The 4 Best New Zealand Bus Tours

1.Auckland Explorer: Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,180 reviews · from $43Our pick

Use the Auckland Explorer Bus to circle Auckland’s central sights, then hop off at the Sky Tower, Auckland Museum, Mount Eden, Parnell, Bastion Point, or Kelly Tarlton’s. English commentary, WiFi, air-conditioning, and one or two day passes make it useful for first-time visitors, though seasonal schedules and waits require planning.

“Very hilly city. Not easy walking. Long distance between stops. Busses are very nice, some open top.”

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2.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 868 reviews · 8 hours · from $110

Ride from Te Anau with local guides such as Sebastian or Scarlet, stopping for short walks and photos before a full Milford Sound cruise. You get a picnic lunch, hot drinks, live commentary, and an eight-hour day without driving the winding road yourself. Rain can make the waterfalls even more dramatic.

“It was a great way to sit back and let someone else do the driving and give commentary along the way. Our driver Scarlet was absolutely the bomb and allowed plenty of stops along the way for photo opportunities. Money well spent”

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3.From Auckland: Waitomo & Hobbiton Bus Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 789 reviews · 11h 30m · from $261

Travel from Auckland to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Hobbiton Movie Set on an 11.5-hour GreatSights coach tour. A driver-guide such as Rachel, Dave, or Kenny provides local stories en route. Expect a 45-minute cave visit, a two-hour Hobbiton tour, a picnic lunch, Wi-Fi, and a long but rewarding day.

“The guide Dave Turner was amazing and knew a lot of fun information and had a great sense of humor.”

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4.From Queenstown Milford Sound Cruise & Glass-Roof Coach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 545 reviews · 12h 30m · from $172

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a glass-roof coach with driver commentary, photo stops at Mirror Lakes and Monkey Creek, and a 1-hour-45-minute Pride of Milford cruise. Guides such as Ivan, Dwayne, Annette, and Shalendra have been praised for making the long ride lively. Lunch is optional and costs extra.

“the cruise and scenery throughout were lovely, and special shout out to our tour guide! she was an excellent driver and we felt very comfortable even on the very windy roads. i especially enjoyed the mauri history and family stories she shared; they added so much to our trip and experiences in new zealand overall.”

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