MoaTrek New Zealand Tours

25/04/2024

Never been to New Zealand?

Let MoaTrek New Zealand small group tours take you to all the spots that most tourists will never know of. We pride ourselves in providing top quality tour experiences to take our guests to 'off the beaten track' locations and stay in unique places chosen for their 'sense of place’.

Don't take our word for it - read our TripAdvisor reviews below to hear what our travellers have to say.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attraction_Review-g1811027-d15680437-Reviews-MoaTrek-Auckland_North_Island.html

05/04/2024

Kakapo 21 Day North & South Island Tour

Tour Highlight - Private cruise across Lake Rotoiti for a soak in secluded hot pools.

We get so many reviews on how much guests love this unique itinerary inclusion we felt we needed to share it.
On day 5 of our 21 day Kakapo tour, we head from Auckland to Rotorua via the gold mining town of Waihi. We take a guided tour of a working Kiwifruit orchard near Te Puke and end the day with a private cruise across Lake Rotoiti for a soak in secluded hot pools.

These pools are only accessible via water and we choose to cruise over in this uniquely designed Airstream boat that opens up allowing our guests to enjoy an afternoon drink with gorgeous lake views.

At MoaTrek we pride ourselves on including many unique 'off the beaten track' experiences in our itineraries.

Experience this and many more on our 21 day Kakapo tour. More details here https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/21-day-new-zealand-tour-kakapo

12/03/2024

Want to learn all about our precious Kakapo bird and namesake of our 21 day small group New Zealand tour?

Listen now ⬇️
Apple: https://apple.co/2N31OYR
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2WtNpbp
Podbean: https://bit.ly/3G1HY8P
Or stream: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/podcast/

To find out more about our Kakapo tour, visit our website at www.moatrek.com

🎧 Listen up! The DOC Sounds of Science podcast has a new two-part episode with our Science Advisor Dr Andrew Digby.

For half an hour you’ll enter the world of kākāpō management as Digs chats about the challenges faced by this critically endangered species. He covers everything from what kākāpō smell like to how our National Partner Meridian Energy support the programme. This is an unmissable listen for all kākāpō fans!

Part one is live now wherever you get your podcasts or stream it online (link in comments) and be sure to let us know your favourite bits!


📸 Dr Andrew Digby eye to eye with a kākāpō by Deidre Vercoe/DOC

19/02/2024

Make your next stop New Zealand!

Experience the real 'down under' with our 9 day Kea tour of the gorgeous South Island of New Zealand.

Here's what Howard & Victoria had to say about their recent Kea tours:

"MoaTrek! New Zealand hospitality at its best. The 8-night South Island Kea group tour exceeded this 75-year-old Californian’s bucket-list expectations, especially the strategic morning-coffee bathroom stops, lol. Curated to perfection, tour highlights included a brisk morning hike across suspension bridges spanning a raging creek fed by a glacial lake framed by the NZ Alps. Wow! Not to mention the wild penguins hopping on the shore of Milford Sound, framed by those ubiquitous snow-capped peaks and waterfalls. Gorgeous and cosmopolitan Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu was a revelation. The tour’s lodging and meals were excellent, some even world-class, like the Alpen-glow views from our rooms at Mount Cook and the hotel’s 5-star buffet dinner and breakfast. Best smoked salmon, ever!! Speaking of food, our first morning featured a memorable visit to a local farm for a home-made farm-sourced gourmet lunch thanks to our gracious hosts, the Mackenzies. The daily café stops and the occasional farmer’s and artist markets allowed us to mingle with the friendly locals and thieving Keas. Can’t say enough about MoaTrek and Rossco. How can a birder not love a country whose iconic symbols are Keas, Kiwis, and Moas. Recommending this tour to everyone back home." - Howard Dec 2023.

"This tour was better than what others have shared about theirs which were not MoaTrek. We're so glad we found you!" - Victoria Jan 2024.

If these words don't make you want to spend a magical 9 days in New Zealand, have a look at these photos from our Kea 9 day South Island tour 👉https://www.moatrek.com/gallery/best-kea-9-day-tour

04/02/2024

Did you know that United Airlines now offers flights direct from San Francisco to Christchurch airport in the beautiful South Island? ✈️🌎

If you have always wanted to experience the magic of the South Island of New Zealand, our 9 day Kea South Island tour starts and finishes in Christchurch, so this would be the perfect holiday plan for our San Francisco friends. Check out the itinerary on the link below!

https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/9-day-south-island-tour-kea/

14/01/2024

💙Happy clients is what we aim for, ALWAYS 💙

A wonderful client left this review after her recent 9 day Kea tour of the South Island of New Zealand.

"MoaTrek! New Zealand hospitality at its best. The 8-night South Island Kea group tour exceeded this 75-year-old Californian’s bucket-list expectations, especially the strategic morning-coffee bathroom stops, lol. Our superlative guide Rossco masterfully navigated our brand-new, comfy bus through jaw-dropping Lord of the Rings non-stop vistas of rivers, lakes, waterfalls, snow-capped peaks and the pastoral beauty of this enchanted Island. His narration and story-telling kept us captivated and eager for more. Thanks to Rossco, our group camaraderie was off-the-charts and, like I did, you may find yourself beginning a new friendship or two. Curated to perfection, tour highlights included a brisk morning hike across suspension bridges spanning a raging creek fed by a glacial lake framed by the NZ Alps. Wow! Not to mention the wild penguins hopping on the shore of Milford Sound, framed by those ubiquitous snow-capped peaks and waterfalls. Gorgeous and cosmopolitan Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu was a revelation. The tour’s lodging and meals were excellent, some even world-class, like the Alpen-glow views from our rooms at Mount Cook and the hotel’s 5-star buffet dinner and breakfast. Best smoked salmon, ever!! Speaking of food, our first morning featured a memorable visit to a local farm for a home-made farm-sourced gourmet lunch thanks to our gracious hosts, the Mackenzies. The daily café stops and the occasional farmer’s and artist markets allowed us to mingle with the friendly locals and thieving Keas. Can’t say enough about MoaTrek and Rossco. How can a birder not love a country whose iconic symbols are Keas, Kiwis, and Moas. Recommending this tour to everyone back home."

If you want to find out more about the 9 day Kea tour, you can visit our website here:
https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/9-day-south-island-tour-kea/ -tabs

23/12/2023

🎄Meri Kirihimete/Merry Christmas from MoaTrek New Zealand Tours 🎄

Wishing you all a very merry festive season and a happy New Year!

Being in the Southern Hemisphere we celebrate Christmas in summer - take a look at some of our stunning summer views during the festive season.

07/12/2023

Come and visit New Zealand and let MoaTrek New Zealand Small Group Tours treat you to a world class holiday in our beautiful country.

Choose from 1 of our 3 magnificent MoaTrek tours:
📍Kakapo 21 day North & South Island tour
📍Kaka 17 day North & South Island tour
📍Kea 9 day South Island tour

New Zealand offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and adventure, making it an ideal destination for any traveller. Whether you're looking to explore the rugged landscapes of New Zealand's South Island or the charming towns of the North Island, MoaTrek Tours is the premier tour operator that has something for everyone.
Book your MoaTrek tour and tick New Zealand off your bucket list ✔️

Tour dates for 2024-2025 season are now live on the website and filling up fast - https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/dates-availability/

21/11/2023

🏆MoaTrek Supplier of the Year 2023 🏆
Margaret from Kippilaw House in Picton, New Zealand

At MoaTrek New Zealand Tours, we are so lucky to work with only the very best hand picked suppliers around New Zealand. We have been privileged to have worked with Margaret and Bill for over 17 years now. The reason that Margaret has won our prestigious Supplier of the Year award is simply because we share the same beliefs; to offer a memorable experience that ensures our guests have the best time ever. Margaret always goes above and beyond for our clients and our office staff.

"What a delightful surprise on Saturday when your lovely driver presented me with a scrumptious gift box. I was extremely humbled to receive recognition for doing my job. Thank you so very much. I really enjoy working with you all, it’s easy dealing with people that are organised…..have the same beliefs as us, making sure our guests have the best times we can provide. Travellers love being cared for, recognised and a friendly chat. Thank you once again for appreciating the extra we put in.
Kind wishes Margaret and Bill."

Thank you again Margaret & Bill for all that you do and your lovely southern hospitality. We look forward to many more lunches with you.

09/11/2023

Last post, we introduced you to the Bird of the Year Competition – John Oliver, who hosts ‘Last Week Tonight’ in the US, has taken his Bird of the Year campaigning to new levels.

His preferred candidate is the pūteketeke, and John has gone to great lengths to promote these “weird puking birds with colorful mullets’ with billboards appearing around the world from New Zealand to Tokyo and Paris encouraging voters to chose the pūteketeke.

Of course, here at MoaTrek New Zealand Tours we are throwing our support behind the Kakapo, Kaka & Kea (also the names of our 3 popular MoaTrek tours).

This year, Forest & Bird will be celebrating 100 years of this competition and are asking for your votes to decide on the New Zealand Bird of the Century 💯

Vote and/or donate here 👇
https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

Oliver has launched a 'Lord of the Wings' campaign with advertisements in Tokyo, Paris, London and the US.

09/11/2023

🐧Vote & Donate for your favourite New Zealand native Bird of the Century!🦉

New Zealand is world famous for our wonderful variety of bird life and every year we get the opportunity to vote for our favourite one. We also get the chance to donate money to help keep these feathered creatures safe and do our bit to avoid extinction of their species.

Of course, here at MoaTrek New Zealand Tours we are slightly biased towards our top 3, namely the Kakapo, Kaka & Kea (also the names of our 3 popular MoaTrek tours).

This year, Forest & Bird will be celebrating 100 years of this competition and are asking for your votes to decide on the New Zealand Bird of the Century 💯

Go have a look at the beautiful native birds of New Zealand and vote & donate for your favourite one 👇
https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

23/10/2023

📌2024/2025 MoaTrek Brochure Out Now 📌

We’ve bottled a lifetime of Kiwi holiday memories into our New Zealand small group tours. All the places you've heard of like Milford Sound, Queenstown, Abel Tasman, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Tongariro, the Bay of Islands and Rotorua, plus lots of off the beaten track places in between!

Our 3 MoaTrek New Zealand tours include:
Kakapo - 21 day North & South Island tour
Kaka - 17 day North & South Island tour
Kea - 9 day South Island tour

Our new brochure includes tour dates from September 2024 - May 2025. Click the link below to download your copy.

https://www.moatrek.com/get-brochure

09/10/2023

Our very first Kea 9 day South Island tour has reached completion and all our travellers had an absolute blast!

Our legendary Kiwi Guide Tim provided the best opportunities for his guests to learn about and fall in love with the beautiful South Island of New Zealand. Here are some pics of their amazing experiences. (We even celebrated an anniversary and birthday on this tour!)

If you have always dreamed of visiting the South Island of New Zealand and its iconic spots like Aoraki/Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka and the West Coast Glaciers then take a look at our Kea tour itinerary and inclusions here:
https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/9-day-south-island-tour-kea/

07/09/2023

This clever Kaka has made headlines for turning on a tap! The video in the article below shows the bird turning on the tap, adjusting the flow, and turning it off after he’d finished drinking.

The Kaka is a native parrot of New Zealand, and the namesake for our 17 day highlights tour of the North & South Islands.

There are many opportunities on this small group tour to get out and see wildlife, including Abel Tasman National Park, or you could opt to see them at Zealandia wildlife sanctuary in Wellington.

Like the Kaka, our clever team have put together a fantastic NZ itinerary.

See our website for the full itinerary and departure dates:
https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/17-day-new-zealand-tour-kaka/

The video shows the bird with its beak inside the hole, taking big gulps of water.

15/08/2023

Warning❕This post may cause you to book your next dream holiday in NZ.

Have you always dreamed of visiting the South Island of New Zealand and its iconic spots like Aoraki/Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka and the West Coast Glaciers?

Our 9 Day Kea tour is the ultimate small group South Island tour with all the world famous spots included in one very special itinerary.

Go on, make your dreams a reality and let us show you glorious NZ, click the link below for availability and tour dates:

https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/9-day-south-island-tour-kea/

01/08/2023

Kakapo are back on the mainland - Heartfelt congratulations to our friends at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and all those involved in this amazing achievement!

Kakapo are a taonga (sacred treasure) of the Maori iwi (tribe) of Southern New Zealand, Ngai Tahu. Their number dropped rapidly due to hunting, introduced predators and land clearance, by mid-1990s these previous parrots were on the edge of extinction. After almost 4 decades, they are now back living on the mainland.

Kakapo is the namesake of our most popular 21 day North and South Island tour.

Find more information on our itinerary here:
https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/21-day-new-zealand-tour-kakapo/

For the first time in almost four decades, kākāpō are back living on the mainland of Aotearoa. Let's take a deeper look into this important kākāpō conservation milestone.

12/07/2023

We are ecstatic to have been awarded the 2023 Travellers' Choice Award (previously the Certificate of Excellence) on Trip Advisor again! We have also been ranked #1 of 369 Outdoor Activities in Auckland. With over 220 reviews to date and an average 5 star overall rating, this is a testament to the teams hard work in providing the best small group tours to our travellers. Thank you to all of our travellers who have supported us! :)

14/06/2023

Spend Spring in Aotearoa/New Zealand 🌸🗻🌅🏞

Spring is a great season to visit New Zealand, it is the time when alpine flowers start blooming, wildlife is active and there is still snow on the mountain tops. It is also a "shoulder' season so the perfect time to beat the crowds of summer. Here are some of our stunning pictures from our spring tours last season, all taken by our Kiwi Guides or travellers during October, November or December.

For our latest availability on our Spring tours, visit our website https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/dates-availability/

17/05/2023

Our very own Kaikōura has been named one of the most beautiful small towns in the world by luxury travel bible Condé Nast Traveller.

While best-known for wildlife experiences from whale watching to kayaking with fur seals, Kaikōura also boasts some excellent walks – the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway is a standout – and roadside artworks which help tell its history. https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300874835/kaikura-named-one-of-the-most-beautiful-small-towns-in-the-world

Our 17 day Kaka tour gives you the opportunity to visit this little gem in the south island. See more information here: https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/17-day-new-zealand-tour-kaka/

A luxury travel guide has called the wildlife mecca the 'perfect destination for animal lovers' with cabins offering 'the best views of your life'.

04/05/2023

Our very last Kakapo tour of the 22/23 season finished yesterday. It has been a fantastic season and our Kiwi Guides have loved showing the very best of Aotearoa to over 600 travellers across 38 tours! Thank you to everyone who joined us, we hope you have lots of amazing photos, lasting memories and stories to share with your loved ones back home. Here are some of our favourite pics from our recent 21 day Kakapo tours, we hope you enjoy them!

For more information on the 21 day Kakapo tour click here:
https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/21-day-new-zealand-tour-kakapo/

02/12/2022

Here is a Kea, the namesake of our 9 Day South Island tour.

This large, native, New Zealand parrot lives in alpine regions of the South Island and is one of the smartest and cheekiest birds in the world. 🐦

You might be lucky enough to welcome one on board your coach like this recent MoaTrek group enjoyed.

👉 https://www.moatrek.com/

31/10/2022

Our first MoaTrek group has been back on the road after more than 2 years! We are over the moon to welcome our international travellers again and to return to what we do best - show off our beautiful country, Aotearoa!

07/09/2022

We are very proud of the MoaTrek family and the story of our business.

You can find out about our company and its history in this recent newspaper article:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/kiwi-tourism-operator-on-50-years-in-business-and-thriving-during-the-pandemic/LK6XHPALMWFGBA46HQZATHXBFU/

'Even during the most difficult times when everything had shut down, we didn't'.

22/08/2022

29/07/2022

We are nearly sold out for our upcoming season - there's been unprecedented demand and it's very clear many people like you can't wait to experience New Zealand.

We do have a few spots available on our 17-Day New Zealand Kaka Tour departing Auckland on 10 October 2022.

This tour takes in some absolute must see destinations

✅ Rotorua
✅ Queenstown
✅ Milford Sound
✅ Aoraki / Mt Cook

And includes everything you need for the perfect tour

✅ Small Group - only 18 people per tour
✅ High quality accommodation
✅ Daily breakfasts
✅ Our friendly, expert Kiwi Guide

And don't forget the 20 included activities, such as

✅ Milford Sound Scenic Flight
✅ 3 special hosted lunches
✅ Wai-o-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland
✅ Abel Tasman Cruise & Guided Walk
and more . . .

Get in touch if you are interested or have any questions - We're here to help 😊

https://www.moatrek.com/new-zealand-tours/17-day-new-zealand-tour-kaka/

02/07/2022

Our first MoaTrek Kakapo 21 day tour departs 100 days from today! The countdown is on to 10 October.

Our last Kakapo tours were in March 2020. Here are a few images of some of the amazing experiences gained and time shared together. We can't wait to do it again soon.

28/01/2021

Did you know New Zealand has a total of 13 National Parks protecting some of the most stunning, unspoiled landscapes in the country? Many of the amazing pictures travellers see before visiting are taken within New Zealand’s National Parks. Places like Milford Sound, Aoraki Mt Cook and Tongariro are all within our national park system. On our 21 day Kakapo tour we visit 8 national parks! You can read all about the Kakapo tour here:
https://www.moatrek.com/group-tours/kakapo-21-day-tour/
OR
To find out more about our National Parks you might enjoy reading our New Zealand National Park Guide:
https://www.moatrek.com/blog/new-zealand-national-park-guide

22/12/2020

'That Wanaka Tree' is a famous willow tree partly submerged in Lake Wanaka on New Zealand's South Island. A Kiwi photographer Dennis Radermacher won an award for his photo of the tree back in 2014 and since then the tree's fame has grown and it has become a popular subject for photographers! Rising out of the water on its own the tree is considered to be a symbol of hope for many people.

Did you capture That Wanaka Tree on your travels to New Zealand? If so, we'd love to see your pictures below!

You can see this tree in person on any of our South Island tours here: https://www.moatrek.com/group-tours/south-island