Canterbury Trails

For more than three decades, Canterbury Trails has introduced travelers to New Zealand’s South Island through private journeys shaped by local knowledge, personal attention, and the freedom to explore at an unhurried pace. Established in Christchurch in 1995 by Andrew and Linda Murray, the owner-run company has remained focused on intimate, expertly guided travel rather than high-volume touring.

Each journey is designed around the people taking it. Canterbury Trails offers private and small-group full-day tours alongside bespoke multi-day itineraries covering destinations throughout Canterbury, Arthur’s Pass, Banks Peninsula and Akaroa, Kaikoura, Aoraki Mount Cook, the West Coast glaciers, Marlborough, Queenstown, the Southern Lakes, and Fiordland.

A defining element of the experience is continuity. One expert driver-guide accompanies guests throughout their journey, managing everything from hotel pickup to the final drop-off. Entries, cruises, carefully selected café lunches, and morning or afternoon refreshments are arranged in advance, allowing travelers to concentrate on the landscapes, stories, and experiences around them. Guides are chosen for their knowledge of New Zealand’s history, culture, and natural environment as much as their ability behind the wheel.

The company operates a premium fleet of 20 vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and two Tesla electric vehicles. Its credentials include Qualmark Gold, the highest tier of New Zealand’s official tourism quality assurance program, as well as a Department of Conservation guiding concession. This concession permits Canterbury Trails to professionally guide walks in protected areas including Milford, Aoraki, and Glenorchy.

Thirty years of experience have also built enduring relationships with inbound tour operators, several of whom have entrusted their international and high-net-worth clients to Canterbury Trails for more than a decade. Directors Andrew and Linda Murray remain personally involved in daily operations, helping preserve the individualized character on which the company was built.

In 2026, Luxury Lifestyle Awards recognized Canterbury Trails as Best Luxury Guided Tour Company in New Zealand, celebrating a company that continues to make South Island travel deeply personal, carefully considered, and distinctly New Zealand.