New Zealand trip planning
HELLO! AND AN UPDATE — 19 NOV
Just an important note regarding my availability. You’ll see there are currently no times available in my calendar, as I will be hiking in the South Island until mid December, with very limited internet access. Feel free to email me to see if I can arrange a time to chat; otherwise, I will reopen my calendar from 15 December onwards.
My email address is hello@petrinadarrah.com for any questions.
CUSTOM TRAVEL ADVICE
Book a call with me, a local, and get personalised help with planning your itinerary. You can use the button below, or just send me an email at hello@petrinadarrah.com to arrange a time.
Planning a trip to New Zealand can be overwhelming.
Maybe you have a rough route for your New Zealand trip, and want help putting it all together.
Maybe you just don’t have time to sift through all the information available to plan your trip.
Or maybe you just don’t know where to start.
I might be able to help.
I offer New Zealand travel and itinerary planning consultations, which is essentially a video call where I can give you my inside advice and knowledge on how to make the most of your time in New Zealand.
Consultations are priced as follows:
1 hour: 120 USD
1.5 hours: 150 USD
2 hours: 180 USD
KIND WORDS FROM PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We recently embarked on the planning process for a bucket list trip to New Zealand, and we received wonderful assistance in a timely manner with Petrina. Her desire to help and provide useful and timely information for planning our itinerary made a significant impact on my ability to plan out our trip. I did not have the time to spend countless hours watching YouTube videos or searching the internet for tips, many of which conflicted with each other. The more I searched, the more confused I was getting.
I reached out the Petrina as she has personal knowledge about motorhome/caravan rentals and (freedom) camping in NZ (check out her blog for evidence of this). She took the time to understand our interests and preferences, crafting an itinerary that perfectly balanced adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion. Her local knowledge was invaluable, ensuring we made the most of our time in this beautiful country.
What truly set her apart was her exceptional customer service. Her professionalism and warm, friendly demeanor made the entire planning process a joy. Thanks to Petrina, we have new found excitement for our upcoming New Zealand adventure. We highly recommend her services to anyone planning a journey to New Zealand.”
Why book time with me?
I’m your woman on the ground. I’ve travelled extensively around New Zealand (in both cars and campervans), so I’m particularly well set up to offer you road trip advice. If you’re planning on self driving or travelling in a campervan, I can share plenty of insights
I’m passionate about New Zealand and will enthusiastically share as much info as I can to make your trip stress free and enjoyable.
I focus on off the beaten path, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences, so I can give you advice on additions to your itinerary beyond the main attractions.
How I can help:
I can give you feedback on your itinerary; is it feasible? Too much driving? Too many activities?
I can help you organise an itinerary from scratch
I can give recommendations for activities, tours, and places to stay, based on your interests
I can provide local insights that will help you go deeper. I am happy to offer my unvarnished opinion of places as well.
This is ideal if it’s your first time visiting, or if you want tailored advice that goes beyond what you can find online or in a guide book.
I’m not going to try to sell you anything; I’ll just help guide you plan your trip and guide you towards the activities that suit you best.
On a call with me, you can expect:
Uninterrupted time where you can ask questions (on anything you like)
Google Meet call, which can be recorded if you wish
A follow up doc with notes from our conversation, and links to all relevant recommendations
We’ll use this time to plan a personalised itinerary, customised to your interests. I’ll help with the best of my local knowledge.
Please note: I can’t book accommodation or activities on your behalf, but I can send you links and help you get ready to book independently.
“My partner and I are planning a 3 week New Zealand self drive holiday in 2025 and asked Petrina for help to put together an itinerary. We sent her a brain dump of all the places we thought we’d like to visit, having no idea how long to spend at each place and where else we must visit. She put together an itinerary that includes places and sights we wouldn’t have known to see. She included suggestions for places to stay, eat and side trips not to be missed. It has taken a heap of stress away and added a level of excitement, we are so looking forward to it. Her local knowledge was invaluable. We would unreservedly recommend Petrina if you are planning a similar adventure in New Zealand.”
How much time should you book?
The amount of time you might need for an itinerary consultation depends on where you are in your planning, and how much time you’ll be travelling for.
These are my suggestions for the length of time to book, but if you’re unsure just go for a one hour slot — we can always book a follow up session if you find it to be useful.
1 hour ($100USD): This is usually enough to walk through a one week itinerary in detail or to cover a longer itinerary more quickly — say, if you already have a pretty good idea of where you want to go.
1.5 hours ($135USD): This is perfect if you want to go over a 2 week itinerary and have questions around other topics, like how to manage your money in New Zealand, what rental car companies are the best, and so on.
2 hours ($160USD): This is the best option for itineraries of 3 weeks or more, or if you are just at the beginning of your planning and want to get up to speed quickly — in this block of time I can help prepare you for everything you need to know.
The booking process
Here’s how it works. If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to book and want to ask me more questions about this trip planning service, you are always welcome to contact me.
1. Book a slot in my calendar
You can choose the amount of time you would like, based on how long your trip is and where you are in your planning.
2. I will confirm your appointment and send you payment details within 48 hours of booking.
As soon as I see your booking in my calendar, I will send you a confirmation email with a payment link and a meeting link. I use Google Meet as my video call technology of choice.
I will also send you some simple questions, and ask that you send me any notes or itinerary drafts you might have.
3. In the consultation, we’ll run through your travel preferences and requirements.
After the call, I will send you notes based on our discussion. This might be a day-by-day itinerary with personalised suggestions for places to eat, hikes, and other activities that interest you.
I’m happy to follow up on any questions that pop up for you as you continue to work through your trip plan following our call.
How does payment work?
I accept payment via bank transfer, via Wise — I accept a range of currencies, including USD, AUD, and CAD.
If you would prefer to pay by Credit Card, you can do so via Stripe.
I’ll provide both options in my initial email to you.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH
WHO AM I?
I am a professional travel writer, which means I have updated guide books, managed the website newzealand.com for Tourism New Zealand, and written about New Zealand for global publications like National Geographic Traveler and the Washington Post.
I’m also a constant traveller.
I like to be outside and on the move, and I have explored dozens — if not hundreds — of hikes, campgrounds, mountain huts, unique Airbnbs, lakes, glaciers and more around New Zealand.
BOOK A TIME AND LET’S TALK
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Please note that I do not offer a booking service. I am not acting as a travel agent and I will not make any bookings on your behalf. However, I will provide you with links to all the accommodation, tours, and services I recommend for you to book directly.
I do not provide assistance in researching flights or travel to New Zealand. Nor am I able to provide information about visa requirements or advice on travel insurance.
I do not provide travel insurance - please take appropriate travel insurance / cover ahead of your trip.
Unfortunately, I am not available for assistance during your trip or in case of emergencies. If you contact me during your trip I aim to answer as quickly as possible, but I cannot guarantee that I’ll l be able to provide short-notice advice.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
To secure your booking, full payment is required in advance of our call. Payment can be made with credit card via Stripe, or by direct bank transfer, in NZD equivalent based on the exchange rate that day. Any credit card, wire or bank fees incurred are the customer’s responsibility.
Payment is non-refundable. If you do not show up for the call, you will need to book another appointment.
Under no circumstances can I book accommodation, transport, tours or activities on your behalf. Instead, I will provide you with links to streamline the booking process. Affiliate links will be clearly marked.
I can provide general advice about visas and travel insurance, but I cannot provide legal advice on these topics.
My Itinerary Consultations are designed to help you get the most out of your trip. Recommendations and advice are based on my knowledge and extensive research. I will do everything I can to make sure you have an enjoyable, safe and successful trip – but I will not be held responsible for any unforeseen changes or circumstances that may affect your trip.
All Itinerary Planning Services and related documents are governed by the terms and conditions set out here.