• Self Drive Tours

Few things compare to the thrill of hitting the open road and enjoying the freedom to explore a new destination at your own pace.

Our New Zealand self-drive holidays put you in the driver’s seat – literally! – of your holiday. You will have the freedom to enjoy everything on offer. Freedom to stop at a swimming spot you just passed. Or pulling over for a photo shot whenever you want? Staying a bit longer at a cafe to chat up with locals. No time restraints. This is holiday as it should you be – relaxed and how you want it.

When it comes to routes, New Zealand has it all. We have wide open roads, quiet country gravel routes, coast-hugging, windy terrain and even spots of ‘start-stop’ inner city driving. We’ve driven all these routes and put together a range of New Zealand self drive holiday packages that keep in mind drive time, distances and road conditions.

All you need to do is simply choose from one of our self drive itinerary collection below with our preferred accommodation (we’ve stayed at each so recommend them first-hand) and car choice. Or, let us provide you with an individual itinerary to suit you personally. Then we can help you get the wheels rolling on the holiday of a lifetime!

Lord of the Rings Family Highlights

  • Duration: 13 Days
  • Regions: Auckland, Matamata, Rotorua, Nelson, Christchurch, Lake Tekapo and Queenstown (with option to include Milford Sound)
  • Highlights: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Banquet, Maori Hangi & Cultural Show, Chetwood Forest Tour, Edoras Tour, One Ring Tour, Dart River Jet and Funyaks.
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Lord of the Rings Highlights

  • Duration: 12 Days
  • Regions: Auckland, Matamata, Rotorua, Nelson, Christchurch, Twizel and Queenstown (with option to include Milford Sound)
  • Highlights: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour & Banquet, Maori Hangi & Cultural Show, Chetwood Forest Tour, Edoras Tour, One Ring Tour, Dart River Jet and 4WD Wakatipu Trip.
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The Ultimate Middle Earth Journey

  • Duration: 18 Days
  • Regions: Auckland, Matamata, Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro National Park, Wellington, Wairarapa, Picton, Nelson, Christchurch, Twizel, Wanaka and Queenstown.
  • Highlights: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, Rotorua Canopy Tours, Maori Hangi & Cultural Show, Volcanic Explorer with Lord of the Rings Tour, Wellington Filming Locations, Cape Palliser Coastal Explorer Tour, Interislander Ferry, Chetwood Forest Tour, Edoras Tour, One Ring  Tour, Misty Mountains Heli Hike, River Journeys Jetboat Ride, Two Ring Scenic Plane Flight and Full Day Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour.
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Cycling around the South

  • Duration: 11 Days
  • Regions: Blenheim, Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Clyde.
  • Highlights: Marlborough Vineyard Biking Tour, Marlborough Sound Mussel Cruise, Nelson Great Taste Cycle Trail, Abel Tasman Cruise & Walk, Milford Day Trip with Cruise and Scenic Flight, High Country Station Cycle Ride and Otago Central Rail Trail Cycle Ride.
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On yer Bike in the North

  • Duration: 12 Days
  • Regions: Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Martinborough and Wellington
  • Highlights: Auckland Waterfront Cycle Tour, Caveworld, Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest Mountain Bike, Thermal Valley Tour with Maori Hangi & Cultural Show, Waihara to Waihora  Bay Taupo Cycle, Napier Sightseeing Tour, Ahuriri to Black Barn Napier Cycle, Martinborough Wine and Vine Cycle and Te Papa Museum.
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The Southern Explorer

  • Duration: 15 Days
  • Regions: Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Punakaiki, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Stewart Island and Dunedin.
  • Highlights: Abel Tasman Day Trip, Franz Josef Heli Hike with Hot Pools, Siberia Wilderness Adventure, Milford Fly-Walk-Cruise-Fly Trip, Routeburn Track Guided Walk and Ulva Island Half Day Walk.    
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  • “If I had a nickle for every time I thought about how much Nic helped me while I was in New Zealand, I could go back to NZ and retire. She knows NZ inside-out, and every single one of her recommendations were, in a word, PERFECT. I had a red carpet waiting for me at each destination, day trip, side trip, restaurant, you name it. I went to NZ for vacation (from Chicago) and stayed for much, much longer than I had planned. The reason? N.I.C. Thank you again, Nic.”

    Laura Booras
    Chicago, USA

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Contact Details

Phone Us
+64 3 3555 990
+64 21 461 971

Our Physical Address
21 Verona Place, Ohoka
Christchurch 7692
New Zealand

Our Postal Address
PO Box 36437, Merivale
Christchurch 8146
New Zealand

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Tour Inclusions

Terms & Conditions

Booking Terms & Conditions:

Currency

All pricing is in New Zealand Dollars and includes 15% GST (Goods & Services Tax).

Pricing

Pricing is subject to availability and confirmation of the stated itinerary at time of booking.  If we are unable to confirm the stated hotels and services, we will endeavour to confirm substitutes at similar rates, however additional costs may apply.

Rental Car Terms & Conditions:

Inclusions: unlimited kilometres, airport/ferry collection fee, full insurance (subject to reduced excess), front windscreen cover, personal accident insurance, guaranteed replacement vehicle in case of accident.

Exclusions: insurance excess reduction of $345.00 including GST (note, standard insurance excess is $3,450.00 including GST), bond, petrol costs, one way fee ($57.50), optional extras, (all additional expenses to be paid direct)

Payment Policy

We do require a non-refundable deposit of NZD$250.00 per person before we go ahead with securing any reservations.

In addition, some of our suppliers may require further deposits to cover their strict cancellation policies, in this case we would advise you at the time of quoting and confirming your itinerary.

The balance of your booking would be required 45 days prior to your travel date.   If you book inside 45 days, full payment would be required at time of booking.

Payment can be made by electronic wire transfer and should include the additional NZD $25.00 bank fee.   We also accept Visa and Mastercard at an additional fee of 3.1%.

Bank Account Details

Bank Name & Address: Westpac Bank, Mid City Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand

Account Name: Inspired New Zealand Travel

BSB Number: 03-0296

Account Number: 0011146-000

Swift/Routing Code: WPACNZ2W 

Amendments

We are happy to amend your itinerary and dates, however please keep in mind that some of the original services may not be available for your new dates, which may incur additional costs for substituted services.   Amendment fees may apply with multiple changes.

Cancellation Fees

Once Confirmed               Non-refundable Deposit of NZD $250.00 per person

Inside 45 – 21 Days          A Cancellation fee of 30% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.

Inside 20 – 8 days             A Cancellation fee of 50% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.

Inside 7 Days                      Full Cancellations, 100% charge

We will however do our very best to recover and minimise these cancellation fees but recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance to cover yourself.

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