Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - New Zealand Tour Company Recommendations?

Gang,

My partner and I will be going to New Zealand for the first time for our anniversary in November.

We were thinking about just doing an organized tour the first time...

Would anyone have any recommendation for tour companies? We, of course, would like to save money... so does not have to be a first class/high cost tour.

We would have eight days available... need to leave and arrive back in Auckland.

Any advice is appreciated.

William

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary ^

8 days pretty much limits it to North Island only (or South Island if you're okay flying to & from). Have you checked out www.newzealand.com for ideas (IIRC it has some listings of tour companies)? www.aatravel.co.nz may also have some listed.

Thanks Kiwi Flyer,

Could not pass up the United Fare Deal to AKL :)

So, North Island it is.... thanks for the tour company suggestions.

You could do the north island tour with www.flyingkiwi.com

I'm hoping someone has a rec for a company that offers guided walking tours on the Milford Track?

TIA

And I'll chime in looking for a company that does day trips to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.

Right now we've reserved with Real Journeys, but I'd like to find a day-trip operator where I'm not crammed onto a huge tourist boat with 500 of my closest friends. Any suggestions are appreciated.