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Why Choose a Guided Coach Tour in New Zealand?

Seeing New Zealand by guided coach is one of the most enjoyable and stress-free ways to travel. If you prefer not to drive, want everything arranged for you, and appreciate a touch of comfort or style, a coach tour is the perfect way to explore at your own pace.

Our coach tours are designed for adult travellers who value quality experiences, comfortable transport, and well-planned itineraries. Whether you're after a relaxed scenic journey or something a little more active, there's an option to suit

Coach Tour Styles to Suit Your Travel Preferences

  • Small Group Tours: Up to 20 guests for a more personal, flexible experience.
  • Mid-Size Tours: Up to 32 guests — comfortable, social, and well-paced.
  • Rail & Coach Tours: Scenic rail journeys paired with guided coach travel.

Tours Departing from Auckland and Christchurch

Start your journey from either Auckland or Christchurch, with both North and South Island itineraries available. Each tour includes comfortable coach transport, daily breakfast, and hand-picked experiences across New Zealand.

Whether you’re planning a relaxed holiday or want to see as much as possible, our guided coach tours offer a stress-free way to enjoy Aotearoa.

What’s Included in Your Tour?

  • Comfortable, luxury coaches with panoramic windows
  • Knowledgeable local guides and tour leaders
  • Quality accommodation
  • Well-paced itineraries with free time to unwind
  • Optional excursions and activity upgrades

Each tour is thoughtfully designed to take the stress out of travel, so you can enjoy New Zealand’s natural beauty, vibrant towns, and cultural highlights at a pace that suits you. Want to learn more about what to expect in an escorted coach tour? Read our blog.

Frequently asked questions

We understand that everyone wants a great view of New Zealand’s stunning landscapes, so we operate a seat rotation policy on all our tours. This ensures fairness and gives everyone the chance to enjoy different perspectives during the journey.

While we can’t guarantee seats near the front, rotating seats keeps things fair for everyone.

If you’re prone to motion sickness, we recommend bringing any medication you might need.

Packing for a trip overseas can be tricky, but we recommend travelling light. If you forget something, you’ll be able to pick it up along the way.

Packing Tips:

  • Clothing: Smart casual outfits are suitable for most occasions. Temperatures can vary, so pack light layers and a waterproof jacket regardless of the season.
  • Shoes: Comfortable walking shoes are essential, but heavy hiking boots aren’t necessary.
  • Accessories: Bring a sunhat, sunblock, sunglasses, and a swimsuit for beaches and hot pools.

Luggage Allowance:

To make travel easy, please limit your luggage to:

  • 1 medium-sized suitcase (maximum 23kg / 50lbs) – stored in the coach’s luggage compartment and not accessible during the day.
  • 1 small day bag or soft backpack – perfect for items you need during the day, like a jacket, sunhat, camera, or water bottle.

Optional activities must be booked with the Grand Pacific Tours Crew while on tour. Payment is made directly to the activity operator.

Please contact us if you want a soft copy of the brochure.

Award-Winning Travel Documentation

Grand Pacific Tours provides one of the most comprehensive documentation packs in the travel industry. Our travel agent partners have recognised our commitment to quality, awarding us multiple accolades for delivering the best documentation packs available.

Documentation Pack Inclusions

Each traveller receives a durable travel bag, ticket wallet, luggage tag, and personal name badge. The ticket wallet includes a detailed tour itinerary, an Optional Activities Directory, a map, a questionnaire, and an emergency contact card.

Contents of Your Documentation Pack

  • Ticket Wallet – Includes flight itinerary (if applicable), tour itinerary, tour questionnaire, Optional Activities Directory, touring map, resealable plastic bag (for customs), and an Emergency Contact card.
  • Luggage Tag
  • Name Badge
  • Travel Bag
  • Merchandise (if applicable)
Ultimate Tours Documentation Pack
Signature Tours Documenation Pack

Note: Contents of the Documentation Pack can vary each season.

Travellers Residing in Australia

Your Grand Pacific Tours (GPT) documentation, including any merchandise, will be sent to you approximately two weeks before departure. These items will not be available once you have departed Australia.

Travellers Residing Outside of Australia

Your personalised itinerary will be emailed to you. Your GPT documentation and any merchandise will be available for collection at your first night's accommodation, as per your tour itinerary.

If you do not require certain items from the Documentation Pack, please return them to the GPT Representative on the first morning of your tour, and they will be recycled. You can also view the contents of the Documentation Pack on our website before arriving in New Zealand. If your pack is not available at your hotel, please contact GPT.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide documentation in advance.

Grand Pacific Tours (GPT) can accommodate limited dietary requests, including Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, Diabetic, and life-threatening allergies (requiring an EpiPen). These requests are forwarded to hotels and attraction suppliers but cannot be guaranteed and do not form part of your contract with us.

Meal options may be limited, as GPT operates volume group tours with buffet or à la carte menus. Due to the complexity of coordinating meals across an extended itinerary, religious dietary requests (such as Hindu Vegetarian, Kosher, or Halal) cannot be accommodated. Any additional dietary intolerances must be self-managed.

Airline meal options are subject to airline restrictions and may vary.

Our tours are designed to suit a range of activity levels. If you’re reasonably fit and healthy, you’ll find the pace similar to having a busy day out exploring your own town.

Even on travel days, you’ll likely hit your 10,000 steps with short walks included in the mornings or evenings.

For those who enjoy walking, many of the hotels we stay at are within walking distance of town centres. Plus, destinations like Tongariro National Park, Mt Cook, and Queenstown offer excellent walking trails right outside your door.

Please note: For health and safety reasons, our tours are not suitable for anyone who requires a walker.

Our tours are designed for travellers aged 15 and over. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accommodate children under 15 years old. Travellers aged 15 and above will be charged the adult fare.

When it comes to age, it’s more about attitude than numbers! Most of our travellers are in their 50s and 60s, but we’ve welcomed people from 30 to 70-plus.

If you’re wondering whether our tours are the right fit for you, take a look at our trip galleries on the website. If you can picture yourself enjoying a meal with fellow travellers after a day exploring New Zealand, you’ll fit right in!

Additional reading

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