 Kiwi Travel and Tours has developed two Travel Tour products after noticing a lack of travel and tour options catering specifically for the needs of both mature and physically restricted mature travellers.
Many tour packages restrict travellers by age and/or physical fitness. Those that don't have these restrictions, often cater for a very diverse range of participants, for example, including parents and accompanying children through to very senior members.
Restrictions are made in the spirit of creating tour compatibility amongst tour group members. Kiwi Travel and Tours don't disagree with this philosophy. However, market research has shown that the majority of tour packages are aimed at 45 (and Heaven forbid, often 35) years old and under. We believe that older travellers are entitled to a greater range of tour choices and services than is currently available. We also believe, as part of this, that travellers should have the option to travel with people whose experiences and potential physical restrictions are similar to their own.
Kiwi Escorted Tours and Kiwi Care Escorted Tours offer tour packages both within New Zealand and internationally, that are tailored to meet the needs of the mature traveller and of the physically restricted mature traveller.
What does that mean? Our overall company policy is to custom-build all itineraries, to meet the individual and collective needs of the group. This same approach applies to both Kiwi Escorted Tours and Kiwi Care Escorted Tours.
The same Quality Assurance standards are applied -
- Only operators who have passed our own stringent quality assurance
process will be booked. They have to be qualified; certified,
regulatory compliant, trustworthy, reliable and provide excellent
customer service. That may sound tough, but we want our clients to go
back home having had the BEST experience they could have
had..........that won't happen if we cut corners.
- Accommodation is arranged according to the budget of the tour group. Whether budget style backpacker or luxury hotel, only accommodation providers that pass our own quality assurance standards will be used. An assessment is made of: accessibility, cleanliness, customer service, safety, proximity to services, amenities and room size/decor appropriate to star rating.
But with some refinements:
- A registered nurse is available as an additional escort on Kiwi Care Escorted Tours
- Irrespective of the style of accommodation selected, refrigerators must be available in rooms for the storage of medications
- The pace of the tour itinerary will be more relaxed
- Optional activities are available upon request
- Dietary needs catered for with advance notice
Conditions apply subject to individual health and fitness status.
Kiwi Escorted Tours are designed for the 55 plus age group, offering tour packages within New Zealand and Internationally, tailored to met the needs and interests of the mature but young at heart traveller. Although we aim to keep the pace of the itinerary as relaxed and 'holiday like' as possible, lots of activities and optonal activities are made available.
Kiwi Care Tours offer all of the services of the Kiwi Escorted Tours but specifically caters for 55 plus age travellers with physical restrictions, such as being visually impaired or wheelchair bound. Travellers on these tours who require ongoing assistance (such as lifting or pushing a wheelchair) will be required to travel with a travelling companion to assist with their day to day needs. Transportation and accommodation will be specifically tailored towards the needs of the customers. However, as a part of our 'Kiwi Care Escorted Tours' a registered nurse will be with the touring party."just in case".Please note, mobility aides cannot weigh more than 30kgs for ease of lifting.
Travel and Medical Insurance
 Click here for further information on Travel Insurance
Click here for the Medical Questionnaire
Click here for the Travel Insurance Policy
Click here for the Travel Insurance Application Form
The following are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers to help you with your holiday arrangements.
What’s Included in the holiday package price?
Our holiday packages include the following:
- Home Collection & Drop Off in Auckland, (between Albany and Manurewa) for Kiwi Care Escorted Tours and some Kiwi Excorted Tours
- Breakfasts and Dinners daily where shown on the itinerary
- Twin Share Accommodation in good quality 3 to 5 star hotels (single supplement available)
- All hotel rooms that contain full private facilities (unless this is clearly stated otherwise)
- The services of an experienced Tour Leader
- Registered nurse on Kiwi Care Tours
- Touring coaches and transport
- Driver commentary
- Sightseeing excursions including Entrance fees (As listed)
How do I make a booking?
1) You can simply contact us here at Kiwi Travel and Tours Ltd at our Auckland office by phoning us at 09 4139770 and we will be able to give you advice, take all your details, and book you onto the tour of your choice. An invoice and booking form will be sent to you immediately and we will request a completed booking form and 10% deposit to be paid within 7 days. Booking are only confirmed upon receipt of deposit. If you have any queries you can call us at anytime.
2) Or you can contact us online. This is very simple. Just complete the form at Contact Us, making sure you tell us which tour you are interested in. An invoice and booking form will be sent to you immediately and we will request a completed booking form and 10% deposit to be paid within 7 days. Booking are only confirmed upon receipt of deposit. If you have any queries you can call us at anytime.
3) Or you can pop into your nearest local TRAVEL AGENT and they will be only too pleased to make your booking.
What Happens with my Payments and when do I pay the balance?
If booking directly with Kiwi Travel and Tours: Upon receipt of your deposit and completed booking form, KT&T will allocate your place on the tour and allocate your airline seat in conjunction with Air New Zealand. The balance payment for your tour is due on the date shown on your invoice and must be paid in full by that date. You can pay for your deposit and final payment by cheque or by credit card. When making your final payment please ensure your settlement is accompanied by your tour details and tour reference.
Are there any Age Restrictions on Kiwi Travel Escorted Tours?
We have a travellers age range of 55 years plus. All our tours are designed for the mature holidaymaker. Kiwi Escorted Tours are generally more suited for those who are relatively able; Kiwi Care Escorted Tours are for travellers with some form of physical limitations. Please feel free to contact us to discuss this further.
What About Special Requests?
On your booking form there is a section for comments. It is important to complete this if there is a request you wish to make known to us. This may be requesting a lower hotel floor , the fact that you are wanting to extend your stay and return at a later date or simply a special diet. The important thing is to note here anything that you feel we should be aware of to ensure your holiday is a success.
Meals on holiday?
All our tour itineraries state what meals are included. Breakfasts (unless stated) include a full cooked breakfast with choice of cereals and hot food plus toast and tea/coffee. Dinner consists of a 2 course meal and in the case of TDH meals, with at least two selections for each course. Sometimes there are buffet dinners and also specialty dinners or dinners held in local restaurants or special venues. Depending on the excursion, lunch may be included in some cases on various days but generally lunches are at your own expense. Whereever possible special diets, etc will be taken into account providing that Kiwi Travel and Tours are informed at the time of booking of any tour trip.
Visas & Passports
On all overseas tours it is essential to have a current passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of return but there maybe some exceptions to this depending on your destination. Visas are required for some destinations including if you are in transit. Please check with Kiwi Travel and Tours or your travel agent on both passports and visas well before your travel date so that any unnecessary delays and expenses are avoided.
Can I do a Land Only booking?
Sometimes. Most tour packages offered through and by Kiwi Travel and Tours are land package plus airfares (as stated on the itinerary). Air Dollars can be used to pay for air fares, excluding taxes and surcharges, where Air New Zealand and Star Alliance partners are used. When other airlines are selected, best endeavours will be made to ensure that relevant reward programmes are available. This information is available on the full itineraries and please feel free to ask.
What About Airline Taxes & Fuel Surcharges?
Airline taxes and fuel surcharges plus airport charges are shown as a separate item in the Kiwi Travel and Tours brochure. Note this information is correct at time of printing the brochure but may need to be adjusted if once the brochure goes to print there are later unforeseen changes. Prices include New Zealand departure taxes only.
Can I Extend My Holiday?
Yes it is always possible to extend your stay at the end of a tour so that you can spend a little extra time with relatives, family or friends or simply doing as you please. If you advise Kiwi Travel and Tours or your local Travel Agent with whom you have booked your tour. We will amend your return airfare to the date you desire. Please note however, the home drop off service can not be applied where a participant extends their stay and that extra fees may apply. The Tour Leader and Nurse will return on the scheduled dates.
If you live in Metropolitan Auckland, then for your convenience we offer our optional FREE Home Collection and Drop Off Service for Kiwi Care tours and some Kiwi Escorted Tours, where you will be collected directly from your front door and transferred to our tour departure point and vice versa. This service is currently in the Auckland region travelling to Auckland Airport or to our designated departure point.
The hotels we use on all our tours have been carefully selected to provide a high standard of comfort plus a friendly helpful service.
Location is important and that is why you will almost always find our hotels are centrally situated allowing easy access to shopping and other facilities.
All rooms contain single twin or double beds and private facilities that include ensuites, comfortable heating/ventilation, TV, radio and in room telephone. Some rooms have safes and most are equipped with hair dryers, ironing board and iron.
 Kiwi Care Tours are available to everyone who feels that they need a slower paced, relaxed holiday,or maybe they want the security of someone there for them -JUST IN CASE! Whilst we originally designed these tours for travellers from New Zealand, we feel that we would like to share New Zealand and the South Pacific with people from all countries of the world. We designed these tours due to personal circumstances. When our own family members reached a point in their lives when nature treated them unfairly, medical issues and concerns left them in travelling limbo, wanting to go but not catered for.
Kiwi Care Tours offer a unique service. With all of our groups we not only have the Tour Leader but we also have a Tour Nurse. She is a Registered Nurse and is there JUST IN CASE. Sometimes we just need a little bit extra help or to know that the help is there, and that's what Kiwi Care is all about. Please find further information about the nature of these tours at:
When your tour group arrives in New Zealand, we will have a Tour Leader and a Registered Nurse waiting to greet you. You will also have the option of providing your own Tour Leader with Kiwi Care just providing the Registered Nurse upon arrival
Let us know exactly what you are looking for in your holiday, what you want to do, where you want to go and let us do the rest. Go to our contact page, drop us a line and let us do the rest for you.
Click here for Booking Terms and Conditions.
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