Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

Love the trip planned all the right activities. Wish she was a bit more communicative about her travels when she wasn’t going to respond and make sure we had someone to communicate with but she planned a great trip with great activities

Everything was first class except the very last night. I know John Mattarella was a little kind in his words, but I won’t mix the words that was way beneath what you guys should’ve gave us. Everything was excellent until that moment it was like going to a hostile quite honestly is bullshit but everything else was great except exceptionally great except that last moment, which then the last moment is what you remember I hope for your future guests you get rid of that location cause that was a joke again thank you for everything with a great time John my wife, Yvonne, and Heather did all the coordinating with you. I was a silent partner and like said it was great fantastic over the top until last night. Quite honest I think we should get a refund for that night, but that’s beside the point please do better for your next guest on that port otherwise spot on thank you Ron Zielinski

we had the most amazing time during our trip to New Zeleand. Monika was of great help! Not only she gave us really good recommendations of places to visit and experiences , but she was also extremely helpful in accommodating changes along the way. Highly recommend this platform and Monika!

Activity Reviews

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise (Real NZ) on Navigator or Wanderer

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hell's Gate Experience (Geothermal site and Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michelle, taking a break at the Westwood lodge after the Heli Hike today and thought we should give you some feedback so far. In a word, AWESOME!
We enjoyed Christchurch on our own, walking 10 miles both days we were there. The Earthquake Museum is worth it and the Tram hop on hop off also a good idea especially for those who don't want to walk 10 miles a day. We had a tremendous meal at 27 steps in CC. Also, the roses in the Botanical gardens were spectacular.
The train ride to Greymouth was terrific too. We wound up with three breakfasts basically and barely recovered before they fed us lunch. The scenery was awe inspiring and the audio tour pretty good if a bit long near the end. Rental Car is pretty cool.
Probably the best part of the trip so far has been Selwyn and Elizabeth at the Awatuna Lodge. We ate dinner there the first night and it was so good we did again the second. I doubt you'll find a better restaurant meal anywhere. They sat with us both nights for Cocktail hour and have super interesting pasts. The view from their place is beautiful overlooking a wild beach.
The bike ride was pretty spectacular, especially going through the rain forest. It was a bit more challenging than expected. The distance is deceiving. The elevation changes are pretty big so we had to walk the bikes some and go really slow on the steeper downhills. Also, a bit rougher. Great experience, but at the upper bound of our abilities. "easy" apparently has different definition in NZ!
Drive to Franz Joseph was a bit of an adventure because we left some stuff in a closet at Awatuna and had to double back. No worries. Made our Kayak trip and enjoyed the guides and the lake.
Westwood Lodge is good, but nothing really can compare to Elizabeth and Selwyn.
We have gotten super lucky on the weather everywhere. Had a bit of rain to start our bike ride but that stopped after 2 hours and were fine. Yesterday it rained all day when we were driving but stopped as soon as we got to the Kayak site. We had one of the best days anyone could remember today for our Glacier hike. Heli Hike was a hit too. Everyone was great and hike itself just the right amount of challenge and time. It's just a unique experience.
Last, we have really enjoyed the people everywhere. NZ is a beautiful place filled with genuinely nice people. We've met more great people from the AU, Britian, and for some reason, tons of Dutch!
We'll check in later as we head into our next adventures.
Kevin and Marge
Michelle, just wanted to let you know the rest of the trip has gone smashingly well. Wanaka was so interesting, and you were right about the 4-wheel drive adventure. We had 5+ hours with a native Kiwi and learned everything about your country. The Alpine Resort Wanaka accommodations were our least favorite of the 4. Not a good walk to town and we had a couple of minor issues with the unit we had. It is a great place for folks who have kids though. For us the more intimate setting of a B&B is best. Which brings us to our second favorite stop the Monte Cristo. What a treat. The staff was fantastic, the wine tasting really fun and the location is beautiful. The two bike rides out of Clyde were fun but pretty challenging. Especially the one around the lake. E bikes were a must. We would never have made it pedaling. The track is pretty challenging, and we got to experience lovely 75KMH NZ winds. We were fine if not a bit tired. The second day ride was the opposite. Flat to downhill the whole way with a huge tail wind. Very different landscape. I would recommend both trips just let folks know it will be challenging.
The fly-cruise-fly was also another unbelievable experience. We got lucky that they had a lot of rain before we came so the waterfalls were spectacular. The flights were a lot of fun too especially with Ben our pilot looking like our son in law.
We're in Queeenstown now staying at spectacular place, the Queenstown Park Boutique. People are just as nice as all the other places and it's a great location.
Thank you again for an outstanding trip. We love your country and your people.
Cheers
Kevin and Marge

Michelle listened to our trip goals carefully, then created a fantastic itinerary! The lodging, activities, and pace were great. Over 20 nights, 3,000 km of auto travel, 6 hikes, 2 cycling trail rides, and many other fun activities, everything went perfect! We appreciate the creativity when we had to delay the start of our trip by two days to jump in and start as if nothing was missed. Many thanks to Michelle for a terrific experience on the South island of New Zealand!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Montreal

Christchurch

We loved staying at the Montreal! Close to the entertainment section of Christchurch and spacious rooms. We saw the best of Christchurch from this welcoming hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel St Clair

Dunedin

The right place to be in Dunedin! Beach. Surfers, and great evening fun!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Rakiura Stewart Island (Hananui)

Christchurch

This was one of the most unique experiences we ever had! The Pure Pod was spectacular and the provided food excellent! Stewart Island is a special place! We loved our 20km hike to Prince William hut. Enjoying a clear night and the southern sky from the pod is breathtaking!

Location

Staff

Great food prep and spotlessly clean pod.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fiordland Jewel

Milford Sound

Cruising Milford Sound and staying onboard this ship was fantastic! Captain Jack is an amazing host. We were guests during a torrential rainstorm and the waterfalls were unbelievable! Kayaking was really fun, even in the rain and cold! A great time!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Prospect Lodge

Te Anau

Joan and Ross have an amazing lodge! What a special experience Prospect Lodge is. Only two guest rooms makes this unique. The breakfasts were the best ever! The view of Lake Te Anau and the mountains is Georgeous! Rooms are first class! Our 15km heli-hike on the Kepler Track was unbelievable fun. Seeing the glow worms in the cave was the most unique experience and great fun!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monte Christo Winery

Clyde

What a great experience! The chalets were very, very nice! The wine tasting terrific, and in room breakfasts really nice. Cycling the 40km Dunstan Lake Trail was the best activity of our trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

Queenstown

Where one night in Queenstown is enough, this is the place to stay! Welcoming staff, great happy hour, wonderful rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Edgewater Wanaka

Lake Wānaka

Great hotel/lodge! Rooms a bit spartan, but the common areas, bar, and patio were exceptional. The jet boat on the river and the 4wd on the nearby livestock station made for an exciting and informative day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Westwood Lodge

Franz Josef Glacier

Rooms were a bit dark and not comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness, decor, and staff cheerfulness.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rimu Lodge

Ruatapu

Sue Ellen is a terrific host at this special lodge! Her happy hour and breakfasts were fantastic. The lodge is beautiful, has great views of the Hokitika River, and is luxurious. Our 50km cycle on the Western Track was so much fun!! Hokitika is one of our favorite beach towns! So original!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Awaroa Lodge

Abel Tasman National Park

Great experience to stay at this lodge in the NP. Unique experience to arrive and depart by water taxi. Loved the food too! Our 15km hike through forests and beaches was exhilarating. Could have stayed longer! This is a favorite of our trip!

Authenticity & Character

In the Forrest by the sea.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Mayfair

Christchurch

A little outside the entertainment and shopping district. Nice otherwise.

Authenticity & Character

Cozy

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Yellow-eyed penguins

Dunedin

We enjoyed learning about the penguins and walking the track. Absolute beauty! Great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound overnight Cruise - Fiordland Jewel

New Zealand

This is must do in when travelling NZ! We lucked out with a rainstorm during our first day creating hundreds of waterfalls. Captain Jack was terrific!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Heli Hike Kepler track from Te Anau

Te Anau

Absolutely great hike! We had 100km wind and driving rain shortly after being let off the heli! Wow! Such beautiful views at the top, and great forests on the way down.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Te Anau

Really fun experience! The caves are spectacular to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail (from Clyde)

New Zealand

This was the best cycle adventure we could have imagined! Challenging and beautiful. Of course we were on standard bikes!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Wild Hills 4WD Safari tour

New Zealand

Chris was our 4wd guide and did a great job teaching us about the station (farm) operations. Fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jet boat and wilderness walk

New Zealand

Our jet boat captain Ben was so much fun! But he was also very knowledgeable and made this a really enjoyable experience. Loved learning about the beech forests!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trusting Monika with my trip was the best decision I could have made, she was so helpful throughout the planning process and during the trip. She picked excellent excursions that we throughly enjoyed and made all the arrangements necessary for the trip to go so smoothly. The was wise enough to pick hotels that were in walking distance to great restaurants and activities and was very helpful in accommodating my travel partner, who had a lot of allergies. I would absolutely recommend her for planning a trip to New Zealand.

Activity Reviews

Glowworm Tour Nocturnal Adventure

Rotorua

Stephen was incredible. His knowledge of the landscape and local flare and fauna was top notch. We had an absolutely incredible time and he takes beautiful pictures if you at a waterfall that he promptly emailed to us the next morning, do not miss this!!

Quality of Experience

you are in a small group and it does not feel touristy or commercial, its intimate and fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stephen is an incredible tour guide, he's is so knowledgable and respects the environment and his patrons

Transport

he took us to see the sunset, looking over the lake before we went to see the glowworms

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Do not skip the experience, it's so educational, entertaining and the food was the best we had the entire trip!! The love, care and welcoming attitude that the performers have for visitors is unparalleled. The knowledge they provide leaves you deeply interested in Maori culture and the performances and food were excellent. The staff is so talented!! I would absolutely go back and do this again.

Quality of Experience

Food

best meal we had the whole trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hell's Gate Experience (Geothermal site and Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa)

Rotorua

It was raining but that didn’t detract from the experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skydive Taupo Tandem 12000 feet

New Zealand

Staff was friendly and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Swim with dolphins

New Zealand

I didn’t end up swimming and they arranged for us to take a boat ride instead where we still got to see dolphins

Christchurch Tramway Restaurant

Christchurch

Excellent food and amazing service

Quality of Experience

The quality and food portions were excellent

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was so friendly and professional

Coach and Cruise to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Queenstown (NZ)

I wish I caught the name of our bus driver, he was so friendly and entertaining and took some great photos of me and my friend!

Quality of Experience

The views and the driver

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was so friendly, funny and informative

Transport

The bus had some problems on the way back but that’s not anyone’s fault

Denise provided excellent guidance in developing an itinerary. We enjoyed every day of the trip. Denise and Uma were readily available to assist when we had questions along the way. I would highly recommend Denise to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

The Langlands Hotel

Invercargill

Excellent lounges and breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Queenstown

We were upgraded to lake view and were blown away by the setting. Access to town was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

This was a fun evening and a feast

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My trip to New Zealand fantastic. The planning process with Denise went smoothly. Denise kept our group up to date about suggestions and changes to our itinerary during the planning peocess and also worked with us as we traveled. We had a wonderful time in New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Queenstown

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Langlands Hotel

Invercargill

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Dunedin City

Dunedin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Lake Tekapo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Carnmore Hotel Christchurch

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

⁹

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

⁹

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

I loved this trip. The planning and communication by my agent, Uma, was outstanding. I was on my own & she was communicating with me day & night, whenever I needed her. She would always answer me. When there was a cancellation for a tour she provided me with an alternative. Her suggestions for restaurants & activities was outstanding. I would definitely recommend her for a customized trip to New Zealand.
Hanna, our guide from Cheeky Kiwi Tours was over the top. Personable, patient, knowledgeable, & made us feel like we were the most important people in the world.
Thank you, Kim Kim for an amazing experience 😊

Hotel Reviews

Copthorne Hotel Greymouth

GREYMOUTH

Spacious & luxurious. Being on the top floor was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Queenstown

Queenstown

Very nice. Walking distance to everything you need.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to everything you need.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

New Zealand

The guide, Linda, was funny & entertaining. Unfortunately we had such windy & rainy weather that day we couldn’t stay out long. But the drink & snack at the end was a nice gesture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown to Franz Josef Tour via Wanaka (One-Way)

Queenstown (NZ)

Hanna the driver & guide gave us highlights along the way & took care of all of our needs. She was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Coach - Cruise from Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

Comfortable coach. Plenty of stops along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I connected with Kim Kim and Ruth only a mere month and a half before our scheduled trip to New Zealand. Despite the late notice Ruth stepped up, got some preliminary information on our interests, and curated an amazing two week self guided tour of the North and South islands. Every single event, from group tours to picking up our rental cars with driving directions in tow, went off without a single hitch. We had so many amazing experiences along the way it’s hard to choose the best, but I will say if you get the chance to kayak at night in the glow worm caves in Rotorua: DO IT! Amazing. Even in the rain. Thank you so much Ruth for the attention to detail, the quick availability and the amazing organization. We will definitely be in touch for our next adventure.

Activity Reviews

Queenstown Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Everyone should take the time for this beautiful part of the world.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Glacier Boat Trip -

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer - Christchurch Railway Station to City Hotel

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interislander Ferry - Wellington to Picton

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon/Evening Twilight Wine and Craft Beer Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wellington Private Transfer Hotel to Ferry Terminal

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zealandia by Night Tour

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introducing Te Papa Tour and Museum visit

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

The host of the evening was absolutely amazing. Sharing his culture and knowledge was truly a passion for him and it translated into an amazing evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waimangu Valley Nature Walk & Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton - Shared Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

The guides were absolutely amazing. Clearly very excited to share information and the beauty of these amazing creatures and their amazing habitat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Private Transfer International Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I broke my foot the second day of our trip. Monika was able to get me an appointment in less than an hour at a location within a couple of blocks of where we were and make last minute adjustments to our itinerary for accessibility and one cancellation with an alternative option. We still had an amazing trip. We are already discussing another to catch what we missed! She was always friendly, available, personable, and full of good tips and advice on making the most of our time while not over doing it.

Hotel Reviews

Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very centrally located.

Staff

Front desk staff was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

The restaurant menu seemed a bit overpriced. The portion sizes were small, somewhat bland, and not very filling. The restaurant experience was a bit awkward due to staff behavior. Housekeeping staff was very pleasant and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff and housekeeping were wonderful. We felt as if we had committed a social or cultural faux pa when dining in the restaurant, though we were unsure of what we may have done.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

The decor was very odd and not to our taste. We were provided an accessible room, but had to move a heavy couch to make a viable pathway to the bathroom for me on my crutches. The hotel restaurant menu was very limited and not to our palette preferences.

Authenticity & Character

Lots of character- but not our vibe. Some of the color and pattern choices in the lobby, hallways, elevator, and our room were disorienting and frankly painful to the eyes.

Location

The parking garage was too small for their clientele- there were not enough spaces to accommodate us the first night.

Staff

Depending on who was working the counter, sometimes they were helpful and other times seemed bothered by being asked questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongariro Suites

Horopito

The hosts were very attentive and friendly. The food was fantastic and the opportunity to mingle with other guests was lovely. The view was spectacular!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little out of the way, but worth it.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Walton

Richmond Downs

Sue was amazing and coincidentally the other couple who was staying there at the same time also went to Hobbiton and we had wonderful conversation at a fantastic breakfast with fruits from Sue’s orchard. Picturesque grounds and comfortable accommodations. Also, Ted was a highlight. Would be happy to return.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds - beautiful landscaping and fragrant wisteria at the front door.

Location

Proximity to Hobbiton and local cuisine.

Staff

Sue (and her dog Ted)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wellington - Full day Lord of the Rings location tour

Wellington

We were pleasantly surprised to find out this was a private tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dean was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, personable and was completely dedicated to making sure we experienced what we came for. He had the ability to guide the tour while also letting us weigh in on what was important to us to see.

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

As near an experience of full cultural immersion as can be accomplished by a tourist.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it! The singing at the end was a phenomenal moment of connection for all.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jason was an awesome guide! He was passionate about every part of the tour and was very accepting of those who may be less accustomed to being on the water or in caves at night, as well as those needing additional accommodation for physical limitations.

Transport

Hell's Gate Experience (Geothermal site and Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All Blacks Experience

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to New Zealand was incredible and memorable. First, the uncontrolled bad. Our trip coincided with a storm of the century. About half of our excursions had to be cancelled due to high winds on the South Island (100 mph). Second, the good. Those things that we were able to do were excellent. Because of the weather difficulty, our specialist Kathrin worked extra hard to rebook and adjust things on the fly. The ability to pivot and do other activities made it such that we were able to have an extraordinary experience.

If you are considering a trip to NZ in the future, give them a call. They will help you put together a great trip and, from our experience, will be there to back you up in case something goes wrong.

Thank you KimKim team for making our trip excellent.

Our trip to New Zealand was absolutely amazing. Thanks to Michelle!!
Every detail was thoughtfully planned and her recommendations were spot on. She was available throughout our trip for any questions , concerns or clarifications. Everything went smoothly, and we truly appreciate Michelle's attention detail and care. Highly recommend Kim Kim services to anyone looking for a worry-free travel experience.

Niranjan

I've done quite a bit of travel in my lifetime (88 years old) and I want to tell you this trip (New Zealand) was among the best I've ever done. This country should be on everyone's bucket list and the planning by Michelle at Kimkim was great. Thank you so very much.

The trip was very well organized by Michelle. Her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail made our 14-day New Zealand expedition an unparalleled success. She was very professional all the way through, made changes to the plans if and when required, all the hotel accommodations booked were outstanding. we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Thank you, Michelle, for the outstanding help and guidance provided by you.

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acacia Cliffs Lodge

taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art Deco Masonic Hotel

Napier

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bolton Hotel

Wellington

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abel Tasman Lodge

Motueka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Punakaiki

Punakaiki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fable Terrace Downs

Windwhistle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waiheke Island Half Day Scenic Wine and Lunch

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wai-O-Tapu

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jetboat Huka Falls

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gannet Safaris

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ultimate Alpine Experience - Combo ski plane and Helico

New Zealand

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather condiitons

Quality of Experience

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather conditions

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather

Transport

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather conditions

Quality of Experience

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather conditions

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather conditions

Transport

Unable to review since this activity was cancelled due to weather

Michele,
Thank you very much for a great trip to New Zealand. The planning and attention to detail was outstanding. Every transfer, activity, visit and accommodation were stress free and amazing. The suggested destinations were breathtaking . Your timely support and assistance to us in terms of alternative options is truly appreciated.
Thank you again.

We had a remarkable 14-day experience in New Zealand, thanks to Michelle's flawless coordination of logistical arrangements. Hotel and lodge accommodations were outstanding. Her timely adaptation to an inclement weather conditions in Milford sounds ensured a successful transition to the more captivating Doubtful Sounds.

From the outstanding accommodations to her resourceful response to adverse weather, every facet of our journey was expertly managed. The diverse beauty of each location on both South and North islands left an indelible mark. Thank you for orchestrating an extraordinary experience that will be cherished forever

Hotel Review

Abel Tasman Lodge

Motueka

Our stay at the Abel Tasman Lodge was fantastic. Despite our late arrival, the owner was very accommodating, providing us instructions and even coming by to inform us about breakfast and packed lunch options. The hospitality was warm and greatly appreciated.

Activity Reviews

Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

New Zealand

Exploring the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves was a unique and enchanting experience. The glow worms created a magical atmosphere that's hard to forget. Definitely a must-do activity!

Waiheke Island Half Day Scenic Wine and Lunch

New Zealand

The Waiheke Island Half Day Scenic Wine and Lunch was a great experience. We enjoyed beautiful weather while exploring and tasting various wines, making it a perfect relaxing day.

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

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