Coach tours are a favourite choice for those people who are on a limited budget and like to socialise with other visitors.  Coach tours are generally run on the basis of a fixed number of days taking in all of the most favoured locations, on a themed basis or a combination of both.

The most famous themed tours are probably the film tours that visit places where the 'Lord of the Rings' and the 'Last Samurai' were shot.  However, there are many other themed tours available including adventure, boats and sailing, cycle and mountain biking, nature, gardens, motorcycling, golf, skiing and snowboarding, volcanoes and wine tours.  Whatever your tastes they can be catered for by one of the many tour operators.

Large coach tours aren't for everyone, so if you want to be driven around but want to remain in a relatively small group, it can be arranged.  There are companies that run 'small group tours' where like-minded people are taken from place to place by an experienced guide. The driver/guide provides a commentary giving an insight into the myths and legends of New Zealand as well as explaining the history of the countryside and townships visited.  All accommodation is pre-arranged, meals are provided and the travellers luggage is transferred by the tour company.

For those with a bit of money in their pockets, there are the luxury escorted tours where you are driven around by a highly experienced chauffer/guide in a luxury car to all of the best places that New Zealand has to offer.  Money no object? Then this is the holiday for you.

Finally, train tours are not big in New Zealand although there are some routes particularly around Christchurch, Dunedin and, in the North Island between Auckland and Wellington.

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