Rotorua Small Group Tours & Trip Packages

Rotorua Small Group Tours & Trips

107 Rotorua trips. Tours from 40 tour companies. 175 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

48 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Small Group Tour
Ultimate South Pacific with the Legendary Ghan Train
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

Visits

Adelaide, Alice Springs, Auckland, Cairns, Christchurch, Darwin, Great Barrier Reef, Hobart, Melbourne, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Rotorua, Sydney, Tasmania, Waitomo

Themes

50 plus, Cultural

What travelers are saying

"This tour has amazing sites, good hotels in great locations, great pace BUT the tour director that was assigned to be with our small group added nothing to the experience. He did not give us any info, tell us about what we were seeing, give us any info at all. The only time he talked was to tell us when the next bathroom break would be. Apparently this is common for Globus to use retirees starting another chapter. Our guide was 76 and had no energy. Travel with Gate 1 or Intreped.... guides can make or break a tour."

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14 Day Wonders of New Zealand
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3.7/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Rotorua, Waitomo, Wellington

Highlights

  • Descend into the astonishing Waitomo Caves with its swirling rivers and glow worms Home hosted dinner in a traditional New Zealand home Enjoy a traditionally prepared Hangi dinner, cooked in the steaming ground Visit Orakei Korako Cave & Thermal Park and admire its steaming geysers Embark on a walking food tour of Wellington City, known as the "culinary capital" Discover delightful Christchurch, the "most-English" city in the country Take in the stunning landscape of the South Island aboard the TranzAlpine train Experience the dynamic environment at the Franz Josef Glacier Explore the dazzling city of Queenstown, the country's adventure capital Tour a family-run working merino sheep farm Cross Lake Wakatipu on a steamship and visit Walter Peak High Country Farm Cruise on spectacular Milford Sound, surrounded by breathtaking scenery †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however the country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future."

Trip dates & details
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14 Day Wonders of New Zealand
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3.7/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Rotorua, Waitomo, Wellington

Highlights

  • Descend into the astonishing Waitomo Caves with its swirling rivers and glow worms Visit Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Park and admire its steaming geysers Home hosted dinner in a traditional New Zealand home Enjoy a traditionally prepared "Hangi" dinner, cooked in the steaming ground Discover delightful Christchurch, the "most-English" city in the country Take in the stunning landscape of the South Island aboard the TranzAlpine train Experience the dynamic environment at the Franz Josef Glacier Explore the dazzling city of Queenstown, the country's adventure capital Tour a family-run working merino sheep farm Cruise on spectacular Milford Sound, surrounded by breathtaking scenery †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

50 plus

What travelers are saying

"We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however the country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future."

Trip dates & details
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New Years in Australia & New Zealand
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Melbourne, Queenstown, Sydney

Highlights

  • Joining in on one of the southern hemisphere’s best New Year’s Eve celebrations
  • Melbourne and Sydney’s sparkle and sophistication
  • The underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef
  • Intriguing Aboriginal and Maori culture
  • Iconic Ayers Rock
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Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Festivals & Special Events

What travelers are saying

"I made a reservation last Thursday (11/16/2023) for a trip to Iceland from 12/02/2023-12/07/2023 and then I was told that I can’t have my refund back. When I called on last Thursday (11/16/2023) to place my reservation, the agent (Kathy) I talked to stressed about she "cannot" guarantee that I will be able to go on the trip. Before I provided the payment information, I specifically asked if I will be able to get the refund because the trip is coming up so soon. The agent ensured that I will be able to get a full refund back within 60 days if I decided to cancel the trip. I was also told that I am basically on a wait list and someone will contact me once I can go on the trip. No one contacted me about whether the agency was able to process my information at all, so I've been left in the dark about this trip since the beginning. I called the help line this morning (11/20/2023) around 9:00 Eastern Standard Time to cancel my reservation. I was informed by the agent that I will not be able to get my full refund back since it's too close to the trip date. Basically I was told that Kathy gave me the wrong information, so I will have to pay the cancellation fee. The only reason I provided my payment information is because Kathy specifically stated that I will be able to cancel the trip and receive a full refund. I've never been so frustrated with a traveling agency. I made sure to ask this agent regarding the refund policy twice before giving her my payment information, and she still couldn't provide me with the correct information. It's unbelievable that such a big traveling agency cannot uniformly train their employees with the correct set of information."

Trip dates & details
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New Zealand Adventure
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5/5 Excellent
50 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Fiordland National Park, Hawke’s Bay, Queenstown, Wellington

Highlights

  • New Zealand’s unspoiled natural scenery
  • Auckland sightseeing and harbour cruise
  • Geothermal Rotorua
  • Art Deco walking tour in Napier
  • Wellington’s Te Papa national museum
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Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We just finished our Tanzanian Adventure tour to Tanzania and Zanzibar. It was a dream come true trip! On safari, our guide Augustine, was stellar, and our driver, Meshak was wonderful! The lodges on safari were wonderful, food excellent. The Breezes resort on Zanzibar was lovely and the Indian Ocean is sooooo warm! Thank you, Odyssey, for delivering on all counts!"

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New Zealand Adventure
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5/5 Excellent
50 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown

Highlights

  • New Zealand’s unspoiled natural scenery
  • Auckland sightseeing, including distinguished Auckland Museum
  • Auckland Harbour cruise
  • Geothermal Rotorua
  • Art Deco walking tour in Napier
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Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"We just finished our Tanzanian Adventure tour to Tanzania and Zanzibar. It was a dream come true trip! On safari, our guide Augustine, was stellar, and our driver, Meshak was wonderful! The lodges on safari were wonderful, food excellent. The Breezes resort on Zanzibar was lovely and the Indian Ocean is sooooo warm! Thank you, Odyssey, for delivering on all counts!"

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Exploring Australia & New Zealand
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5/5 Excellent
50 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Sydney, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Highlights

  • Ride aboard Vintage Kuranda steam train and Skyrail gon­dolas
  • Great Barrier Reef excursion
  • Aboriginal “Dreamtime” experience
  • Sunset at Ayers Rock
  • Sydney touring and Harbour cruise
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Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We just finished our Tanzanian Adventure tour to Tanzania and Zanzibar. It was a dream come true trip! On safari, our guide Augustine, was stellar, and our driver, Meshak was wonderful! The lodges on safari were wonderful, food excellent. The Breezes resort on Zanzibar was lovely and the Indian Ocean is sooooo warm! Thank you, Odyssey, for delivering on all counts!"

Trip dates & details
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New Zealand: South Island and North Island
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown

Highlights

  • Queenstown, Christchurch and Auckland
  • Jet boat ride on the Shotover River
  • Goldrush village of Arrowtown
  • Wild Earth Vineyards
  • Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on board the 1912 vintage steamer
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Themes

Local Immersion & Homestays, Small Ship Cruise, Women Only

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Other trips you may like [sponsored]
21 Day Grand Tour Discover Real New Zealand
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By Real New Zealand Tours
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
40 reviews
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Why we love them
They are dedicated to providing personalized, authentic, and sustainable travel experiences that showcase the best of their country.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Pacific Ocean, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tasmania, Wellington

Highlights

  • All inclusive tour package prepared by New Zealand based specialists so you sit back and relax
  • An exciting itinerary will be customised to suit you - let us help plan and perfect your dream vacation
  • We offer self-drive trips (rental car) we arrange all your accomodations, activities, attractions (you select) we book your car (fun, freedom, independence, flexibility) you set the pace each day or, select a private driver trip (fully guided) or, escorted coach tours (daily commentary).
  • Either way, you will have an awesome time on our wonderful 21 day Grand New Zealand Tour with Real New Zealand Tours.

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Relaxing Retreats, Small Ship Cruise, Train & Rail Journeys, Trekking & Expeditions, Yoga, Meditation & Wellness, Sailing, Golf

What travelers are saying

"Geoff helped my wife and I to put together an itinerary that customized to our particular interests and preferences. At the outset he asked us where we'd like to go and, after a small number of iterations, together we were able able to craft an itinerary that met our budget, touched on much of the places we wanted, and did not have us staying at a different resort each night. Before leaving for our trip we were given our itinerary and confirmation #'s/vouchers/contact #'s for all of our activities and hotels captured in an easy-to-use app that made it extremely easy to transition to the next point of our journey. He and his assistant were quick to respond to any questions we had along the way as well. Overall, we had a great stay and highly endorse Geoff and RealNZ for anyone planning a bespoke trip to NZ."

Trip dates & details
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Ultimate New Zealand
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Alps, Christchurch, Queenstown, Rotorua, Wellington

Highlights

  • Cruise through the scenic Poor Knights Islands on a full-day adventure on the water to see some of the north island’s natural beauty. This area is also a Marine Reserve with volcanic origins over 11 million years old, creating some pretty epic biodiversity.
  • Discover the diversity of Rotorua, from unbelievable geothermal activity to rich Maori culture. Visit a Maori village for a hangi dinner and traditional haka performance.
  • Admire the out-of-this-world landscapes of Tongariro National Park, from emerald green lakes to soaring volcanic peaks. If you’re up for the challenge, tackle the famous Tongariro Crossing.
  • Live it up in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. Whether you fancy bungy jumping, jet boating, horseback riding or wine tasting, there’s something here to entice everyone.
  • Visit a local gallery in Franz Josef and carve a pendant out of pounamu while learning about the precious stone’s significance to Maori culture.

Themes

High Adventure

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

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Timeless Wonders of New Zealand
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By XperieNZ
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
14 reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
XperieNZ is renowned for curating extraordinary travel experiences that blend luxury with adventure, offering bespoke journeys to discerning travelers
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Auckland, Christchurch, Glenorchy, Rotorua, Waitomo

Highlights

  • Private Personalised Regional & City Sightseeing Tour – Auckland
  • Private Spellbound Glowworm Tour – Te Kuiti, Waitomo
  • Te Pa Tu, Māori Cultural Evening with Seasonal Fusion Gourmet Dinner - Rotorua
  • Private guided Hell’s Gate tour with Mud and Sulfur Bath – Rotorua
  • Te Puia, Geyser by Night (Thu to Sun) – Rotorua
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Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Train & Rail Journeys, Photography

What travelers are saying

"Good morning, as our holiday in New Zealand is coming to a close, wish to thank you for everything you are and have done to make our trip memorable and enjoyable. As you recommended, I spoke with Faith and she is having Rod pick us up by 8.30am this morning. We will leave immediately. If we can get on the helicopter as early as possible we could return so much earlier. If possible do put in a word at the helipad, after 9am, as you said, and we will be on our way there. Thank you."

Trip dates & details
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Generous cancellation

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Trails of New Zealand
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Alps, Auckland, Christchurch

Highlights

  • Discover Tongariro National Park, the oldest national park in New Zealand
  • Gain an insight into Māori culture, join in a hāngi (Māori feast) and cultural performance
  • Enjoy a half-day coastal walk and sailing trip in Abel Tasman National Park
  • Cruise the stunning Milford Soundwith one night on board the Milford Mariner
  • Discover Queenstown and enjoy the scenic delights of this world-famous destination
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Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

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New Zealand Explorer
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous

Visits

Abel Tasman National Park, Alps, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Mount Cook, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tasman National Park, Wellington

Highlights

  • Discover the beaches of Abel Tasman and cruise on the Doubtful Sound
  • Explore art deco Napier and enjoy wine tasting at Hawke's Bay
  • Walk to glaciers and discover volcanic White Island

Themes

Cultural, Hiking & Walking

What travelers are saying

"The booking process was straightforward"

Trip dates & details
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48 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Group Tour
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Rotorua Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
175  Reviews
See all Rotorua tour reviews
Excellent
75
Great
19
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
M

Mike

Mar 2024

Written on

Self-designed 21 day trip to NZ

Geoff helped my wife and I to put together an itinerary that customized to our particular interests and preferences. At the outset he asked us where we'd like to go ...

A

Anonymous

Apr 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

AWESOME NEW ZEALAND

This trip is one of the best we have experienced with Exodus. The varied walking, landscape and experiences on the trip make it an amazing adventure. Beware though...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

The best of New Zealand

What an amazing trip! I cannot recommend it highly enough - it showcasts everything that New Zealand has to offer, and despite travelling for 3 weeks it is not eno...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Title is good.

It’s a very full an encompassing trip. It covers a great deal and involves a lot of hiking, which is really the only way to truly see and appreciate this spectacul...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

An Unexpected Journey.

An excellent introduction to both islands. There is so much to see and do that the time we had just whizzed by. It is clear that this trip only just touches the su...

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