15 Private Tours in Queenstown Worth the Fare

1.Arrowtown Wanaka Private Day Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews Our pick

Travel from Queenstown through Gibbston and Cromwell to Wanaka, then return via Cardrona, Crown Range Road and Arrowtown. Your private group of up to five gets a local guide, central pickup and time to explore both towns. Expect mountain views, fruit tasting, the famous Cardrona Hotel and stops at the Wanaka Tree.

“This was a superb tour... The tremendous beauty of the natural setting combined with the knowledge and expertise of the guide made for an unforgettable holiday. The van was clean and comfortable A truly memorable trip.”

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2.Private Queenstown Wine Tour All-Inclusive Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $297

Spend 5.5 to 7 hours touring Central Otago wineries with a private driver-guide, lunch, wine tastings, bottled water, and Queenstown hotel pickup and drop-off. The route includes Gibbston and a view of the AJ Hackett bungy site. Guides such as Donna, John, and Gary have led tours, and custom options can include a helicopter flight or golf.

“We had an amazing time! Our driver Gary was the best. Not only was he so very knowledgeable about the area and the vineyards, he was so personable and fun to hang with! You could also see that the wineries respected him. Each winery Read more”

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3.Lord of the Ring Full-Day Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 30 reviews · 10 hours

This private, 10-hour tour pairs Queenstown-area filming locations with prop photos, movie scripts and behind-the-scenes stories. Guides such as Shane, Francesco, Dan and Vicky lead different parts of the day, with stops in Arrowtown, Glenorchy and Paradise. Skippers Canyon is weather permitting. Lunch is not included, and you change buses in Queenstown between the morning and afternoon tours.

“I’m here to tell you that even if you haven’t seen the movies (like me), you will likely enjoy this tour if you like sightseeing and movies in general. Beautiful views all day and I liked hearing about what happened behind the scenes of the movies. If you already are a Lord of the rings fan you will absolutely love it! If you are not, you might be interested in becoming one after this! I know I’m going to watch the movies now to look for all the locations I’ve seen. Oh, I really liked how they have photos from the movies, so I didn’t feel lost during the tour!…”

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4.Gibbston Half-Day Private Wine Tour with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $222

From Queenstown, a private guide takes your group into the Gibbston and Central Otago wine region to visit four cellar doors and taste up to 20 wines. You’ll stop for a short lesson in tasting and aromas, enjoy a shared cheese platter, and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Susana is one guide praised for her warm, clear teaching.

“This was one of the best experiences we had on our trip! It is also one of the best wine tours we have been on. Susana is an extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide. Her relationships with the various wineries lead to excellent tasting exRead more”

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5.Full Day Queenstown & Southern Lakes Private Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $263

Set out from Queenstown, Frankton, or Arrowtown with a local photographer in a private 4WD. Learn camera settings and composition, then shape the day around places such as Skippers Canyon, Glenorchy, Arrowtown, or Wanaka. Martin is named often as a guide, though the assigned photographer may vary. Lunch and camera hire cost extra.

“Martin was our guide and was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Our entire group had a fantastic time as Martin showed us wonder after wonder traveling through the deserts, forests, and lakes of NZ. Martin shared with us so many hRead more”

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6.Half Day Skippers Canyon Queenstown Private Photography Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $173

Photographer-guide Martin takes your private group of up to four along Skippers Road in a comfortable AWD, sharing camera advice and stories of the canyon’s gold-mining past. Expect about five hours, hotel pickup, tea and cookies, and photo stops above the Shotover River. Bring your own camera or rent a Nikon.

“Martin gave a knowledgeable guided tour of the canyon focusing on photogenic sites, but with personal tips and shared experiences on photographic techniques. We ran overtime with no concern on his part. It was one f the highlights of our trip and we would recommend anyone interested in the experience whether or not they are serious photographers.”

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7.Glenorchy Private Day Trip from Queenstown: TravelnGo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews

TravelnGo’s private six-hour trip from Queenstown lets your group of up to four shape the day around lakeside views, short walks, photos or a café stop. Possible stops include Moke Lake, Bob’s Cove and Glenorchy’s red shed. Guides such as Jay, Vibhas and Green have been praised for personal service and photography, though specific guides are not guaranteed.

“Wonderful guide and driver. Magnificent scenery and visual displays. Very accommodating service. It was a lovely day, one of our best in New Zealand.”

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8.Wanaka Private Day Trip from Queenstown: TravelnGo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews

Travel privately from Queenstown to Wanaka and back, with scenic stops in Arrowtown, Cardrona, Cromwell and along the Crown Range. Your local guide can adjust the pace and add or skip stops. Guide Vibhas has been praised for tailoring the trip and adding places beyond the planned route. The vehicle is air-conditioned, with onboard Wi-Fi where mobile coverage allows.

“Superb trip and superb Guide Vibhas..So cool , he even customised this trip to our needs and even showed the extra spots not mentioned in the itinerary.. may your venture grow well guys .”

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9.Private Full Day Photo Tour of Queenstown | Skippers | Glenorchy | Wanaka |Otago

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $322

Set out from Queenstown with local photographer Aiste in a private, air-conditioned 4WD. Shape the day around places such as Arrowtown, Skippers Canyon, Glenorchy and Wanaka, with photographic guidance, a light lunch and 5 to 10 professional photos included.

“From the start to end, our professional photographer / tour guide, Aiste, was perfection! From Queenstown, through Glenorchy, Wanaka, to Skippers - Aiste guided us to incredible views, amazing photo opportunities, and unbelievable phRead more”

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10.Private Day Trip to Wanaka, Arrowtown & More

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 11 reviews · 7 hours

Travel from Queenstown with a local driver-guide on a private trip through Arrowtown, over the Crown Range and on to Wanaka and Lake Dunstan. You can adjust stops for walks, photos, food or wine. Guides Jay and Erman are among the local hosts named by guests, though your guide may vary.

“Jay is knowledgeable, personable and a great New Zealand, Queenstown ambassador! He gave us just the right amount of information and interesting facts about the history, culture, wildlife, scenery of the various places he showed us. He also sensed our needs and adapted seamlessly. Just a pleasure to sons the day with Jay!”

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11.Mt. Cook Private Day Trip From Queenstown with Lake Tekapo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $363

Leave Queenstown at 7:00 am in a private vehicle with a driver and guide for a full-day South Island road trip. Stops include Lindis Pass, High Country Salmon, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Tasman Glacier, Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo. Guides named in past bookings include Steve, Deep and Dave. Lunch is not included.

“It was well organised & full of enjoyable tour in a very modern & comfortable Mercedes van. Wonderful driver & much detailed information tour. Tom offered all services to feel more like family get-together tour. The Glaciers view point, Hooker valley & Lake Tekapo were an Epic! Overall a must do thing once in life, totally worth it!!”

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12.Private Transfers from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews

A private transfer takes you between Queenstown Airport and your Wanaka accommodation, or in the reverse direction. Your driver tracks your flight, and drivers such as Ben, Graham, and Warren are praised for careful driving and helpful service. Expect a direct journey of about an hour, with pickup at the airport’s Transfers Pickup area.

“Great service provided by Ben and great careful driving. Will do this again for door to door service especially at night”

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13.Guided Private Milford Sound Day Tour from Te Anau(Cruise In

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 1 day · from $209

Take a private, one-day trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound in a Tesla Model X or Y, with pickup at your accommodation and a boat cruise included. Your English-speaking Kiwi guide, such as John or Nigel, shares local insight and can tailor the day, with plenty of stops along the road. Bring warm clothes and arrange your own lunch.

“Booking this private tour was the best decision we made for our trip. We had an amazing guided private tour to Milford Sound with John. He was incredibly friendly and ensured we made the most of our day, stopping at all the key viewpoints and hidden gems along the way. John’s care for our family truly stood out—he even carried our toddler at several spots, which made everything so much easier for us. It was definitely the best day of our entire trip to New Zealand, thanks to John’s warm hospitality and expertise. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you're traveling with a toddler and don't want to drive to…”

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14.5 Day South Island New Zealand Private Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $3,040

Travel from Queenstown to Christchurch with a private guide-driver and vehicle for your group. Choose between Milford or Doubtful Sound, then consider options such as glowworm caves, jet boating, a Mount Cook helicopter flight, stargazing, the TranzAlpine train, and a Kaikōura or Akaroa day. Guides on past trips have included Rag and RV; your guide may differ.

“If you're looking for an unforgettable experience in South New Zealand, this 5-day adventure is absolutely perfect! From breathtaking landscapes to adrenaline-pumping activities and unique wildlife encounters, every moment was magical.”

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15.Lake Tekapo Private Day Trip from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews

Travel from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo in a private vehicle with a local driver-guide and an itinerary you can adjust to your interests. The route can go via Cromwell or Wanaka, with stops such as Lindis Pass, Lake Pukaki, the optional Clay Cliffs, and the Church of the Good Shepherd. Allow about 11 to 12 hours, and bring money for meals and salmon.

“This is really a nice trip. The tour guide is very thoughtful and friendly which really made us feel relaxed. I would recommend to people who come with friends and families.”

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