Travelling solo to the other side of the world can feel a little daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. That’s why we offer New Zealand small group tours for solo travellers – giving you an instant circle of travel buddies, a friendly Kiwi guide to look after you and the peace of mind that everything’s taken care of and you’re safe.
On our tours you’ll meet other solo travellers who you’ll find lots in common with, around 25% of our guests are travelling on their own, most of them women. In a small group tour of no more than 18 people, it’s easy to get to know everyone and make friends that often last well beyond the trip.
Another thing our solo travellers always love is the support of the MoaTrek team to help you get ready for your trip before you even step on the plane, you can relax knowing you’re in good hands from the very start.
With all the planning, driving, and reservations taken care for you, travelling on a group tour as a single traveller means you’re free to enjoy New Zealand’s stunning scenery, share the adventure with new friends, and still have the independence that makes solo travel so rewarding.
Why join a Small Group Tour as a Solo Traveller in New Zealand?
Travelling alone doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. Joining a small group tour gives you the best of both worlds – freedom and independence, plus the fun and reassurance of being part of a group. Here’s why our solo travellers joined our tours:
- Instant travel buddies – meet like-minded people from around the world and make new friends along the way.
- Safety and peace of mind – explore with the support of your Kiwi guide and group, knowing all the logistics are sorted.
- Shared experiences – from your Milford Sound cruise to the Rotorua hot pools, enjoy those once-in-a-lifetime moments with your travel mates.
- No stress planning – accommodation, transport, meals and activities are all taken care of, so you can focus on enjoying the trip.
- So much fun! – travelling with a small group is full of laughs, great conversations, and plenty of memorable moments you’ll treasure long after the trip ends.
Trip of a lifetime as a Solo Traveller!
This was a trip of a lifetime for me and as a solo traveller I had slight reservations, what if the group dynamic didn’t work? I need not have been concerned, the trip more than lived up to my expectations, in fact, it was totally amazing. New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful country and our guide really showcased it for us. Every day was packed with things to see and do. That was a great trip, thank you MoaTrek !!
Beverly, Kakapo 21-day North & South Island tour, October 2024
How We Look After Solo Travellers on Our Tours
Travelling solo doesn’t mean you’re all alone. From the moment you book through to your very last day in New Zealand, our team and guides will make sure you feel welcome and included. Here’s how we look after you:
- Flexibility with dates? Let us know if you’d like to be on a trip with other solo travellers, and we’ll point you to the departures where you’ll find plenty of friendly company already booked.
- Need help with accommodation before or after your tour? Easy. Tell us your plans and we’ll help arrange something that suits, so your arrival and departure are stress-free.
- Got special interests or must-do experiences? Check out our optional activities—whether it’s wine tasting, a scenic flight, or a cultural experience, we’ll help you book it, so your trip feels truly your own.
- On tour, you’ll never be left out. Your MoaTrek Kiwi Guide is a natural at bringing people together—from making introductions on day one to checking in along the way. Our solo travellers always tell us they felt like part of the family from the very first day.
Tour Accommodation for Solo Travellers
When you travel with us, you’ll always enjoy the same comfort and standard of accommodation as everyone else on the tour. Your room is exactly the same size and standard as the couples rooms—New Zealand hotels don’t have “single” rooms that you find in Europe, so there’s no such thing as a smaller or less comfortable room for solo travellers.
On our tours we don’t offer shared rooms, so yes, there is a single supplement—but we’ve kept it to the bare minimum. It simply covers the extra cost of the single use of the hotel room, nothing more. That way you can enjoy the privacy of your own space every night, without paying more than you need to.
Getting Ready for your New Zealand solo trip
Once you’re all booked in, you’re bound to have a few questions—that’s completely normal. When you’re travelling on your own, having someone to turn to for advice is one of the things our solo travellers appreciate most.
Here’s how we can help before you leave home
- Advice about passports, visas and insurance: We’ll guide you through what you need (and don’t need), so you can travel with confidence.
- What to pack: From layers for the mountains to summer gear for the beaches, we’ll help you get your suitcase sorted.
- When to visit: Whether you’re dreaming of long summer evenings or crisp alpine views, we’ll help you pick the perfect season for your trip.
- Safety tips: New Zealand is one of the safest travel destinations in the world, but we’ll still share practical advice to keep you feeling confident wherever you go.
For everything you need to know about travelling to New Zealand, check out our MoaTrek New Zealand travel blog—it’s packed with handy information to help you get ready for your trip.
Questions about travelling to New Zealand alone?
No question is too small: give us a call free or send a message, and one of our friendly MoaTrek team will be happy to help.
Contact the friendly MoaTrek team about your New Zealand trip now.
Support and Safety on Tour for Solo Travellers
One of the best parts of travelling with MoaTrek is knowing you’ve always got a local guide by your side. Your MoaTrek Kiwi guide is there to make sure you feel safe, included, and ready to enjoy every moment of your New Zealand adventure.
Think of your guide as your travel buddy and local expert rolled into one — someone who looks out for you, shares stories, and makes sure you never feel alone.
What solo travellers love about travelling with our Kiwi Guides:
- Pre tour call and briefing: Your guide will check in before the trip begins to confirm meeting details and answer any last-minute questions.
- Looking out for your safety: Whether it’s on the road, during activities, or around town, your guide is always keeping an eye out for you.
- Help with bookings or directions: Need a café recommendation, activity bookings, or to find your way around? Your guide’s got you covered.
- Learn all about New Zealand: From local history and culture to hidden gems, your guide brings the country to life with stories and insights.
- Backup and help when you need it: Lost your glasses, got a blister after hiking at Mt Cook, or need a hand fixing broken luggage? Your guide is your #1 supporter on tour, ready to help with the little things that make a big difference.
- Have fun: Above all, your guide makes sure you’re relaxed, laughing, and making great memories along the way.
Want to get to know our team? Meet the friendly MoaTrek Kiwi Guide team here.
What Solo Travellers on our tours say
Travelling solo on our tours? You won’t be alone!
We host solo travellers on every single tour we run, in fact over one quarter of our tour guests travel alone. When you join one of your tours you won’t be alone and will love having a group of travel buddies to share everything with.
On Tour with MoaTrek
Life on tour with MoaTrek has a lovely rhythm – one exciting day flows into the next. You’ll enjoy plenty of included activities with your group, like cruising to hidden hot pools on Lake Rotoiti, hosted lunches and flying over the Southern Alps after your cruise in Milford Sound.
But there’s always time built in for you to do your own thing too. Take a quiet lakeside walk, explore a little town, or simply sit back and soak up the view – it’s your holiday, and we make sure you can enjoy it your way.
Travelling solo doesn’t mean being alone – unless you want to be. Evenings are free and flexible: join your fellow travellers for dinner and stories or spend the evening just as you like. Many of our guests tell us they love this balance of group camaraderie and personal space.
Small group tours are perfect for walkers
If you’re keen on walking, you’re in luck. Our tours include lots of opportunities to stretch your legs, from gentle strolls around towns and cities to tracks in our world-famous national parks. It’s a great way to see New Zealand up close and enjoy some fresh air along the way.
If you’re travelling around by yourself, getting out on walks is a bit trickier, but on a tour you’ve got your transport, a guide and walking buddies ready to go.
See the great short walks included in our tours
Choose from lots of fun optional activities
Your Kiwi Guide is always on hand to help, whether you’d like to book an optional activity – maybe a bike ride, a heli-hike on a glacier, or a wine tour – or if you’d prefer to skip an included activity now and then to rest or explore at your own pace. There’s no pressure, just options.
You’ll often find other travellers from your group team up to enjoy activities together in places like Queenstown, Wellington or on the West Coast. It’s one of the best parts of travelling in a small group!
Enjoy time to yourself
If you’ve chosen to travel alone, you are probably looking forward to some time by yourself to relax, read a book or enjoy some exercise. Our tours have free time built in for you to do this, many evenings are free for you to join up with the group for dinner if you want to, or spend some time by yourself, whichever you choose!
FAQs: Common Questions from Solo Travellers
- Do I have to share a room? No – you’ll always have your own private room on a MoaTrek tour. We don’t offer shared accommodation, so you can relax knowing you’ll have your own space every night.
- Do I have to pay a single supplement? Yes, there is a single supplement, but we’ve kept it as low as possible. It simply covers the cost of the single use of your own hotel room – nothing extra. We want solo travellers to enjoy the same comfort without paying more than they need to.
- Will my room be small? Not at all. New Zealand hotels don’t have designated “single” rooms. Your room will be the same size and standard as everyone else, so you’ll have plenty of space and comfort to yourself.
- I’m a solo female traveller – is New Zealand safe and will I feel comfortable on a tour? Absolutely. New Zealand is one of the world’s safest countries, and many of our solo travellers are women. On tour, you’ll be part of a small, friendly group led by your expert MoaTrek Kiwi Guide, so you’ll always feel supported and never on your own unless you choose to be.
- How big are the groups and will I fit in if I come alone? Our groups are small – never more than 18 people. You’ll find a friendly mix of couples, friends, and fellow solos, and everyone quickly becomes part of the “MoaTrek family.” Many guests arrive solo, so you’ll feel right at home.
- What’s included in the tour price? Your tour price covers your accommodation, transport, your guide, many included activities, and some meals. That means less to plan and worry about when travelling solo – just turn up and enjoy your trip.
- I have a question or special request – who can I talk to? Easy – our friendly team is just a phone call or email away, and your Kiwi Guide will also give you a call before your tour to go over the details. No question is too small, and we’re here to help with anything you need.
Our Most Popular New Zealand Tour for Solo Travellers
Looking for the perfect trip to join on your own? Our Kakapo 21-Day New Zealand Tour is a favourite with solo travellers – its longer itinerary means more time to see New Zealand’s highlights, more multi-night stays and plenty of chances to enjoy time with your travel mates.
Hear from Barbara, a solo traveller with MoaTrek
If you’d like to see exactly what joining a MoaTrek New Zealand small group tour as a solo traveller looks like, here’s a short interview with one of our recent solo travellers. Barbara travelled to New Zealand by herself and jumped on one of our 21-day Kakapo New Zealand small group tours.
She talks here with Andrew from MoaTrek, and shares all her experiences in New Zealand as a solo traveller. Hear all about the group, guide, activities and the memories that still make her smile today.
