We are members of industry groups such as the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association and the Bus & Coach Association as well as being a Qualmark Endorsed business which means we have access to the best industry safety advice and practices for tour operators, ensuring our operating standards match the best practices for tour operators.

Our comprehensive set of safe tour operating procedures and checks performed before and during every tour includes coach sanitisation, guest and guide health, on board hygiene equipment, 24/7 emergency support and contingency plans for any outcome.   

These standards follow the latest recommendations and standards of the New Zealand Ministries of Health & Transport, World Health Organisation and relevant New Zealand Tourism Industry Groups. Our Kiwi Guides are all trained in these procedures and we allocate extra duty time before each tour to ensure our comprehensive list of pre-tour checks and preparation is completed to the highest standards.

Here’s MoaTrek Kiwi Guide Tim to explain more about our safe tour operating procedures

MoaTrek first began operating tours in New Zealand in 1971 and is established as the country’s leading Small Group Tour Operator. Our people, both on the road and behind the scenes, make up one of the most experienced tour operating teams in New Zealand. Through the decades we’ve operated tours in all kinds of conditions and circumstances and have gained a wealth of experience.

The NZ Government requires anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 to isolate for 7 days.

Should you contract Covid-19 or have another health issue while on tour, our staff is fully available for support and help with any changes to your travel arrangements both during and after your tour.

Out on tour our Kiwi Guides are always in control but they’re not alone. The MoaTrek office is staffed seven days a week and in an emergency is available to support our guides 24 hours a day. We’re there to support our guides and help our guests in any way needed.

Another wonderful resource is Healthline. This is a New Zealand government service provided free of charge for anyone, Kiwis or visitors, with medical questions. The practical implication for us on tour is that we have 24/7 phone access to professional health advice if we need it, reassuring for us and our travellers.

MoaTrek is committed to being New Zealand’s leading small group tour operator and as part of this we are required to meet the following independently audited operating and safety standards:

Qualmark Approved Tour Operator
New Zealand Bus & Coach Association
Department of Conservation Concessionaire
Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand

Furthermore, we adhere to and follow the latest travel advice issued by the New Zealand government.

The last two years has given us even more reasons to love small group travel. Smaller groups mean more distancing, less exposure to people during a tour and the nature of visiting all the “off the beaten track” spots we love so much means most of the time we’re far away from groups and crowds of people.

We encourage our guests to take the following simple steps to ensure everyone is safe:

• Wash your hands
• Sneeze into your arm
• If you’re not feeling well let your guide know
• Hand sanitizer will be available for all guests
• Our guides carry extra PPE equipment, including masks, and we have contingency plans for every foreseeable scenario

Masks are mandatory in the following places so bring masks with you on tour:

• Hospitals
• Doctors' clinics
• Pharmacies — but not those inside supermarkets

Moatrek highly recommends wearing a mask on your flights prior to joining (and departing) your tour to minimize the risk of coming into contact with covid and maximizing your chance of having a safe and fantastic adventure.

We are a Qualmark endorsed tourism business, which is New Zealand tourism's official quality assurance system.

As part of this we follow the New Zealand government guidelines on safe tours operations during Covid-19 and are "Covid Clean Approved".

See more about Qualmark and the Covid Clean Approved endorsement here.

Everyone plays a part to make our tours safe and this includes you, our travellers. 

We ask all our guests to ensure they are fit to travel, to follow our Kiwi Guide’s requests and instructions at all times on health and safety guidelines.

By taking part in our tours, guests acknowledge that there is still some risk.

Visit the New Zealand Government Covid-19 website for the most recent government travel and health advice.

Visit the Covid-19 information page on the New Zealand Government Ministry of Transport for the latest advice about travel to New Zealand.