World Heritage area. You'll have plenty of time to appreciate the views on a walk along the way and then board the Milford Sound Nature Boat Cruise to get close to waterfalls and the sheer cliff walls carved by ancient glaciers. .

Inclusions: Bottled water, Snacks, Local Professional Guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Lunch, Transport in a comfortable Luxury vehicle Land Rover Discovery or Mercedes Sprinter van

Exclusions: Gratuities

Join us on the Queenstown & Central Otago Wine Tour which is an outstanding way to experience the stunning wines of both the Bannockburn and the Gibbston wine regions in Central Otago which are famed for it’s Pinot Noir. We will drive you through Central Otago to Bannockburn where we will go to the cellar door at Mt Difficulty, located on famed Felton Road before visiting the top wineries and cellar doors in the Gibbston Valley wine region. Create an unforgettable wine experience with your very own private local guide in the comfort of our luxury European vehicles.

Inclusions: Local taxes, Bottled water, Snacks, Wine tasting fees, Professional Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private tour, Transportation, Lunch

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Lunch (highly recommend booking in advance your preferred winery restaurant), Gratuities, Coffee/tea (available to purchase)

If a Milford Sound Personal Private Tour isn't on your bucket list yet, it should be! Milford Sound is one of the most well-known New Zealand attractions for good reason. Of all the Milford Sound day tours available, hands down the best way to see Milford Sound is with your own personal guide. I'll whisk you away from the long queues and buses into my comfortable Land Rover Discovery where we can stop wherever and whenever you like on our way to this incredible World Heritage area. You'll have plenty of time to appreciate the views on a walk along the way and then board the Milford Sound Nature Boat Cruise to get close to waterfalls and the sheer cliff walls carved by ancient glaciers. You'll then experience the most amazing scenery on your Scenic Flight in a Light Plane back to Queenstown and save yourself some driving time (it’s about 4 hours each way).

Inclusions: Bottled water, Snacks, Light Plane flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown, Local Professional Guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Lunch, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities