Flying Kiwi vs Intrepid Travel:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Flying Kiwi had more branded searches than Intrepid Travel among tour operators in New Zealand. Flying Kiwi had about 8,130 branded searches, while Intrepid Travel had 4,880. Flying Kiwi made up 24.4% of all tour operator searches we track, and Intrepid Travel accounted for 14.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about tour operators, Intrepid Travel appeared in four of the five answers and Flying Kiwi in none.
Who do people search for more?
Flying Kiwi, about 67% more searches than Intrepid Travel
Who does AI mention more?
Intrepid Travel, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Flying Kiwi in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Intrepid Travel, the only one of the two named
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Top tour operators in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Intrepid Travel was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Flying Kiwi did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- MoaTrek New Zealand Tours5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Intrepid Travel4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
G Adventures3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Cheeky Kiwi Travel3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
AAT Kings3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Grand Pacific Tours3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Wild Kiwi Adventure Tours2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Contiki1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Kiwi Experience1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Flying Kiwi0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about tour operators
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which tour operator should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best tour operators in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best tour operator in New Zealand for guided trips?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“new zealand tours”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“group tours nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Flying Kiwi or Intrepid Travel more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Flying Kiwi and Intrepid Travel by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 tour operators we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Flying Kiwi, Intrepid Travel. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Flying Kiwi | RealNZ | Contiki | Intrepid Travel | G Adventures | Kiwi Experience | Topdeck | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | AAT Kings | Wild Kiwi Adventure Tours | Grand Pacific Tours | Stray | Haka Tours | MoaTrek New Zealand Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 9.2% | 28.8% | 24.1% | 10.3% | 10% | 6.3% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 1% | 0.66% | 0.82% | 0.47% | 1.2% | 0.28% |
| Nov 2025 | 12.1% | 26.5% | 20.7% | 13.6% | 10.1% | 6.8% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 0.87% | 0.87% | 0.46% | 0.38% | 0.87% | 0.25% |
| Dec 2025 | 10% | 32.2% | 20.6% | 13.1% | 8.9% | 6.9% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 0.58% | 0.88% | 0.47% | 0.22% | 0.58% | 0.14% |
| Jan 2026 | 1.7% | 27.6% | 23.9% | 18.2% | 11.2% | 8.5% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 0.74% | 0.74% | 0.48% | 0.35% | 0.48% | 0.12% |
| Feb 2026 | 8.3% | 27.5% | 19.2% | 15.2% | 10.9% | 8.4% | 3.7% | 2.8% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.59% | 0.37% | 0.48% | 0.25% |
| Mar 2026 | 15.9% | 28.7% | 18.3% | 9.9% | 9.5% | 7.2% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 0.94% | 0.61% | 0.44% | 0.94% | 0.26% |
| Apr 2026 | 9.3% | 29.3% | 22.9% | 10.7% | 9.9% | 4.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.67% | 0.67% | 0.32% | 5.1% | 0.29% |
| May 2026 | 23.4% | 21.5% | 21.6% | 12.1% | 9.5% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 0.92% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 0.29% | 0.92% | 0.26% |
| Jun 2026 | 25.4% | 18.8% | 23.7% | 10.6% | 10.2% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 1.8% | 1% | 1.2% | 0.34% | 0.34% | 0.81% | 0.28% |
| Jul 2026 | 18.3% | 24.5% | 25.7% | 9.7% | 10.9% | 2.6% | 3% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.71% | 0.37% | 0.3% | 0.57% | 0.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 29.1% | 21.6% | 21.8% | 9.9% | 7.6% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 1.7% | 0.76% | 0.76% | 0.41% | 0.21% | 0.41% | 0.21% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.4% | 22.3% | 18.4% | 14.7% | 9.4% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.78% | 0.78% | 0.63% | 0.45% | 0.33% | 0.27% |
How has the Flying Kiwi and Intrepid Travel comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Flying Kiwi took it in March 2026, Intrepid Travel took it in April 2026, Flying Kiwi took it in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Flying Kiwi’s share of searches among tour operators in New Zealand moved from 9.2% to 24.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 8.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Intrepid Travel’s share of searches among tour operators in New Zealand moved from 10.3% to 14.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.3K to 4.9K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand tour operators in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Intrepid Travel gained share of searches among tour operators in New Zealand, from 9.9% to 14.7%.

In September 2026, Flying Kiwi lost share of searches among tour operators in New Zealand, from 29.1% to 24.4%.
How are branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Flying Kiwi’s and Intrepid Travel’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Flying Kiwi
3 branded search terms
- flying kiwi
- flyingkiwi
- the flying kiwi
Intrepid Travel
3 branded search terms
- intrepid travel
- intrepid travel tour
- intrepidtravel
Other head-to-heads among tour operators

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