About Thrifty Tours New Zealand
Over 30 years of New Zealand touring
Showing visitors around New Zealand is what we love to do. Our tour packages are flexible and depart every day, offering a fantastic range of ideas to spark your inspiration.
Based in Wanaka overlooking the lakes and mountains of the South Island, our team has first-hand knowledge of everything New Zealand. This means you get the best local, relevant and up to date advice when planning your New Zealand holiday.
Thrifty Tours was started in 2004 and since 2017 has been part of Fine Tours Group. Currently located in Wanaka, South Island New Zealand the team of NZ travel experts can modify any of our ideas to suit you perfectly. With hundreds of accommodation and activity ideas to choose from, we can tailor-make the ideal itinerary for you.
If you think you would like to work with us at Thrifty Tours then check out our job opportunities here.
Thrifty Tours is part of the Fine Tours Group of Businesses. We are proud members of Tourism Industry Aotearoa and The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand. We are also Qualmark Gold certified and all our team have completed the 100% Pure New Zealand specialist program.
See our 'how it works' page to get all the answers on why you should book with Thrifty Tours.
Meet our Travel Specialists
Travel Specialist
Australian's like myself LOVE New Zealand. The cities are small and full of character and you're never too far from an adventure. Send me an email today and let's kick start your holiday now!
My favourite place: Queenstown, like me you'll love the adventure!
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
Before I joined Thrifty Tours, I spent time on the ice at Scott Base in Antarctica and worked as a travel guide in New Zealand. Now I look forward to helping you explore in New Zealand. As an avid chocolate fan I also encourage you to try our delicious Whittakers, the creamy milk is something special!
My favourite place: Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island, it's not just beautiful, the sandboarding there is fantastic fun.
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
For over 20 years I have been showing people the world, and I love it. It is great to be able to piece together people's New Zealand wish lists whilst and share the awesome place I call home. When I am not planning unique NZ tours I can be found juggling 2 busy children at home in beautiful Wanaka.
My favourite place: Doubtful Sound
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Travel Specialist
First experiencing the South Island on a family road trip as a child, I still find I can't get enough of the stunning scenery our country has to offer. Coming off a long career as an international travel consultant I'm excited to now be selling New Zealand as a destination and the variety of experiences it has to offer.
My favourite place: The Wild West Coast
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Travel Specialist
I have lived in New Zealand for four and a half years now and I love it! After travelling to over 40 countries I have fallen in love with the beauty and ease of New Zealand. I have a passion for travel and me and my awesome team would love to help you get here and enjoy the very best of this country has to offer.
Make an appointment here to talk to me when suits you.
My favourite place: Queenstown, full of adventure or lazy lake days.
Travel Specialist
I am a keen skier and hiker so being able to work during the week and then explore on the weekends keeps me really happy and I am excited to share my stories and experiences. I hope me and my incredible team can help you design your perfect holiday so you can experience the beauty of New Zealand for yourself!
My favourite place: More recently, I loved visiting the Tongariro National Park!
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I grew up in a small town northwest of Auckland, and while it may have been in the middle of nowhere, I learned to make my own fun and appreciate the little things in life. I am now located in the stunning Wanaka, where the picturesque landscape feels like living on a movie set. My travels, both near and far, have fuelled my love for exploring everything this world has to offer. After studying tourism following high school, I am now equipped with the tools to help you create a once-in-a-lifetime experience in our beautiful country.
My favourite place: Wanaka, every experience you could dream of in one spot.
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
Having spent 4 years travelling around Canada, Europe and South America, working across all areas of the ski and hospitality industry, I realised my dream and moved to New Zealand. I spent 4 months travelling in my van, exploring all the sights NZ has to offer and love that I can share my experiences with others looking for an equally amazing time in this beautiful country. Though winter is where I thrive, in summer I still can’t tear myself away from the mountains. I spend my time hiking and rock climbing and love to help others out with where the best spots are!
My favourite place: The Wairarapa Valley has some of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done and to rest the sore legs after a long day of hiking it really doesn't get much better than any of the wonderful wineries the area has to offer. Head south to the rugged Cape Palliser and say g’day to the seals en route!
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I love showing off my home country and sharing my passion for travel with others! I have many years of experience studying and working in tourism in New Zealand. I have lived in many places across the South Island and explored much of the North Island too, so I have a wealth of knowledge and tips I can't wait to share with you.
My favourite place: Wanaka. You won't ever find me far from the mountains, and this spot is just so relaxed and gorgeous.
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I grew up in Auckland and lived there my whole life, until 3 years ago when my partner and I moved to Wanaka. We see Wanaka as home now and are extremely settled here with our 2 year old pup Chess! (I'm obsessed with my dog). My background consists of sales and customer care, I have worked in multiple different industries such as food importing and timeshare. I also just finished studying beauty therapy, having some new skills under my belt. However, I've been looking forward to getting back into what I'm passionate about! When I am not working I am definitely walking or biking with my dog! I love skiing and being outdoors, but I also love to be at home with yummy food and watching a movie!
My favourite place: Ohakune
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I recently moved to New Zealand from the Scottish Highlands and am now living in the sunny town of Wanaka. I have a degree in Adventure Tourism Management and a passion for creating unique experiences in the mountains. I enjoy exploring areas with authentic local character and culture! I strive to provide a warm approachable service that thrives through creativity and innovation when finding that balance in forming itineraries bespoke to your needs. I am so excited to learn more about this diverse country full of abundant opportunities and be able to offer the best support for your venture.
My favourite place: Wanaka, this is a place with a special community. Whether you’re visiting or spending longer in the area, always give yourself more time to explore than you anticipate.
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I'm a passionate traveller who made Wanaka my home five years ago. New Zealand stole my heart, and I love spreading that love in the travel industry. Creating custom itineraries is my jam, and I've got your back from fiords to alpine trails, and city vibes to lakeside serenity. Let's make your New Zealand dream come true, one personalised journey at a time!
My favourite place: Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, its untouched and natural beauty is utterly unmatched
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Travel Specialist
Although not originally from NZ, I have been lucky enough to call this place home for the last 7 years and after travelling all over the world, there's a reason I settled here. I work with a great team here at NZFT and between us, we have probably covered every inch of New Zealand. So whether it be jumping out of a plane, hiking to glaciers, or enjoying a glass of vino in a vineyard, you name it, we know about it.
My favourite place: Mt Aspiring National Park
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Travel Specialist
I’m Georgia, originally from Brighton in the UK. My travels have taken me across Europe, South East Asia, Australia and now New Zealand. I love hiking, beaches, and being outdoors, and I’m excited to help others experience the beauty of New Zealand for themselves.
My favourite place: Aoraki - Mount Cook
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I’m Christina, New Zealand born and Australian raised, who returned home for the epic scenery, mountains, and laidback lifestyle. With over seven winter seasons of on-mountain experience, I’m passionate about helping others explore the breathtaking beauty and adventure that New Zealand has to offer.
My favourite place: Fiordland, it’s one of the most magical places on Earth, where the sheer scale of nature makes time stand still. Absolutely breathtaking!
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Customer Experience
I love to travel and have spent a lot of my life searching for the next adventure and exciting destination to visit. When I arrived in New Zealand, I knew that I had found my home away from home. This beautiful country offers everything I could ever want - adventure, incredible hospitality, and beautiful scenery. I am excited to share my wealth of knowledge with you and help you experience the amazing wonders of New Zealand firsthand.
My favourite place: Fiordland National Park, not only do you have the incredible Milford sounds, but you also have some of the most spectacular hikes right at your doorstep.
Sales and Customer Service Manager
A true Kiwi local, with a strong passion for New Zealand including being renowned for my strong southern accent. My career has always been in hospitality and tourism management, varying from reservations to general hotel management. I’m an expert in service delivery to ensure client expectations are exceeded. My in-depth knowledge of New Zealand including the dedication, passion, and care to ensure all clients create the most amazing memories is the reason I love the industry and my role.
My favourite place: Wanaka, due to the pristine mountains, lake and fantastic biking trails.
Travel Specialist
I’m Cory, originally from the UK, where I first fell in love with the mountains while travelling through Europe and Canada. Now I’m proud to call New Zealand home. These days you’ll usually find me outside, mountain biking, skiing, or swimming in alpine lakes. After travelling extensively, I’m passionate about sharing my love for the outdoors and helping others experience the very best of this incredible country for themselves.
My favourite place: Zealandia
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Travel Specialist
With a background in luxury lodges and superyachts, I now craft unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime New Zealand experiences for travellers. Catch me skiing, fishing, or enjoying local food and wine when I'm not designing your next epic itinerary!
My favourite place: Wanaka
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
Travel Specialist
I’m Ryan, originally from the UK, and after spending three years in Melbourne I made the move to New Zealand to be closer to the landscapes that make this country so special. Now based in Wanaka, I’ve travelled extensively through the North Island and around Queenstown, and I love helping people discover New Zealand and picture what their own unforgettable journey could look like.
My favourite place: Queentown, the mountain views are seriously breathtaking!
Make an appointment here to talk to me when it suits you.
See what other guests have to say abut Thrifty Tours
Check out the latest 10 reviews below or see all our reviews here.
I enjoyed all the tours -Bay of Islands, waitangi guided tour and cultural performance, Rotorua, waitomo caves Tour, Te Puia, Hobbiton, Te Po. I had great vegan lunch and dinner at Pataka Kai Restaurant.The accommodations were good. At Sliver Fern I was given a suite. The drivers were good. The driver from FlexiTours was friendly and knew a lot of nz history. The driver from Great sights also was very good too. Intercity coaches were good. The tour guides were knowledgeable and good too. It was wonderful to see kiwi birds at Te Puia.
Thank you to Tayla and the team at Thrifty Tours. I hope more people visit geothermnal wonderland of Te Puia as it help supports the running of place and the school. The other tours were great too.
Every part of the trip was fantastic and all the accommodation was great! So many highlights - the Trans Alpine Scenic train from Christchurch to Greymouth with Scenic plus add on was amazing for the food and scenery.
At Franz Joseph the Punga Grove accommodation was lovely. We managed to get a shuttle bus to view the glacier when we arrived. We heard a Kea trilling outside our room in the morning!
Queenstown was beautiful. Gondola scenery spectacular! The Earnslaw cruise and Walter peak Gourmet BBQ and Farm show was fun. The Doubtful Sound Real NZ cruise was beyond expectations. We saw dolphins, penguins and seals on a perfect sunny day. The Novatel Lakeside was a great location and had beds that felt like sleeping on marshmallows.
Mt Cook - we were upgraded to premium king size rooms which looked out onto MT Cook with a view that was breathtaking. We went stargazing and even though it was minus 4 on the night the stars were awe inspiring. The Glacier explorers jetboat cruise was stunning.
Christchurch - we visited Quake City which was very moving. We rode on the gondola and did the Botanic Gardens tram ride. What a beautiful garden! Our 2 night stay at Quest on Cambridge was excellent as it was within walking distance to shops, restaurants and the Botanic gardens.
The Fine Tours app with all the details on it was easy to use and so handy.
This trip was truly perfect!!
Thank you so much Ryan for all your help in planning and booking the trip and for making the changes we requested. You made sure everything was organised and it all ran without a glitch. You helped give us such wonderful memories. The weather was sunny the whole time which was a bonus. New Zealand is so beautiful!
We had an amazing experience in Queenstown. Enjoyed breakfast at the hotel restaurant overlooking Lake Wakatipu with snowcapped mountains in the background. It was so picturesque. The landscape is like a "picture-postcard" scenery. The hotel ambience was great with good service. The location was very near the city center, which is within walking distance and very convenient.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank your travel consultant, Nikita Mayen, who has tailored our tour of Christchurch and Queenstown. Nikita has been helpful and responsive to every detailed of our requests. The well plan customized tour with detailed itineraries and organized arrangements have made our tour stress free. This allowed us to have a comfortable and wonderful tour experience.
Queenstown is a beautiful place
Cory did an excellent job—he took a lot of pressure off me by organizing everything, which made the entire tour smooth and memorable for my elder brother and his family. They truly enjoyed themselves and created many beautiful memories to take back to India.
I would definitely recommend Cory and your company for future services.
New Zealand is precious and however we travel, we all have a responsibility to look after this country.
The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand now and for future generations. We at Thrifty Tours are committed to this promise.
By following the Tiaki Promise, you are also making a commitment to New Zealand and acting as a guardian protecting and preserving our home.
