Frequently Asked Questions

Because with Kaewa Tours, your tour is private, personal and designed around you.

We’re a boutique New Zealand tour operator specialising in private, small-group tours throughout Wellington, the Kāpiti Coast and Wairarapa. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all itinerary, we take the time to understand what interests you and create an experience that suits your group.

Our tours bring together the things that make this region special – exceptional food and wine, craft beer, stunning scenery, fascinating stories, local culture and the people behind the places you visit.

You’ll travel with a dedicated local guide who can share their knowledge, answer your questions and adapt the day where practical. Whether you’re discovering the vineyards of Martinborough, exploring Wellington’s food and craft beer scene, visiting Lord of the Rings locations or simply wanting to experience the region beyond the usual tourist trail, we aim to make your day feel genuinely yours.

We’re also proudly Qualmark Gold accredited, providing independent recognition of our commitment to quality and sustainable tourism.

Most importantly, we believe tourism should benefit the places we visit. We actively support local producers, artisans and community businesses, helping our guests connect with the people and stories that make Wellington and the Wairarapa special.

Private. Personal. Local. Flexible.

Kaewa Tours isn’t just about getting you from one place to another – it’s about creating a memorable New Zealand experience you’ll still be talking about long after you’ve gone home.

Yes. Every Kaewa Tours experience is a private tour, exclusively for you and your group.

We don’t mix you with other travellers, so you can enjoy your day at your own pace, with your own dedicated local guide. Whether you’re travelling as a couple, family, group of friends or corporate group, your tour is designed around you.

Our standard tours cater for groups of up to 14 people, with larger groups possible by arrangement.

We specialise in private tours throughout Wellington, the Kāpiti Coast and Wairarapa.

Our tours include Wellington Scenic, Foodie and Craft Beer-Brewery experiences, Kāpiti Coast Foodie and Scenic, Martinborough and Wairarapa Wine, Foodie and Scenic tours plus our Lord of the Rings Scene Location experiences.

We can also create bespoke multi-day and wider New Zealand itineraries. If you have somewhere special in mind, talk to us and we’ll see what we can create.

Absolutely. That’s one of the benefits of travelling with Kaewa Tours.

Our tours are designed to be flexible and personal. If you have particular interests, dietary requirements, favourite foods or wines, places you’d love to visit, or simply want to spend more time somewhere you enjoy, let us know.

Because your tour is strictly a private tour, we can tailor the experience to suit your interests, rather than following a one-size-fits-all itinerary.

What’s included depends on the tour you choose, but many of our experiences include entry fees, tastings, refreshments and lunch. All our tours include a bottle of New Zealand Spring Water.

Each individual tour page clearly explains what is included, so there are no surprises.

If you’re unsure about what’s included in your particular tour, simply contact us before booking and we’ll be happy to explain everything.

Yes. Our Martinborough, wine tours are among our most popular experiences.

Enjoy a relaxed day exploring the beautiful South Wairarapa region, visiting boutique wineries and cellar doors, meeting the winemakers, sampling local wines and enjoying great food along the way.

Because it’s a private tour, we can help create an itinerary that suits your group’s interests – whether you’re passionate about Pinot Noir, discovering new wines or simply looking for a memorable day in the Burgundy of the South!

We also have a separate wine tour which covers all 3 wine regions of the Wairarapa – Opaki, Gladstone and of course Martinborough!

Yes! Food, wine and craft beer are at the heart of many Kaewa Tours experiences.

Our tours can include Wellington’s famous coffee and craft beer scene, artisan cheeses and chocolates, local produce, boutique wines and small-batch spirits.

Our private Wellington Craft Beer Tour can visit up to five breweries, with opportunities to meet brewers and discover the people and stories behind Wellington’s thriving craft beer industry.

Yes. Wellington is a fantastic destination for Lord of the Rings fans, and we offer both Half-Day and Full-Day private Lord of the Rings experiences.

You’ll visit a selection of filming locations around Wellington and the surrounding region, along with a behind-the-scenes experience at Wētā Workshop. Make sure you do the creative photos at the end of your Wētā Workshop tour and hand the photo card to your Kaewa Tours Guide!

One important thing to know: these are film scene locations rather than preserved movie sets, so bring your imagination hat!

Yes!

We offer flexible pick-up and drop-off arrangements depending on your tour and location. This makes your day easier and means you don’t have to worry about finding parking or navigating unfamiliar roads.

We pick up customers from all Wellington Hotels, Ferry Terminal, Airport and individual Air BnB’s/private residences.

We can also pick up cruise ship passengers. We will provide detailed instructions for our cruise ship passengers where to meet us on the day.

Absolutely yes!

Solo travellers are very welcome at Kaewa Tours.

Although our tours are private, we can accommodate individual travellers who would like a more personal and relaxed way to explore Wellington, Kāpiti or the Wairarapa.

Travelling solo doesn’t mean you have to explore on your own. You’ll have your own dedicated guide and vehicle for the experience.

Because your day is about you – not a timetable full of strangers.

Kaewa Tours is a family-owned New Zealand business specialising in private, personalised experiences. Your dedicated Guide provides local knowledge, stories and recommendations while giving you the flexibility to enjoy the day at your own pace.

From Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast to the vineyards of Martinborough and the wider Wairarapa, we focus on creating memorable experiences that connect you with the people, places, food, wine and culture of our region.

Private. Personal. Local. Your day, your way.

Qualmark is Tourism New Zealand’s official quality assurance organisation, providing an independent assessment of tourism businesses against its Sustainable Tourism Business Standards. Kaewa Tours has achieved Qualmark Gold, the highest level of Qualmark accreditation for tourism businesses.

So, what does that mean for you?

When you choose a Qualmark-accredited tourism business, you can have confidence that the business has been independently evaluated against recognised standards covering business systems, health and safety, environmental practices, people, and community & culture.
For a Gold-accredited business, Qualmark recognises a high level of performance, with Gold described as a best-in-class sustainable tourism business in New Zealand, delivering exceptional customer experiences and demonstrating leadership in sustainable tourism.

For our guests, that means another level of confidence when choosing Kaewa Tours for your Wellington, Kāpiti Coast or Wairarapa adventure.
We take particular pride in combining professional tour operations with genuine New Zealand hospitality, local knowledge and sustainable practices. We support local businesses and producers wherever possible and want your experience to be not only memorable, but also positive for the communities and places you visit.

In short: when you see the Qualmark Gold logo, you know you’ve chosen a tourism business that has been independently assessed and recognised for its commitment to quality and sustainable tourism.

Choose Kaewa Tours with confidence – Qualmark Gold, privately guided and proudly local.