GREAT NORTH TOURS
NORTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND
Private New Zealand North Island Tours & Custom Trip Planning
Private tours of New Zealand are the best way to travel around the country. Great North Tours acts as your personal NZ trip planner and local guide, crafting the ultimate North Island NZ road trip tailored to your group's exact pace and requirements.
We are a private North Island tour company based in Hamilton in the Waikato region of New Zealand. We offer complete itinerary planning and custom New Zealand North Island tour options, with over 100 activities and places to choose from.
We welcome guests from countries all over the world with our team of experienced itinerary planners and local NZ tour guides, who bring everything to life with local knowledge and authentic storytelling. We aim to deliver a fantastic NZ holiday to all the hidden gems as well as the must do places . In other words we try our best to connect everything on your itinerary neatly and effortlessly, so we spend the time planning your trip - not you.
Our journeys are supported by transparent small group pricing (per vehicle/per day) with complete flexibility of up to 10 hours driving each day and world renowned genuine Kiwi hospitality. Recognized with a TripAdvisor 2026 Travelers' Choice Award and backed by active Qualmark Silver Accreditation and Pro-Guides New Zealand membership, we ensure your tour is smooth, relaxed, and memorable from start to finish.
Start your custom New Zealand North Island Itinerary with door to door or direct Auckland or Hamilton Airport pickup and from there head off in any direction on your private New Zealand tour. If it’s something more specialised you’re after such as a golf holiday in New Zealand, Surfing in New Zealand (we were lucky enough to have the WSL in Raglan in 2026 and again in 2027), a fishing charter, adventure tour or just a desire to check out the many natural attractions in New Zealand. We’ll get you there, we’ve done it all and no trip is ever the same.
Feel free to browse Tripadvisor or Reddit forums for trip inspiration. Then just bring your wish list to us and we will turn your ideas into a proper NZ travel itinerary. As your New Zealand travel advisor, we book accommodation depending on your budget, book entry tickets on your behalf and recommend New Zealand food and restaurants.
In addition to private New Zealand tours for international visitors, local companies across the region rely on us for executive transport to host visiting international business partners, VIP clients, and corporate guests visiting Aotearoa New Zealand.
If you Want to visit the South Island of New Zealand too, we can help you plan your trip there also. So, come and plan your road trip in the North Island with Great North Tours and create lasting memories.
Hobbiton Movie Set
Private Hobbiton tours from Hamilton or Auckland with flexible Waikato itineraries.
From Hamilton and Auckland: Direct Access to the famous North Island Attractions
Based in Hamilton New Zealand, the heart of the Waikato, places us right in the geographic center of the region, cutting down driving time to major destinations:
Hamilton to Hobbiton: Less than 60 minute drive to the Hobbiton Movie Set
Hamilton to Waitomo Caves: Only 60 minutes drive to the glow worm caves.
Hamilton to Rotorua: 75 min scenic drive as part of a Rotorua Day Trip or Multi Day Tour.
Hamilton to Taupo & Mt Maunganui: Easy access to lakes, volcanic peaks, and coastal beaches.
Hamilton to Coromandel: Gateway to Cathedral Cove Coromandel New Zealand, Hot Water Beach, and other great coromandel beaches in New Zealand with our Coromandel Tours
Waitomo Caves from Rotorua: Flexible itineraries planned and tailored to your schedule.
Cathedral Cove Coromandel
Private Coromandel tours featuring Cathedral Cove, beaches plus spectacular coastal scenery.
Explore Geothermal Activity, Māori Culture, Rotorua, Golf Holidays, Surfing in Raglan, Fishing Charters, Adventure Tours and Nature Walks.
Hamilton Gardens
Private Hamilton tours exploring the Waikato with an experienced local driver guide.
Sick of one size fits all tours? Our trip planners make sure every tour is unique and our local tour guides take care of every detail, so you don’t have to. Do things such as:
Geothermal Experiences and Māori Culture in Rotorua
Rotorua is one of the best places in New Zealand to experience geothermal landscapes and Māori culture. Explore Te Puia, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Orakei Korako or Waimangu Volcanic Valley. You can also visit Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village or enjoy a traditional Māori cultural evening with a hāngī meal.
Rotorua Highlights and Adventure
There is plenty more to see and do around Rotorua, so we can shape the day around what interests you most. Visit the Agrodome, explore the Redwood Forest, take in the views from Skyline Rotorua, try white-water rafting or get up close to native kiwi. You can also relax in the Rotorua thermal pools, spend some time at Polynesian Spa Rotorua or Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua, or add an adventure such as bungy jumping. Every group is different, and we can build the day around your interests and pace.
Raglan, Mount Maunganui and Fishing
Head west to Raglan for its famous black sand surf beaches and relaxed coastal atmosphere, or travel to Mount Maunganui for its white and lively seaside setting. We can also arrange a fishing charter from Raglan or Tauranga, whether you prefer the East Coast, West Coast or somewhere in between. Your itinerary is yours to shape.
New Zealand Golf Tours
Play some of the best New Zealand golf courses as part of a custom North Island golf trip. We plan the itinerary around your group, including the courses you want to play, your preferred pace, transport and budget. Depending on your plans, your golf tour could include courses such as Tieke Golf Estate in Hamilton, Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary or Kinloch Golf Club in Taupō, along with other courses and golf resorts around the North Island.
New Zealand Golf Tours
Private golf itineraries with course planning, transport plus North Island sightseeing.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Private Rotorua tours featuring Wai-O-Tapu and New Zealand geothermal landscapes.
Premium Touring Vehicles, Local Cuisine & Tailored Accommodation
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Private Waitomo tours featuring the famous glowworm caves plus underground scenery.
Private Tour Transport
Comfortable private transport with experienced driver guides across the North Island.
We are able manage all on-road details, dining stops, and overnight stays so you can focus entirely on enjoying your journey across Aotearoa NZ:
Spacious Touring Vehicles: Travel in clean, modern, high-spec touring vehicles offering generous legroom, climate control, large view windows, and full luggage capacity for total comfort on every road trip.
Authentic Local Cuisine: Discover authentic New Zealand food and classic NZ cuisine throughout your itinerary. Enjoy vineyard lunches, coastal seafood stops, cozy country cafés, and traditional Māori hāngī dining tailored to your taste.
Tailored Accommodation Booking: We reserve overnight stays matched to your group's preferences and budget. Options range from budget hotels in New Zealand and cheap places to stay in Rotorua to central business hotels, charming boutique B&Bs, 5-star luxury hotels in Auckland, and exclusive Luxury Lodges across New Zealand.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Private Bay of Islands tours exploring New Zealand history plus Māori heritage.
Complete North Island Itinerary Coverage and Backed by 5 Star Reviews
Blue Spring Putaruru
Private Waikato tours featuring Blue Spring Putaruru and other North Island attractions.
We travel anywhere across Aotearoa's North Island, from the Capital Wellington, through to Taupo, Rotorua, the Coromandel Peninsula, Kerikeri, the Bay of Islands, up to Cape Reinga and other top spots throughout New Zealand.
50+ 5-Star Reviews: We hold over 50+ 5-star ratings on both google reviews NZ and Tripadvisor New Zealand reviews from happy travelers worldwide. Check some out below to see what our guests say.
Award-Winning Quality: Winner of the TripAdvisor 2026 Travelers' Choice Award, ranking our private travel experiences among the top-rated tours in the region.
Professional Tour Guides: Active Pro-Guides New Zealand member, guaranteeing driver-guides with high industry standards, deep local knowledge, rich local storytelling, and genuine care.
Qualmark Silver Certified: Official Qualmark Silver Certification commitment to safety, environmental management, and community support across New Zealand.
Tiaki Promise: We are committed to caring for the land and the people of New Zealand.
ProGuides New Zealand
Great North Tours is a member of the Professional Association of Tour Guides in New Zealand.
Kia Ora and Haere Mai. Contact our team today to plan your custom New Zealand trip and create a private New Zealand North Island itinerary. We operate all year round. Book early as availability fills quickly, especially during summer.
Rated Excellent by Our Guests
We’re proud of our 5-star reputation on TripAdvisor. Discover why we are the preferred choice for private, custom-guided tours from Auckland and Hamilton.
Discover what turns a standard holiday into an unforgettable journey. From Rotorua's Redwood Forest to hidden Waikato scenic spots, learn how professional driver-guides, flexible itineraries, and genuine Kiwi hospitality create lifelong travel memories in New Zealand.