Frequently Asked Questions
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Below are some of the more frequently asked questions we get. If you don’t find any answers to your questions, please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to get back to you within 24 hours.
What sort of accommodation will I be staying at while on tour?
This is completely up to you! We can arrange for accommodation in anything from five star hotels to dormitory rooms, but of course, our favourite option is camping. (Only available from October to April, because we don’t want our guests to freeze!)
Just let us know which kind of accommodation suits you the best and we will price your tour accordingly.
I’m thinking of choosing the camping option. Is camping comfortable? 
If you aren’t sure what to expect from camping, don’t be nervous, but excited! By camping you will experience nature in incredible ways. A common misunderstanding about camping in the wild is that it is uncomfortable. Not true! We will do all we can to make sure you want to camp again after touring with us!
We provide everything you will need to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Our quality tents are for 4 people but we only allow a maximum of 2-3 people in each to ensure you have the room you need.
You will be sleeping on thick air mattresses that we inflate by pump, so don’t think you’ll have to endure twigs sticking into your back as you sleep!
We choose our camping spots carefully to ensure that you create amazing memories of sleeping in the New Zealand outdoors. In our tours, we have a mixture of more remote camping spots surrounded by nature and spots in Holiday Parks, which have full facilities. This means that you have the chance to enjoy getting away from everything, eating food that we cook outdoors and using streams to wash in, but that you also get the chance to freshen up with hot showers and the chance to use indoor facilities regularly.
And if you decide part way through a tour that camping isn’t for you, you are always welcome to upgrade to whatever other accommodation is available. We just ask that you pay us the difference in price for each night you choose other accommodation.
What will we eat?
All meals are provided on our tours. If you choose to stay in a motel or hotel, evening meals will be in a restaurant. For those choosing a camping tour, your guide will cook delicious meals for you. You can expect healthy, sustaining food. If you want to help out in the kitchen, you’re welcome to! This is a memorable experience when we are in more remote camp-sites as outdoor cooked food can’t be beaten!
If you have food allergies, are a vegetarian or really dislike certain foods, let us know! We will do our best to cater for you.
With the meals we provide, we aim to provide authentic NZ hospitality, rather than a typical tourist experience. We want you to try and enjoy New Zealand food with some great treats!
We will always have fruit available throughout the day for you to snack on. While we offer some hot and cold drinks with breakfast and dinner, if you want to have other drinks during the day, you will need to buy these for yourself. (Please note that we do not provide any alcoholic drinks. If you want some, you need to bring your own, but please only drink in moderation while with us. Party-tours are not our culture.)
Breakfasts will be mostly continental in style with cereal and / or oatmeal and fruit. We will sometimes have cooked breakfasts as well.
Lunch is our most simple meal of the day, since we are usually on the move at that time. Usually lunch will consist of sandwiches or some baked items, either that we prepare or buy at bakeries.
What will we drive in?
This depends on the size of your group. We hire vehicles that are safe and comfortable for the number of people we take. We do not usually choose the most luxurious and expensive vehicles in order to keep costs to you lower. However, if you want more luxury, let us know and we will be happy to do this, factoring the extra cost into your tour pricing.
What are your hidden costs? How much do I really have to pay?
We have no hidden costs. The price we give you is all you have to pay for your whole tour. This includes all the transport during the tour, the accommodation you have specified, all meals and any scheduled paid activities. There will never be a point in any of our tours where you have to pay extra for what we have planned.
We do recommend that you bring some pocket money though. In your free time you may wish to pay for souvenirs or other activities that were not included in our price.
Visa and Master Card credit cards (and others) are widely used in NZ. There are also many ATM’s that accept foreign bank cards.
Because we want to explore nature in a country with changeable weather, it would be good to bring clothing and shoes that are comfortable to wear in the outdoors and suitable for all sorts of weather. Bring a raincoat, wind-proof jacket and warm clothing even if you are coming on a summer tour. When choosing clothing to keep you warm, we recommend that you avoid cotton - it is no good against the cold.
What else should I bring?
Make sure you bring your camera because we will be surrounded by photo opportunities all the time!
Apart from your main luggage, a daypack for short walks and excursions will be handy.
Don’t forget a hat, sun-screen and insect repellant! The sun in New Zealand is very strong and we want you to avoid being burnt like so many visitors here do!
Pack your swimming gear because we know some great swimming spots - some in hot water!
You will need a sleeping bag for the nights we will be camping. We are happy to lend one to you if you don’t have one, and will just charge you NZ$15 for cleaning.
Is there a place for me to leave things that I am not using while with you?
Yes. You can leave things with us for the tours will start and end in Auckland.
What about visas and injections I may need to enter New Zealand?
Your travel agent can let you know if you need a visa for entering the country. Most countries do not need one. You will need immunisations only if you come from certain parts of the world. Again, your travel agent can tell you that.
Do I need insurance cover for travel and medical expenses?
Yes you do. Your travel agent will be able to arrange this for you.
What are your Terms and Conditions?
The following are not included in the cost of the trip/visit:
- Your airfares to and from NZ
- Insurance (Travel and Medical), and we do require you to have this on our tours.
- Entry fees at tourist attractions in your free time. (We pay for all attractions we have planned for you.)
- Drinks at restaurant meals.
- Special services such as dry cleaning or professional laundry services.
- Phone calls
*If you choose to extend your visit in Auckland, after your five day visit with us, we can take you to your guesthouse/ hotel/ motel rather than the airport.
**We retain the right to change the itinerary on short notice, depending on the circumstances.
*** The cost of the tour is quoted in NZ Dollars and the exchange rate that applies to the payment will be the rate that is current on the day the payment is made. Terms and rates are subject to change without notice until confirmed.
Tour Cancellation and Refund Policy
If you cancel:
- Cancellation more than 30 calendar days before the tour begins: You will be charged a 5% cancellation fee.
- Cancellation between 29 and 14 calendar days before the tour begins: You will be charged a 20% cancellation fee.
- Cancellation less than 13 days before the tour date: You will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.
If we cancel:
On rare occasions we may have to cancel a tour because of lack of numbers or ill health. If this happens, we will fully refund your cost and if you want us to, help you to find an alternative tour to take instead.
NB: a Change of tour dates will not be seen as a cancellation but will incur a 4% admin fee. A Tour date can only be changed once before it will be treated as a cancellation. A tour which is cancelled after the original date has been postponed/changed will be treated as a cancellation of less than 13 days and you will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.
Because the operation of tours requires extensive long-term planning, costs are incurred long before the actual departures. Many of our suppliers/service providers require non-refundable deposits in advance of travel in order to secure low rates.
NB: We reserve the right to change tour packages and prices at any time without prior notice. Tours for which deposits were paid before any increase in price will be exempt from price increases made after the date of the deposit.
Remember that we are here to help you with any questions you have. Please feel free to contact us if you want to know more or if you have any other questions that are not covered here.
