Private Driver Hire, NZ chauffeur services, private tours & transfers

Let us drive you in comfort and style!

Explore the beauty of New Zealand

Tour New Zealand’s wine regions

Explore the Nelson Tasman region

New Zealand Touring

Relax and enjoy the scenery as we drive/guide you on a private tour anywhere around New Zealand exclusively with just your passengers for as long as you want to book us for. We can do both islands or just one depending on your timeframe.

(From 1 or 2 people per group up to 14 passengers per vehicle, but exclusively your own group, you wont be mixed with strangers to make up numbers)

We also provide various short mini breaks around New Zealand, Start wherever you want and tour the best spots over a few days or a week to suit whatever your timeframe allows.

Doing most of both islands by road requires 2 weeks travelling,14 nights minimum. Short breaks can be 2 or 3 nights or a week depending what you require.

Explore our NZ tours »

Nelson Tasman Tours

Let us show you some of the best scenic highlights our beautiful region has to offer on our day tours.
Come and taste the wines around the Nelson or Marlborough vineyards with just your own group or couple in the vehicle for the day.

Come and visit the beautiful Golden Bay region and walk to see some stunning nature including waterfalls and beaches.

Or let us customise a day tour to suit your available time while your in the Nelson Tasman area.

Transfers

We work all over New Zealand,but head office is in Nelson where we can take you to or pick you up from most locations around the Nelson Marlborough and Tasman regions, including Picton ferry,Nelson or Blenheim airport.
We offer Tramping track drop offs or pick ups around the Nelson Marlborough region, The Te Araroa trail, Queen Charlotte and Abel Tasman tracks, and the Golden Bay area.

We also offer short 1- 3 night tours from Christchurch to Queenstown via Tekapo and or Mt Cook, or Greymouth from the Trans Alpine train to Queenstown via Franz Josef or up to Nelson in addition to our more extended New Zealand wide tours. OR we can offer direct transfers to/from these locations without any scenic stops we can quote for whatevers required.

We provide one way transfers from Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson, Picton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Greymouth, Queenstown or happy to quote to take you from anywhere to anywhere.

Private Tours and Charters all over New Zealand.
We specialise in personalised small group tours around New Zealand, and one way charters. Let us drive you in comfort and style for an affordable price. We can also arrange private excursions, boat trips, scenic flights as part of your tour package.
Personal Driver/Guide.
We provide you with your own personal driver/guide to take just your group anywhere around New Zealand. We create an itinerary for you to suit your time available or will advise if your own itinerary is possible in your timeframe. You book your own level of accommodation in the towns we advise you the nightly stops will be in, to meet your schedule.
Anywhere in New Zealand.
You can start and end your travel with us in ANY CITY throughout New Zealand. You don’t have to end the tour in the same city you started it in.
Same Chauffeur/Driver for entire tour.
We can provide your group with the same driver/guide for the entire duration of your tour, or if time doesnt allow that we can have one on each island. At a pre quoted fixed price.(No hidden costs.)

WE DO TOURS ALL OVER NEW ZEALAND (from 2-3 days to 3-4 weeks)
Auckland to Bay of Islands, Hahei beach Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Tekapo, Mt Cook, Christchurch.

We wanted to meet and talk to other Kiwis and get an up close more personal experience on our time and at our leisure. We wanted to partake in what the natives enjoy the most about their beautiful country and not what a tour company would arrange for us in advance on their regimented schedule and prefab itinerary from the United States.

So, I set out looking for that special private driver to hire. We did not go wrong with our choice! Paul was the most personable, detailed, on time, responsible, fun, knowledgeable, charming driver/guide we could not have been more lucky to have hired for our eleven day tour. What a smooth and seamless trip Paul created for us with ease of mind, even with the route changes that had to occur after the major Waiho Bridge near Franz Josef collapsed due to heavy rains.

Thank you for your care and concern and for your professionalism. As we drove through the “hills” of Mt. Cook’s winding roads on that very rainy day we were grateful for your driving skills and attention. You gained our respect both behind the wheel and as a guide through all the beautiful sites of NZ.

Victoria
(From Trip Advisor)

Explore the TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND with our Private Tours & Transfers.

Abel Tasman Transport Kaiteriteri / Marahau Transfers
Your own exclusive groups or couples affordable transportation service to connect you to or from any of the main access points into the national park.

Golden Bay Transport Service
Our flexible service can take you to and from locations of your choice in Golden Bay, including Takaka,Pohara,Tata,Wainui Bay,Te Waikoropupu Springs, Collingwood, and the stunning Wharariki beach.

Marlborough Transportation Service
We can take you from Picton,Blenheim,Anakiwa,Pelorus Bridge,Havelock,to or from Nelson or into the Marlborough sounds.

Marlborough Wine Tours
You can rely on our knowledge to guide you to the highlights of Marlborough wine country and we only take your exclusive group in the vehicle.

4.7

Based on 15 reviews

review us on

Hiring Paul as our driver made this a five star vacation! He helped us create a 9 day North and South Island dream trip hitting all the hikes, wineries, and attractions we hoped to see. In addition Paul recommended hidden gems and local sights we never would have included left to our own devices.You can’t put a price on his knowledge of local history, professionalism, timeliness or warm personality. His safe driving through the winding roads allowed for a whole lot less stress than had we driven ourselves. It led to an unforgettable time here in New Zealand, and we will be forever grateful to Paul for helping to make that happen.

JAMES WESSENDORF

This is my first trip to New Zealand with my husband, and we had the absolute pleasure of hiring Paul Newton for our 8-days South Island trip. He exceeded every expectation from start to finish. He was never just “on time” — he was always early, prepared, and ready to go, which gave us complete peace of mind every single day. He is an incredibly reliable and steady driver, navigating New Zealand’s unpredictable roads with confidence and skill. Whether it was winding mountain routes or sudden traffic slowdowns, we always felt safe and relaxed in his care. He even ensured we had essentials like water, USB ports to charge our phones, asking if we will need him to help in taking pictures for us — small details that showed how attentive he is to his customers. One of the biggest highlights was his well-crafted itineraries. Nothing was generic or “touristy.” Instead, he curated each day according to our specific preferences — both of us preferred scenic tours, stress-free activities that are spread through these 8 days. His planning was thoughtful and personalized, and the timing for each destination was amazingly precise, even when unexpected things like roadblocks or delays happened. We simply sat back, enjoyed the views, and trusted him completely. He is also patient, never rushed us, and waited calmly no matter how long we took at each location. On top of that, he is genuinely witty and entertaining — his stories, humour, and way of explaining things made every drive enjoyable. He also shared interesting background stories and history for each attraction, adding so much depth to our experience of the South Island. Another moment that truly impressed us was the Blue Penguin experience in Oamaru. He not only recommended it, but he also secured front-row seats for us — away from the crowds — so we could watch the penguins walk right past us at the closest possible proximity. It was unforgettable, and something we would never have known how to arrange on our own. He is also extremely flexible and accommodating with last-minute changes, adjusting plans smoothly without any stress. He will include interesting unplanned stop-overs such as Cardrona Bra Fence and Moeraki Boulders. Overall, Paul gave us one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had. If you’re visiting New Zealand’s South Island, we STRONGLY using his service. His professionalism, warmth, and meticulous planning made our trip truly exceptional. Thank you Paul and we will see you again soon!

Eva Chua

Honest Review of Private Hire Service in New Zealand – Especially for Groups of Senior Travellers I’m now back in Singapore and finally feel safe to share my experience to help others make an informed choice. I travelled to New Zealand with my mum and three aunties, aged 66 to 72. We had two different drivers during our trip, and the contrast between them was extreme. Positive Experience – North Island We were picked up by Phillip at Auckland Airport. He was professional, patient, and stood waiting with a sign. He took great care of us throughout our North Island itinerary. No issues at all. ⸻ ⚠️ Extremely Negative Experience – South Island with Paul From the moment we met Paul, issues started. 1. Airport Pick-up at Nelson Paul refused to pay for airport parking and instructed us, myself and four senior ladies to walk with luggage to the bus stop. When he arrived, security stopped him because parking there wasn’t allowed. Only after a discussion did the guard grant him a one-time exception. This already felt unprofessional. 2. Rain Incident at Palazzo Motor Lodge The next morning was raining. Paul insisted that all of us walk with our luggage through the rain to a sheltered spot by reception. I found a much better loading point, 100% sheltered, just a 2-second drive away. I even sent him a photo, but he refused. When he arrived, he shouted at us, calling us the “worst group he ever had” for not wanting to walk ten seconds in the rain. His yelling was so aggressive that the hotel staff intervened and reprimanded him for being unreasonable. We continued the tour only because we had already paid him around NZD 18,000. 3. Supermarket Incident at Lake Tekapo Later at Lake Tekapo, he warned that restaurants required reservations, so we bought groceries to cook. We took about an hour. When we returned, he again shouted, scolded, and used the F-word repeatedly, accusing us of being “rude” for making him wait. Although I still apologised, his response was a sarcastic, “Yeah, right…” At this point, we truly felt helpless and intimidated. 4. Frequent Road Rage & Aggressive Behaviour Throughout the trip, Paul: • Jumped out of the van to scold a tourist confused at a roundabout • reprimanded another tourist flying a drone • Frequently cursed at other drivers • Spoke in a harsh, angry tone most of the time This behaviour was especially frightening given we were a group of elderly ladies. ⸻ 🚫 Final Recommendation I strongly do NOT recommend choosing Paul as your driver. Although he knows New Zealand well, his anger issues, unprofessionalism, and aggressive behaviour made our South Island trip extremely stressful. This was, by far, the worst private hire experience we’ve ever had, and it does not reflect well on the otherwise warm and friendly people of New Zealand. For groups with seniors or anyone who values safety and respect, please think twice. I’m now looking forward to see how Paul responds to this. Thank goodness the trip is over.

samantha lee

We engaged Private Driver Hire NZ for our 9-day trip around the South Island as a group of six, including four senior citizens, to celebrate their retirement. Paul was very helpful and provided great tips with a curated itinerary for us. Our assigned driver for the trip was Louis. Louis was punctual, friendly, and cheerful throughout the trip. He made the journey comfortable and enjoyable for everyone, often going out of his way to share his knowledge and stories about the Kiwi culture and how living in NZ was like. Would personally highly recommend their service to anyone looking for a hassle-free and memorable travel experience in New Zealand!

Gabriel

Incredible 4 day road trip with Private Driver Hire NZ. Paul was responsive and communicative from the first day I reached out to plan my trip. He took incredible care to incorporate everything I wanted to see plus extras I never would have thought to include. Paul is professional, a great driver, super friendly (the trip was FUN!!), and deeply loves what he does and his country. I couldn’t have dreamed a better trip, and it was all thanks to Paul!! I will definitely use Paul and this company again the next time I’m in NZ.

Emily Stember

New Zealand is finally open to tourists again after 2 years of pandemic! After checking out a number of group tour, private tour, free and easy options with different companies, we decided to go with Private Driver Hire. When we checked out with them, within a day, they came back to us with a quote and answered all our questions. They are extremely patient to reply all our questions. We found the quote to be reasonable and we went with them. After we paid the deposit, they came back with the itinerary for a 11 days 10 nights tour across South Island. They tried to put in everything for us, including Dunedin and Central Otago etc but because we wanted the tour to be more relaxing, we requested to take it out. So we covered Hortilika, Franz Josef Glacier (with helicopter ride), Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mount Cook and Tekapo. We are from Singapore and it was truly a memorable journey as it was our first time to New Zealand. We took so many beautiful pictures that we would keep for a lifetime. Our driver was prompt, always punctual, reliable and responsive. There wasn't a moment that we needed him that he wasn't there. We saw the best of South Island with private driver hire! With lots of yummy food recommendation and nice scenic spots perfect for photos! For anyone looking to have a customised tour in New Zealand, do check out them out. Highly recommended!

Charles