Who are the best luxury travel companies for a family trip with teenagers to New Zealand?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
These 14 luxury travel companies name a New Zealand trip on their own websites and say they plan family trips that take teenagers. Of them, Natural Habitat Adventures, Audley Travel and Big Five Tours & Expeditions have the most Google reviews. Each card gives the trip and the family fact, each with its own source.
Who are the best luxury travel companies for a family trip with teenagers to New Zealand?
These 14 luxury travel companies name a New Zealand trip and say they plan family trips that take teenagers; Natural Habitat Adventures, Audley Travel and Big Five Tours & Expeditions have the most Google reviews. Check each card's family line for ages, then compare protection and reviews.
Audley Travel
- Best for
- Tailor-made family adventure trips
- New Zealand trip
- Sells a Cultural New Zealand self-drive tour.
- For families
- Sells family trips, for example a Family adventure in Costa Rica.
- Money protection
- ATOL number 4817 covers its flight-inclusive trips and ABTOT covers trips that do not include flights. ATOL protection does not apply to all services; parts of a booking not listed on the ATOL certificate are not protected.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 288 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 from 5,084 reviews, newest 2 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- audleytravel.com
Big Five Tours & Expeditions
- Best for
- Family journeys shaped by children 6 to 15
- New Zealand trip
- Sells a trip called New Zealand's Natural Wonders, one of its President's Picks.
- For families
- Launched a Kids Kouncil in January 2019, a panel of children aged 6 to 15, to guide its family itineraries.
- Founded
- 1973
- How to book
- Through a travel advisor: its own website says it sells only through the travel trade.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 57 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- bigfive.com
Brown + Hudson
- Best for
- Journeys designed with teenagers in mind
- New Zealand trip
- Plans bespoke New Zealand trips with walking options on the Milford Track and at Doubtful Sound.
- For families
- Offers a Greece leadership journey designed with teenagers in mind, to be fun, interactive and instructive.
- Limits it publishes
- Charges a minimum non-refundable retainer fee of £1,500 for a bespoke trip.
- Reviews
- Google: 3.0 out of 5 from 4 reviews; Trustpilot: 3.2 out of 5 from 1 review, newest 2 January 2024. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- brownandhudson.com
Butterfield & Robinson
- Best for
- Bespoke family trips
- New Zealand trip
- Offers a bespoke biking trip in New Zealand.
- For families
- Lists bespoke family trips, for example to Thailand.
- Founded
- 1966
- Reviews
- Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 33 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 209 reviews, newest 29 October 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- butterfield.com
Cazenove+Loyd
- Best for
- Tailor-made family itineraries
- New Zealand trip
- Sells a 17-day New Zealand journey from £13,580 per person.
- For families
- Sells a family journey through Sri Lanka that blends wildlife encounters with culture.
- Money protection
- Holds ATOL number 3208, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.
- Reviews
- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 9 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 from 114 reviews, newest 18 June 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- cazloyd.com
GeoEx
- Best for
- Costa Rica trips suited to families
- New Zealand trip
- Sells an Adventuring Through New Zealand custom trip from $16,900.
- For families
- Its team handles every detail of its Costa Rica trips, which it calls especially ideal for families.
- Reviews
- Trustpilot: 3.4 out of 5 from 2 reviews, newest 9 December 2025. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- geoex.com
Jacada Travel
- Best for
- Private family trips for all ages
- New Zealand trip
- Plans personalised New Zealand culture tours.
- For families
- Plans family trips from scratch, with experiences for everyone from the youngest children to grandparents.
- Founded
- 2008
- Reviews
- Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 55 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 2,621 reviews, newest 2 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- jacadatravel.com
Ker & Downey World Travel
- Best for
- Itineraries for younger or older children
- New Zealand trip
- Runs a private New Zealand tour built around luxury lodges and personalised adventures.
- For families
- Can arrange itineraries designed for children, whether younger or older.
- Website
- kerdowney.com
Lightfoot Travel
- Best for
- Tailor-made family holidays
- New Zealand trip
- Sells an Adventures in The South Island itinerary in New Zealand.
- For families
- Sells family trips, for example Finnish Lapland For Families.
- Money protection
- Says each sales location has the maximum level of industry bonding possible, including ATOL membership in the UK, with licensing in Singapore and Hong Kong; no ATOL number is given.
- Website
- lightfoottravel.com
Natural Habitat Adventures
- Best for
- Private departures for families
- New Zealand trip
- Runs Australia and New Zealand adventures that include a cruise on Milford Sound.
- For families
- Lets families or groups of friends reserve entire polar bear departures on a private basis.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 299 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- nathab.com
Pelorus
- Best for
- Priced family trips for parents with children
- New Zealand trip
- Sells Air, Land & Sea in New Zealand, December to February, at £25,000 per person for 4 guests.
- For families
- Sells A Kenyan Adventure for all the Family, July to October, at £25,400 per person for 2 adults and 2 children.
- Money protection
- ABTOT protects non-flight packages for Pelorus Adventures Limited.
- Reviews
- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 4 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- pelorustravel.com
Steppes Travel
- Best for
- Family adventures for all ages
- New Zealand trip
- Sells a 21-day New Zealand self-drive itinerary covering the North and South Islands.
- For families
- Runs boat-based family adventures planned to suit every age.
- Money protection
- ATOL covers its flight-inclusive packages; clients should check that everything booked is listed on the ATOL certificate. ABTOT covers non-flight packages (number 5488). Money for ATOL-protected bookings is held in an independent trust account managed by Serenity Trust; no ATOL number is given.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 23 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- steppestravel.com
Turquoise Holidays
- Best for
- Tailor-made family holidays
- New Zealand trip
- Sells New Zealand by Campervan, 14 nights from £3,800 per person.
- For families
- Launched its first family holiday brochure in the summer of 2014.
- Founded
- 2002
- Money protection
- ATOL number 5875 covers its package holidays; land-only arrangements it books as agent are not financially protected.
- Reviews
- Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 436 reviews, newest 27 October 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- turquoiseholidays.co.uk
VBT Bicycling Vacations
- Best for
- Teens from 13 welcome on most tours
- New Zealand trip
- Runs an 8-day New Zealand's South Island Walking Tour from $5,645.
- For families
- Welcomes children aged 13 and over on most of its tours when accompanied by an adult.
- Money protection
- Shares the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program with affiliates of Xanterra Leisure Resort Holdings, which posts the US$1 million with USTOA; the shared sum may be sufficient to provide only a partial recovery of payments if VBT fails.
- Reviews
- Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 48 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Website
- vbt.com
Which of these companies protect your money?
7 of the 14 name a scheme that protects guest payments on their own websites, such as ATOL for UK flight packages, ABTA or USTOA membership, or a trust account; the rest do not name one on the pages read.
- Audley Travel: ATOL number 4817 covers its flight-inclusive trips and ABTOT covers trips that do not include flights. ATOL protection does not apply to all services; parts of a booking not listed on the ATOL certificate are not protected.
- Cazenove+Loyd: Holds ATOL number 3208, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.
- Lightfoot Travel: Says each sales location has the maximum level of industry bonding possible, including ATOL membership in the UK, with licensing in Singapore and Hong Kong; no ATOL number is given.
- Pelorus: ABTOT protects non-flight packages for Pelorus Adventures Limited.
- Steppes Travel: ATOL covers its flight-inclusive packages; clients should check that everything booked is listed on the ATOL certificate. ABTOT covers non-flight packages (number 5488). Money for ATOL-protected bookings is held in an independent trust account managed by Serenity Trust; no ATOL number is given.
- Turquoise Holidays: ATOL number 5875 covers its package holidays; land-only arrangements it books as agent are not financially protected.
- VBT Bicycling Vacations: Shares the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program with affiliates of Xanterra Leisure Resort Holdings, which posts the US$1 million with USTOA; the shared sum may be sufficient to provide only a partial recovery of payments if VBT fails.
Which other companies on this page plan family trips to New Zealand?
Natural Habitat Adventures has the most Google reviews of the 14; these 4 have the most Google reviews of the rest.
- Audley Travel: Tailor-made family adventure trips
- Big Five Tours & Expeditions: Family journeys shaped by children 6 to 15
- Jacada Travel: Private family trips for all ages
- VBT Bicycling Vacations: Teens from 13 welcome on most tours
Who to contact first
Start with the 7 companies on this page that name a scheme protecting your payments on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates.
- Audley Travel
- Cazenove+Loyd
- Lightfoot Travel
- Pelorus
- Steppes Travel
- Turquoise Holidays
- VBT Bicycling Vacations
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the price includes and excludes, line by line: stays, guides, transfers, internal flights, park or entry fees.
- The deposit, when the balance is due and what you lose if you cancel.
- Which scheme protects your money and the number to check it.
New Zealand family trips with teenagers: the questions people ask
What should I ask a tour company before booking?
What the price includes, line by line; the deposit and when the balance is due; what you lose if you cancel; and which scheme protects your money.
Do these companies publish prices?
Some do on their trip pages and some quote only on request. The cards give what each company says; ask for a written quote with the same inclusions from each.
Which of these companies protect my money if they fail?
7 of the 14 name a protection scheme on their own websites: Audley Travel, Cazenove+Loyd, Lightfoot Travel, Pelorus, Steppes Travel, Turquoise Holidays and VBT Bicycling Vacations. Check the number with the scheme itself before you pay.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
7 of the 14: Audley Travel, Brown + Hudson, Butterfield & Robinson, Cazenove+Loyd, GeoEx, Jacada Travel and Turquoise Holidays. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 3 November 2026.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
Natural Habitat Adventures, Audley Travel and Big Five Tours & Expeditions, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a company, not whether it fits your trip; each card gives the rating and count, read 3 November 2026.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the company's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these companies chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table, built from the luxury tour operators ChatGPT names most often; its own website names a New Zealand trip and says it plans family trips that take teenagers. A company is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
- Who are the best luxury travel companies for a family trip with teenagers to Peru?
- Who are the best luxury travel companies for a family trip with teenagers to Costa Rica?
- Who are the best luxury travel companies for a family trip with teenagers to Iceland?
- Luxury Tour Operators 2026: The Six That Lead, Costs, Cover
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.