Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited

What Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited does

Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited is a New Zealand-based small-group tour operator founded in 2017 and headquartered in Te Anau. The company runs a catalogue of more than 50 guided tours spanning both the North and South Islands, with a Mercedes minibus fleet sized for 7 to 16 passengers. Its core product set includes single-day tours (Milford Sound, Hobbiton, Glaciers, the Routeburn, and similar iconic itineraries), multi-day packages such as the Southern Highlights 3-day and 5-day itineraries, private and custom tours, point-to-point transfers, and add-on experiences. A four-hub pick-up network anchored in Queenstown, Te Anau, Christchurch, and Franz Josef provides hotel collection across both islands.

The company sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its own website, complemented by distribution partnerships with global online travel agencies including Viator, GetYourGuide, and KLOOK. Pricing spans NZD$140 for short experiences up to NZD$3,280 for longer multi-day packages, with flagship day tours (Milford Sound, Hobbiton) priced at NZD$315-369 per person. The business holds Qualmark Gold Certification, New Zealand's official tourism quality mark, and is a Department of Conservation (DOC) Approved Operator, the latter of which permits access to protected areas central to its premium offerings.

Cheeky Kiwi Travel has earned TripAdvisor's Best of the Best recognition for five consecutive years (2022-2026), placing it in the global top 1% of experiences, and has accumulated more than 8,457 reviews with 5,000+ five-star ratings. The company employs between 11 and 50 people, has expanded into a Charter and Conference Tours line for corporate and event clients, and operates as a privately held NZ limited company.

Name

Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited

Legal name

Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited

Website

https://cheekykiwitravel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited is a New Zealand-based small-group tour operator (founded 2017) offering guided day tours, multi-day packages, and charter services across both islands to international and domestic leisure travellers, distributed via DTC and major OTAs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Guided Tour Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Group Escorted Tour Operators (THAKADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Luxury Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAE)

Keywords

• Guided tour services
• Small group tours
• Day tour packages
• Multi-day tours
• New Zealand tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Te Anau

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Day Tours: Fully-guided small group day tours to destinations including Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Mt Cook, Rotorua, Bay of Islands, and Coromandel Peninsula. Prices range from NZD$140 to NZD$500+ per person depending on tour length and inclusions.
2. Multi-Day Tours: Multi-day tour packages ranging from 2 to 5 days, including accommodation, transport, and multiple destination visits. Prices start from NZD$700 and go up to NZD$3,280 for 5-day Southern Highlights Tour.
3. Custom/Private Tours: Bespoke private tours for families or small groups looking for personalized itineraries. Subject to availability and priced at time of booking.
4. Optional Add-ons: Additional activities such as heli hikes, scenic flights, and specialty experiences can be purchased as optional extras on standard tours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited operates guided small-group day tours and multi-day tour packages across New Zealand's North and South Islands, with a maximum of 16 guests per tour. The company offers hotel pick-up and drop-off, all-inclusive pricing with entry fees and snacks, and operates from Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch, and Te Anau. Their portfolio includes more than 50 tour variations covering iconic destinations such as Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Mt Cook, Rotorua, Bay of Islands, and the Catlins.

Product overview

Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited offers a unified tour operator platform centered on small group guided tours across New Zealand. The core offering consists of Small Group Day Tours (max 16 guests) visiting destinations like Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Mt Cook, Rotorua, Bay of Islands, and Coromandel Peninsula, supplemented by Multi-Day Tours (2-5 days covering Southern Highlights and North Island combinations). Additional modules include Custom & Private Tours for bespoke experiences and Conference & Charter Tours for group transport. All tours feature hotel pick-up/drop-off, passionate local guides, modern Mercedes minibuses with WiFi and USB charging, and inclusive entry fees. The flagship product is the Tripadvisor 'Best of the Best' award-winning Milford Sound Tour from Queenstown. The company operates more than 50 tour variations across North and South Islands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Group Day Tours Fully-guided day tours visiting New Zealand's top destinations with a maximum of 16 guests per tour, including hotel pick-up and drop-off, all entry fees, and modern Mercedes minibuses with amenities. Prices range from NZD$140 to NZD$500+ per person.
• Multi-Day Tours Multi-day tour packages including 2-day to 5-day options such as Southern Highlights Tours (3-5 days covering Queenstown, Dunedin, Catlins, Te Anau, and Milford Sound) and North Island multi-day tours combining Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, and Hamilton Gardens. Prices range from NZD$700 to NZD$3,280.
• Custom & Private Tours Bespoke private tour experiences tailored for families or small groups seeking personalized itineraries with choice of activities and destinations. Subject to availability and priced at time of booking.
• Conference & Charter Tours Charter and conference transportation services for groups requiring custom itineraries and dedicated vehicle hire.
• Milford Sound Tour from Queenstown with Cruise & Picnic Lunch 13-hour premium small group tour featuring boutique Milford Sound cruise and picnic lunch, departing Queenstown. Price from NZD$369. Winner of TripAdvisor's 'Best of the Best' Award in 2023-2026, ranked #16 in world in Sailing and Day Tours category in 2025.
• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from Auckland 9-hour fully-guided day tour of the 12-acre Hobbiton Movie Set and Alexander Sheep Farm, famous from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, departing Auckland. Price from NZD$315.
• Mt Cook Small Group Tour 12-hour small group day tour from Queenstown exploring the Mt Cook area with free time for Hooker Valley Track hikes and alpine activities. Price from NZD$275.
• Southern Highlights Tour - 3 Days / 2 Nights 72-hour multi-day tour covering NZ's Deep South from Queenstown to Dunedin, Catlins, Te Anau and Milford Sound, including luxury coach, hotel stays, Taieri Gorge Train, and Milford cruise with lunch. Price from NZD$1,850.
• Southern Highlights Tour - 5 Days / 4 Nights 120-hour multi-day tour covering NZ's Deep South on a loop from Queenstown through Dunedin, Invercargill, Stewart Island, Te Anau and Milford Sound, including luxury coach, hotels, Taieri Gorge Train, Stewart Island tour and Milford cruise with lunch. Price from NZD$3,280.
• Bay of Islands & Paihia 2 Day Tour & Cruise with accommodation 36-hour Northland tour visiting Bay of Islands, Hole in the Rock, and Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest), including accommodation and cruise. Price from NZD$949.
• Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach & Coromandel Peninsula Tour 12-hour day tour from Auckland exploring Coromandel Peninsula including Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach dig-your-own-spa experience, and scenic coastal stops. Price from NZD$259.
• Rotorua Highlights Tours Day tours from Auckland to Rotorua featuring Te Puia, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Redwoods Treewalk, and Secret Spot Hot Tubs geothermal and cultural experiences. Price from NZD$434.
• Christchurch to Franz Josef via Hokitika Full-day West Coast tour exploring New Zealand's wild West Coast from Christchurch to Franz Josef glacier region.
• TranzAlpine Train Tours Tours including the scenic TranzAlpine train journey across the Southern Alps, combined with Arthur's Pass day tours and West Coast glacier region exploration.
• Catlins Tours Day tours exploring The Catlins region including Nugget Point Lighthouse, Cathedral Caves, Purakaunui Falls, Curio Bay (yellow-eyed penguins), and coastal wildlife experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9 out of 5 aggregate rating with over 8,000 reviews
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ViatorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorViator (TripAdvisor) serves as a third-party booking platform for Cheeky Kiwi tours, expanding distribution to travellers who book through Viator's marketplace.
• GetYourGuidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGetYourGuide is a third-party booking platform enabling travellers to discover and book Cheeky Kiwi tours through their marketplace.
• KLOOKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKLOOK is an online travel booking platform that distributes Cheeky Kiwi tour experiences to their customer base.
• Boutique Cruise Partners (Milford Sound)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheeky Kiwi partners with boutique cruise operators for Milford Sound tours, providing premium cruise experiences as part of their tour packages.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC Approved Operator status - Cheeky Kiwi operates in partnership with DOC to ensure tours protect and conserve New Zealand's natural and cultural heritage in national parks and conservation areas.
• Hobbiton Movie SetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to provide guided tours of the Hobbiton Movie Set, including entry tickets and complimentary Green Dragon Inn drink.
• Te PuiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for guided cultural experiences at Te Puia geothermal reserve and Māori cultural center in Rotorua.
• Wai-O-Tapu Thermal WonderlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing entry and guided experiences at Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park in Rotorua.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Grand Pacific Tours: Escorted coach tour operator focused on multi-day New Zealand itineraries, particularly inbound mature travelers — comparable on escorted multi-day tour model in the same geography.
• Stray Travel: NZ-focused small-group tour operator running flexible multi-stop itineraries across both islands — directly comparable target market (international backpackers/budget travelers) and small-group model.
• Kiwi Experience: Hop-on, hop-off NZ backpacker bus network serving independent international travelers across North and South Island routes — comparable geography and traveler demographic, though looser group model.
• Haka Tours: New Zealand small-group guided tour operator offering multi-day North and South Island itineraries with a similar escorted, small-group model — directly comparable on product, customer, and geography.
• Active Adventures: New Zealand small-group adventure tour operator combining guided hiking and sightseeing itineraries — closely comparable on small-group size, NZ geography, and active sightseeing emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Intrepid Travel: Global small-group adventure tour operator with a substantial New Zealand product line — comparable small-group escorted model but vastly larger scale and broader geography.
• Tourism Holdings International (THL): Largest NZ tourism operator (rental vehicles, campervans, hotels) serving the same international NZ traveler — adjacent rather than directly competing on guided tours.
• Real Journeys (RealNZ): Established NZ scenic and sightseeing operator across Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Stewart Island, and Te Anau — directly competes on Milford Sound experiences Cheeky Kiwi bundles, with broader portfolio.

Others

• Jucy Rentals: NZ tourism brand offering rental vehicles and self-drive packages — competes for the same international tourist dollar via a self-drive alternative rather than guided tours.

Regional players

• Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound-based cruise and scenic operator supplying one of the key experiences Cheeky Kiwi packages in its flagship tour — adjacent competitor and supply-chain partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cheekykiwitravel
• Instagraminstagram.com/cheekykiwitravel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cheeky-kiwi-travel

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cheeky Kiwi Travel Limited