Luxury travel in New Zealand, quietly handled
Guests travelling at the top end usually want the same thing: everything arranged before arrival, nothing to queue for, and someone reliable waiting at each point. That is the whole job — a premium vehicle, a discreet driver and a plan agreed in advance.
What's included
- Premium vehicles, immaculately presented, private to your party
- Discreet, professional drivers used to high-expectation guests
- Lodge, luxury hotel, airport and private-aviation transfers
- The full stay planned as one arrangement rather than trip by trip
- Flights tracked, timings adjusted, luggage handled without asking
- Confidential — we don't discuss our guests, ever
How it works
New Zealand's finest lodges and hotels are often an hour or more from the nearest airport, down roads that are beautiful and slow. Getting between them is the part of a luxury itinerary most likely to go wrong, and the part that a good driver quietly removes.
We arrange travel for the whole stay in one conversation: arrival, the lodge transfers, the touring days, the connection to the next region, the flight home. Each movement has a named driver and a confirmed vehicle, and any change on your side is simply absorbed.
Our drivers are NZTA-licensed and P-endorsed, presented properly, and briefed on your itinerary before the first pickup. They know when to make conversation and when to leave you to the view.
Why book privately with us
Highway 1 Tours & Transfers is a New Zealand owned private transfer and touring company with NZTA-licensed, P-endorsed drivers. Every booking is a private hire: your own vehicle, your own timing, a fixed price agreed in advance, and a driver whose only job that day is your trip.
Frequently asked questions
More private travel
- Chauffeur hire — nationwideChauffeur service — a professional driver at your disposal
Some days need more than a single ride. A chauffeur booking keeps a driver and vehicle with you for as long as you need — between meetings, across a wedding day, through an event schedule, or for a full day of moving around a region.
- Private touring — nationwidePrivate tours of New Zealand, built around your day
A private tour is simply your own vehicle, your own driver and a day that runs at your pace. You choose the start time, how long you linger, and when you have had enough — and a local driver handles the roads, the weather and the timing.
- Honeymoons — nationwideHoneymoon travel — the New Zealand trip you don't have to organise
A honeymoon is the one trip you should not spend navigating. We look after the movement between it all — airport, lodge, region, touring day, flight home — privately, on your timing, with nothing to work out on the day.
Other services we offer
A private transfer is only part of what we do. The same NZTA-licensed drivers and vehicles cover tours, hourly hire, airport and cruise work, corporate travel and group bookings throughout New Zealand.
Private, luxury & multi-day travel
Private touring, chauffeur hire, honeymoon travel and a driver for your whole New Zealand trip.
Explore private travelArriving in New Zealand
First-time visitor guides to landing at Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and Dunedin.
Read the arrival guidesIsland & region guides
What each part of New Zealand is known for, how long the drives really take, and how to travel it without a rental car.
Explore destinationsVisiting New Zealand
Driving on the left, kilometres to miles, money and tipping, the seasons, and travelling without a rental car.
Read visitor infoAirport shuttle alternative
Private airport transfers instead of a shared shuttle — your group alone, direct to the terminal, price agreed first.
Compare the optionsCity taxi, upgraded
A fixed-price private car instead of the taxi rank — city-by-city guides across New Zealand.
See your citySuburb airport transfers
Local detail on the run to Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington Airport from your own suburb.
Find your suburbPrivate day tours & sightseeing
Keep the same driver for the day and shape the route around what you'd like to see nationwide.
See private toursBy-the-hour driver hire
A driver and vehicle held for a block of time — best when your travel starts and finishes in the same town.
Book hourly hireAirport transfers
Flight-tracked pickups and drop-offs at every main New Zealand airport, door to door.
Airport transfersCruise port transfers & shore days
Met at the terminal in Auckland, Tauranga, Akaroa or Picton — back on board well before all-aboard time.
Cruise transfersSki field transfers
Winter-ready vehicles and alpine drivers for Queenstown, Wānaka, Mt Hutt and Ruapehu — gear included.
Ski transfersCorporate & executive travel
Business accounts, client and staff runs, event movements and consolidated invoicing.
Talk to usGroups, fleets & rental car alternative
Multiple vehicles on one booking for larger parties, or a driven alternative to hiring a car.
Rental car alternativeWhat transfers and taxis cost
Plain answers on what moves the price of an airport run in New Zealand, and how a fixed total compares with a meter.
Fares & costsWeddings, balls & big occasions
Private transport for weddings, school balls, corporate events, funerals, large groups and accessible travel.
Occasion transportConcerts & event transport
Ride there and ride home for the big nights — concerts, festivals and events across New Zealand.
Event transport
Please note: by-the-hour driver hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town. If you're finishing somewhere else, book a private transfer or a day trip so your fare covers the driver's travel.