WORLD-CLASS TOURS, SNELLS BEACH ROOTS – AUCKLAND SCENIC TOURS
Nestled in the heart of Snells Beach is the hub of one of New Zealand's most decorated tourism businesses – and the story behind it is as compelling as the tours themselves.
For Director and Snells Beach resident David Smith, Auckland Scenic Tours is the culmination of a career built across decades and industries. Having managed large businesses across food, education, manufacturing, and importing and exporting – and having been at the cutting edge of Auckland's café culture more than 30 years ago – David brought an entire library of hard-won commercial experience when he turned his sights to tourism. "All during my corporate career I had been thinking about starting my own tourism business," he reflects, "given my high focus on delivery excellence." It is that same Kiwi ingenuity and instinct for delivery that has quietly shaped one of New Zealand's most decorated tour companies.
Auckland Scenic Tours has claimed eight global tourism awards, including the prestigious title of Best Group Tour in the World, and has held the number one spot on TripAdvisor for three consecutive years – an extraordinary achievement for a business run out of a quiet coastal community.
The experience begins before the destination. David's fleet of 17-seater late-model Mercedes-Benz Sprinters are each built to his own design specifications – from the custom interior layout to the external livery – ensuring every journey is as considered as the destination itself. All 19 tours in the programme have been solely designed by David himself, spanning Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, the Coromandel, Bay of Islands, West Auckland wine trails, and greater Auckland – including a Matakana Food, Wine, Art and Vineyard Lunch Tour. This full-day journey takes in the village of Puhoi, the world-class Sculptureum, lunch and a sculpture trail at Brick Bay Vineyard, and a visit to the Kauri Forest.
While a large and highly professional guiding team now runs the day-to-day touring, David's imprint is on every detail. His philosophy is straightforward: "We often tend to complicate business. Focus on core deliverables – highly trained staff, outstanding service, well-maintained equipment, excellent product and delivery. Get all of these right and you are one step ahead of your competitors."
It's a mindset forged across a remarkable life. A Wellingtonian by birth, David is one of New Zealand's most accomplished tennis officials – honoured by the International Tennis Federation, appointed to officiate at the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics in 2000, and most recently made a Life Member of the Oceania Tennis Federation in January 2026. The through-line between sport and business is one he recognises clearly: "In my business as in my sporting endeavours, I continually strive for perfection, always looking for improvements, no matter how subtle."
Tourism hasn't been without its challenges. Covid-19 and rising fuel costs have tested the industry across the board, and David has continually adapted his business model in response – returning always to that same core principle of simplicity, standards, and service. What hasn't changed is the standard he holds himself to, and the quiet pride he takes in a business that has grown from personal ambition into something genuinely world-class.