Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

We had an absolutely wonderful time in New Zealand. Working with Denise was a real pleasure. The centrally located hotels, tours, guides and transportation she set up were spot on. It was comforting knowing Denise and her team was available to us during the whole trip if we needed help. The attention to detail and dedication to service she brought to our itinerary was outstanding. Some of our favorites were: the Essence of Waiheka wine tour, the Hobbiton movie set tour, the Po Indigenous Experience and the cruise to Walter Peak, farm tour and BBQ dinner. The views from our hotel rooms in Mt Cook and Queenstown were spectacular. We would highly recommend Denise and KimKim to anyone who is interested in touring New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

The Langlands Hotel

Invercargill

This turned out to be a pretty nice hotel. Parking was easy and the hotel was well located. Nice restaurant and great breakfast bar.

Authenticity & Character

We grew to like this hotel it took a bit of getting used to.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview

Queenstown

We actually stayed at the Ramada Suites Queenstown. The hotel was centrally located to the lakefront just a 5 min walk. Parking would have been a big issue if we hadn’t had a spot reserved beneath the hotel. The restaurant was ok and breakfast was just ok as well. The staff was very nice and the lake and Mountain View’s from our room were again spectacular.

Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Christchurch

Very nice hotel, well located with friendly staff and good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located, good restaurants nearby.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

We didn’t actually stay here. The restaurant in the hotel was closed on the days we were booked to stay there. We were going to have to walk over to the Hermitage Hotel to eat every day so we were able to get an upgrade to a very nice room over there. The breakfasts and the dinner buffet there were good and overall I would give this hotel 5 stars.

Rydges Auckland

Auckland

Really nice hotel. They charged us 55 $ per night for parking but other than that it was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to lots of good stuff.

Staff

Very friendly and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

PRIVATE BOUTIQUE WINE TOUR

Queenstown (NZ)

Another great wine tour. We had a very good guide who went the extra mile for us and showed us a great time. I believe Lindsey was his name, top notch!

Quality of Experience

Food

Had only a cheese board provided for lunch really wasn’t quite enough but we didn’t really go on this tour for the lunch. Wasn’t that big of a deal.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak, BBQ Dinner, Farm Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

Loved this boat ride and buffet. The farm tour and sheep shearing was outstanding.

Quality of Experience

Food

Very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful, friendly people.

Transport

Fun boat ride and beautiful scenery.

Amiki - Kai Safari

Christchurch

Loved this tour as well. Seems we like the activities that involve food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Good tour of local eateries.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide. She was full of great local knowledge and enthusiasm.

Experience Antarctica in Christchurch

Christchurch

This was just kind of average for us. A few interesting things but not sure it was worth the time.

Te Pō Indigenous Experience

Rotorua

We really enjoyed this experience, another one of our favorites.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lots of local dishes.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Really enjoyed the tour guide for this experience.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

This is very well done and well organized. We took the 2 1/2 hour tour and that was plenty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour

New Zealand

Loved this tour. We had a great time, the driver/guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the island and the people on the island.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch we were provided was exceptional. We ate at a restaurant called 372, very nice people and very good food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland

Enjoyed the ferry ride to the island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide, lots of local knowledge, enthusiastic about the island and the people living there.

Transport

Enjoyed the ferry ride to the island.

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

Worth seeing.

We were so pleased with the itinerary Uma prepared for us and the incredible attention to detail she brought to our experiences. She stayed available to us the whole trip, rescuing me from a customs' mishap, and making on the fly recommendations when one excursion got cancelled due to weather. We felt so cared for and genuinely enjoyed working with her! So much so, that I booked another trip with Kimkim before even embarking on our New Zealand trip!

Hotel Review

Legacy Te Waunui

Franz Josef

The staff paid such personalized attention to us, and the dining room was always warm and inviting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Jetboat Ride to Huka Falls

Taupō

My four year old daughter and I loved this!!! My son... not so much ;-) Definitely fast, you'll definitely get wet!

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Our tour guide was so funny and engaging with my kids!

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

Not for the faint of heart! Gorgeous views

Wētā Workshop Unleashed

Auckland

My kids were so invested in the miniature mountain and castle, and loved the final movie experience.

Uma did an outstanding job of asking questions about our interest and then proposing an amazing trip. We had a wonderful 3 weeks so saw a lot of New Zealand. We would highly recommend her to others.

Hotel Review

SkyCity Hotel

Auckland

Super location and views. Dinner in tower is a must

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mitai Maori Village

Rotorua

Waitomo Glow Worm Cave Tour

New Zealand

Cape Reinga Half Day Tour by Aeroplane

New Zealand

Waiheke Island Vineyard Explorer

New Zealand

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

Everything was perfect! Our trip was better than we hoped. The choice of activities, the pace and the advice suited us perfectly.

Thank you very much to Vicky who was very available before and during our trip

Thank you Vicky for planning the perfect Queenstown vacation. We only wish we had more time in New Zealand.
The Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel was lovely. The room was spacious and cozy. They have a happy hour in the lobby from 6-7 pm. Local wine, beer and appetizers, all complimentary. It was a nice way to meet fellow travelers. The breakfast that was included was five star! I had the Mushroom Eggs Benedict two of the days, and fresh squeezed orange juice!
The Milford Sound trip was a highlight! Stunning! The small group coach on the way to the sound gave us a very personalized tour of the New Zealand countryside. Our guide knew all about the the native plants and birds. She was exceptional. The boat ride around the sound was beautiful! We saw huge waterfalls, seals, penguins and dolphins. The flight back to Queenstown was an unexpected treat! The up close view of the glacier and the snow covered mountains would amaze anyone. We spent a day hiking five plus hours on the Routeburn Track. The trail is one of the top hikes in the world. Again, Spectacular. We had another perfect guide. The Queenstown Boat Ride, BBQ dinner and Sheep herding and shearing show is a must do when you visit. The BBQ has local meats and fruits and vegetables. Everything was delicious.
Make sure you are hungry when you go.
My only Regret is that we didn't have more time! Thank you Vicky for planning the Ultimate Adventure!

Vicky was wonderful to work with. She understood exactly the type of trip we were looking for and planned the perfect schedule for us. There was a small hiccup with one of the vendors and some of our plans had to be rescheduled but Vicky was extremely responsive and pragmatic in finding alternative options for us at lightning speed. We only had a few days to spend in New Zealand and Vicky made sure we could see as much of it as possible - we're very grateful and we can't wait to go back!

Hotel Review

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

A 3.5 review would be more accurate to be honest. The hotel is well located and the rooms are very spacious and quiet, but the quality of the stay varies a lot based on the side of the building and the floor the room is on. Our room was unfortunately on the ground floor and directly facing the road which wasn't great. A room higher up in the building and on the other side of the building would probably have made a big difference. The room lacked a bit of character - the lighting was pretty agressive and the decoration pretty much inexistent. We were also disappointed by the "cleaning" done daily. We weren't expected a full cleaning of the room but on certain days we questioned whether room service even came (it had, but had barely done any cleaning).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

3.5 would be more accurate

Cleanliness & Comfort

daily room service / cleaning. 3.5 would be more accurate

Activity Reviews

4WD & Shotover Jet Combo - Essential Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Grand Circle Heli Experience

Queenstown (NZ)

Our pilot was wonderfuf, very nice, and the alpine landing was unreal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Coach & Nature Cruise from Queenstown with Fly Back

Queenstown (NZ)

Our driver/guide Junior was amazing - extremely knowledgable, funny, he made sure we had the very best experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika helped our family with a once in a lifetime trip to New Zealand and Fiji. After sharing activities we were interested in, she was able to put together an itinerary for us to approve. If we wanted to change anything, she was very responsive, made changes, and fulfilled our wishes. She planned all elements of transportation to and from all venues, making transitions easy and without stress. We didn’t have any glitches and had an amazing time in New Zealand. Our accommodation s and trip to Fiji lived up to our expectations. Her suggestion to stay at a quiet island resort was just what we needed. We ended our vacation in such a relaxing and beautiful place that helped us replenish our energy and be ready to head back to reality. Thank you for such an amazing trip!

We had the most amazing trip to New Zealand. Our travel specialist, Ruth, planned an amazing trip for our family of 5 (3 teenagers). Everyday we had a new adventure and each one was more fun than the last. All 3 of our kids were able to do something that they liked. If I had planned the trip without Ruth’s help the kids would have complained constantly. The horse trekking with Hannah from Real Kiwi Horse trekking was a blast (although the mountain climbs were scary & beautiful). We all had a great time snow tubing & soaking in the hot pools at Lake Tekapo Springs. I recommend that just for the hot pools. And in Queenstown the biking with Around the Basin was amazing, even with snow on the ground. We all went bungy jumping with AJ Hackett company. While I probably wouldn’t jump again the gorge was beautiful and everyone working there was so friendly & professional. I would definitely use KimKim Travel again to plan a trip!

Hotel Reviews

Blue Peaks Lodge

Queenstown

We stayed in their newer apartments. It offered plenty of room for a family of 5. The kitchen made it easy to have breakfast in the unit before heading out for activities. It was close to a lot of restaurants and a short 10min walk to the waterfront. My only complaint is their tiny garage under the apartments. It was VERY difficult to maneuver a minivan into the parking spot especially when more cars were there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and shops. Just a small hill to walk up and down to the shops.

Staff

We didn’t really interact with anyone after we checked in.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The unit was very clean when we checked in. Not sure how often the rooms are cleaned because we stayed for 3 days and the rooms weren’t cleaned. It wasn’t a big deal for us because the unit was very clean and there were cleaning supplies for the dishes & washing machine.

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Lake Tekapo

In a great location that’s convenient to activities and food. Very comfortable for a family of 5. The kitchen and living room made the unit very spacious. Our room had a washer/dryer combo that was nice except the dryer didn’t really work. The hotel did offer 2 washers & dryers on the grounds for free which was helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything we wanted to do in the Lake Tekapo region.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Christchurch Hotel & Conference Centre

Christchurch

Nice hotel. Rooms were clean and modern looking. We were able to fit a family of 5 in 2 rooms with beds for everyone. It was in a convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient to activities, cafes, & our rental pickup.

Staff

Super helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

The boat ride was nice across the lake. The dinner was delicious and there was plenty of food. Even the kids found food to enjoy and eat. The show was very entertaining. It was a nice break from high energy activities.

Quality of Experience

Food

A large variety of food and it was all delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was hard to understand the captain when he was talking.

Kawarau Bungy Jump

Queenstown (NZ)

Absolutely scary but absolutely breathtaking at the same time. The staff were all friendly and supportive.

Quality of Experience

Everyone seemed to be having a blast and supportive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff were very supportive and friendly.

Half Day Supported Arrow River Trail Tour (Bike the Bridges)

Queenstown (NZ)

We did the Arrowtown trail. We weren’t sure what to expect but the trail was very easy to follow. The path was a little muddy but that’s to be expected with the weather. We used E-bikes but the trail we did would have been easily done with a regular trail bike. I would love to return and do more rides. It was great that there was a dedicated bike trail and we were only on (quiet) local roads for a short time.

Quality of Experience

The trails were better than expected and the bikes were in great condition.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crater Experience (Cowan's Observatory)

New Zealand

Amazing. We saw the Milky Way and numerous constellations. Our younger teens were bored but my husband and I loved it. It’s something I would do again. It was a cold night when we did it and the staff at the observatory had extra jackets for everyone to wear.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Super Winter Combo - Ice Skating & Hot Pools + 1 Hour Tubing

Lake Tekapo

My kids loved this place. The tubing was a lot of fun. A school trip was there on the day we visited but the staff changed our tubing time to avoid the big group. The staff on the ice rink were very helpful. The staff at the tubing hill gave us different suggestions for tubing to make it more fun. And the hot pools were so nice after skating and tubing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Real Kiwi Horse Trekking

Christchurch

We did the 3 hour trek. Hannah was a great guide and the horses were very well trained. The scenery was amazing. For someone who has never been on a horse the 1 hour river trek would have been more than enough. We also went up into the mountains and while the views were amazing I was petrified! One of my kids panicked and Hannah was very patient and helped lead her horse until her husband could pick my daughter up. One of my daughters, who is a horse lover, was in heaven with the trek.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hannah was very friendly and super patient.

Tramway Restaurant

Christchurch

The food was really good and was a unique activity. It was dark when we did the tour so it might be something better to do in the spring and summer so you can get a better feel for Christchurch. Our kids were a little bored and not a huge fan of the food but my husband and I enjoyed it.

Food

Transport

Was a unique way to eat dinner and see a little bit of the city.

Christchurch Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Our ride was clean and just what we needed. Our original flight had been cancelled but when I called and let the travel company know we were assured our driver would still meet us. James was there with a sign and was very helpful with history of Christchurch and things we should see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip planned with Ruth was perfect! Queenstown was a beautiful city and the excursions that we went on were just right! The gondola and luge tickets were just right for the day we arrived. The Milford Sound day tour was amazing- it is a long day but so worth it!! It was a bright sunny day and our tour guide was informative and fun! The Walters Peak Farm and BBQ lunch was a great way to spend our last afternoon- leaving room for some last minute shopping in town and enjoying the beautiful weather!

Hotel Review

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

queesntown

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is up on a steep hill so easy to walk down to town (~10minutes), but a tougher walk home up the hill.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Queenstown Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Lunch

New Zealand

BBQ Lunch was great- so many options and loved some of the unique offerings. The farm setting is just quaint and beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown (NZ)

Breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Our driver, Tommy! He was awesome! And we really lucked out with beautiful weather.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Van was perfect size- loved the small group verses a large bus group.

My husband and I finally fulfilled our dream of visiting New Zealand/Aotearoa to celebrate our 15th anniversary, and we could not have done it without our KimKim agent, Uma. We had a general idea of what we wanted to do, and she helped design a travel plan that captured everything we wanted and more.
During the trip, she and her colleagues remained in touch for any questions or support we needed. There were a couple of instances where we had to adjust our plans due to the weather, and Uma and her team were ready with alternate suggestions that were equally as amazing as the original plan.
Everything was perfect--from our hotel accommodations, restaurant suggestions, rental car and ferry arrangements, and activities. We literally could not have planned this trip ourselves.
I highly highly recommend using Uma and her vast knowledge to plan your trip to Aotearoa and anywhere else in the world!

We used KimKim to plan a trip to New Zealand and definitely would recommend using their services. While we had some ideas for things we wanted to do during the trip, Monika did a great job setting up the detailed itinerary and maximizing our time. Since this was the first time to the country, I was having a hard time figuring out how long driving distances were and when we should drive vs. fly and which tour operator to use. Monika booked several tours for us that ended up to be very good- our Milford Sound tour had to be re scheduled due to weather but the operator was very flexible for us and instead of flying we were able to take a van and still got to see Milford Sound. I felt like we got to do everything we wanted and the trip was within the budget range we had set out to meet. Other reviewers complained that you don't see a line item for how much the KimKim service costs but I didn't mind. The total cost we paid for our trip seemed reasonable to me and I thought it was definitely worthwhile to use a travel agent for a trip to a country where we had never been before and that required a lot of driving/traveling time to get from site to site.

Uma planned an amazing trip to the south island of New Zealand for us. Her suggestion of visiting Stewart Island was great. It was one of our favorite places on our trip. She was also very responsive and made requested changes quickly. She checked in on us during the trip to make sure everything was running smoothly. Uma did a great job!

Hotel Reviews

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Spectacular view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bay Motel

Oban

Convenient location. Great view. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

Beautiful room and view. Amazingly warm and helpful staff. Dexter, the cat, was a special added bonus.

Authenticity & Character

Room was beautiful.

Location

Great view! Short walk to town.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Langlands Hotel

Invercargill

Had construction going on. Very loud in morning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Dunedin City

Dunedin

Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Not much character. Standard hotel.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean and okay. Nothing special.

Distinction Christchurch Hotel & Conference Centre

Christchurch

Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SkyCity Hotel

Auckland

Was in a central location which made it convenient, but had a casino.

Authenticity & Character

Had a casino

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Wilderness Cruise at the Remote Doubtful Sound (Self Drive)

New Zealand

Amazing trip. Two boat rides and one bus through amazing scenery. Guides were very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bus driver and Doubtful Sound guide were very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Transport

Wildlife & Penguin Tour

Dunedin

Great experience. Saw hoiho, blue penguins, fur seals. Guide very knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip exceeded all our expectations, and gave our family a collection of memories we'll keep forever! Our local specialist, Liz, was so friendly, thorough, and responsive throughout our early trip planning as well as making sure we had everything we needed just before we got on the plane. The best thing about our 2 week trip to New Zealand is we had peace of mind throughout our entire trip, knowing we were well-supported and taken care of. Every single guide, driver, hotelier and property host we met were exceptionally friendly, professional, and wonderful! We can't recommend kimkim enough for taking care of us and providing us this trip of a lifetime!

We appreciated the process with Monika and kimkim in planning our 3 week self-driving trip of New Zealand. We'd researched the route we wanted to take and what we wanted to see, plus what we wanted to budget. Monika made suggestions and we made further refinements. She arranged our accommodations, car rental, ferry, plane from Queenstown to Auckland, and some of the experiences we desired. She also advised us on what we'd need in order to enter the country (NZeta), driving rules, and other important items. Once all finalized and paid, we received extensive instructions and vouchers for the items Monika had reserved for us, along with recommendations of other things to see and do in each location. Once in country, she kept in contact and was available for questions, or if not (on her days of) who we could contact. As for the trip, the accommodations (we requested cost in the middle range) were all very good overall and those in cities or larger towns were centrally located for ease in walking to attractions and restaurants. We enjoyed the experiences she'd helped to arrange (Hobbiton, Te Pa Tu Maori dinner, Wai O Tapu, Milford Sound) plus others we we'd planned on our own and some that we were told about by locals or other tourists along the way. Those would be the Art Deco tour with volunteer Judy in Napier, Tongariro and Taranaki National Parks, Zealandia and the Cable Car in Wellington, birds and seals at Kaikoura, the lighthouse and Giants House in Akaroa (east of Christchurch), Arthur's Pass National Park, the amazing night sky in Lake Tekapo, the Clay Cliffs near Omarama, and the drive to Glenorchy and Paradise out of Queenstown. Danny, our coach driver to and from Milford Sound (actually a fjord!), was excellent and shared interesting information on the way out. It was nice to relax and not drive that day after all of the driving we'd already done. On accommodations of special note we really enjoyed the Ruapehu Country Lodge in Ohakune. Our host Bernie was quite the character and happy to share information on restaurants and tracks (hikes) we'd planned to do, things to see, and roads & road conditions. We enjoyed his wife's homemade jams and other yummy things at breakfast. One thing of note is that not all of the accommodations were as accessible as they could have been (stairs/no elevators); we didn't specify with Monika that we required that but if you do, let your planner know. We're in our early 70s and in fairly good shape so didn't have too much of a problem and some of the hotels offered to help with our luggage. We "survived" a hot 6 km hike in Tongariro NP (lots of stairs!) so managing stairs in hotels wasn't a challenge. We came home more fit than when we left. ;-) Overall, we had a wonderful experience and the planning Monika did for us made for a smooth trip, especially as it was our first time in New Zealand.

Activity Reviews

Coach and Cruise to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Queenstown (NZ)

Very long bus ride, but scenic. The weather at the sound (fjord!) was a bit dreary but the boat ride was fun, though a bit crowded. Wonderful waterfalls, the mountains were hiding in low clouds but still very pretty. We enjoyed the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver Danny was excellent and had interesting information to share. He also knew a lot about birds and answered my questions about those we heard & saw.

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Great fun for we fans of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fans. Our guide, Sam (not kidding) was full of fun and facts.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Sam.

Transport

Hi Monika!
Thankyou for organizing such a wonderful trip for us!!! We loved
1. All the cities you guided us towards
2. All the hotels; all lovely
3.all the activities!!! Special shoutout to doubtful sound cruise; train ride and hike to Arthur’s pass ; food tour in ? Napier; Māori cultural event and more!!!
4. It truly was( as my 14 year old grand niece said after she went to a Taylor swift concert) “ a life altering event”
Thankyou for your guidance and your hard work!!
Kelly ( aka Elisabeth) and Bruce Sutter

Had a fantastic time. Loved where Sir Edmund Hillary practiced for his famous assent to Mt. Everest. Loved New Zealand’s meat pies in Queenstown.

Just returned from the trip of a lifetime to New Zealand—and I have to give a huge shoutout to our tour specialist, Monika. From start to finish, she absolutely nailed it. Every stop on the itinerary felt like a highlight: from the glowworm caves to the TranzAlpine train ride, from progressive food tastings in Christchurch to stargazing in Tekapo and a visit to Hobbiton. I would have to say, however, that our absolute favorite do-not-miss activity was our overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound!!! From eating freshly caught lobster and fishing/kayaking on board, to the delicious meals and peaceful waters of the Sound, it's truly not to miss.

Monika clearly knows the country inside and out—she chose the perfect mix of iconic sights and off-the-beaten-path gems, and her hotel picks were consistently top-notch (comfortable, well-located, and boutique style). While all of the hotels were great, we especially loved The Hermitage (Mt. Cook) and On the Point (Rotorua), where we had a 4 bedroom villa for our group that was absolutely perfect.

She struck the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, cultural insight and natural wonder. We also thought the order in which we toured (started on South Island, finished on North Island) was perfect. While the driving was intimidating at first, our two drivers got used to it fairly quickly. BTW, one activity we did on our own in Rotorua was a visit to Wai Ariki Spa, which I HIGHLY recommend.

If you're thinking of visiting New Zealand, I can't recommend Monika enough. She crafted a thoughtful, personalized, and truly unforgettable experience for our group of eight friends.

Most memorable: Milford sound cruise,
Hobbiton, Mt. cook hikes, wine and food ferry tour

Activity Reviews

The Gourmet Food & Wine Tour

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton, Waitomo caves and Auckland

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Te Pō Indigenous Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt Cook to Christchurch Small Group Tour Via Lake Tekapo (One Way)

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

The van’s A/C did not seem to be working so he put it on high which was deafening. We still suffered from heat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The van’s air conditioning

Milford Sound overnight cruise

New Zealand

First class food and rooms

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

60 Minute Jet Boat

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika was extremely helpful in ensuring we had a wide-ranging, fantastic experience on both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Whether it was horseback riding, hiking, and overnight cruises through the Fiordland; movie studio tours, and winery excursions, and whale watching; and everything in between, we were always paired with tour providers and accommodations that were clearly high quality and dedicated to providing meaningful and memorable experiences. In the infrequent times where there were any logistical hiccups, Monika was immediately responsive to get us back on track. All told, our three weeks were absolutely memorable and magical.

We enjoyed a fabulous three weeks in New Zealand thanks to Monika's guidance and efforts to develop an itinerary that met all of our requests.

It began in Queensland and a memorable flight and cruise to Milford Sound., definitely a "not-to-be-missed"! It continued through small towns - Clyde, Lake Tekapo, Kaikoura, Taupo, Raglan, Coromandel - and cities - Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland - and included a variety of activities - cycling, a cultural food tour, surfing, hiking, sailing. Unfortunately, due to weather, our kayaking and stargazing were cancelled.

For us, the highlights were the Milford Sound flight and cruise, bike ride in Clyde, Hulbert House B&B in Queensland, Hapuku Lodge accomodations and dinners, surfing with Green Wave Raglan Surf School, and the Koru Lodge in Raglan.

Thank you Monika.

John & Wendy

Hotel Reviews

Bolton Hotel

Wellington

In the center of the City within easy walks of key spots. Very comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

We were not surprised with the authenticity and character when we learned that The George is a related property to Hulbert House.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The George

Christchurch

Great location and a very comfortable and clean hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

An easy walk to town center and across the street from a wonderful park

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ranginui B&B

Lake Tekapo

The B&B host is warm and welcoming, and a great advisor for activities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A nice quiet neighborhood not too far to walk to town

Staff

The host is very friendly and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belle Vue Boutique Lodge

Taupo

Comfortable, great views of the lake, beautiful home.

Authenticity & Character

The owners have done a wonderful job restoring the lodge, and they take great pride in it.

Location

While outside the center city, the lodge is located in a attractive neighborhood with nearby amenities.

Staff

Friendly and very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Great Ponsonby ArtHotel

Auckland

Located in a wonderful neighborhood with good access (walking or bus) to the center city, great staff, and wonderful breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses

Kaikoura

Luxurious, comfortable, lots of amenities and activities.

Authenticity & Character

The tree houses are very authentic

Location

Nice hiking, biking and beach opportunities nearby

Staff

Couldn't be more helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lord Clyde

Very helpful and friendly staff, and a great location.

Authenticity & Character

An original building from the town's gold rush days

Location

Right in the center of Clyde within easy walk of restaurants, sites and activities.

Staff

Very helpful in guiding how to best enjoy Clyde.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hulbert House

Queenstown

Wonderful staff, very comfortable accommodations, great location. And delicious breakfasts!

Authenticity & Character

Location

An easy 5-minute walk to the center of town, though not as easy a walk back (uphill).

Staff

Very friendly and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Raglan

Raglan

The highlight was the Green Wave Raglan Surf School which caters to all ages and ability levels. They had us surfing (for a bit) and made it very fun and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bing Lyons, our instructor, continued to encourage and instruct. He was so positive I thought I was an expert surfer.

Cultural Food Tour - Kai Bites

Christchurch

Very informative of the Maori history and culture with a delicious lunch of local foods.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Flying over snow-capped mountains and glaciers with mountain peaks as far as you can see, landing on the sound, dolphin-escorted boat cruise, sailing up to waterfalls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andy is a tremendous pilot

Transport

The flight gave us a great view of mountains, glaciers, the sound, and it was smooth. And the cruise was wonderful as well