Hassle-free Tours is a family-owned day tour company based in Christchurch, privately owned by Mark and Nikki Gilbert and operating since early 2003. The idea was born during the couple's OE in London, when they realised some of the most breath-taking scenery they had seen anywhere in the world was back home in New Zealand. What began with a single vehicle has grown into a fleet of twenty, welcoming thousands of guests from around the world every year.
The company specialises in unique day tours throughout Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region, with standouts including the Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour to the filming location in the Ashburton high country, a city sightseeing experience aboard classic 1960s London double decker buses, the Erewhon Station Tour into remote high-country scenery, and whale watching day trips to Kaikoura. Private charters are also offered. Guests regularly praise the guides on Tripadvisor for their knowledge, humour and care, whether they are LOTR devotees or simply there for the views.
Hassle-free Tours is an award-winning operator holding a Gold Qualmark, New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality, and is a Department of Conservation approved operator. The team is committed to sustainability — from fleet fuel-efficiency technology and recycling to being the first New Zealand tour company to install Guardian driver-fatigue monitoring — and gives back to the community by donating more than $15,000 worth of tour passes each year to Canterbury charities, schools and sports clubs. All tours suit a variety of ages and nationalities, from independent travellers to large groups.
Hassle-free Tours began, as many good travel ideas do, a long way from home. Mark and Nikki Gilbert were on their OE in London when they realised that some of the most breath-taking scenery they had seen anywhere in the world was waiting back in New Zealand. After researching the idea from their London flat, they packed their bags, flew home, and in early 2003 launched what would become one of Christchurch's best-known day tour companies.
Two decades on, the business that started with one vehicle has grown into a fleet of twenty, and it remains firmly a family affair. Mark and Nikki still own the company, and their founding conviction has not changed: a tour is more than just seeing the scenery. As they put it, they pride themselves on delivering exceptional service and giving guests memorable experiences that last a lifetime. Every year the team welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world, from independent travellers to large groups, and across all ages and nationalities.
The company's most celebrated outing is the Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour, a full-day journey into the high country near Ashburton to the filming location for Edoras, the capital of Rohan. Reviewers describe documentaries screened during the drive, movie props brought out on site, a morning coffee stop at the Staveley Store and a plentiful light lunch afterwards. Guides with film-industry connections add extra colour — one guest noted their driver had worked with Peter Jackson's crew on the movies. Crucially, you do not need to be a fan: guests who have never watched the films consistently rate the day for its scenery alone.
Closer to home, the Christchurch Double Decker City Tour shows off the city from the top deck of a classic 1960s London bus — the fleet includes five of them, in open- and closed-top form, alongside newer ANKAI open-top double deckers. The Erewhon Station Tour heads the other way, into remote high-country station land in the Ashburton area. Whale watching is another favourite, with reviewers describing day trips from Christchurch to Kaikoura, hotel pickup included, and close encounters with sperm whales — sometimes two in quick succession.
Hassle-free Tours runs a deliberately distinctive fleet. Beyond the vintage London double deckers and modern open-toppers sit unique six-wheeler land cruises built for the region's remoter corners. Every vehicle is maintained to a high standard, air conditioned, and fitted with large windows for excellent viewing. Vehicles travelling into remote areas carry specialist mountain radios, or drivers carry satellite phones.
What guests mention most, though, are the guides. Tripadvisor reviews name Stephen, Kris and Hammond among the drivers who made their day, praising their knowledge, humour and willingness to keep sharing information right up to the final minute.
The company's mission is to help people realise their travel dreams through memorable, hassle-free experiences, guided by values of people first, integrity, quality and passion. The trophy cabinet reflects it: a Gold Qualmark, New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality; a Tourism Awards finalist in two categories in 2008; a Champion Canterbury Business Awards finalist in 2017; and the 2012 PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award for Mark. Hassle-free Tours is also a Department of Conservation approved operator and a member of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, the New Zealand Cruise Association and the Bus and Coach Association New Zealand.
Sustainability is treated seriously. More than 90% of the fleet runs E-road fleet-management technology to track fuel use and driver performance, there is a full recycling programme with environmentally friendly packaging sourced from suppliers, and in 2016 the company became the first tour operator in New Zealand to install Guardian driver-fatigue monitoring in its long-distance vehicles. Guides remind guests to take only photos and leave only footprints, in the spirit of the Tiaki Promise. The company gives back locally too, donating more than $15,000 worth of tour passes every year to Canterbury charities, schools and sports clubs, and supporting Ronald McDonald House and Smile Dial New Zealand.
Whether you want to stand on a movie mountain, see Christchurch from a heritage double decker, or watch a sperm whale surface off Kaikoura, the promise is the same: see more, do more — and keep it hassle-free. Book by phone on +64 3 385 5775 or email [email protected].