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

(304 reviews)

3/12/2026

Our Cheeky Kiwi Auckland City Tour was really a great experience. Glad we did it! A highlight we will remember

A great tour. Well paced, diverse and informative. Our tour guide, Jeff, was a gentleman, welcoming and knowledgeable. He checked in regularly with us throughout the tour to make sure we were comfortable and to ask if we had any further questions about what we were seeing. His recommendations for exploring further on our own was much appreciated. Certainly a tour guide Yoda worth 10+ stars!

Phase3Retirement

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

3/16/2026

Great day

Great daytrip from Auckland. Timmy was a superb guide and really accommodating to ensure the group had a great experience. Lots of opportunities for swimming, beautiful scenery and nice to see where Aucklanders weekend

Nicola P

3/13/2026

Great Time

Timmy was a great guide!!! He was super friendly and kind. He had good vibes. I had a wonderful time exploring the coromandel peninsula on his tour. He gave us a lot of time and was very nice! Really enjoyed the secret stop! If not for the tour, i wouldnt have been able to experience this! Would do it again.

Voyage24715089556

3/13/2026

Great time seeing Narnia!

Simon did a great job guiding us despite the lousy weather. We had a great time because of his efforts! Everyone should get a bit of cheeky!

Bobby W

3/7/2026

Great day in the Coromandel

We hit the jackpot to get Cam as our guide. His sense of humour and wealth of knowledge about New Zealand made our visit to the Coromandel a wonderful experience.

Ken P

3/6/2026

An amazing day trip adventure from Auckland with a wonderful guide

We had such a fun trip to the Coromandel Peninsula! Our guide Liam was excellent from the moment he picked us up to when he dropped us off. As we drove, he shared so much about the local areas, their flora and fauna, Maori culture and more. He was very knowledgeable and his commentary meant that the journey flew by. My highlight was hot water beach. Liam dug us a hole to put our feet in and it was crazy how hot the water was. It was so nice to run between the sea and the hot water pool. Couldn't recommend this tour highly enough.

Ellen J

3/2/2026

Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach

We took a day trip to Cathedral Cove, Hahei beach and Hot Water Beach with family from Auckland and we were visiting from Washington DC. Simon was our tour operator and did a tremendous job. He’s an engaging and knowledgeable guide, truly a hoot to hang out with. It is also worth noting that, as much of the time is spent in a bus that Simon is driving, that he is clearly a safe and attentive driver of said bus. We had an excellent day experiencing some of the many wonders of New Zealand, we learned a lot, and felt that we received quite the bargain for our vacation dollar. Bravo!

SamoaK1w1

3/2/2026

Exceptional & Genuine

Dave was an exceptional guide. We saw so many beautiful vistas and had so many great hikes. It'll definitely be a big highlight of my NZ trip. It was so lovely how he took such good care of us 🥰 He kept us on track and crammed in so much on our tour!

Feiya W

2/27/2026

amazing

The guide Hanzo (?) was amazing. He had a lot of fan fucts and funny commentary on the way. Scenery was great and stops for lunch and coffee were cozy and hit the spot perfectly. The bus was in great condition with ac. If there is one thing to change, maybe shorter time at Hot water beach and longer at Carhedral Cove as some people needed a bit more time to get there. For me (moderatly fit) it was 20min down to the beach and 40min, with stop for ice cream, back up.

Aysha R

2/25/2026

Fun , one of life's experiences

Ben the guide first class , comfortable journey , really enjoyable day

michael s

2/25/2026

A great day out from Auckland.

An excellent day out from Auckland. Our host Ben was friendly, and extremely informative. He made the day fun! It was a long day but the time flew with plenty of stops for toilets and food. Cathedral Cove is beautiful. The trip is suitable for all ages but a good level of fitness is needed due to the steps down at the end of the path. However if you do not want to walk back up the 152 steps there was a water taxi available for the return for a small fee. Lots to do at the cove either swim or just relax on a sandy beach and take in the view. We ate our picnic lunch on the beach. Perfect. Our mixed group of 7 was all solos. Our host made sure all of us had the best time. Once again thank you to Ben I would recommend this trip. The tour is good value for money too.

tinasc2017

3/16/2026

Fantastic Tour Guide

I don't normally write reviews, but I had to make an exception for this amazing experience. Liam was fantastic! This was my first two-day tour, and he truly helped make the experience memorable. He was knowledgeable, conscientious, considerate, and thoughtful throughout the entire trip. Liam made a genuine effort to ensure everyone felt comfortable and included, and he consistently went out of his way to make sure no one was left behind. His professionalism and positive attitude made the tour enjoyable from start to finish. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone considering it. Thank you, Liam and Cheeky Kiwi Travel!

Yvonne F

2/8/2026

Wonderful time!

I had a really amazing time during this tour! We saw a lot of really beautiful places and our tour guide, Trent, always had interesting information to share about the country and the tourist attractions we visited. I had a lot of fun talking with him and I also made some lovely friends. I definitely recommend !

Roam66949686047

2/7/2026

Wonderful Tour

Over all great two days. Vicki was a wonderful tour guide. FUNNY, helpful, knowledgeable and overall great person! Every stop was interesting.... some more so. Hobbiton was amazing and well organized. Huka Fall and the river wre beautiful. Overnight in Rotorua, very nice town. We wound up at the Night Market and were over powered with delicious food smells! We would highly recommend this tour.... and if you are lucky, have Vicki as your guide.

Gina D

1/25/2026

Impressive service

Our guide Geoffrey was outstanding! his deep knowledge of the culture and New Zealand made this a very educational and fun tour. He was not just a guide but a passionate ambassador for New Zealand. His knowledge was contagious for New Zealand made the tour feel authentic. A huge thank you for the arrangements in Rotorua and getting us to our event safely and on time. If you are planning a trip to New Zealand I highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi Travel and especially, Geoffrey for your arrangements.

Sightsee57325480260

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