Our Story

Guided. Personal. Authentic.

We’re Cheeky Kiwi - experts in small-group, fully-guided tours who bring the magic of New Zealand to life, with personality, passion and a pinch of cheek.

Our Story

From day one, Cheeky Kiwi has been about more than just seeing the sights, it’s been about feeling Kiwi hospitality in every moment. We started with one simple idea: make every tour personal, authentic and unforgettable.

Our founders wanted to build a tour company that doesn’t just transport people, but guides them, with local insight, warm service and the kind of little surprises that spark a smile.

Over time we’ve grown, but stayed grounded in that vision: small groups, expert guides, premium quality, and a genuine love for Aotearoa.

Our Mission & What We Believe

01.

Authentic Journeys, Genuine Connections

We believe travel is more than ticking destinations off a list, it’s about sharing laughter, stories and unexpected moments in small-group settings. From driver-guides who treat you like friends to surprise detours that become memories, our tours are made human, personal and unforgettable.

02.

Care for Country and Community

New Zealand’s landscapes, wildlife and people are the beating heart of everything we do. We believe it’s our responsibility to tour with respect, honouring culture, protecting nature, backing sustainable practices and offering you an experience that leaves a positive footprint, not just footprints.

03.

Premium Comfort, Friendly Vibes

We believe you deserve more than “just a bus ride”. With our comfortable, custom-designed vehicles, small-group sizes and passionate guides, you’ll enjoy premium service without losing the friendly, kiwi-style charm. Expect comfort, reliability and cheeky fun in equal measure.

04.

Memories Over Matter

We believe that the “extra little things” make the biggest difference: impromptu photo stops, stories you’ll tell long after the tour, connections with fellow travellers and guides, and the kind of genuine warm-hearted moments that turn a holiday into a story worth sharing. Because for us, the journey is the destination.

Meet the crew

The Team Behind the Cheeky Kiwi Magic

Our passionate guides are the heart of every adventure, famous for their stories, laughter, and genuine Kiwi spirit. Backed by a dedicated crew behind the scenes, we’re the team that makes every Cheeky Kiwi journey seamless, personal, and unforgettable.

Meet our crew

Our commitment to sustainability

Travelling Responsibly For Now and the Future

Cheeky Kiwi Travel is committed to sustainable tourism through its environments and procurement actions. We strongly believe that if New Zealand’s precious natural environment is allowing Cheeky Kiwi to operate as a business, it is only right that we practice Kaitiaki (guardianship) and do what we can to protect it through:

Restoring Nature & Giving Back
Carbon Reduction
Reducing & Eliminating Waste
Responsible Procurement

Our sustainability practices

Our guests know best

Stories worth sharing

Over 5000 5-star reviews

Award winning New Zealand Experiences

Trusted by global adventurers

4.9

(265 reviews)

12/23/2025

Highly recommended

Enjoyable tour with well-planned interinary despite change in weather. Very friendly helpful guide Pearl & Trent who are flexible & approachable. Highly recommended

Road61873960935

9/23/2025

Fantastic!!

I’m a tourist from South Korea, and I joined the Cheeky Kiwi Tour during my son’s school holiday to create some special memories. It turned out to be a truly moving experience in many ways. 1. Quick Response I had originally booked the all-day tour, but it was cancelled because some places were closed and not enough people signed up. Matilda from Cheeky Kiwi quickly found us an alternative schedule and took care of everything we needed. I was so grateful! 2. Friendly Service Our guide Matt greeted us with a smile from start to finish. Despite the bad weather, he did his best to guide us. I already knew New Zealanders are especially friendly, but Matt was simply the best! 3. Thoughtful Care for Customers Since there were only a few people on this tour, Matt customized the route to match what we wanted—it was amazing! We were probably just lucky! Also, knowing that we weren’t native English speakers, he spoke slowly and explained things at a level we could understand. We really appreciated that. It was our first time using Cheeky Kiwi, and if anyone is hesitating, I would recommend them without a second thought!!

Sora Yun

9/5/2025

Awesome tour!

We had Jeoff as our tour guide for this small group tour. He was excellent. He shared this tour (Auckland city highlights) was his first but had been to other tours.. he was impressive with his history about the Maori’s and civilization of New Zealand. Very patient and even dtopped us to the place we wanted to be dropped off. Highly recommended.

mj b

6/13/2023

Hobbiton is one of the best beautiful spots to visit if you are a fantasy fan of the Lord of the Rings.

It was amazing tour under the guidance of John and Nicholas.We learnt lots of behind the scenes information through them.

Freedom28408254116

1/18/2026

Would do it again

Very nice trip and beautiful views, also all the other places where we stopped were stunning, I’d definetly recommend it, and Ark was our guide an absolute legend! He was super friendly and explained everything to us

Inés C

1/17/2026

Great experience

Very nice excursion with Jeoff who is very friendly and he knows many things about New Zealand We appreciate this beautiful beaches et beautiful views we are very happy Thank you so much

Noémie A

1/16/2026

Unexpected adventure

Tour was fantastic. Service is amazing. Tour guide was excellent

Explorer706809

1/16/2026

Great day trip

I had a good time today. Geoff, our guide, was great. A bit more time at Coromandel Beach would have been nice, as the walk up and down steels quite some time.

Christina W

1/9/2026

Amazing tour with an amazingly caring guide

Amazing tour with an amazing guide, Jaymie. Jayme made the tour even more fun, and she was accommodating to everyone’s need, and tweaked the tour according to people’s fitness level. She came along, did the hikes with the group, encouraging those who needed it. The places we visited were breathtakingly beautiful. Just bring hiking shoes (my Birks were ill advised).

NorthStar56650174592

1/8/2026

Wonderful experience

We had a wonderful day at the Coromandel area with Ari and Sam. Ari was absolutely fantastic; she is native Māori and regaled us with wonderful historical NZ history and facts, and she called us ‘Far-no’ which means ‘family’ - giving us all a lovely sense of belonging and togetherness :) honestly cannot recommend this tour company enough - Ari made our experience absolutely unforgettable ❤️

SanS

1/2/2026

Beautiful Escape from the City

This tour was the perfect way to escape the CBD and explore the Coromandel Peninsula. Our guide Simon was friendly, hospitable and knowledgeable, making the tour extremely engaging and enjoyable. Would highly recommend this tour!

Paige C

1/1/2026

Magical day at Cathedral Cove

Simon ran a very entertaining tour of Cathdral Cove and Hot Water Beach. He pivoted quickly when we ran into unexpected traffic delays- kudos to him! Highly recommend this tour.

Gayle T

12/31/2025

Ein rundum schöner Ausflug mit wunderschönen Ausblicken

Die Abholung am Morgen vom angegebenen Pick-Up verlief reibungslos und pünktlich und man wurde freundlich begrüßt. Während der Fahrt wurden angemessene Pausen eingelegt und man erhielt nützliche Tipps über lokale Sehenswürdigkeiten und Einkehrmöglichkeiten, sowie historische Informationen über die Ortschaften. Der Hot Water Beach war der erste Stopp des Tages, man konnte mit der Schaufel selbständig sein eigenes thermales Loch graben oder einen Spaziergang am Strand neben den Wellen unternehmen. Nach einem ausgedehnten Mittagessen ging es zum Cathedral Cove, den man nach ca. 40min Laufweg (nicht zu unterschätzen, es gibt lange Steigungen und steile Treppen mit Geländer zum Strand!) erreicht. Es war insgesamt ein schöner Tag mit tollen Spots für Pausen und schönen Aussichten zum Festhalten.

Hanna M

12/31/2025

More than a Tour, a real connection

It was a fantastic experience with our guide Jamie and her husband Kelvin. Jamie was more than just a guide. She shared the history of New Zealand and the Māori culture in a very engaging way. As a foreign visitor, I did not know much about this before. After listening to her stories, I felt a strong emotional connection to this place. I sincerely wish New Zealand and the Māori people all the best. ❣️

Clara Z

1/22/2026

Best trout ever!

Best tour ever! Our guide Jeoff was so knowledgeable and friendly he made to trip so enjoyable and fun. Everywhere we went and everything we did was spectacular! I highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi!!!!! Book a tour you will love it!

Lynda S

1/20/2026

A fully impact on 2 days

Ride with Jeff. Lol! He was a great host. If you only have a short time in the country and want to see a lot this is the way to go no need to look for transportation or lodging it's all included in this trip. Make sure you got on some good walking shoes and be prepared to be bursting with excitement. The buses are used are pretty small but we were extra small on our tour which gave us a lot of time to see a lot more things with the smaller crowds. This is definitely best for short trips.

nard50

11/28/2025

Best trip decision we made!

This 2-day tour was the absolute highlight of our trip. From The Glow Worm Caves (Waitomo) to Hobbiton to Rotorua and Taupo, we never stopped being amazed by the beauty and wonder that is New Zealand. Our tour guide John was AWESOME and kept us entertained and laughing throughout the whole trip. Would definitely do again!

Explore51926577563

11/17/2025

Two days of jaw dropping magical experiences

The tour guide Pearl, went above & beyond. The sites were jaw dropping amazing. Hobbiton was so magical. The glow worm caves were spectacular. We enjoyed stopping in Rotorua, swimming in the thermal pool and stopping to wade in the warm thermal stream. The geothermal pools were a feast of incredible, natural beauty. Pearl was so helpful and anticipated our every need. The two day tour packed in a lot with extra stops of interest! We loved it and I would highly recommend it! Thank you to Pearl for your kindness and hospitality.

Nancy A

9/29/2025

Excellent Driver

My travel group booked cheeky kiwi and we had such a great experience with John. He was a funny guy and you could tell he loved the country so much and was proud to show you around. He made sure we got great views and photos and provided us with all the insider knowledge for travelling NZ

Jet06962840633

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