How Does GuidedBySam’s New Zealand Audio Guide Work?
GuidedbySam’s New Zealand audio guide is a GPS based commentary service. When you play a tour, the first audio file will play introducing the tour and giving you time to make sure you have your Bluetooth set-up and volume correct before you start driving. As you drive, your GPS location will trigger the next piece of commentary to play. This means you can travel at your own speed, stop as often as you like and take all the photo’s you want while still learning about the environment as you drive through it.
Is There A Subscription Cost?
There are no ongoing costs. Simply choose the tour you want to take (many of which are free), or take advantage of a discounted tour bundles if you are exploring more of New Zealand.
Does It Give GPS Directions?
No, since we don’t know where you are specifically starting or finishing your journey the app doesn’t have this functionality. The app is designed to have gaps in the commentary when you will be needing directions from a GPS so you won’t miss a turn. The commentary also starts outside of the towns, to avoid overlap and so you don’t miss anything because of where you started the tour.
Why Do I Need To Sign In?
Signing in allows you to create an account which records what purchases you have made for future access.
How Much Storage Does It Take On My Phone?
The offline mode downloads audio files to your device. The size of the files does depend on the route you are taking. They are easily deleted after you have finished your tour.
Do I Need Mobile Data/Wifi?
Much of New Zealand is remote without mobile signal. The app is designed to be used in an offline mode saving you interruptions and data costs. Simply download the route you are taking while you have wifi, then you can put your phone in airplane mode and enjoy your tour. GPS works in airplane mode as it is not sending a signal only receiving.
What If The Route I Want To Take Isn’t Available?
We would love to hear from you! We are always looking to add new routes so let us know which way you are headed and let us see what can be done. There is always a chance we have a new route ready for testing not yet published we can give you access to. Reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram or via email.
Are There Any Limits To My App Use?
Your subscription is limited to downloading the app on 5 devices which should be more than enough for most visitors. If you visit New Zealand and lose or break lots of phones contact us and hopefully we can find a solution for you.
GuidedBySam’s New Zealand audio guide is not for commercial use, so please don’t play it on your bus tours. Commercial versions are in development, we would love to hear from you if this might be useful for your tour.
Is Everything I Hear In The New Zealand Audio Guide True?
We wouldn’t recommend using our commentary as study practice for any exams, but we try to be as accurate as possible, but also entertaining. Of course some of the stories have been passed down between guides and exact details are lost in time. We don’t want to keep the story from you just because we cannot verify it. For example details about Jack Tewa are very ambiguous. As the saying goes, “never let the truth get in the way of a good story”, so please take everything with a grain of salt. If we have made an error or statement you disagree with, we would love to hear from you. Alternatively if we have missed a good story you think we should tell, please also get in contact.
Who is the voice behind GuidedBySam’s New Zealand Audio Guide?
You have probably guessed, my name is Sam. I’m a tour guide based in Queenstown, New Zealand. My passion is Tourism and in particular guiding wildlife tours. You can expect to hear a lot about our wildlife when you listen along to our New Zealand Audio guide.
In 2024 (after much procrastination) I established GuidedBySam after identifying need for visitors to Aotearoa/New Zealand to learn more about our country without always needing to go on an expensive tour. Many visitors to Aotearoa drive rental vehicles to iconic places such as Piopiotahi/Milford Sound and Aoraki/Mount Cook. By self driving, we miss out on the interpretation of what we are seeing along the way without a guide. How cool would it be if there was an affordable New Zealand audio guide! So the GuidedBySam App was created to help bring to life the unique environment you are passing through. Along the way we learn about ecology, geology, history, and of course ‘filmology’.
I have a personal interest in the ecology of New Zealand, having worked for the Department of Conservation and am currently a specialist wildlife tour guide. I have worked in Tourism around the world including Australia, Norway, and The Netherlands. Today as a contract tour guide, I visit the 3 main islands of New Zealand with a variety of guests of all different interests. The GuidedbySam app combines all my research and commentary into an easy to use app that anyone can use with the freedom of not being on a group tour
What resources should I use to plan my holiday!
- Check out the “New Zealand Travel Tips” Facebook Page. They have an incredibly active community of travelers and guides. As well as discounts and other treats.
- Jub from ChurNewZealand.com/ is the guru of hiking and trail running in New Zealand. Especially if you are wanting to take on something a little off the beaten track.
- New Zealand’s Department of Conservation are responsible for almost a third of New Zealand’s land. They have a wonderful website with lots of ideas for your adventures in New Zealand.
Also check out our Tour ideas page and Blog Posts
Terms and Conditions
- While there is an attempt to be accurate in all our content, in some cases the research has produced conflicting information or a complete lack of verification of a story. And we don’t want to not share something interesting just because it isn’t verifiable. As the saying goes, Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. So do not use our New Zealand audio guide to study for exams!
- The and content isn’t for commercial use sorry. We are really excited that you might want to use our app on your tour so please get in contact with us as we are working on a new version specifically for tour guides.
- In order to limit abuse of our app, each user account is limited to being used on 5 devices only.
- If you have paid for this product so you shouldn’t listen to ads! We don’t receive any funding for talking about particular products or services, we may include information about particular businesses if we think it will add to your experience in New Zealand, or because they have significance to the region or its history. We encourage you to visit all manner of ecological and scenic sights managed by the Department of Conservation and local Councils because we are passionate about this tourism. Again we receive no funding from these groups.
- Discounts for the app may be offered on occasion, time limits and other special conditions may apply.
- Your subscription is valid for 12 months from when you purchase a tour.
- Tours are subject to availability, if there is a tour we don’t have that you want to hear, let me know and I’ll see what I can do to build it for you.
- We cannot guarantee the product works for everyone on all devices all the time. You will need to connect to your car Bluetooth yourself for example. Hopefully if something goes wrong it won’t ruin your holiday. If the tour doesn’t work for you please contact us.
- Please download the tours for offline use while you have wifi! Then you can put your phone on flight mode, activate Bluetooth to connect with your car stereo and use the GPS function for your tour without using roaming data, without running your battery flat and without interruption when there is no mobile signal
- Please drive safely! Pull over if you are enjoying the scenery and it is photo worthy. We take no liability for accidents while using this app and you should not need to make any changes to the app while you are driving.
- Sometimes you won’t be able to complete a tour due to road closures. If this happens, get in touch and we can refund you if the tour has not been used.
- The GuidedBySamNZ privacy policy can be found here.
- Please, Drive Safe, Take Your Time and Enjoy New Zealand!