Therese Mitchell, of Christchurch, told the Otago Daily Times "we need some urgent help".
"It's like being in an apocalypse movie, people look bewildered and very scared."
The group of 44 were supposed to have enjoyed a 17-day tour of Rome, but their trip was cut short on the first day and they spent the next four nights confined to a hotel.
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Italy has been put on lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Italian prime minister urging people to stay indoors.
The group, who were on a TripADeal tour, were told they would be flying home early via Abu Dhabi and Sydney.
However, when they arrived at Rome Fiumicino International Airport they were told the Australian government had refused to allow them to transit through Sydney, Mrs Mitchell said
"So the Australian people went off to board, but the Kiwis were left bewildered and not knowing what to do next."
The Australian government banned foreign nationals from travelling to Australia from Italy on Wednesday.
Mrs Mitchell and her husband, Brett MacDonald, have managed to book flights home via Doha at their own expense, but she said others could not afford to do the same and were stranded.
The New Zealand Embassy has offered some advice, but Mrs Mitchell believes the Government needed to do more and has called on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to speak with Australian officials.
"She has contact with the Australian PM, tell him to let our people come home. They don't want to stay, they just want to get on a plane and come home."
It was an very emotional time and many in the group, including herself, had broken down in tears, Mrs Mitchell said.
