First Light Travel

First Light Travel Welcome to First Light Travel & Absolute South Pacific - Premier Experiential Tourism specialists.
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Since 2001, travellers have trusted First Light Travel to deliver itineraries that exceeded their expectations. We are your gateway to premiere New Zealand self drive and group touring experiences. Choose from one of our many ‘Tried and Tested’ itineraries or have one of our friendly Kiwi consultants design a unique holiday just for you. If you prefer we can also arrange the flexibility and privacy of travelling around New Zealand with your own personal driver guide.

Four of us just returned from a 3 week trip to the North and South Islands of New Zealand . First I must mention what a ...
25/03/2025

Four of us just returned from a 3 week trip to the North and South Islands of New Zealand . First I must mention what a beautiful country New Zealand is, from its breathtaking landscapes ,the vibrancy of the communities and the friendliness and warmth of the people. Learning about the Maori culture was a highlight of the trip.
While researching travel agencies I settled on First Light Travel.It was important to me to use the expertise of a local agency if possible . First Light Travel more than exceeded our expectations. I worked with Marcella Johnson. She was very professional, available when needed, and very instrumental in helping me set up our itinerary. She worked well within my budget. We chose to have private drivers on each island which made it possible to concentrate on just having fun without having to worry about the logistics of driving . Not only did they drive us from one place to another ,they made sure to recommend scenic stops, as well as places for lunch they thought would be of interest to us. Everything went off without a hitch. The hotels, as well as the tours she arranged were exceptional. Marcella helped us to choose activities that met all of our needs.
I (and my family) would highly recommend a trip to New Zealand, and in order to have the best experience possible you should contact First Light Travel.

Barbara Maciejewski, USA
https://www.firstlighttravel.com/new-zealand-private-tours/3-week-nz-wide-private-tour

Recently returned from a fabulous trip to New Zealand. We chose First Light Travel to put together our trip, as they had...
24/03/2025

Recently returned from a fabulous trip to New Zealand. We chose First Light Travel to put together our trip, as they had great reviews. Marcella did a great job working with us to include as many nature related experiences as possible and advised us on best time of year to travel. In all, we spent about 5 weeks visiting both islands. This included a two day trip to Stewart Island staying in a beautiful Boutique Lodge. Probably the best holiday we have ever had. We loved New Zealand; the people; the food; the cities and the wonderful scenery. Great variety in what we saw and the time spent in each location suited us well. All the hotels/accommodation were excellent. Easy driving and good roads. Certainly this holiday exceeded our expectation. Thank you Marcella!

Heather Proctor, UK
https://www.firstlighttravel.com/nz-self-drive-itineraries/both-islands/classic-new-zealand-driving-tour

Taking a trip so far from home with just myself and my 10 year old daughter was a little nerve wracking. Gina and the te...
24/03/2025

Taking a trip so far from home with just myself and my 10 year old daughter was a little nerve wracking. Gina and the team at First Light Travel were amazing before and during our travels go out my mind at ease. Everything was thoroughly planned out with downtime built in. The detailed itinerary was the best, I was able to have a piece of mind in knowing I didn't have to stress about where to stay and how to get there. 10 out of 10 experience.

Katie Minutelli - USA
https://www.firstlighttravel.com/new-zealand-and-australian-combination-tours/14-day-family-highlights-australia-new-zealand

I recently booked a 12-day LOTR road trip in New Zealand with First Light Travel, and I couldn't be more impressed with ...
17/03/2025

I recently booked a 12-day LOTR road trip in New Zealand with First Light Travel, and I couldn't be more impressed with their service. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and well-organized. They took care of everything-including car rental, accommodations and activities-which allowed me to simply enjoy my trip without any stress.
Charles-Eric Plante, Canada [Feb 2025]

https://www.firstlighttravel.com/nz-self-drive-itineraries/both-islands/12-Day-LOTR-New-Zealand-Scenic-self-drive

I can't say enough good things about First Light Travel! We worked with Marcella who helped us create our dream custom i...
05/03/2025

I can't say enough good things about First Light Travel! We worked with Marcella who helped us create our dream custom itinerary for our 2 week honeymoon. She was very patient, knowledgeable, and quick to respond. Once we actually got to New Zealand, all of our expectations were exceeded when it came to hotels, excursions, and other recommendations. We felt very well taken care of and didn't have to worry about a thing other than enjoying ourselves! This was the trip of a lifetime and we are so grateful for the help.

Maya & Austin, USA

https://www.firstlighttravel.com/nz-self-drive-itineraries/classic/classic-14-day-southern-circuit-tour

First Light Travel made booking a big trip for two families of four, travelling together from Australia, a breeze. We fo...
04/03/2025

First Light Travel made booking a big trip for two families of four, travelling together from Australia, a breeze. We found an itinerary online from First Light which was close to what we were thinking, then reached out to and worked with Bernadette and Katarina to tweak and fit in everything we wanted. They took care of all the bookings, which was too overwhelming to do on our own! The accommodation selections were great, recommended tours and activities all enjoyed and the trip was hassle free. We absolutely loved our South Island adventure, thank you!

David & Kylie Robertson, Australia

https://www.firstlighttravel.com/nz-self-drive-itineraries/south-island/2-week-south-island-explorer

When we started planning our honeymoon, we quickly realized we had no idea how to plan an epic vacation. Gina and the Fi...
04/03/2025

When we started planning our honeymoon, we quickly realized we had no idea how to plan an epic vacation. Gina and the First Light team put together an excellent itinerary that catered to our preferences and turned it into our favorite trip ever! The time spent in each location was perfect, and coincidentally helped when we ran into a few weather related reschedules. For the price, everything exceeded our expectations! We loved it all, but we especially loved the day in Milford sound with the scenic flight back. We also loved the franz Josef helicopter, the steamboat ride & dinner. There wasn’t a bad activity on the itinerary.

Kevin & Jenny, USA

Heidi, From the very first contact (your phone call to me) following my initial email, you were extremely helpful and in...
19/02/2025

Heidi, From the very first contact (your phone call to me) following my initial email, you were extremely helpful and informative while we thought through what we wanted from our first NZ holiday. Your very first proposal / itinerary was amazing, and exceeded our expectations. With just a little modification, that was the one we went for. Everything was clearly detailed day by day. We just needed to mention my name at each hotel / motel, and each activity, and we were checked in. All so easy. Heidi, we can't thank you enough for bringing this holiday of a lifetime to life. Thank you.

Terry Kemp, UK

I chose First Light Travel after they were recommended multiple times in a NZ travel Facebook group I joined. From my ve...
18/02/2025

I chose First Light Travel after they were recommended multiple times in a NZ travel Facebook group I joined. From my very first conversation with Bernadette (who has since moved on from her position), I knew I had made the right choice. Katarina, who took over for Bernadette, only confirmed it. The whole impetus for the trip was to visit Hobbiton for my birthday, everything else would be a bonus. And what incredible bonuses they were! From a bird sanctuary island to kayaking in glow worm caves to amazing cultural performances - we never lacked for new things to discover. My cousin and I loved every new place we got to explore and every new adventure we got to experience. We definitely left a little bit of our hearts in New Zealand by the end of our two weeks and we cannot wait to go back for round two!

Nicole Osti, USA

Working with First Light was effortless and excellent. They clearly know what they are doing and how best to tailor a tr...
17/02/2025

Working with First Light was effortless and excellent. They clearly know what they are doing and how best to tailor a trip to their clients. We had friends in Auckland we wanted to visit, and our agent Gina did a great job integrating their visit into our itinerary. Gina also really talked to, listened to, and planned with us what kinds of activities were important and desirable. It was our 30th wedding anniversary trip, and Gina helped make it one of the best trips we have ever taken!
Jennifer & Robert Bachman, USA

I can't recommend First Light Travel enough! Anna truly listened and put together an amazing family vacation for us over...
17/02/2025

I can't recommend First Light Travel enough! Anna truly listened and put together an amazing family vacation for us over Christmas and New Year. Every detail was well thought out and the communication and preparation was 10/10!
The "Lord of the Rungs" via ferrata excursion and the heli-hike on the Franz Joseph glacier were two highlights - both not on our radar until Anna Suggested them.
If you want an amazing trip with every detail planned, First Light Travel is for you!
Melissa King-Polsinelli Family, USA

Feb 3, 2025 - Thank you Anna for orchestrating an incredible vacation to New Zealand. On a scale of 1 to 10 you are a 12...
17/02/2025

Feb 3, 2025 - Thank you Anna for orchestrating an incredible vacation to New Zealand. On a scale of 1 to 10 you are a 12.
Your attention to detail and professionalism led to a flawless and most enjoyable trip. Every stop we made, the hotel, rental car agency or sightseeing vendor was aware of our booking, and this made the trip seamless. What a wonderful way of traveling. There was not one issue or uncomfortable situation.

The self-guided trip allowed us to be ourselves and travel at the pace we wanted. We got the opportunity to see what both the North and South Islands have to offer. On the North Island in Auckland the All-Blacks Experience gave us our first glimpse into the Maori culture; the haka for both the men's and women's teams were definitely a highlight. Thank you to Flynn for navigating us through this. Hobbiton was next. A magical stop that brought us to another place and time - middle earth. Ellie made our tour memorable. She is a delight. She provided us with many details regarding the filming and the numerous homes of the Shire including the construction of Bag End. Being able to walk into the many rooms of Samwise Gamgees house was very special. The detail of the construction and furniture makes this a must see. In Rotorua the walk amongst the redwoods was very special for us. The hanging walkways was amazing. A beautiful way to experience them. A big thank you to Marcelo for his leading us through the mountain biking tour in the Whakarewarewa Forest and Jacob for his patience and guidance in leading us onto one of the Rotorua Lakes at dusk to view the glow worms in the nearby caves. A truly unforgettable experience. With no light pollution the glow worms in the caves were like looking into the night sky and seeing hundreds of stars. Truly magical.

On the South Island our adventures continued in Christchurch punting down the Avon. Our guide was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of pertinent information. Queenstown is an outdoors persons paradise. Whitewater rafting with Mark on the Shotover River was unbelievable - in a good way. The ride to the launch point on Skipper's Canyon Road was half the adventure. Glad I didn't have to go back on that old dirt road again. The Oxenbridge Tunnel was a rush. Milford Sound was the highlight of the trip for me. Kia Ora. Seeing this natural wonder of the world was awe inspiring. We were glad to be on Makayla's maiden trip to the Sound from Queenstown. A stop for a hand pie at Miles Better Pies is a must. The Eco Adventure to Lake Wanaka and Mou Waho island holds a special place in our hearts. Our guides led a hike to the top of the lookout on Mou Waho where there was a pond/pool. One of the guides had a sapling and led our group of a dozen or so to an area to plant it. I helped plant the tree. It felt like giving back in some small way...a forever connection to New Zealand. A big thank you to Rosie for leading us on a hike near Lake Mapourika. The last of our adventures on the South Island was the scenic train from Greymouth back to Christchurch and the end of our trip.

Thank you, Anna, for everything you did for us. I am convinced our trip would not have gone as smoothly or as pleasurably as it did, if it were not for your assistance and attention to detail. Kia Ora.

P.S. We will be in touch again. I will need to check on the progress of the sapling on Mou Waho Island.

Nancy & Marc Ciminello, USA

Danielle at First Light Travel made my trip to New Zealand with my sister absolutely perfect! She was very patient with ...
16/02/2025

Danielle at First Light Travel made my trip to New Zealand with my sister absolutely perfect! She was very patient with us as we requested changes to the itinerary until it was exactly what we wanted and more. The activities were thrilling (Hobbiton, multiple LOTR day and half-day tours, Milford Sound, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, etc.) and the accommodations were all so nice. It the trip of a lifetime and the trip of my dreams! 11/10!

Lauren & Nicole Schwartzbard, USA

First Light Travel planned an unforgettable 16 day trip to Fiji and New Zealand to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniver...
16/02/2025

First Light Travel planned an unforgettable 16 day trip to Fiji and New Zealand to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary. I can attest that this one of our all time favorite trips. We experienced so many unforgettable experiences such as paragliding, jet boating, swimming with wild dolphins, and Hobbiton. Our travel planner, Gina O'Neill, was exceptionally detailed and thoughtfully took all of our feedback to craft our dream vacation. She made our trip seamless and completely stress free. Can't say enough good things about First Light Travel! Highly recommend this service!

Susan & Patrick, USA

If we had tried to plan this trip on our own, it would never have been as memorable as was. Nicole at FirstLight took th...
14/02/2025

If we had tried to plan this trip on our own, it would never have been as memorable as was. Nicole at FirstLight took the time to discuss our interests, get to know us, and plan activities that exceeded our expectations. Nicole was responsive to our preferences and made every activity one we enjoyed. Having a detailed and complete itinerary relieved us of the pressure of figuring out almost all of the details, yet allowed us enough unscheduled time to explore.

Limoges Family, USA [ Jan 25 ]

Address

85 Beach Road
Auckland
1010

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm
Sunday 9am - 8pm

Telephone

+6492814481

Website

http://www.absolutenewzealand.com/, http://www.absoluteaustralia.com/, https://www.fi

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Videos

Channel 7 News Adelaide Interview with First Light Travel
Channel 7 News Adelaide Interview with First Light Travel

Brent Narbey owner of First Light Travel has been interviewed for Channel 7 News Adelaide Australia discussing the Trans-Tasman bubble and booking patterns between New Zealand and Australia.

Marty and Mark Dennet's Review of their Australian Holiday
Marty and Mark Dennet's Review of their Australian Holiday

Marty and Mark Dennet explain why using First Light Travel to plan their Australian holiday was the right decision and led to the holiday of a lifetime.

New Zealand Hiking and Walking Tours by First Light Travel
New Zealand Hiking and Walking Tours by First Light Travel

First Light Travels Hiking and Walking Tours

New Zealand's best LoTRs and Hobbit filming Locations
New Zealand's best LoTRs and Hobbit filming Locations

A look at the landscapes and attractions that LoTR and Hobbit fans love to see on a New Zealand holiday. See our wonderful selection of tours here: https://www.firstlighttravel.com/themed-tours/lord-of-rings

Jodi explains how we work...
Jodi explains how we work...

Stunning time-lapse video of Mount Taranaki past weekend 😯😍

Stephanie and Martina's New Zealand Self Drive Adventure
Stephanie and Martina's New Zealand Self Drive Adventure

Stephanie and Martina's New Zealand Self Drive Adventure

First Light Travel's Ultimate New Zealand Adventure Tour
First Light Travel's Ultimate New Zealand Adventure Tour

Awesome fun on First Light Travel's 'Ultimate New Zealand Adventure Tour'

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Trusted Australian & New Zealand Tours

Since 2001, travellers have trusted First Light Travel to deliver itineraries that exceeded their expectations. We are your gateway to premiere Australian and New Zealand self drive and group touring experiences. Choose from one of our many ‘Tried and Tested’ itineraries or have one of our friendly consultants design a unique holiday just for you.