New Zealand · 1-DAY TOURS

Top 15 1-Day Tours in New Zealand

20 tours  ·  from $74 a head

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 1-day tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch - Crossing the Waikato to Matamata
1-Day Tours, Auckland Tours, Guided, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tours

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch

1.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland incl lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,677 reviews · from $229Our pick

Visit Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves from Auckland with transport, lunch, local guides, a Green Dragon drink, and a full day of scenery.

“One of the best. Mike our driver was outstanding. Very professional and informed about sights along the way. We enjoyed each stop especially the glow worms and boat ride in the cave! Highly recommend!! Ina and Don”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip - Te Anau and the first scenic stops
1-Day Tours, Boat Tours in Queenstown, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews

Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

2.Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,592 reviews · from $144

Ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound for a full day of rainforest views, waterfalls, wildlife, local commentary, lunch, and a scenic fiord cruise.

“Great day great activities, our guide Carl made sure we got there regardless of the few challenges he was facing made sure we got there on time, safe and everyone accounted for. Great day out on Pure Milford”

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From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Trip with Lunch - The road south through the Waikato
1-Day Tours, Auckland Tours, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tours

From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Trip with Lunch

3.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,505 reviews · 11 hours · from $221

Combine Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves on an 11-hour Auckland day trip with lunch, transport, local commentary, and a Green Dragon drink.

“This tour was amazing and would definitely recommend. Danny was a fantastic guide telling us facts on the drive to make it insightful and enjoyable. The Hobbiton tour was so much fun and the caves were a great addition. The stops on the journey were really appreciated and the lunch had a wide variety. Danny went above and beyond to get to know us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. The tour itself was totally worth it and we had a great time!”

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From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip - Crossing Lake Manapouri from Manapouri to West Arm
1-Day Tours, Doubtful Sound Cruises, Fiordland & Milford Sound Tours, National Parks, Tour Reviews

From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

4.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,621 reviews · 7 hours · from $208

Review of RealNZ’s 7-hour Doubtful Sound trip from Manapouri, with Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass, wildlife, waterfalls, and practical tips.

“Real NZ staff are amazing. dedicated to the cause they sell. shame as I was aNZMCA member I didn't get the discount”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat - Queenstown pickup and the Frankton check-in
1-Day Tours, Boat Tours in Queenstown, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

5.Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,558 reviews · 5 hours · from $447

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound, cruise beneath waterfalls, spot wildlife, and return over Fiordland on a scenic five-hour trip.

“This was a great way to see Milford Sound from Queenstown. We were prepared to make the drive, but that would have been a mistake. They picked us up at our hotel, drove us to the airport flight center, and flew us over incredible picturesque territory, including Milford Sound before landing at a small airstrip by the docks where the sight-seeing boats leave from. They bus us the two-minute trip to the docks and organized which boats we were going on. All was done for us. The boat trip was comfortable and provided a great tour of the Sound. The return trip on the airplane was on a different route;…”

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Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch - Meeting the coach at Sky City
1-Day Tours, Auckland Tours, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews

Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch

6.Hobbiton Movie Set Day Trip with Festive Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,431 reviews · 8 hours · from $182

Visit Hobbiton from Auckland by comfortable coach, tour the movie set, step inside a Hobbit hole, enjoy a Green Dragon drink, and feast at lunch.

“Hobbiton was absolutely magical. The bus ride was long, over 2 hours, but very comfortable. our driver, Marty, was very informative and funny. Our guide in Hobbiton, Stevie, was great! It was hard to stop smiling. Beer at the Green Dragon was a real treat, and Lunch at the pavilion was very good. A trip well worth doing if you are a fan of the movies or not.”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip - Leaving Queenstown beside Lake Whakatipu
1-Day Tours, Boat Tours in Queenstown, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip on Premium Coach - Te Anau gives the day its first proper pause
1-Day Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip on Premium Coach

8.Milford Sound Day Trip on Premium Coach

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 976 reviews · 750 minutes - 14 hours · from $170

Review the Queenstown to Milford Sound premium coach tour, with glass-roof views, scenic stops, a two-hour cruise, and practical booking advice.

“Stan was our driver and he was great. Great sense of humour, informative and helpful. Great stops along the way and cafes with decent food. Comfortable seating and views great. Nothing we didn’t like about the trip, Stan was all about getting us there and back and kept to a timeline that was flowing and accommodating to all.”

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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip - A better view of the Milford Road
1-Day Tours, Boat Tours in Fiordland, Cruises & Boat Tours, Fiordland & Milford Sound Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Tour Reviews

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

9.Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 717 reviews · 7h 30m · from $136

Ride Milford Road from Te Anau, stop at Mirror Lakes and Monkey Creek, then cruise Milford Sound for waterfalls, wildlife, and Fiordland views.

“really amazing experience seeing Milford sounds, the scenery was stunning, definitely worth doing, can't exactly put into words how amazing Milford sounds is, we were lucky to have good weather and all the waterfalls were out too!”

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From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Trip - The Auckland pickup and the long ride south
1-Day Tours, Auckland Tours, Full-Day, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Tour Reviews

From Auckland: Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Trip

10.Hobbiton Movie Set Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 474 reviews · from $161

Spend nine hours traveling from Auckland to Hobbiton, with a small-group ride, guided movie-set tour, Green Dragon drink, and Waikato views.

“The Guide was very kind and careful. Everything works good and it was a wonderful day that I will never forget.”

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TranzAlpine Train, Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill Day Trip - The TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass
1-Day Tours, Christchurch Tours, Tour Reviews, Train Experiences, TranzAlpine & Scenic Rail

TranzAlpine Train, Arthur’s Pass and Castle Hill Day Trip

From Queenstown: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip - Wilmot Pass, where rainforest takes over
1-Day Tours, Doubtful Sound Cruises, National Parks, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

12.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 314 reviews · 13 hours · from $277

Review of RealNZ’s 13-hour Doubtful Sound trip from Queenstown, with Lake Manapouri, Wilmot Pass, wildlife, costs, and practical tips.

“Amazing day! Doubtful sound was the reward of this long day trip. The best moment is when the boat stops his engines for few minutes, you will enjoy this moment of silence with only the birds singing!”

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Otago Central Rail Trail One Day Wonder Cycle tour - Starting in historic Clyde at 9am
1-Day Tours, Bike Tours in Queenstown, Cycling Tours, Queenstown Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Otago Central Rail Trail One Day Wonder Cycle tour

13.Otago Central Rail Trail One Day Wonder Cycle tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 300 reviews · from $99

Cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail from Auripo through Poolburn Gorge, past viaducts and tunnels, with bikes, gear, transfers, and a flexible finish.

“Lots of fun riding the old rail trail. The country side can be a bit bleak in parts and in others the view across the mountains is spectacular. We had electric bikes which I would recommend , not for hills but your on holiday right ! A few nice cafe and a great pub along the way. We rode the one day from Auripo to Clyde. Great fun”

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Best Abel Tasman Day trip - Tonga Island Marine Reserve: seals, water, and wildlife
1-Day Tours, Abel Tasman Cruises & Walks, Nelson & Abel Tasman Tours, Tour Reviews

Best Abel Tasman Day trip

14.Best Abel Tasman Day trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 229 reviews · from $248

Review of Abel Tasman Charters’ six-hour day trip from Kaiteriteri, with seals, Split Apple Rock, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and lunch.

“My family had a fabulous day with Captain Tim showing us the beauty of Tasman Bay. We saw and heard the wildlife, including fur seals and many bird species. There was time for swimming, kayaking, and just enjoying the views and sun from the comfort of the Taranui. Tim prepared a delicious lunch with a large assortment of local meats, cheeses, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Wine, beer, soft drinks and water were available all day. All the "extras" like towels, sunscreen, and a restroom were provided. The hospitality and friendly atmosphere made for a wonderful and memorable experience.”

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From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip - The Auckland pickup and the road to Hobbiton
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, Matamata Tours, Tour Reviews, Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tours

From Auckland: Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip

15.Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 179 reviews · 11 hours · from $269

See Hobbiton and Waitomo Glowworm Caves in one scenic Auckland day, with luxury transport, local commentary, snacks, and guided entry.

“We were absolutely thrilled to see hobbiton for the first time and also the glow worm caves. Transport was great, so easy to have someone else organise everything. The guide/driver was so lovely and entertaining and provided snacks and water. Bucket list item ticked off! Thanks again for an amazing day 🫶”

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