About Us

your adventureDiscover New Zealand

Since 2003, we’ve been crafting bespoke journeys that let travellers experience the real New Zealand — not just the highlights. Our small, passionate team has lived, worked, and travelled across the country, giving us the local knowledge to design holidays that go beyond the guidebook.

We’re proud to have been named Best Specialist Tour Operator at the Telegraph Travel Awards, but what matters most is the trust of our travellers who return to us year after year.

With New Zealand In Depth, you don’t just book a trip — you begin a journey tailored to your passions, backed by expert guidance and genuine care from start to finish.

New Zealand In Depth supports the Tiaki Promise. Tiaki means to care for people and place. The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations.

We are advocates of responsible tourism in New Zealand and work with people on the ground who genuinely care for their local environment and who actively take steps to protect local habitats and native flora and fauna.

We make regular donations to eco-projects such as Okarito Nursery who propagate and plant native seedlings to restore local marshlands.

We book some of our trips on a not for profit basis, such as
‍Farewell Spit Eco Tours and Rotorua Canopy Tours.
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You can make your own Tiaki promise and learn how to care for New Zealand as you travel by clicking here.

Our Heart for the Land:
Travel as a Force for GoodProtecting the pure beauty of Aotearoa through regenerative travel and active conservation.

At New Zealand In Depth, our passion for this country goes beyond creating the perfect itinerary. We are deep-seated believers in the concept of Kaitiakitanga - the Māori tradition of guardianship. To us, New Zealand isn’t just a destination; it’s a living, breathing ecosystem that we have a responsibility to protect, nurture, and restore.

‍Rooted in Restoration
‍We don’t just talk about sustainability; we put down roots. We are proud partners and contributors to the Ōkārito Plant Project, an award-winning regenerative tourism initiative on the wild West Coast. By supporting the Ōkārito Nursery, we are helping to fund the eco-sourcing and planting of thousands of native trees. These efforts directly restore vital wetlands and forests, creating safe habitats for some of our rarest species, including the Rowi Kiwi.

‍A Conscious Choice for Every Guest
‍When you travel with NZID, you aren’t just a spectator; you are a contributor. We meticulously vet our partners to ensure they share our environmental values, from lodges that run on 100% renewable energy to wildlife encounters that prioritise conservation over crowds. We believe that travel should leave a place better than it was found. Through our partnerships with local nurseries and community-led sanctuaries, a portion of every journey with us helps ensure that the pristine landscapes you fall in love with today remain just as vibrant for the generations of explorers to come.

The people who create a fairy tale for you

Meet our Experts

Paul Carberry

Less Info

Sally Lilley

Kathryn Brindley

John Holton

Paul’s connection to New Zealand is practically in his DNA.

‍ Growing up with a father in the airline industry (Air New Zealand included), travel was always the dinner table conversation.

After earning a degree in geology, which gave him a literal "in-depth" understanding of the New Zealand landscape, Paul spent months exploring every corner of the country.

In 2003, he founded NZID with a simple goal: to share the New Zealand that felt like "home" to him. For Paul, travel is a privilege and an opportunity to make a positive difference.
Whether he’s recommending a stargazing spot in a Dark Sky Reserve or a glacier helicopter flight, his expertise is built on over 20 years of regular visits.

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Paul's Must-Do: The Wairaurahiri Jet - a raw, wilderness experience that perfectly captures the spirit of the South.