Brandwave

Flying Kiwi vs RealNZ:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Flying Kiwi had more branded searches than RealNZ among tour operators in New Zealand. Flying Kiwi had about 8,130 branded searches, while RealNZ had 7,420. Flying Kiwi made up 24.4% of all tour operator searches we track, and RealNZ accounted for 22.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about tour operators, neither Flying Kiwi nor RealNZ appeared in any of the five answers.

Among tour operators in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Flying Kiwi, about 10% more searches than RealNZ

Flying Kiwi 8.1K searchesRealNZ 7.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 0 of 5 answers.

Flying Kiwi in 0 of 5RealNZ in 0 of 5

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Top tour operators in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, neither Flying Kiwi nor RealNZ showed up in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. MoaTrek New Zealand Tours1st
  2. Intrepid Travel2nd
  3. Grand Pacific Tours3rd
  4. AAT Kings4th
  5. G Adventures5th
  6. Cheeky Kiwi Travel6th
  7. Wild Kiwi Adventure Tours6th
  8. Kiwi Experience8th
  9. Contiki9th
  10. +1 more
  11. RealNZ–
  12. +3 more

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
  • RealNZ0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

See every answer about tour operators

5 answers

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 RealNZ more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Flying Kiwi and RealNZ 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.

Flying Kiwi and RealNZ among tour operators in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Flying Kiwi, RealNZ. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFlying KiwiRealNZContikiIntrepid TravelG AdventuresKiwi ExperienceTopdeckCheeky Kiwi TravelAAT KingsWild Kiwi Adventure ToursGrand Pacific ToursStrayHaka ToursMoaTrek New Zealand Tours
Oct 20259.2%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 202512.1%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 202510%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 20261.7%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 20268.3%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 202615.9%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 20269.3%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 202623.4%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 202625.4%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 202618.3%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 202629.1%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 202624.4%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 RealNZ 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 May 2026, RealNZ took it in July 2026, Flying Kiwi took it in August 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, RealNZ’s share of searches among tour operators in New Zealand moved from 28.8% to 22.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.2K to 7.4K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand tour operators in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, RealNZ overtook Contiki to rank 2nd among tour operators in New Zealand, with 22.3% of the searches.

  2. 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?

14 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Flying Kiwi’s and RealNZ’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

RealNZ

11 branded search terms

  • real nz
  • realnz
  • realnz cruises
  • realnz doubtful sound
  • realnz earnslaw
  • realnz jet boat
  • realnz rafting
  • realnz rafting base
  • realnz tours
  • realnz walter peak
  • tss earnslaw realnz

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among tour operators

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