Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

We had a great time. The planning looked like it took a lot of work. The only activity that we did not do was the dinner at Ahi and we were not picked up at the airport. The accommodations were nice. The only issue was the Chalet Queenstown. It was a little loud, hot and the limited breakfast times did not fit our schedule either day that we were there. The pure pod was awesome. If possible we would definitely use this company again. Thank you for your help and hard work.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

This hotel was unique and we had a great stay. The staff was very nice and the breakfast was good. We got to walk to most of our activities from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

This hotel was unique. I loved it. There were so many thoughtful details. The location was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Nice hotel. The rooms were pretty basic but the views were outstanding. They provided the best breakfast during our trip. We were able to walk to our scheduled activity and to a few hikes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Rakiura Stewart Island (Hananui)

Christchurch

This was a very interesting experience. I loved it. It was a bit of a hike to get to but very much worth it. I would have liked to have had the electrical power to dry my hair but it worked out. I was sad to leave.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chalet Queenstown

Queenstown

This was a cute place. There were some issues. It was very hot and loud in our room so it was difficult to sleep. The breakfast was only from 8a to 9:30a. We had to be out before 8a both days that we were there. The hostess did make sure that we had some cereal and toast. My husband had to wake her up on the day we were leaving because she had us blocked it with her car. There were so many hotels in that city with views of the lake but our room had a view into the house next door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

It was a basic hotel. It did the job.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

We canceled our reservation because after looking at the menu, I was not confident there was going to be anything I would like.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

We loved this tour. It was one of the first things we did and it set the trip off well. The drive there was beautiful. The tour was great .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

It was nice that the company drove us to the location from a convenient location. It was interactive and interesting. The dinner was good. It rained on us a little bit but it was still good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour

Rotorua

This activity was a lot of fun. It was nice that they put so much about conservation into the tour. The staff was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had the absolute best time on my New Zealand trip, all thanks to KimKim and their amazing local guide Michelle! From start to finish, everything was organized so seamlessly that all I had to do was show up and enjoy the adventure.

I kicked things off in Auckland, where I was greeted with a hotel room that had a window view so beautiful it felt like I was in a postcard. Day one started with a bang at the Weta Workshop, which is an absolute must for any movie buff. Michelle called me on day two to check in and casually save the day by reminding me that Ubers were a great way to get around. Later, I was whisked away to pick up my rental car, and drove to Hobbiton, which felt like stepping into a dream.

Michelle made sure I always had enough time to get from city to city without ever feeling rushed and the hotels were consistently stellar. She also hit it out of the park with her activity recommendations. The Maori Cultural Experience in Rotorua? Unforgettable. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, zip-lining and the Wai-O-Tapu hot springs? Pure magic!

Every single activity was thoughtfully chosen and perfectly tailored to my tastes. Even the little touches were perfect—like the recommended restaurants and lunch stops, which came in so handy. If you’re on the fence about booking with KimKim -- just do it! I trusted their judgment completely, and they delivered in every way.

Can’t wait to book my next trip with them!

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views were amazing, the staff was super friendly and don't get me started on their breakfast. One of the best I've ever had at any hotel so far.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

Authenticity & Character

Loved the creative, museum-like flair of the hotel.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

A once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Taupō Cruise to the Māori Rock Carvings

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

A dream come true for any movie buff!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Being at a loss on how to plan a trip to New Zealand, we came across this company through an internet search. Paula became our contact and adviser and she put together a well-tailored holiday for our needs. Everything went off smoothly from landing in Queenstown until handing in our hire car at Auckland airport. We really enjoyed our trip to Milford Sound and our guide Paulie, was brilliant. Another highlight was our Rob Roy Glacier tour at Wanaka. Our guide Thierry was fantastic and made the trip so enjoyable despite my throbbing feet. Sadly we couldn’t do our tours at Mount Cook due to poor weather but we made the most of the available walks and were taken aback when Aoraki finally made an appearance from behind the clouds on our last day.

It was then off to Rotorua where we watched our daughter compete at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. The Big Kanu glow worm tour was fascinating, as was the Hells Gate experience. We were a little disappointed with the Kahukiwi experience as it seemed a little disorganised and unstructured although the guide was friendly and extremely helpful.

In summary, a well organised and satisfying first trip to New Zealand. We would have no hesitation in recommending your company to others. Our thanks to Paula for putting all together and putting up with our endless messages.

Thanks!

Hotel Reviews

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Handy apartments for visiting Queenstown. Very comfortable with all the amenities. Only observation was to try to avoid getting a room too close to the road as happened to us. People walking by could look into our apartment and there was traffic noise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Edgewater Wanaka

Lake Wānaka

This was a beautiful hotel next to the lake in a tranquil setting. Like being in the centre of a golf course. Although the rooms were well equipped, our room seemed antiquated, with a tired bathroom. Maybe up for renovation soon?

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

The place to stay in this area with commanding views of Mount Cook when the clouds clear. Our room although well equipped was on the small side and felt a little cramped. Apart from driving and walking around the beautiful scenery, there isn’t much else to do here. Maybe other activities could be offered when the weather is bad and organised tours get cancelled. All we got was a refund which was fine but perhaps alternatives would be more enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chateau on the Park -

Christchurch

Our favourite hotel during our holiday. Comfortable rooms, great location and even played a game of outdoor chess. Only criticism: our check in was delayed by a couple of hours due to airline staff being given permission to check out late. Took a bit too long with only a drink voucher to make up for it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Airedale Boutique Suites

Auckland

Well situated hotel in the business district of Auckland. Handy valet parking took the stress out of finding a car park on our own. Modern comfortable rooms with all the amenities we required. Recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise from Queenstown (2 days, 1 night)

Queenstown (NZ)

An overnight tour here was the best thing to do to avoid most of the day cooped up in a coach or car. Milford Sound was a brooding and cascading experience that we would recommend. Hats off to Paulie our guide, who provided so much information about New Zealand and the trip whilst driving us effortlessly through the winding roads.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Paulie was excellent.

Transport

Full Day Gourmet Scenic Wine Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

Enjoyed our trip to the vineyards and we were lucky with the weather. Finally know a bit more about NZ wines. The meal was interesting and enjoyable. A good day out.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Rob Roy Glacier ex Wanaka

Wānaka

We were the only people doing this tour that day. Our guide Thierry was fantastic, from picking us up to guiding us along the walk, sharing his favourite tree with us and sorting us out with lunch. Highly recommended to anyone capable of walking over uneven ground for several hours. You won’t regret it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thierry was great!

Transport

Bumpy ride

Big Kanu Starlight Glow Worm Tour

Rotorua

Fascinating to see these glow worms in action when night starts creeping in. The guides were quite entertaining too. Recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Redwoods Treewalk day

Rotorua

A comfortable stroll through these amazing trees along walkways and platforms. Nothing. We enjoyed our visit.

Quality of Experience

The Hell's Gate Experience

Rotorua

Fascinating to see these geysers and hot pools bubbling away. Lethal if you fall in! The mud bath experience was also enjoyable. Recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Kahukiwi Experience

Rotorua

Our Māori guide was a lovely man but the tour lacked structure with just information being thrown at us in a haphazard manner. We did learn about some of the legends but this tour could have been a lot better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip and Paula did a great job pulling together such a fun trip given how logistically challenging it was with the IM 70.3 race being in Taupo. The hop on hop off ferry/bus ride to Waiheke Island was perfect for our first day, easy to access the ferry, take our time visiting little shops, do some archery and wine tasting. We loved the MSocial hotel in Auckland with super helpful staff, clean comfortable rooms, perfect views and great location. The rental truck worked perfect for all of our luggage and bike case. It would have been helpful to have more detailed instructions about how to navigate the rental return as there are two terminals at Auckland and two rental returns.
Raglan was my daughter's favorite place and we could not get enough of the bakeries and huge black sand beaches. The Coromandel area is absolutely beautiful. On our drive there we stopped at a Lavender Farm to pick blueberries and have some lavender/blueberry icecream. Although Whitianga is a lovely town, we would have preferred to stay in a town either on Hot Water Beach or closer to Cathedral Cove since that is where we spent most of our time and the driving is quite challenging on the very hilly curvy roads there. Also our stay at the Sovereign Pier was not as we hoped since it really was not a 4 star (more just a poorly supplied rental place) and was on a marina not near the beach at all so the description of this place was misleading.
Other than that we had an amazing trip and thankful for KimKim scheduling all our tours which were fantastic.
Thank you so much.

I started looking on places to go on my son’s winter break. Were from San Diego so finding a place with a better weather or more beautiful can be a task. I landed on going to New Zealand and was contacted by a few companies who help planing a trip. Monika contacted me and followed through everything she said. She called me and answer all my questions via phone call. She planned my itinerary and modified it according to my needs (I have 2 little ones). She made sure I’m comfortable and let me know she’s here for me for anything I need. I just got back from a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand and couldn’t be happier. I was relaxed and saw all I could in those 2 weeks. The team and especially Monika were easy to talk to and available for me during my stay with every bump that had happened.
Thank you so much Monika for an unforgettable experience!!!

Hotel Reviews

River Birches Lodge

Turangi

I posted a google review for this accommodation. Simply beautiful and so calm. Everything we wanted and more

Authenticity & Character

Beatiful hotel, very clean

Location

Very close to stores and hike

Staff

Jason was our host and he contacted us daily to make sure we have all we need. He also helped with reservations and suggested what should we do on the days we had no olans

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and comfortable

M Social

Auckland

Really nice hotel. Super central

Authenticity & Character

Very modern

Location

Amazing location. Walking distance to restaurants and ferry

Staff

Friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable and clean

Activity Reviews

Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

New Zealand

Amazing, beautiful. A must see

Quality of Experience

It’s was unique

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable guide

Gannet Safaris

New Zealand

Really nice experience if you love bords

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was funny and very knowledgeable

Hawke's Bay Half Day Wine Tour

Napier

By far our most successful activity. The kids loved it and we got to see areas you don’t get to see from the car

Quality of Experience

The view, the wine and the freedom

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was flexible and offered solutions to difficulty we had

Transport

Came on time

Our recent trip to New Zealand, planned by Michelle from KimKim, was an incredible journey filled with stunning landscapes, unique experiences, and some memorable accommodations. While most of the trip met and/or exceeded our expectations, there were a few areas for improvement. Here's a detailed review:

Christchurch – The Mayfair Hotel
The Mayfair Hotel was a perfect start to our adventure. The modern and stylish rooms were a delight, and the on-site restaurant stood out with its creative breakfast menu and delicious smoothies. Its central location made it easy to explore Christchurch, and we truly appreciated the thoughtfulness behind this choice of accommodation.

Matai Peak
Staying at Matai Peak was an absolute highlight. Perched on a remote summit, this quirky and rugged accommodation offered spectacular views of the mountains and the sea. The outdoor bathroom with its breathtaking views was unlike anything we’ve experienced before. Our host was wonderful, providing thoughtful provisions that made our stay comfortable and enjoyable. Matai Peak was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds were stunning, and hiking through the area was an adventure we’ll never forget. That said, the hike we undertook was much longer than we expected, and we felt rushed to reach the pickup point on time. We would have appreciated more detailed information about the hike’s length and difficulty. In hindsight, an overnight stay along the track would have allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of the Sounds and return to Picton more comfortably.

Wellington
We absolutely loved Wellington and wished we had spent more time there! The vibrant city offered a wonderful mix of culture, food, and scenic views. In retrospect, we would have preferred to allocate more time here, or enjoy an overnight on Lake Taupo instead of spending two nights in Rotorua, which, while interesting, didn’t leave as strong an impression on us.

Rotorua and Hobbiton
Rotorua was enjoyable, but the highlight in this region was undoubtedly Hobbiton. The tour through the movie set was magical and a must-visit for any fan of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. It’s beautifully maintained, and the experience truly brought the fantasy world to life - and we had not even seen the movies (but will do so now).

Castaways Resort
Unfortunately, the last accommodation of our trip at Castaways Resort was disappointing. While the property was very clean and overlooked a beach and the ocean, neither was truly accessible. Additionally, there was little to do in the area, making it an underwhelming end to an otherwise spectacular trip. We wouldn’t recommend ending a trip here. Staying in downtown Auckland would have been a far better choice, offering more activities, dining, and a livelier atmosphere to wrap up the adventure on a high note.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this trip was an extraordinary experience, with many standout moments like Matai Peak, Marlborough Sounds, and Wellington. While there were some missteps in the itinerary, such as the super long drive from Wellington to Rotorua and the accommodation at Castaways Resort or the rushed hike in the Marlborough Sounds, the majority of the trip was well-planned and thoughtfully tailored to our preferences.

GOOD MACRO-PLANNING, BUT NOT A HIGH-TOUCH PREMIUM EXPERIENCE. DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Our recent experience with Kimkim for a 12-day trip to New Zealand was a mixed bag. The macro-level planning was well done, but the on-the-ground support and communication left a lot to be desired. While some aspects of the trip were commendable, the lack of communication, flexibility, and local expertise lead us to not recommend Kimkim - the value addition just does not justify the mark-up and the positioning as a true full-service travel experience provider.

The Positives: Macro Planning and Wine Tastings

Kimkim delivered on several key aspects of the trip, including:

- Accommodation Choices: The hotels were well-selected, and room arrangements were thoughtfully organized to accommodate our group of seven. This is a complex task, and they executed it well. Same for the car rentals.

- Wine Tasting Experiences: The wine-tasting tours were excellent, particularly the private tasting at Cloudy Bay in Marlborough and the private wine trip to Hawkes Bay with Edward.

- Big Picture Planning: The overall itinerary covered many major highlights of New Zealand. We covered a lot of ground in the South as well as the North Island.

Unfortunately, these successes were overshadowed by significant failures in execution.

The Negatives: Communication, Support, and Flexibility

Complete Lack of Communication During the Trip
Not once during the 12-day trip did we receive a single email, call, or message from Kimkim to check on how things were going. Even after the trip, the first communication we got was to ask us for this review! This lack of communication and periodic check-ins was deeply disappointing. Paula, our agent, simply disappeared once the trip began. This is not what we would expect from a full-service travel provider.
There was no day-to-day advice or recommendations for activities like restaurant bookings, particularly for problematic dates such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when reservations for a group of seven are challenging. We had to scramble to arrange dining options ourselves, which added unnecessary stress.

Limited Pre-Trip Communication
Important pre-trip details were missing, such as a comprehensive summary of the itinerary, flight and visa information, and other essentials. We almost got stranded at the airport because Paula did not remind us to get the New Zealand E-visa. I know this was buried in the communication before the trip, but with US passports, we are not used to getting visas for friendly countries like NZ. We had to apply for the visas at the airport, and the airline refused to let us board until we got the visas. We had to plead and grovel to get on the plane!!

Emails lacked clear subject lines, making it difficult to locate important information. A more professional and organized communication approach would have been much more helpful.

Poor Flexibility and Rigid Alternatives
When we canceled a day-long cruise because we didn’t want to spend two full days on boats (which should not have been organized in the first place, given we had told Paula that two kids had motion sickness issues), we were offered another rigid, unsuitable alternative: an 8-hour tour to an Alpaca farm. This suggestion failed to account for the fact that we had rental cars and could have used that day for a more flexible, self-guided itinerary. We felt that there was a lack of creative, personalized alternatives when changes were requested.

No Local Expertise or On-the-Ground Support
Our trip planner was based in the U.S., not in New Zealand, leading to a significant disconnect. There was no local contact who could provide timely advice or support. When we had the airport fiasco, Paula was in bed as it was midnight in the US. This is unacceptable. We were told to deal with the "local person" Sherry Li, who does not work for kimkim. It seems that Kimkim relies on outsourcing to third-party operators, which added confusion as we never knew who to call for specific issues, and left us feeling stranded when problems arose.

Excessive Markup Without Justifiable Value
Kimkim acts more like a middleman, outsourcing tasks rather than providing direct, hands-on service.
For the premium price we paid (including what appears to be a 50% markup), we expected seamless service and personalized support. Instead, we received vague guidance, poor communication, and a frustrating lack of accountability.

Summary
While Kimkim excelled in planning the macro-level logistics of our trip—such as hotels and wine tastings—their lack of communication, inflexibility, and absence of local expertise made the experience less enjoyable than it could have been. The complete absence of follow-up during the trip, no day-to-day advice or support, and reliance on third-party operators detracted from what should have been a smooth and enjoyable experience. For the price we paid, Kimkim should have provided comprehensive support, timely communication, and a personalized touch. Instead, they acted as a middleman, adding complexity rather than simplifying our journey. Given these issues, we cannot recommend Kimkim and will not use their services again.

Hotel Review

Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart

Auckland

Excellent penthouse 3-bedroom apartment. Great amenities and good location. Ultra modern design. The breakfast can be avoided - lots of local places near the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Very modern and clean.

Location

Close to harbor and local restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice kitchen, appliances, bathrooms

Activity Reviews

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Excellent views! Must do in Queenstown to see the whole town from the top of the hill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No guide used.

Transport

Could not get Uber to work!

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise (ex Queenstown)

Queenstown (NZ)

Beautiful views. Excellent natural beauty. A bit long (4 steps - bus, boat, bus, boat!) and the actual cruise is only 3 hours out of a 12 hour trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Too long!

Half Day Private Luxury Wine Tour

Blenheim

Cloudy Bay is a must-visit for wine lovers. And our private tasting at the "Shack" was outstanding!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our host was amazing! Ask for Swafka

Transport

We drove ourselves!!

We have SO MANY wonderful memories & photos from the trip thanks to Michelle's guidance in planning and pacing. We were trying to identify our favorites on the journey home, and had a really hard time narrowing it down as there was at least one special experience each of our 15 days in-country!
If we were to pick our top 3 activities: Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise, Glacier Explorer Tour, and Hobbiton. We also really loved both of the local tours Michelle arranged (4WD experience in Cass Valley & Country Tour of Geraldine). The guide for the latter was particularly generous with his time, local knowledge, & willingness to share a Kiwi perspective on all kinds of topics as we took in the sights.
And top 3 accommodations: Ruru PurePod (the breakfast & dinner included - just an amazing experience all around), the Vicarage in Gerladine, & the Lodge at Mount Cook (bc of the fabulous view of Mount Sefton from our room).

Hotel Reviews

PurePod Central Otago (Taima)

(Note: This review is for the Ruru PurePod instead of the one listed, due to schedule change. ) Just an amazing experience all around! We enjoyed the drive & walk across the farm to reach the Pod, the tranquility, amenities, stargazing, and local food. The bed was so comfy & the shower / bathroom was so much nicer than we expected for an off-grid experience - true luxury quality. We requested dinner & breakfast with our stay and the hosts really delivered a thoughtful and delicious menu that was a pleasure to eat while enjoying the view. Only one warning: the hike from the "carpark" is a little steep, so definitely recommend packing in as little with you as possible!

Authenticity & Character

True eco-friendly luxury achieved!

Location

Private, secluded, gorgeous 300°+ mountain & valley views

Staff

Left thoughtful welcome note + information & instructions for meals, local activities, & about the history of the property / current owners & plans.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Great, convenient location for walking to main tourist areas in Queenstown without actually being right in the nightlife / bustle. Good partially-obstrcted view from our room, too. Standard but good-quality chain hotel amenities & services. Front desk staff were universally welcoming, polite & helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Accommodation arranged as part of your Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

Great quality for a boat berth! Bathroom was small, but had separate sink & a shower corner, so actually larger than I expected, being accustomed to boats with wet-baths.

Authenticity & Character

It's a boat!! Loved being out on the decks, dining in the saloon, and going out in the little tinder boat for a closer look at the little cove.

Location

Definitelt convinced this is the best way to experience Doubtful Sound, & it is beyond beautiful.

Staff

The whole crew was courteous, welcoming, and knowledgeable, but the nature guide was particularly good and shared all kinds of great info on the weather patterns and fauna of the region during our trip.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only reason is not 5-stars are because of things you would expect on a boat - thin walls, a little footstep clanging on the stairwell, & the last that they had to leave the engine / generator & many exterior lights on at night for safety.

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

Really cool property that is clearly a much-loved passion-project for the owners. Definitely in our top 2 accommodations for this trip! Bed & bath were the epitome of luxury, the shared sitting rooms were so inviting, and the location is super-convenient to dining, shopping & main roads. Loved the simple, contactless check-in process, but we also used the help number during our visit and were attended to promptly.

Authenticity & Character

Loved how they incorporated so much of the property history into the design!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Christchurch City Hotel

Christchurch

Good hotel in the city center. Very convenient to many of the central tourist spots. Similar amenities to many of the mid-range chain hotels we're used to in the US, but room was a little more spacious, which was handy since we were re-packing / shuffling souvenirs at this point in the trip. We had a hard time with parking, as it required interacting with the front desk multiple times, and we were there over a holiday, so it wasn't staffed full-time & the gate to the garage they had specified was lowered & locked on the holiday itself. We ended up finding our own surface parking, down the street.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

A bit more clear in instructions & communication ahead of holiday non-staffing periods.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

We would not elect to stay at this property again, nor would we recommend booking for others. It was not very clean - there was hair from previous guests and either black mold or corrosion on many of the fixtures in the bathroom, as well as just a lot of wear, tear, dust, & staining on the furniture, bathroom floor & fixtures. They had a little sticker asking us to "please excuse any staining from the sulfur in the water" but I didn't perceive that to be the only cause. The window had been left open, allowing the sulfur-rich air from the adjacent lake to permeate everything with humidity & unpleasant smell. The balcony was just plain uninviting, and the walls were very thin, making the noise from other guests in the hallways and courtyard very hard to ignore. We seriously considered calling the travel agent for an alternative, but stayed only because we did not have time before our dinner commitment to manage re-booking / relocating and already had an activity weather cancelation issue for the next day they were working on.

Authenticity & Character

Clearly recently renovated lobby / restaurant & decent courtyards, but very tired guest rooms and associated hallways.

Location

It's siting on the edge of the sulfur-rich lake = overpowering smell everywhere. Balconies are present but unusable because of this and the huge air-handling units sitting on them.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness of guest room, insulation / sound-dampening of guest rooms, replacement or fixing up of some of the furniture & fixtures.

The Great Ponsonby ArtHotel

Auckland

Fun, quirky B&B with a very nice host. Lots of personality and local history in the decor. We had a room with a lovely little sitting area over the garden that we enjoyed for several hours. Great breakfast service. Conveniently located in the arts district and just a few minutes driving from downtown Auckland. Only negative was that the bed itself was extremely hard.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Awesome views over Christchurch. Smoothest gondola I've ridden on. Great staff & lots of activities once you're at the top. The luge was very well designed and a real blast. Fun to watch others parachuting off the mountain-side and gliding down into the city, as well as the boats zipping around the lake below from the viewing platform & restaurant area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Great way to see the lake & mountains, delicious dinner, cool old ship, and nice sheep shearing & herding demo. The boat rides were lovely bookends to the evening. Would have loved just a bit more info in the farm show on the current operations and a little more time after it to view the animals, walk the grounds, & poke around the shop.

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent selection & quality. Staff could have been a bit more organized in releasing folks to the buffet - some people got a little pushy around the seafood station, even though there was clearly plenty available.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic steam ship is really cool, and they allow you to view the engine room in operation.

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise (Real NZ)

New Zealand

Top quality experience all-round, and the most memorable & unique of our trip. The location is absolutely stunning - from Lake Manapouri, over the Wilmot Pass, throughout the fjord, & even at the edge of the Tazman Sea. Staff were excellent, & knowledgeable. Accommodations were even better than I expected for a relatively small ship. Meals were great, too. We had unusually pleasant weather & thoroughly enjoyed it, but now also really want to go back in the rain to experience all the wet-weather-only waterfalls.

Quality of Experience

Food

Fjord-boards & dinner were excellent, especially the complex salads & ceviche fish.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat captains, bus drivers & staff on the ship were all excellent & clearly skilled at their respective jobs.

Cass Valley Backcountry Tour

New Zealand

Our driver / guide, Steve, did a great job sharing about the local area, farming / ranching practices, outdoor sports, and wildlife, while navigating the challenging route & adeptly spotting aforementioned wildlife roaming the mountains, fields, and tarns for us to view. The local chocolate & glacial spring water stop at the waterfall & cabin was an unexpected & much appreciated treat. The variety of terrain we covered in just a few hours was amazing & really helps you appreciate the ruggedness of the region.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Country tour of Geraldine

Geraldine

Our tour guide, a local farmer (whose name I've blanked on already 🫠) was excellent & joined in our rental for a driving tour around the area. He gave us a great history lesson about NZ, the tribal wars, the ongoing debates in Parliament between the Maori & settlers' descendants over the terms of the original treaties, the farming history and trends, and its native forests - as we passed farms filled with sheep, cattle, dairy herds, red deer, and crops (wheat, corn, hay, alfalfa, clover, & fodder beets). After visiting a lovely little church and learning about how the settlers constructed it from native resources, we enjoyed a picnic tea service at a park, and then walked up into a small portion of protected native forest to view huge, old Tōtara tree. It was beautiful, and the ferns & moss along the walk to it were just as lovely. We then made our way over to view & learn about the huge river-water retention pools & distribution channels they constructed in the 1930's that have enabled the shareholders to triple farming capabilities in the region. Along the way, we engaged in fascinating conversations about all kinds of other topics - it was a fantastic way to get a Kiwi perspective on the world!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Great learning experience & delicious meal. Very talented staff in the show & excellent service throughout the night. The interactive activities at the learning stations were a great way to understand more about the meaning of the performance elements before seeing it & to give guests a chance to ask questions. The staff did a really nice job acknowledging it was a performance while also asking for respect of the source material & deeper meaning of some of the rituals for those participating in them. I don't know how they did it or if it was just luck, but our dinner seating couldn't have been more perfect - we were with two other young adult to middle-aged couples who all enjoyed traveling & spoke English, so had great dinner conversations, too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Great selection of options & very accommodating of allergies / dietary needs.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport by bus out to the village w/ narration was a nice touch to help get you in the right frame of mind. Turned out that they picked up & dropped off from our hotel, even though we had gone over to a different meeting location indicated by our planner - so that would have been nice to know in advance to save us travel & waiting time. The sing-along by the driver at the end of the night was a little cheesy & repetitive of the concluding dinner entertainment. Would have been more enjoyable if the mic on the bus hadn't repeatedly cut in & out with loud squeaking noises.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Fantastic, especially for Tolkien fans! Clearly done with respect to the source material, and as magically quaint as we had hoped. The tour guide was great, dropping little tidbits about the making of all the movies & construction of the sets, but without ruining the magic behind it. (I also really enjoyed learning about the Alexanders' farm operation & how they are running the tourism stuff in parallel today.) We both loved getting to go inside the hobbit hole near the end of the tour & having a pint at the Green Dragon. There were so many opportunities for photos & just enjoying all the "Easter eggs" the designers included in each hole design - the tour could easily have been twice as long in duration for adults, but I did notice the timing was pretty perfect for the kiddos in our group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved the drive across the beautiful, rolling farmland and the video that accompanied it each way. Really helped get you in the Middle Earth mindset!

Our time in New Zealand was amazing because the country was absolutely gorgeous and our local specialist, Michelle, booked us into some really great accommodations and events. Some of the highlight experiences I would recommend for others:
-Christchurch walking/food tour
-Kaikoura: Haipuku Lodge and Tree Houses was a gorgeous property, with great meals! On top of that, the Haipuku Kitchen Seasonal Feast cooking class was a wonderful experience with great hosting by Fiona and Becca. If you get a chance, this wasn't an official itinerary item but you should go to Nin's Bin for super fresh caught crawfish/lobster!
-Lake Tekapo Farm Tours stargazing: We got to take advantage of the dark sky reserve to really soak in a gorgeous night sky and beautiful near-full moon.
-Lake Tekapo Lodge was a great accommodation with really friendly hosts that made that stay but it sounds like those hosts will be retiring so can't vouch for the new owners
-Cass Valley Backcountry Tour was an amazing 4WD tour with a personal tour guide of the space -- one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip!
-Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise was my personal highlight of the trip; a fun mix of activities (kayaking, fishing, sightseeing) plus delicious meals (fresh fish and crawfish/lobster) and stellar hosting by Shaun and Juanita. Bring lots of bug repellant because the sandflies are absolute terrors; I'm still scratching a couple of bites from them.
-Ahi restaurant in Auckland was delicious and absolutely worth checking out!

Regarding our local specialist, though -- she quite honestly could have been more on top of trip details (there were multiple examples I can cite) but these issues *thankfully* did not ruin the trip.

Our trip to New Zealand north island went well and we were very pleased with the arrangements Liz made for us. All of the transportation and lodging reservations worked without any problem. Two local contractors backed out of their commitments: Barefoot Sailing in Paihia, and Taiao Adventures in Rotorua. For the first, Rie Fujita with Southern World found a replacement contractor, Carino Wildlife Cruises, which turned out to be really terrific, and we thoroughly enjoyed our excursion with them in the Bay of Islands. For the second, we arranged with Tom of Foris Eco-tours to spend an additional day visiting the Whirinaki Forest with guide Carl. All of the day trips with Foris Eco-tours were very rewarding and we would highly recommend them. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves day trip with Cheeky Kiwi Travel was enjoyable as well. I would recommend adding their visit to Te Puia for the Māori cultural tour and thermal features. We added this to our tour and found it well worth while.

Michelle was amazing. She seemed to know what we needed even more than we did! The accommodations were exactly what we liked and their locations couldn't have been any better. The tours she arranged and extra suggestions she provided were wonderful.
Thank you again Michelle for everything you did to make this a perfect holiday.

Hotel Reviews

The Great Ponsonby ArtHotel

Auckland

Great breakfast and good location

Woodlyn Park

It may be ok if you have young kids as it is unique. As an older couple, it was very dated and needed some attention.

Timber Trail Lodge

Ongarue

Food was great, room was comfortable and scenery spectacular.

Mountain Heights Lodge

Ruapehu

The room was comfortable and had everything we needed. Good location. The only problem was the highway traffic noise at night.

QT Wellington

Wellington

Loved this place. So unique and wonderful breakfasts!

Pear Orchard Lodge

Nelson

Very unique accommodation. Our rooms were nice and we appreciated the use of the large kitchen. Quiet with beautiful scenery

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

This was one of our favourite accommodations. The renovation work and history behind it is beautiful. The best laid-out bathroom of all of our stays. Breakfast next door was great.

Aoraki Court Motel

Aoraki/Mt Cook Village

A pretty basic hotel room. The scenery was beautiful but getting around the village and finding parking with all of the tourists was a little crazy. But couldn't have asked for a better location

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

Having a hotel room that looks right out onto the lake was wonderful. Comfortable room and good breakfast provided. Good location.

Criffel Peak View B&B and Apartment

Wanaka

Room was nice and breakfast was ok. The hosts are a little 'intense', but nice enough. Parking was a bit of an issue.

Activity Reviews

Timber Trail Day 1

Ongarue

An amazing ride. The electric bikes were a must for us...we couldn't have done it without them.

Black Abyss - Abseiling, ziplining and black-water tubing

Waitomo

A truly unique experience. Our guides were fun and appreciated the warm drinks and food during the tour. The only down side was not being able to take your own pictures. They took some and you could buy them at the end, but let's say that photography is not their forte. :-)

Great Taste Trail (Bike day ride) self guided (E-bike Option) - Kaiteriteri to Mapua (43km)

New Zealand

The trail itself was ok. Unfortunately a lot of the little artisan galleries along the trail were closed which would have made things more interesting. A great little coffee shop and good restaurants though.

Aqua Taxi - Slice of Paradise (boat + optional walks) - full day

New Zealand

We were not exactly sure how this was supposed to work. We told the guide that we preferred to spend more time hiking than on the boat. He was excellent and pointed out some options that would work for us and it turned out to be a wonderful day. Great people running this and a small boat so you're not crammed into a big boat with a lot of other people.

The Road to Mesopotamia - High Country Station 4WD tour

Geraldine

Partly our fault. We had read the description of a different tour with a similar name. We thought we would be going on a tour of a sheep farm with a sheep shearing demonstration, etc. that included lunch and wine and all of the trimmings. This tour consisted of riding in a large touring van (4WD description was slightly misleading) for 7 hours, mostly on gravel roads, with short stops to point out trees and livestock. There was no sheep farm tour, no 4WD like we were expecting (Jeep or ATV), lunch consisted of half a sandwich with a piece of banana bread that we ate in a lawn chair at the side of a road beside a settling pond. The guide was nice and did his best to pass on his local knowledge but I think even he was bored. Perhaps if you were in your 80's, this may have been enough but for us, it was a complete waste of a day.

Cycling the Hawea and Wanaka Trails

New Zealand

Loved this! The scenery was beautiful, the guide was informative and there was just enough easy and hard biking to make it interesting.

Doubtful Sound Day Cruise

New Zealand

We lucked out in the fact that it was a beautiful sunny day after a rainstorm the day before. So there was still water in the waterfalls but clear skies so that you could see for miles. Enjoyed the catamarans (although it got a little long towards the end) and everything was run VERY smoothly. Good guides. Loved it.

The most memorable experiences were: Black Abyss, Waitomo, Black Water Rafting Co. abseiling into caves to see the glow worms.
46km Timber Trail bike ride.
Tongariro National Park 20km alpine crossing, across sleeping volcanoes.
Kaiteriteri: Cruise on tiny Aqua Taxi and hike between bays. Saw a pod of orcas close by.
Climbed Ben Lomond near Queenstown. 1010m elevation gain, Total huke 11km.
Good choice of small friendly places for accommodation .Good breakfasts.

Our trip was wonderful and I would promote nearly all of those experiences to future travels. As someone with a moderate travel history(3 prior trips aborad), I did feel the service of KimKim was overpriced and didn't really create something special. All of the experiences were textbook. My biggest gripe is the company lacked transparency with expenses - I had to communciate multiple times that the proposed costs were too high for our budget and still feel we overpaid. Numerous times throughout the trip, I lamented to my partner "I don't see the value in what we paid for," It was only the convenience, certainly did not have any special, off the chart, or "bumped up" experiences. I wouldn't use it again and would go back to solo-planning, since every single thing I could have booked online or literally day of, likely for a cheaper price overall. Additionally, the amount of back-and-forth with the planning agents equated to the work I'd put it in researching and booking things myself. Nonetheless, the local specialists and platform were easy to use and provided good customer service. The biggest benefit was having a simple document to print with the itinerary for everything.

The experience ranks highly. But I would put the "value" as quite low, though that wasn't the rubric for the questions.

Hotel Reviews

Auckland City Hotel

Auckland

Good location in Auckland and to get out of Auckland. Parking was congested, but street parking was limited.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

JetPark Hotel Rotorua

Best staff we encountered in NZ, which was a high standard. Location is a little removed, but its a small enough place that it was central to all our experiences. You can smell the sulfur throughout the hotel. Across the street from grocery story to pick up on travel essentials.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Carnmore Hotel Christchurch

Christchurch

Great staff. The room was clean and comfortable, though the bed felt small. Guest services were adamant it was a king, we disagree - it felt queen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waitomo Glow Worm Cave Tour

New Zealand

Loved that it was owned/operated by Maori. We had an excellent tour guide through the cave. The actual "experience" observing the glow worms was actually much shroter than anticipated (5-10 minutes in the boat). The majority of the time is walking through, explaining the formations, etc. The greatest value cost wise was knowing its in good hands of its caretakers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Big Sky Stargazing

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Missed out due to weather, which is out of their control. Their full refund was an excellent recourse.

The Hell's Gate Experience

Rotorua

This was sold to us as "spa" like experience by a travel agent, which was inaccurate. I'd describe it more as geothermal landscape with a short immersive experience. We liked the mud bath for the memes and hilarity, but it is essnetially timed and monitored. The baths were fun, but not something to spend 40-minutes doing, which is how it was sold to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zipline Canopy Tour Ultimate Experience

Rotorua

Outstanding! Highlight of our time in NZ. The ultimate experience was very worthwhile. Felt very safe and well accommodated. Guides were outstanding and supportive. They shared about their conservation efforts in an impactful and meaningful way that didn't every feel pushy either.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

EXCELLENT leaders.

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

Matamata

This felt like a very well produced experience. Fantastic. Drink at the end was a special treat - and they had a non-alcoholic version perfect for us sober visitors.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

OUTSTANDING tour guide.

Transport

Very comfortable shuttle.

Nevis Bungy and Swing

Queenstown (NZ)

OUSTANDING. Team made you feel very safe. The transportation was elite. The even accommodated day-of reservation changes. If you do the bungy, the swing feels a little secondary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Top tier transportation.

An unforgettable scenic cruise at the 8th Wonder of the World

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was incredible! Our agent, Michelle, put together an excellent itinerary and each reservation went off without any issue. I enjoyed each activity, with only a couple being less than incredible when compared to the others. The glow worm cave/black water rafting at Black Labyrinth was perfect; the guides were very engaging and facilitated a great experience. Hobbiton was exactly what I wanted it to be. Rotorua Canopy Tours did an excellent job and that experience was perfect, as was the Te Pa Tu - Mauri cultural experience. The Weta Workshop Experience in Wellington and the Edoras tour with Hassle Free Tours outside of Christchurch were fantastic and are not be missed as a Lord of the Rings fan. The Milford Sound Scenic Flights in Queenstown were breathtaking and provided a chance to see the beauty of the area from amazing perspectives. All in all, the trip was a 10/10 for my wife and I, and we are already counting down the days to be able to return to New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

Very well located in the city, allowing for short walks to nearby activities and areas. The accommodations were solid, as was the food. The rooftop bar area was also really cool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walk to nearby activities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kelly Rd

Cambridge

The front desk person was very friendly and the accommodations were great. The area was quiet and was only a short drive/walk to the center of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

The accommodations were great; the bed was a little uncomfortable.

Authenticity & Character

The decor was very unique and eclectic

Location

Close to plenty of restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

The accommodations were great overall. The room was larger than the rest of the ones we had on our trip. Parking was somewhat difficult and driving to/from was a little stressful due to traffic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Parking was a little difficult and limited capacity; we left the car parked the whole time so as not to have to deal with it again

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Christchurch City Hotel

Christchurch

The room accommodations were solid overall; parking was offsite and a short walk, but had a fee each time you left and came back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walks to nearby attractions; parking can be difficult

Staff

The food was good and the restaurant was nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Tekapo Holiday Homes

Lake Tekapo

The room was cozy and had one of the larger bathrooms compared to other hotels on our trip. The location was fantastic, with a great restaurant right downstairs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Able to walk to nearby stores and restaurants, as well as the lake itself.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kamana Lakehouse

Queenstown

The room was excellent, as were the views from the restaurant overlooking the water and mountains. The breakfast provided was the best we had on our entire trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great views with enough parking available; slightly too far away for an easy walk to Queenstown itself

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Weta Unleashed Auckland

Auckland

This experience seemed great for those interested in aspects of movie making. However, the movies they use for the tour are 3 different "unreleased (made for this)" movies, which was a little disappointing. The tour itself was well done.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Able to walk from our hotel

Black Water Rafting - Black Labyrinth

Waitomo

I would consider this experience necessary for anyone that hasn't done it. It was incredible. The guides were excellent and personable, and enriched the experience further.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Hobbiton was exactly what I hoped it would be; the views were beautiful, the tour was excellent, and it was surreal to get to explore and experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

I thoroughly enjoyed this Maori cultural experience; the individuals leading each part of it did a great job of providing history and information about the culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus driver was quite funny and engaging

Zipline Canopy Tour

Rotorua

The staff was wonderful and the entire experience was amazing. Getting to see such a beautiful part of nature combined with the ziplines was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wai-O-Tapu

New Zealand

I loved getting to walk through and learn more about the geothermal areas; it was absolutely beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Redwoods treewalk by night

Rotorua

The trees themselves were awesome to see up close and the set ups for the walkways and decorations were really cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Weta Workshop Wellington

Wellington

Fantastic! As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, this is a must. The store (Weta Cave) has awesome displays and a great selection of items to purchase. The staff were super helpful and the tour was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Exactly what I wanted from the experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was very energetic and did an amazing job, while providing tons of cool facts about the movies Weta has worked on

Transport

Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour

Christchurch

I would consider this a "must-do" for any fan of The Lord of the Rings movies. The drive is a bit long (about 2 hours from Christchurch), but the scenery and the tour guide made it feel like nothing. The actual experience of seeing and getting to walk up Mt Sunday and be in the spots from The Two Towers was surreal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide was fantastic; tons of interesting stories related to Lord of the Rings as well as the local area

Transport

Tekapo Springs - StarGazing

Lake Tekapo

The experience itself is awesome; the guides provide you with information about the stars and planets, and have telescopes to view some of the celestial bodies, followed by time in the hot pool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Tasman Glacier Lake

New Zealand

The surrounding area and the lake/glaciers themselves are stunning. I highly recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

This is another activity I would consider a "must-do." The views from both the plane and the ship were incredible, providing a perspective of the area that just can't be experienced another way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soak in the Onsen Natural Outdoor Hot Tubs

Queenstown (NZ)

The experience itself was relaxing; your party is provided with a private hot tub with an awesome backdrop of a field and hills/mountain. They provide a drink and small snack.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola transport & optional Luge

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a great way to see Queenstown from up high; the views were great.

Quality of Experience

Safari of the scenes Glenorchy (LOTR)

Queenstown (NZ)

Compared to the other Lord of the Rings related experiences we did on our trip, this was the least exciting. Some of that was due to the weather, as it changed what our tour got to see, while the rest was the overall experience. The guides provided some information about the scenes and surrounding area, but not nearly as much as other tours on our trip.

Quality of Experience

More engagement for the participants (the main guide had a picture book, but our group was in a different vehicle that did not have that)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The seating in the vehicle was not comfortable; there were 3 seats kinda crammed together in the back, one of which had the wheel well where my leg would rest. The guides had us rotate seats after each stop, but that doesn't solve the actual problem.

Friend and I decided to book a trip to New Zealand somewhat last minute (roughly 2 or 3 months prior to the trip) and Monika was so accommodating and easy to work with throughout the planning phase. She made adjustments as we suggested them and informed us of any accomodations changing due to us waiting to book etc.

We truly had an amazing experience in New Zealand and Monika made the planning and travel portion easy and simple, plus she was always responsive and helpful during the trip when we had questions etc. Truly a stress free, easy, and amazing trip!

Our tour of New Zealand went beyond expectations. Because we had activities and accommodations booked by the kimkim team, we were able to enjoy each day worry-free. When we weren't able to partake in something due to inclement weather, Michelle either found an alternative or organized a refund promptly. It was wonderful to know she and the team were there for backup if we ran into any issues.
Stand out experiences, in no particular order:
- tour of Mesopotamia Station with our guide Wayne -- so much beautiful landscape to take in, and so much interesting history, made even better by running into Malcolm, the present head of the Station
- art deco tour of Napier with lovely, informative Kaye
- 1/2 day wine tour led by the wonderful Jill -- so interesting and fun
- Te Pa Tu - Maori Cultural Experience -- incredible knowledge, passion, and skill demonstrated by the family members; the 15 year old young man's singing was exceptional
- Zealandia Night Tour in Wellington -- magical
- Milford Sound boat cruise -- just beautiful
- jetboat tour in Fiordland -- great fun, even in the rain
- Hobbiton -- the lushness, the details! So fun
- luge rides in Queenstown
Stand out accommodations:
- Hotel Britomart in Auckland -- very fine, exceptional attention to detail
- The Vicarage in Geraldine -- as above
- Azur Luxury Lodge in Queenstown -- incredible views and service
Hotels to consider removing from your roster:
- Museum Apartment Hotel in Wellington -- a bit gross, a bit disorganized in the lobby
- Peppers Bluewater Resort in Lake Tekapo -- down on its heel
- Limetree Lodge -- wifi didn't work, weird feeling there

Hotel Review

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

Fantastic location. Top notch customer service. Beautiful space. Attention to detail. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Authenticity & Character

So funky, wonderful reuse and reno of an old building with character.

Location

Central, interesting views, walkable neighbourhood.

Staff

Very welcoming, helpful, and informative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All the corners were clean and shiny. No dust buildup or fingerprints anywhere.

Activity Reviews

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

The singing, the hakas, the fellowship, the history were all very moving.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orakei Korako Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Hawke's Bay Half Day Wine Tour

Napier

Jill was our guide, and what a lovely person she is. We had laughs and learned a lot about New Zealand's fantastic wine offerings. The half day was plenty -- we had just the right amount of sampling. Favourite part: the sheep grazing in a vineyard.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zealandia - Night Tour

Wellington

Walking in the quiet darkness with our red lights was such a feast for the senses. I loved the evening birdsong and glow worms.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Road to Mesopotamia - High Country Station 4WD tour

Geraldine

This was one of those experiences that surpassed expectations. It was a full day, but I could have kept going. We learned about a whole other kind of life in New Zealand, the incredibly hard work running a sheep station. Mesopotamia has such unique historical significance. Our guide Wayne even had a book about it, which he kindly let us borrow for a night. What an incredible landscape, too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I went with the idea to explore the nature of New Zealand and boy did it deliever. I am extremely happy with how things were organized; with all the guides involved and Ruth and Sherry for helping to put everything together and help with the glitches.
I do suggest to anybody doing the same trip to leave some days extra for added exploring on the scene, some things will amaze you on the way, and to leave some extra time to reschedule tours that unfortunately don’t happen due to unforeseen reasons.
I missed a few things due to weather conditions and had no time to reschedule, but I also found some things on the way that were a surprise.

Activity Reviews

Half Day Black Abyss Trip

Waitomo

Unbelievable experience. A friend recommended me this and she was spot on for this. One of the highlights of the whole trip was going back on the tubes, looking at the lighted ceiling and listening to history of the cave and glow worms.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

When I first booked this, I was a bit skeptical, but I was very wrong. The tour is well organized, the village is really beautiful and the scenery does get you to Hobbit/Lord of the rings mood.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Cultural Food Tours City Meander

Christchurch

Really nice city tour with a local. She showed us small, easy to miss details of the city that were very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So many excellent experiences we were unlikely to have found on our own without Michelle’s insights and help. The Road to Mesopotamia tour in the lovely town of Geraldine is a prime example. Our tour guide for the day, Wayne, was charming and knowledgeable and our interactions with the farmer, Malcom, made for memories we’ll have for a lifetime.

Hotel Review

Fiordland Lodge

Te Anau

Stunning, quiet, very personalized experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s outside of te anu a ways, but beautiful view, excellent food, and a beautiful tranquil setting.

Staff

Staff were lovely. This is a thoughtful, family run lodge.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

Fantastic opportunity for an evening of immersion in Māori culture. The experience is largely delivered by the younger members of a Māori family. Their pride and delight at sharing their culture is on display here. Supper is shared at the table with one of the family members followed by a delightful, full throated performance by these impressive young people.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A short trip from the welcome centre to the site by bus includes narration from one of the elders. Hilarious and informative, complete with singalong on the return.

Transport

Monica was the best!! She was always available to answer questions and provide guidance. Her knowledge of the area was exceptional & the activities she arranged were perfect for us. All accommodations were exceptional, and her itinerary was thoughtful, allowing us to experience the ‘real NZ’ and its beauty.
Kimkim continues to provide extraordinary service & we have recommended them to others.
With many thanks, Gary & Kim Glenn

Connie and Sherry were great! We had an amazing time in New Zealand and our trip couldn’t have been any better. We loved all of the recommendations, accommodations, and tours and we would love to return to NZ again and of course work with Connie and Sherry.