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

(317 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

4/18/2026

Timmy was excellent

Our guide Timmy was excellent, really nice, funny and cool. Best experience

Wendy I

4/15/2026

Trent - awesome

Trent was awesome super fun, layed back and knowledgable gave us a great insight to our surroundings making everyone had a great time

Joe Tuck

4/15/2026

Go Trent

Trent was so lovely and knowledgeable about the area! A great day out :))

Kate M

4/10/2026

Beautiful, magical NZ journey

My parents and I had an amazing time with Jeoffrey as our guide. The group was small and we never felt rushed with all the activities we did. This being our first visit, we learned a lot about this beautiful country. It was a special trip and we are grateful for our experience.

Michelle d

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

1/25/2026

Cheeky John is the best!

We traveled with John for 2 day tour. He was wonderful, enabling us to get the more than we planned with many impromptu stops as time permitted. He was knowledgeable and if he didn't know the answers , researched and shared them later. He was fun and thoughtful. We had a health challenge which he made adaptations for. We got more that we paid for and couldn't recommend him more highly!

Judy J

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

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