Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

This is one of those trips that will forever stay with me. The beauty of the land, the vast differences in experience from one place to the next, the cleanliness and consciousness in environment, and the kindness of the people everywhere is what really made this trip stand out. Our guides, as well as our drivers were fantastic! Highlights: Mulford Sound (beautiful waterfalls, seal and dolphin sightings), and a highly recommended plane ride over the mountains when returning to Queenstown. FYI, -The drive is long (winding roads that could impact a weak stomach), but well worth the trip. Also, Mt. Cook, the Tasman Glacier Cruise, the Glowworm Caves (near Rotorua), Wai-O Tapu’s geothermal activity/mud pool, and the very scenic TranzAlpine train ride from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, are all well worth seeing. If you like hiking, Arthur’s Pass has some great trails, but beware, the distance from the train station to any of the well known trails is quite a hike in itself (and not too scenic by the main road), so plan on getting a ride to the trail if possible.

Kudos to KimKim (and more specifically, Monika), for customizing this trip in a way that hit all of our specifications and needs. If NZ is on your bucket list, go for it while you can. You won’t be disappointed!

Mel climbed a mountain with me. Wonderful. The helicopter couldn’t go due to weather, but the backup plan was great.

Overnight cruise was a highlight of the year. Dave, our captain, Mikey, our chef, and Anna were all great as were the other guests. Lobster catch turned into dinner as did our fish from our fishing efforts.

All was great.

Hotel Reviews

Monte Christo Winery

Clyde

Staying at the Monte Christo Winery was both elegant and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance that the winery offered, adding to the pleasure of our overall trip.

Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Te Anau

The Distinction Luxmore Hotel was decent considering it's situated in a small town. The location was ideal for walking around, and it met our expectations for that kind of setting.

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

The Rees Hotel was exceptional. It's one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in, with an unbeatable view and surprisingly spacious rooms. The quality and comfort made it a perfect stay.

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting around Queenstown - including guide

Queenstown (NZ)

The wine tasting around Queenstown was delightful and quite fun. Although we found ourselves in the Pinot Noir region, which meant fewer Sauvignon Blanc options, the experience still came with its own charm and surprise. The group was engaging, adding an extra element of fun to the tasting. In the end, we enjoyed the experience and the story we could tell friends back home.

Milford Sound - Coach, Cruise and Walk

New Zealand

The Heli Hike on the Kepler Track was unfortunately canceled due to weather conditions. They informed us very close to pick-up time, but I appreciated the understanding and professionalism. They provided three alternative options, and I chose a different track which turned out to be a beautiful hike. It was a long enough trek surrounded by scenic landscapes—gorgeous rivers, rapids, waterfalls, and towering trees, along with informative details about nature. It was a fulfilling and enjoyable day despite the initial disappointment.

Our trip to New Zealand was a huge success thanks to the guidance and help of Monika. I had only the vaguest of ideas of where I wanted to go and what to do once there. Monika took my ideas and curated an unforgetable experience for me and my daughter. The planning was flawless -- no issues with hotels, car or activity bookings. She was also timely and helpful answering our questions while we were in New Zealand. Thanks Monika!!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Galaxy Boutique Hotel Tekapo

Lake Tekapo

The room was clean and comfortable. The included breakfast was dismal

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Headwaters Eco Lodge - Glenorchy

Glenorchy

A lovely hotel in a great location. The food is amazing -- fresh, local and imaginative.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

Queenstown

The hotel is lovely. Our room was spacious and had a view of the mountains. But what made our stay great was the staff. They went above and beyond for every need and request.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Greta Valley (Korimako)

Canterbury

What an amazing experience! The remote location made for a beautiful end to our New Zealand adventure. The drive there was a bit unnerving but doable, even in our tiny rental car. The cabin is well-appointed and we enjoyed cooking our dinner with the food we ordered before arriving. Highly recommended if you're looking for complete serenity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fyffe Country Lodge

Kaikoura

We loved out stay at the Fyffe Country Lodge. Innkeeper Chris and Colin were welcoming and helpful. The location is beautiful and close to town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Progressive Māori Dinner Tour (kai safari)

Christchurch

We loved our dinner tour with Gracy! He is engaging, knowledgable and charming. Highly recommended

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Routeburn Guided Walk Full Day

New Zealand

Our guide, Antonio, was amazing -- charming and knowledgable. It was a strenuous hike but well worth the effort. My one complaint is that the provided lunch was pretty unappealing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika did an excellent job organizing our itinerary and truly listened to our preferences and suggestions. When we were unsure about renting a car, her recommendation turned out to be a great decision and made the trip much smoother.

The activities she suggested were absolutely on point—especially the jet boat experience, the glow worms, and the Māori cultural experience. These were things we probably wouldn’t have booked on our own, and they ended up being some of the highlights of our trip.

She handled all of our accommodation bookings. Overall, the hotels were great. While we had a minor issue with the elevator at the hotel in Taupō, our stays in Napier and the final hotel in Auckland were excellent choices and very comfortable.

We also appreciated that she suggested additional activities we could do on our own if we had the time and energy, provided helpful restaurant recommendations, and made sure we were well informed about immigration steps before traveling. When we needed medical advice while in New Zealand, she was quick to offer helpful guidance as well.

Overall, she was thoughtful, responsive, and incredibly helpful throughout the planning process. We felt well taken care of and would highly recommend her.

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

Staff were great here. They took our luggage to our room when we went looking for parking (there is only paid parking at this hotel but there are a few cheaper options nearby). It was a high tech hotel where a robot brought us room service. The room had foam rollers, yoga mat, and Alexa echo. Celebrated our anniversary with us with chocolates and a kind note.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

Elevator was old and far from our room. There were steps that lead from the hallway to our room so it was difficult to get in at times. The shower was also on the smaller end. My husband who is 5'11 kept hitting his elbow on the wall.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Napier

Location was amazing, view was breathtaking, staff was great and helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Location was good, parking is easy, laundry is token operated. Sulphur smell could bother some people.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The half shower kept spilling water in the entire bathroom

Auckland City Hotel

Auckland

Good location, provided paid parking for your car, celebrated our anniversary with a kiwi friend

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Learned a lot about Maori culture and New Zealand history. The Maori family was so welcoming and kept us engaged through the various activities during the experience. However, the food and dining experience has room for improvement.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nocturnal Adventure Glow-worm Tour

Rotorua

Stephen was an amazing guide with extensive knowledge of New Zealand’s flora and fauna. My husband and I weren’t sure what to expect going into the experience, but we ended up having a fantastic time. We learned about the silver fern, saw New Zealand possums (much cuter than the ones in the U.S.!), and even learned about the different types of torches (flashlights) used during night walks. We were able to get very close to the glow worms, and Stephen also pointed out many fascinating plants and creatures along the way, including the kawakawa tree, the mānuka tree, the wētā, and, of course, the iconic silver fern. To top it all off, at the end of the walk he treated us to hot cocoa and biscuits, which was a lovely and thoughtful touch and answered all of our questions. If you’re looking for an easy trek and have an interest in New Zealand nature, this is definitely the activity for you.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Such an amazing experience in NZ! 18 days of complete beauty. We loved everything our agent booked for us, all the hotels & excursions were fantastic. Our Clearwater experience was beautiful , we even saw a penguin! We especially loved our small plane ride to Milford Sound, & the steamboat cruise ship dinner. We loved everything about Queenstown. Such a cool place. Mount Cook was beautiful, we did 4 different hikes, all amazing. Wellington is a beautiful city, do not miss the botanical garden. Breathtaking. Lake Tekapo is so blue, & a cute little town to visit. We especially loved the kayaking to the natural hot springs & then to the glow worm caves…. So fun. Our guides were phenomenal. Such cute guys! The night sky while we kayaked back was the prettiest I’ve ever seen. We also loved exploring waimangu volcanic valley with the cruise. So interesting, our boat guide was awesome. Hobbiton was fun, don’t miss even if you don’t love the LOTR movies, it’s really interesting to learn about. All in all we loved our vacation & would highly recommend working with Michelle.

Hotel Reviews

The Great Ponsonby ArtHotel

Auckland

Very unique hotel if you are looking for something different. Clean & good location. Late 1800’s vibe.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean, but no AC in our room. It was very hot & humid.

Millennium Rotorua

Rotorua 3040

Great hotel, clean & spacious, great location, beautiful private deck

Authenticity & Character

Very nice lobby, room was perfect & spacious

Location

Walkable to everything

Staff

Super friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Kaitahi Lodge

Palmerston North

Cannot recommend this hotel enough. Amazing owner, the accommodations are incredible. Beautiful, spacious, unforgettable

Authenticity & Character

So unique, beautiful in every way

Location

Close to the city, but far enough away to feel secluded

Staff

Jazz was INCREDIBLE

Cleanliness & Comfort

So clean, honestly seemed to be brand new

Bolton Hotel

Wellington

Perfect location, beautiful hotel, super friendly staff, highly recommend Very spacious suites Our suite also had a washer & dryer which was awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walk to most things, super close to the botanical garden

Staff

So friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

The Gables

7220

Darling little cottage! We had amazing service & the cottage was perfect for our needs. Very spacious, charming & unique.

Authenticity & Character

Super charming!

Location

Easy to walk to everything in Picton

Staff

Amazing service, so friendly & helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Did not have AC though

Fable Christchurch

Christchurch

Beautiful hotel, spacious rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean & comfortable

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

Super private, clean, all the amenities Restaurant was really good Easy to access washer & dryer Beauty at every turn

Authenticity & Character

Such cute little apartment style rooms!

Location

Staff

Staff was always so friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Great location, clean & updated Just beware that parking can be tricky unless you pay for hotel parking. We parked on the roads but often times it was a few blocks away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Dunedin Hotel

Dunedin

Beautiful hotel, very clean. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the octagon

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean! Beautiful furnishings.

Activity Reviews

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Super awesome experience! I wasn’t a huge fan of LOTR, but honestly you don’t have to be to enjoy this experience. The guide we had was so great. Super knowledgeable about what scenes were in what areas, made the whole afternoon so fun. I highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide!

Transport

Loved the videos they showed in the bus on the way to the site.

Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour - Glowworm Caves

Rotorua

I wish I could give this 6 stars. Our guides were awesome. Funny & easy to talk to. The kayaks & gear were great. The hot pools were great, so fun to explore the different pools & temperatures. Dinner was great, & the glow worm caves were amazing. Cooler than I expected. The kayaking back in the dark… phenomenal. The night sky was as beautiful as I’d ever seen. Loved every minute of this excursion.

Quality of Experience

So fun!!!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coolest guides

Transport

Waimangu Valley Nature Walk & Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise

Rotorua

This was AWESOME! We loved the hike down to the lake, very informative pamphlet & we learned a lot about the area. The boat ride was super interesting. Our boat captain was so great, explained what we were seeing & answered all our questions. Highly recommend! Great way to spend the morning!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our boat driver!!!

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

We loved this Maori culture experience, from the ease of the bus pick up at our hotel, to the authentic Maori war dance upon arrival, & the small group activities & learning. It was awesome. The music & dance show was so entertaining. The food was ok… really small portions. But the experience was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Portions

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queen Charlotte track (Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge walk)

New Zealand

This was one of our very favorite days in NZ. Such an amazing & beautiful hike! We loved every second of the 10 mile track. Furneaux Lodge at the end of the hike… such a beautiful setting & delicious lunch. I could have sat there for hours. The boat ride there & back was easy & conveniently located in Picton. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Sky Stargazing -outdoor stargazing tour

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Super knowledgeable guides Well worth staying up so late! The moon was bright so it wasn’t as spectacular as we’d hoped, but no fault of the company. Just the luck of the draw. Pick up was easy, the entire staff was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Steamship ride was super fun, the boat is super unique. The sheep sheering & the sheep dog experience was awesome! Food was so so.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Cannot recommend this enough. The flight was amazing, our pilot was amazing, it was unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

So great to work with

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone we worked with was fantastic

Transport

Clearwater Wildlife Tours- 'Wild One' Tour

Dunedin

Such an amazing afternoon! Loved our guide, super knowledgeable. We even saw a penguin!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time on our honeymoon to New Zealand.
Monika, our travel agent put a lot of effort into creating an enjoyable and memorable itinerary of activities, even managing to secure a visit to Hobbiton despite very limited availability for our dates (a must have experience for us)
She organised a great range of activities throughout the trip and was always responsive and helpful whenever we had questions. Her support made the whole experience feel stress-free, and we’re very grateful for all her efforts.

Activity Reviews

Coach and Cruise to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Queenstown (NZ)

We didn't really know what to expect with this tour going in but it was definitely one of our highlights. Photos truly cannot capture the beauty of the place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Very interesting learning more about Maori culture.

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

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Amazing place even for people who've never watched Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathrin was excellent!

Kathrin was very professional, efficient, and prompt throughout our trip planning and execution. The most notable aspect however is how patient and skillful she was dealing with my indecisiveness. I much appreciated her great listening skills and how she was able to intuitively pick up details I hadn't consciously mentioned allowing her to develop a well thought itinerary that matched our travel style and desires very well.

Her skills and service went beyond just the planning stage at the beginning of our trip when she quickly and expertly rearranged some of our first events as a result from a multi day airline delay. And she was very prompy in answering questions throughout the trip. This confidence knowing we were in good hands added allowed us to relax and enjoy the trip much more than otherwise.

The completeness of the trip book made the traveling easy and stress free, knowing everything was taken care of.

I will use Kimkim again and Kathrin the next time we go to New Zealand.

Monika was incredible! She helped curate the perfect 3 week honeymoon in New Zealand that was the right balance of romantic, fun, spontaneous, leisure, and adventure.

We funyaked and hiked and glamped and saw the glow worms.

I would recommend KimKim and Monika specifically to anyone looking for an epic and unforgettable New Zealand adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Raglan Sunset Motel

Raglan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongariro Suites

Horopito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Valley Views Glamping

Kurow

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Dairy Private Hotel by Naumi Hotels

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waitomo Glowworm Caves + Ruakuri cave combo

New Zealand

Honestly, we could have skipped the Waitomo Cave tour and just did the Ramiro Cave tour. We saw glow worms up close and personal on the second tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Weta Workshop Wellington

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch - Arthur's Pass return (by TranzAlpine train )

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Sky Stargazing -outdoor stargazing tour

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dart River Funyak Safari

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen Hot Pools

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michelle and her team planned and executed perhaps our best family vacation. After hearing about our itinerary, more than one local family questioned how we knew to do all the cool things we were doing on our trip! To list our favorite activities over two weeks is to list every activity Michelle lined up for us. Biggest wow factor was the night in Milford Sound, the heli-hike and the Timber trail. Fly fishing was spectacular, wineries were lovely - and we were even surprised how much we valued just a short visit to Great Barrier Island. (local guides on the Mt Luxmore hike, GBI and fishing were top notch) Even the driving was a highlight (and Michelle delivering the rental car to our hotel was an appreciated detail). all our accommodations were just as expected with the exception of our last night which surprised us with is beauty and tranquility - the perfect way to exhale and reflect with the family on what felt like several epic vacations over just two weeks.

Wonderful Trip! Michelle did amazing and we ccouldn't recommend her more! Every event that we did we would highly recommend, and many of the accommodations were very unique and cool as well.

Thanks again!

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

Good hotel close to downtown; it has everything you need.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Waitomo (Matu)

Wonderful! This definitely felt the most unique and most special of the whole trip. The owners put a lot of care into making sure everything was perfect upon arrival. Only complaint would be to have the addition of a fan for the summer; it gets quite hot in there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to downtown Otorohanga but very private.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regal Palms Resort

Rotorua

Totally fine! Would have been great for kids/families; they had mini golf and games that we didn't use.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The River Lodge Ohakune

Ohakune

This was wonderful - please use this place in the future! Daniel the owner was so nice, and it was one of the more unique accommodations that we stayed in! Also: "The Cyprus Tree" restaurant in Okahune was one of the better restaurants that we ate at all trip. Really good!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close drive to the national park. I think something in Waimarino would have worked as well, we ended up hiking over closer to there.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

Great! Very unique hotel character.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Everything you could want; clean and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty normal hotel but not bad at all!

Location

Just off the main strip, only a ~10 minute walk to the main streets.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Black Abyss - Abseiling, ziplining and black-water tubing

New Zealand

Wonderful! Guides were great and it was the most unique experience we had. Definitely do the longer "Black Abyss" one if you have the time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides were wonderful!

Transport

Skyline Gondola transport Including 3 rides on the Luge

Queenstown (NZ)

Great views and the activities at the top are fun! The luge was the highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting Kaituna River, grade 5

Rotorua

Amazing and highly recommend! It was more intense than I thought but the guides did a great job!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jet Boat the Shotover River

Queenstown (NZ)

Super fun! I was not expecting it to be as fast or as close to the canyon walls as they were.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Best views and I'm very glad that we did this first; it helped get a lay of the land. Pilot was great as well!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My son and I just returned from an 8 day trip in New Zealand. We had a wonderful time and Nats did an amazing job with preparing our itinerary. He arranged all of our activities, transportation, and accommodations. When the weather intervened and a couple of activities were cancelled, Nats was quick to communicate with us and suggest alternative options. New Zealand is a wonderful country to visit if you enjoy an active trip in beautiful surroundings. I highly recommend working with Nats if you plan to visit there.

Really enjoyed this trip! The sights, food, and activities were amazing and we want to go again! Pretty much everything went off without a hitch from arrival to departure. Monica was even able to adjust the plan halfway through to accommodate a sailboat trip.

There was a good variety of activities and the pacing was just right too. We felt like we did as much as we could while also not rushing between everything. The tour options Monika suggested felt like the best of the best, and we were provided a good selection of solo adventure options when we wanted to branch out on our own. 5 star visit for sure.

Activity Reviews

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

This was a totally unique experience for me, I had seen the pictures of the glow worms online but that does not compare to the experience of actually seeing them in person. This tour takes you into some small caves where you get up close and personal, I think I was within inches of the glow worms at one point, and it was so cool!!! The guides were really wonderful and they all knew their stuff. Plus, the kayaking itself was pretty easy. Overall a fantastic time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound - Coach, Cruise and FLY

New Zealand

Everyone said the Milford Sound was a must-see destination, and I completely agree. Our tour guide was funny and informative, and the small group size was perfect for us. The "Fly" portion was cancelled due to the wind, but being out on the boat in those same winds was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced, so it all worked out perfectly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Progressive Māori Dinner Tour (kai safari)

Christchurch

This was one of the coolest things we did on our whole trip. Our guide Ash was friendly, knowledgeable, and had impeccable taste. I've already recommended this tour to strangers on their way to Christchurch and to friends who aren't even planning a trip yet, it's just that good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We really enjoy planning trips and were not sure about using a travel service, but our experience with KimKim and our local specialist, Michelle, exceeded our expectations. Our New Zealand trip was a great mix of culture/ tourist sights, activities, beautiful views and off the beaten path places. Michelle helped us to narrow down our itinerary to better match our schedule and allow us to fully enjoy each location. She changed things around for us many times before we settled on the final itinerary. We had to make an adjustment to the itinerary due to a forest fire and Michelle called us as soon as we arrived in Auckland to advise us and help us to figure out an alternate plan.

All of the accommodations were either unique boutique stays or had amazing views, and in many cases both. We traveled around quite a bit and were excited each time we got to a new hotel. There were many highlights to our trip, but some of our favorites: M Social in Auckland, E-Ride Waiheke, Black Swan Inn and Te Pa Tu Maori Cultural Experience in Rotorua, Mountain Bike Rotorua, cycling the Lake Dunstan Trail in Cambridge and the river trail in Taupo, staying at the Taima PurePod, Kinloch Lodge, Milford Sound cruise (overnight) and Cinema Suites in Te Anau. Having all of the transfers, accommodations, breakfasts and activities booked for us made a busy trip feel easy. We were able to focus on the fun part of trip planning and leave the logistics to the professionals.

Activity Review

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

This was one of the highlights of our trip - exceeded expectations. The cultural experience was interactive, food delicious and singing/dancing amazing. Highy recommend.

Quality of Experience

The people were passionate and involved the guests in the experience.

Food

Family style meal with a mix of guests to meet and lots of variety in the food. Delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The transport was a little long. The bus driver led a sing along to pass the time.

Transport

Pretty long bus ride. But the driver made it fun.

Absolutely 5 star experience, starting with Noemie. She was so great to work with, carefully taking into account various details to plan a wonderful trip across North and South islands of New Zealand- not only what we wanted to see and do, but also logistical needs noting we were traveling with our 2 year old, wanted accommodations that offered laundry, did not want to rent a car/bring our car seat, etc. She also noted it was my wife's birthday and added a few special surprises for it. Noemie was so patient, revising different details during the planning process to accommodate budget and even taking the time to jump on a Zoom call with us to say hello and make sure we did not have any questions before our trip. All arrangements worked out perfectly- transports, accommodations, experiences. Even when weather forced a couple of changes, Noemie and her team, as well as the provider, quickly communicated and processed refunds. A few of our favorites: (1l Queenstown gondola for spectacular views, (2) steamboat cruise to a working sheep farm and fantastic lunch, (3) dolphin cruise from Akaroa where we saw dolphins, penguins and seals, (4) geothermal park in Rotorua, (5) Lord of the Rings movie set in Hobbiton. Overall incredible scenery throughout the trip, especially considering it was the start of summer. The colors- greens and turquoise blues were amazing. We definitely want to go back and will plan in working with Noemie and team again. Highly recommend!!

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Comfortable hotel. Good lakefront location walkable to town. We were prepared for a bit of the sulfur smell from the proximity to the lake, but it wasn't bad at all and we couldn't really smell it from town anyway.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

Walkable to various areas. Wonderful staff that gave our daughter a stuffed animal at check in!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Woolshed Suites Tekapo

Tekapo

Spacious with alot of natural light. Walkable to shops/restaurants within small village. Nice view of church and Lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Walkable to town and child friendly park. Great little cafe for breakfast and other meals. Very family friendly and wondeful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina City Life Auckland

Auckland

Great location, spacious apartment with laundry. Good gym and pool. Exactly what we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wai-O-Tapu

New Zealand

Also a must see if you are in the area! The geyser experience is underwhelming because the eruption is manufactured, but the geothermal park afterward exceeded our expectations. A very pleasant walk around the park at your own pace. Amazing colors and fascinating formations. We were there for about 90 minutes and were able to do the walk with our 2 year old in a stroller.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our transport company from our hotel to the park and back was ReadytoRoll Shuttles- the owner was our driver and he was awesome- funny, friendly, knowledgeable.

Akaroa Dolphins Cruise

New Zealand

We enjoyed the bus ride to Akaroa and stopping in a village on the way. As for Akaroa, what a beautiful, quaint harbortown. The cruise was great- we saw dolphins, seals, and penguins. Fun staff too. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + Lunch BBQ

Queenstown (NZ)

We loved this experience as did our 2 year old! Riding a coal powered steamboat was a unique experience! Beautiful scenery- the water, mountains, but most of all the farm. We really enjoyed getting to see the demonstration of a sheepdog rounding up sheep. Wonderful buffet lunch too. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was the second trip I used KimKim for and I was thrilled again! Monika was super responsive and even called to check in when we arrived. She planned an amazing trip, bringing us to places we probably would have missed if we planned on our own but loved. I will definitely be using KimKim again!!

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

A great big city hotel with good amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hana Lodge

Rotorua

This renovated mansion is beautiful! The grounds are awesome with some amazing art and even a bamboo forest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongariro Lodge

Turangi

This classic fishing lodge is awesome! The staff was super nice and responsive and the food and drinks were amazing. You can’t beat the location for fly fishing or golf.

Authenticity & Character

The fireplaces and decor made for a lovely homey feel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

This hotel is awesome. Eccentric and quirky art, amazing service and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

I don’t think I’ve ever had a better meal. It was a culinary trip through New Zealand. We did the blind tasting and tried so many new things.

Quality of Experience

Our waiter was amazing

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wai Ariki Spa "Chiefly Waters" restorative experience

New Zealand

I wasn’t sure what to expect but this experience was incredible. Relaxing and self paced.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

What an amazing was to authentically learn about Māori culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knowledgeable and friendly

Transport

Electric Bays guided E-bike tour of Wellington (includes cycle hire and guide)

Wellington

So much fun! Lots of great info and incredible views. Our guide (Tara?) was super! I was nervous about being able to do the ride as I’m not in the greatest shape but the e-bike solved that problem.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika was excellent in helping us to plan our trip! She had great suggestions and was very responsive and proactive in the few cases where things had to change last minute.

What a great trip! All of the logistics were seamless and made our travel simpler. Kathrin is fantastic. We didn’t have to focus on the little details (like how will I get from the airport to the hotel or from the hotel to town), that was especially great in the moments when we were the most tired and disoriented. Poof! You’re settled in your hotel room and you have time to get your bearings, figure out what you’d like to see and do, maybe even take a moment to relax and enjoy the view. I’ve never had a vacation like that before. All of our activities were curated based on our interests, with tweaks in the planning phase to be sure we made the most of our time in this new place.

Things weren’t perfect, I don’t think that’s possible. Some locations or activities didn’t match our expectations and some events were cancelled due to weather. In retrospect, it’s easy to see where some details were lost in communication—on both ends—but this was a brand-new experience for everyone. We’ve never been to New Zealand and we’ve never travelled like this, meaning we’ve always managed all of our plans and arrangements. There’s a lot of information and preferences in my head that I didn’t think to communicate. And, even though you do this for a living, you’ve never done it for us before. You don’t know us or what we like, but you sure tried really hard to figure us out and accommodate our requests. We’re very grateful for that.

Even when things went wrong or were mildly disappointing, it was still an amazing adventure. How could it be otherwise? We were exploring a new place that is absolutely stunning and is home to really kind and friendly people. Rainy day? Cancelled hike? Time to go for a drive and enjoy the scenery, maybe get a cup of coffee and people watch.

We really appreciate everything you did for us. You were so thorough and thoughtful. Thank you!

Some highlights:

Doubtful Sound. The sound is gorgeous but we also enjoyed the bus ride there. There were so many rainbows!

TranzAlpine Train. Every bit of that day was outstanding. We were booked at the Scenic Plus fare which meant our own table with lots of delicious local food and drinks. The attendants were delightful. After a couple of hours of luxury travel we got off the train and hiked around Arthur’s Pass, then more food and drink on the ride back to Christchurch.

Waiheke Island. The hop-on/hop-off bus was good. We chose to go to a winery that was off the main route so we had to use a local bus and walk for a bit. It was totally worth it. We were the only people there. We sat on a deck with a beautiful view (including highland cows!) and enjoyed yummy wine and cheese.

Glowworm cave and kayak trip. Tom was our guide. He was really personable and patient, he had to deal with three inexperienced kayakers and it was pretty windy. He cooked for us, told us stories and kept the conversation going. We were treated to an enormous, orange moonrise. Spectacular! And the stars. Then we got to see the glowworms, so cool. We were soaked to the bone and really tired, but we loved it.

Lupines. They’re beautiful. It’s a shame they’re an introduced species.

Driving. There are views everywhere! It was nice taking it all in.

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Super modern and clean. Very attentive staff. But everyone was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was too attentive for our tastes. We realize they were doing their jobs the way they've been told to, but we don't like being asked by everyone we pass--every meter or so--if we're okay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regal Palms Resort

Rotorua

Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are really helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina Heritage Christchurch

Christchurch

Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are really helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Lake Tekapo

Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Queenstown

Queenstown

Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are really helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waiheke Explorer Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

New Zealand

The ferry to Waiheke was relaxing with pretty views. The hop-on hop-off tour was cute and allowed many opportunities to explore the island.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour (Ultimate)

Rotorua

Terrifying and fun all at once.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour - Glowworm Caves

Rotorua

Really beautiful nighttime adventure. The glowworms were cool, but just a small part of it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Rotorua

The mud baths were soothing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We didn't really interact with staff, it was mostly self-guided

Transport

I drove myself

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

We had a nice time and we enjoyed learning about the Maori culture. The entire experience felt a little exploitative to us. We were glad to support the Maori.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch - Scenic train to Arthur's Pass return (TranzAlpine) in Scenic Plus class cabin

Christchurch

Great! Luxurious. Really lovely attendants and absolutely delicious food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tekapo Springs - StarGazing

Lake Tekapo

Hard to rate the experience because it was cloudy, which is obviously not their fault. They provided a VR experience instead of stargazing, it wasn't very interesting to me.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I drove myself

Dart River Funyak Safari

New Zealand

Fun, but a little too long. The boats were fun and so was the rafting, but taking an extended lunch break wasn't necessary. Maybe it would have been more enjoyable if the weather was nicer, but it was raining and I think most people would have preferred to end the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doubtful Sound Day Cruise from Queenstown

New Zealand

Staff and guides were super communicative. We knew exactly what to expect and where to go and they provided a lot of information about NZ history and culture

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blenheim / Christchurch / Lake Tekapo / Queenstown Trip

We had an unforgettable trip from start to finish - we kicked things off in Picton, where we did a combo tour of the Marlborough wine region and seafood cruise in the Marlborough Sounds. Both expereinces saw a great balance of stunning views, calm waters (on the cruise), and nonstop photo opportunities.

Christchurch surprised us with its charm, walkability, and mix of historic and modern vibes. We did a self-guided walk of the town, including a stop at The Church Pub for food and drinks.. It made a great transition point before driving deeper into the South Islands natural beauty.

Lake Tekapo featured unreal turquoise water, open skies, and peaceful atmosphere. It may have been one of the most photogeneic places we visited on this leg of the trip.

Wanaka was a wonderful lake town, where it featured one of the most photographed trees in the world. I wish we could have spent another day here to experience the town more.

we wrapped up our trip in Queenstown, where you could easily spend a week there and not do everything. While there though we did get a chance to do a number of excursions, including a plane ride, horse-back ride, jet-boat ride, and river funyak excurions, where we were able to see the snow-capped mountain ranges known famously in many Hollywood blockbusters, including Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Misson Impossible!

Between the scenery, activities, and unforgettable moments captured, our NZ trip exceeded expectations, it is purely a magical country, and the itinerary provided by KimKim was the perfect way to experience it.

Overall, we had a great experience with the outings planned by our kimkim travel agent, Michelle. She gave some good insights that we would not have known about (like a marathon in Queenstown the original date we wanted to go). The accommodations were nice in Auckland and in Queenstown the views were amazing. We appreciate the help with planning out our trip.

Our trip to New Zealand was a great success and this is the most important, far more than some difficulties during preparation phase.

Good things first:
- Complete timing was good; we followed the schedule, attended all planned activities and we even added some additional ones.
- Hotels were all appropriate, the Lake Ohau Lodge was very different and somehow unique with their group dinner, but we enjoyed this one also
- All organized transportations were correct and timely
- Both rentacars were good and spacious; the roads on both islands are good without too much traffic, so I did not have problems driving on the left side
- Both organized walking tours were good, guides very professional and knowledgeable
- I like to specially mention Wine tour in Wellington, which was exceptional. We had great fun and we learned much more then just pure facts about wine and the region
- All included activities were good; our highlight activities were Tasman glacier cruise and Te Puia geysers in Rotorua.

In preparation phase we had to invest much more of our time as in any other of our previous Kimkim trips. Kathrin was always eager to help, but there were various reasons we had more problems than usual
- At very beginning we proposed to base our trip on one already prepared trip published on Kimkim but we ended up with fairly different final plan.
- This caused a lot of communication and modifications, and 12 hours’ time difference was the main reason that preparation took much longer than expected
- Some unfortunate mistakes happened during the preparation phase too, but as I said previously the important point is that we had very nice trip to New Zealand.

Best regards

Zvonko