Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

Our 12-day trip to the North Island was fantastic and exceeded our expectations! Our trip was originally scheduled for Nov 2020 and because of Covid we had to defer. Franck helped re-plan the itinerary for March 2024. Highlights included a New Zealand food story tasting menu at Ahi in Auckland, the Wai Ariki Spa at Rotorua, Mt. Takawera crater walk, Waiotapu geothermal area, Tongariro National Park and Kapiti Island. The trip was perfectly customized to our preferences and everything worked very smoothly.

Our trip to NZ and Australia was fantastic. We enjoyed everything. Sabina did a great job of listening you our requests and fulfilling them.
Outstanding features of the trip included our overnight cruise on the Southern Secret in Doubtful Sound. The tour by Australia Nature Tours was also outstanding. Kangaroo Island staying at the Sea Dragon lodge was the highlight of the trip for me.
Our only wish was that we had more time in each location to explore.
Highly recommend KimKim Co.

Our first road trip in many years was an amazing 18 day journey through the north and south Islands of New Zealand. Our trip planner, Asko, spent several months working with us to plan an excellent itinerary that hit all of the things we wanted to experience in this amazing country, while giving us the flexibility to modify the activities and sights based on how much we felt like doing each day. We saw fjords with glaciers and snow capped mountains, waterfalls, hot springs and we hiked in forests. We stopped in all kinds of small towns and big cities. At every location we were able to experience something new, and the hotels and food were the best available, and often 5 star quality. There is a wonderful spirit in this country and we were able to meet and interact with many locals and fellow travelers. Thanks to Asko we have great memories of a special country. Thanks!

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Queenstown

Queenstown

Every detail was of the highest international standard. A treasure!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fable Dunedin

Dunedin

An unusual hotel. Serious money was spent on quality materials and furnishings. However our room in the back. was very dark and difficult to get to because the elevator didn’t go there, so we had to carry our luggage up a flight of stairs. It looked as if two older buildings were combined to make the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms in back are dark and hard to get to.

Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Te Anau

This hotel was the only disappointment. While the room was relatively big and clean and everything worked, the pink plastic walls and yellow plastic everywhere showed that it was cheaply furnished long ago and in serious need of updating to the standards we found everywhere else. At best, a place to sleep right next door to the bus tour pickup point for the spectacular Milford Sound. On the plus side, the attached buffet restaurant had a top quality buffet breakfast and dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Redecorate and update the quality of the rooms.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything needs to be updated and redecorated.

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

AMAZING HOTEL IN AN AMAZING PLACE!!!!

Authenticity & Character

WOW

Location

WOW

Staff

WOW

Cleanliness & Comfort

WOW

Fable Auckland

Auckland

Great hotel in the middle of downtown action. Close to shopping and the ferries. Parking is not close.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The only downside was a lack of parking, and it was a bit hard to park in front. We later learned that valet parking was an option, although it was not offered by the staff when we pulled up in our car.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Wellington

Wellington

Another nice hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Lake Taupo

Taupo

High end classy hotel with heated pool, sauna steam room and nice restaraunt.

Hotel Montreal

Christchurch

Nice hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Powderhorn Chateau

Ohakune

Nice older hotel made of pine logs. Unique country feel. Friendly staff. Indoor heated pool. Attached restaurant looks like a fun party place during ski Eason.

Pullman Rotorua

Rotorua

Another great high end hotel near all the things you can walk to see.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Meet Yellow Eyed Penguins

Dunedin

Didn’t see any wild penguins, but the ones in the rehab facility were cute. Glad to support

The Te Pō Indigenous Experience

Rotorua

So glad to support the preservation of Māori culture. That said, the presentation had 2 parts, the first was an excellent explanation of the culture prior to contact with western culture. The musical portion however, seemed to be a mix of western music and Luau style entertainment, which I thought was designed to present what might entertain rather than educate. The buffet was good, and the geyser was a natural wonder.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Gourmet Food & Wine Tour

Auckland

The ferry ride was nice. We enjoyed visiting the wineries and chatting with the people who work there. The scenery was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Mostly snack size bites were not really lunch….

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing Milford Sound Day tour

Te Anau

WOW! A must see for anyone visiting the area.

Vickie put an enormously epic trip together for us with nary a flaw. From the first minute to the last everything was timed exactly right and the events and accommodations were perfect. She was available to us on a moment’s notice and always went the extra yard to provide yet another thoughtful gesture. You can hear the smile in her voice with every message. She showed us why NZ is a special country and she did magic to provide reasons (excuses) to return. She will go down in history with our memories of the holiday. Thank you!!

Harriet was completely on target with both her recommendations and her alerts. We enjoyed every destination enormously and only wish we had more time to have fully enjoyed some of them. Harriet pointed out that our itinerary was aggressive (by our request), and it was! We wouldn't have changed it. Overnight on the Milford Sound was the highlight of a trip full of highlights. TSS Earnslaw in Queenstown was an unexpected pleasure. The Glow Worm tour with Steven at Real Rotorua was a personal favorite--informative and intimate in size. Napier, the Blenheim wineries, Aoraki Mt. Hood, Te Anau, Christchurch, Queenstown, Franz Josef...none disappointed! Car rental in Auckland was difficult, time-consuming, inefficient, frustrating. We were warned of long lines at that rental location, but it was not a well-run branch. All of our accommodations were exceptional or very good. We recommend Harriet and KimKim 100%.

Hotel Reviews

The Dome

Napier

The stay at The Dome in Napier was exceptionally fantastic. The location, service, and overall experience were top-notch. This hotel exceeded expectations and left a lasting positive impression.

Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Te Anau

The stay at Distinction Luxmore Hotel in Te Anau was decent overall. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, but the hotel was huge, very busy and full of tourists.

Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Franz Josef Westland

The stay was comfortable and enjoyable. The accommodation was clean, but nothing particularly exceptional stood out during our one-night stay.

Activity Reviews

Hobbiton Tour

New Zealand

I had low expectations of this. I expected it to be kitschy and silly. Instead, the gardens were beautiful, the guide was entertaining, and I enjoyed far more than I thought I would.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Real Rotorua - Nocturnal Adventure Glow-Worm Tour

Rotorua

My personal trip highlight. I was looking forward to seeing Glow-Worms, but the experience far exceeded even my high expectations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was charming and knowledgable.

Transport

Explore Napier & Hawke's Bay

Napier

Accommodation was mind-blowingly good. Napier locale is beautiful, art deco town rivals Miami Beach, Bluff Hill is beautiful--it would have been easy to spend more time here.

Quality of Experience

Kaikoura

Kaikōura

Kaikoura was a pit-stop for us, but along the drive we saw a HUGE dolphin pod feeding. Dolphins were swirling, breaching--it was quite amazing.

Quality of Experience

Historic Tram Dinner

Christchurch

Good food and fun. Touristy in the very best way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise ex Milford

Milford Sound

THE TRIP HIGHLIGHT!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

The sheep shearing, working dog exhibition, buffet dinner, gardens, transport by steamship were all unexpected and excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise

Auckland

Crew was personable but the food was awful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Crew was friendly.

Transport

Under-whelming sail and views.

What an incredible New Zealand trip!! Liz actually listened carefully to my very particular interests, and crafted a trip that took it all in. My highlights: A custom private guided tour with Peter from Bush and Beach. Peter was especially chosen for me, as he is also a botanist and Arborist like myself. I had asked about going to the Coromandel Peninsula, so Liz hooked me up with John, the owner of Kiwi Dundee for a semi private tour emphasizing my study of Captain Cook. We got to visit a Māori Pa, (hill fortress) mentioned in Cook’s journals, as well as a great scenic overlook of Cook’s Bay. A trip to Sanctuary Mountain was good, but one of my best experiences was the overnight on Kapiti Island with its incredible bird life! A small group tour of Zealandia Preserve at night finally got me a wild Kiwi sighting. Oops, lol, I forgot to mention my private tour of a Kiwi hatchery which was awesome! Thank you Liz! Last but not least, was my private tour of the New Zealand Museum in Wellington, where my guide exceeded my expectations as she changed her standard tour to cater to my paleontology interests and Captain Cook exhibits there. All in all, a dream trip of a lifetime, well done!

Very Memorable Vacation

It was my first time using kimkim and I wasn't sure how it would work out -- I mean the concept is great --they have a system where you state what you want to do and hook you up with a local expert who designs a trip, then you give them a lot of money and (hope!) it works out.

you get a paper with your confirmation codes for the various things (car rentals, hotels, activities) but we never needed it. We just gave them our name and that was sufficient. The hotels he picked were really amazing (honestly, I would never have found most of those on my own and some of them were really amazing) and most of the activities (hikes, biking, kayaks, etc.) were really fun.

We did have to make a few 'game time changes' while we were in New Zealand in terms of some activities but It was easy to work with the tour groups to make those changes (we moved some times around while there and upgraded to e-bikes for one of the rides), folks in NZ are generally pretty chill....

My biggest advice is to really look at your itinerary and the distances and timing. In our case we sometimes had activities that were either sort of far from the hotel (1- 1.5 hours away) and sort of early (9:00AM start) which made for some really early mornings (again, we were able to move most of them around while there).

Liz was incredible! This was the first time we’ve worked with a travel agent and I think we will be using them for all big trips moving forward. Liz really listened to our needs and what we were hoping to see and do while in New Zealand. We had the most amazing trip, saw the best sites, and experienced as much as we possibly could. Liz helped make the trip go off without any issues. She even went above and beyond to help us out with transportation when our flight was delayed upon arrive. Liz also checked in with us a few times while we were in New Zealand to see if we needed anything! I hope we can work with Liz again because any other travel agent we work with will have some very big shoes to fill :)

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

We loved this hotel!! The breakfast was great, the staff was wonderful, and it was in the best location. We wished we could have put this hotel in our suitcase and brought it with us the entire trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across the street from the boardwalk and tons of restaurants and shops

Staff

They were all so kind and willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Port Levy, Banks Peninsula (Pohue)

Pohue

We loved this bnb type experience. It’s remote-ness made for the perfect middle stop on our trip to just spend time together and reconnect. Absolutely stunning views as well. We also ordered the breakfast and dinner package and that was the best decision!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novotel Rotorua Lakeside

Rotorua

This hotel was pretty old. I think we just had a bad room because they were hosting a large conference at the same time, so those attendees seemed to get the staffs attention and best rooms. The location was great, right by the lake and city center!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I think the room could have been cleaner. Part of that is due to an older hotel, but some of the sheets and towels had stains on them and the floor wasn’t clean either. When we got room service it took a long time to get it and then the tray in the hallway wasn’t picked up for more than 24 hours.

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

We were in the suites and it was a bit weird to open our door and have a random person in one door and then we were in the next. Didn’t love that, but would be great if you were with a group and got both rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice and close to everything

Staff

Friendly and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crowne Plaza Christchurch

Christchurch Central

Great location! It was a fancy place for us which was a treat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

The guides we had really made this experience. We have never done a hike like this, it was so unique, put us out of our comfort zone, and was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fantastic

Transport

Welcome to Pohue Pure Pod

New Zealand

This is what I was most looking forward to on our trip and it didn’t disappoint

Quality of Experience

Full Day Famous Routeburn Trail

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a tough hike, but we loved it! We hiked the entire day, which was about 12-13 miles. The views were incredible

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide walked so fast that our group was separated frequently. Made me feel like I couldn’t totally enjoy the experience because I had to keep up. Thankfully the trail is very well marked and easy to follow. He was very knowledgeable though so it was interesting to learn about the area, plants, etc.

Transport

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch

Auckland

Such a fun experience, even if you haven’t seen the lord of the rings movies (definitely helps to have seen the though)

Quality of Experience

Food

The buffet was so good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would like to thank Franck for helping us plan a magical trip to New Zealand! Going to NZ is like going back in time. The country is beautiful and so clean, the people genuinely friendly and the food and wine delicious. We absolutely loved the places where we stayed and overall the tours we took were great. We travelled from Auckland to Queenstown and in each place had wonderful experiences. Highlights included: wine touring on Waiheke Island, nighttime kayaking to see glowworms and exploring the Waimangu Volcanic Valley in Rotorua, boat tour to Apawapa blue pearl farm, whale watching in Kaikōura, staying in the remote and very private Scrubby Bay at Annadale, 2 different 4WD tours one with Micheal on “The Road to Mesopotamia and Christine on the Cass Valley Backcountry Tour, our fabulous stay at Azure in Queenstown and finally our private wine tour with Kate from BlackZNQ.
There were a couple of things that stopped me from giving this trip a 5 star. Franck, overall, did a wonderful job organizing the trip but we found his Travel Book somewhat confusing and sometimes lacking in detail. One situation in particular we ran into difficulty when flying from Rotoura to Blenheim. We did not have detailed flight information and when we showed up at airport we found our flight had been delayed and we were not on the flight we expected. If it wasn’t for the amazing Air New Zealand staff we would have lost a whole day of travel. As well, I was disappointed with our Marlborough wine tour. We were happy Franck had arranged a private guide but unfortunately the guide knew nothing about wine and the vineyards we visited for tastings gave little information about region or wines. I would recommend asking for an experienced guide with in-depth knowledge of wine and region and request to talk with the guide to plan the day. Luckily we had very knowledgeable guides for our other 2 wine tours but it still would have been helpful to discuss expectations before hand. We loved our trip to New Zealand and appreciated the service KimKim provides!

Hotel Reviews

Park Hyatt Auckland

1010

Location fantastic, rooms clean and beautiful with great amenities and breakfast fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel

Rotorua

The Black Swan was lovely, clean and comfortable. We enjoyed wine and cheese by the pool and the breakfast was good. We also enjoyed our dinner in the restaurant. We were disappointed the morning we had to leave early when we understood breakfast was served from 7 and no one was there. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would recommend this hotel.

The Marlborough Boutique Hotel and Vineyard

Marlborough

We loved this hotel! The property is spectacular and staying there feels like you have gone back in time. We loved our room, it was spacious, beautifully decorated and filled with extra goodies, the delicious breakfasts we had each morning and the creative canapés and cocktails we had each evening were memorable. The heated pool area was a favourite place to drink wine, swim and enjoy the summer weather at the end of our busy days. All the staff were friendly and helpful but want to give a special thank you to Chris for her outstanding service. We can’t wait to return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses

Kaikoura

It was a pleasure to stay in this unique hotel. Loved everything about it. Only wish our stay was longer

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Annandale

Pigeon Bay

Wow, this place is exceptional! From the personalized thrilling cliff hugging drive to the secluded private bay with Caroline leading the way, to the beautiful, fully stocked home with floor to ceiling windows across the front, to the gourmet meals provided daily by the chef, this place exceeded all our expectations. The food was abundant and delicious, the hot tub spa provided a fabulous place to star gaze and soak sore muscles after climbing the cliffs on both sides of the bay. We loved our stay at Scrubby Bay, Annadale and can’t wait to plan our next visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

We enjoyed staying at the Vicarage, Geraldine. We stayed here one night on route to Queenstown and found it clean and comfortable and located right in heart of Geraldine.

Azur Lodge

Queenstown

This place is amazing. The staff were so professional, friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the delicious breakfasts and canapés with cocktails and appreciated the shuttle to and from the Azure. Thanks for the great stay!

Authenticity & Character

The private villa had amazing views of the mountains, was beautifully decorated with natural woods and neutral luxurious fabrics and colours.

Location

This was a secluded enclave of a number of private villas outside of Queenstown.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Linda for the excellent restaurant recommendations!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lakestone Lodge

Lake Pukaki

The Lakestone Lodge is a great place to stay if wanting to explore Mount Cook but not stay in the village. The lodge had great service and the staff were friendly and helpful. The lodge is situated at one end of Lake Pukaki and looks up towards Mount Cook. We arrived late in afternoon on a gloomy day. Following a delicious dinner the weather had cleared so we climbed up the hill behind lodge. The panoramic view was spectacular but Mount Cook remained hidden. After sleeping in a clean, comfortable but smaller sized room with a private outdoor sitting area we awoke to a spectacular view of Mount Cook. It was a perfect sunny day without a cloud in the sky and this view was memorable. I will never forget the stunning blue of the lake and the distant snow peaked Mount Cook. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

The creative menu and variety of unique foods was memorable. We enjoyed meeting Christian one of the owners of restaurant and particularly appreciated when he realized one of our party was not eating much and brought her a lamb dinner which she loved! Thanks so much for the exciting journey through NZ foods.

Waiheke Wine tour exclusive

New Zealand

We loved the island, our guide and learning about the wine produced on this paradise!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

Such a memorable experience. Imagine paddling along in a tandem kayak with your husband on a star lit warm night. Then imagine gliding into small caves with glowing worms on the sides and ceiling. Magical!

National Hatchery

Rotorua

It was very educational to learn about the endangered kiwis and how NZ and volunteers are making a remarkable difference in their survival! Well done!

Whale Watch Kaikoura by boat

Kaikōura

The VIP Captain Cabin feature was well worth it! The spacious comfortable seating, the top level viewing deck and the friendly and knowledgeable staff made the experience of viewing the male sperm whales memorable!

Wow! New Zealand is BEAUTIFUL!

I am so glad we planned our honeymoon with Kimkim because I guarantee we would not have experienced as much as we did without it. Our itinerary was very well thought out by Carly, making sure that we did not drive too much on any particular day and getting to experience so many of New Zealand's beautiful towns. Each town had it's own unique attractions and the drives between them had stunning views!

Some of our favorite places/activities were the Mount Cook region, where you are surrounded by majestic mountains, and the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. Waking up in the Doubtful Sound with dolphins swimming next to the ship was truly magical! Getting to learn more about the Maori culture everywhere we went was another highlight that I will remember forever.

Thank you for everything!!

Ruth was extremely helpful, mindful of local activities and our limitations. We had the best time.

Our trip included a portion supported by KimKim and 9 days organized through a different cycling company that we have travelled with previously. Overall, our trip was very good/excellent. Planning the trip with Ruth, in advance of leaving Canada was a very positive experience. Ruth was knowledgeable, flexible and understanding, very pleasant, responsive and helpful.

We were not as impressed with Southern World after arrival in New Zealand. We did not receive the package from them in our hotel room until the second day, although that might have been a hotel issue. Otherwise, all of the logistics worked according to plan, with one exception. All of the tour guides were very good and punctual.

Up until the point we left Canada, our itinerary included a sunset walk in the National Park at 7:-00 pm which was a minimum 1.5 hour drive from Taupo where we were staying (this was our first experience driving in NZ and thus it likely took us a little longer even than the predicted 1.5 hours). We were asked to call the day before (during business hours) to confirm the time of the sunset walk the following day. Unfortunately, although we were scheduled to arrive back from the rain forest the prior day by 4:00 pm, we did not get back to our hotel (where we had internet service) until 5:30 pm, so could not call; we were in areas with no service during the entire window provided to us to call to confirm. We had not noticed that the time in the booklet for this sunset walk had changed to 5:45 pm. However, even if we had noticed it, we would not have been able to make it in time for this rescheduled walk (and it would not really have been a sunset walk either!) - we did not arrive in Taupo until 12:30 pm, had lunch and took the cruise on Taupo Lake from 130 to 3:00 pm. We then had to go and check in to our hotel. So the earliest we could have left Taupo for the National Park would have been around 3:30 pm or so.

Even if we had seen the change, we had to drive to the park and would not have arrived prior to 5:00 pm at the earliest, but needed to grab a quick bite to eat for dinner, so this change in time could not have possibly worked for us.

We did not find the communication with Southern World very sympathetic to say the least. When we called the office, the timing was not acknowledged as being tight and we never received any sort of apology. I am not sure what the cost of this sunset walk was - we arrived at 6:45 pm, waited til 7:00 pm and contacted the office to learn it had been changed. Needless to say, we did not have the experience of the sunset walk in the national park and our only choice was to get back into the car and drive 1.5 hours back to Taupo. This was most unfortunate. The last communication on this matter that we had from Southern World was that the time had not changed - it was always 5:45 pm, which is categorically not correct.

On our final day in Queenstown, there was a pick up from our hotel which was not really necessary as he dropped us off a half block from our hotel! We arrived back at the end of the day from Doubtful Sound about 15 min early; we looked around for a taxi, as we didn't want him looking for us; we could not find one, so we just walked back to our hotel, which was our preference anyway - but we just thought you should know. We hoped that he had not arrived later looking for us - we did stay around for about 5 min.

Our only suggestion is that ground/local operators communicate via imessage/what's app as a rule of thumb since these are internet-based communication mechanisms. We had eSIM cards while in New Zealand and could do calls and messaging through What's App, messages through imessage, or via email - however, we did not have access to phone which was their default method for communicating. 

So, overall - a great experience doing the planning with Ruth; a generally good experience with all logistics on the ground in New Zealand, with one exception - which did colour our perspective a bit in regard to Southern World - not because it happened, but more the tone of the communications about the issue with their staff.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Whirinaki Forest Walk with Lunch

Rotorua

Excellent guide; punctual pick up; very knowledgeable Note that they did not ask about allergies and i could not eat the lunch as a result

Quality of Experience

Food

Ask about allergies

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daily Scenic Cruise

Taupō

Enjoyable, pleasant staff; just the right amount of time; comfortable boat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Famous Routeburn Trail

Queenstown (NZ)

Excellent guide; did this in torrential rain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise (ex Queenstown)

Queenstown (NZ)

Beautiful scenery, guide on bus very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Should plan to make a stop on the two hour drive

Working with Monika was a pleasant experience. She did a phenomenal job helping us plan our trip. Once we arrived in New Zealand we had a few changes to our itinerary due to weather and Monika was quick to respond and help us with our updates. We would highly recommend working with Monika if you are looking to travel to New Zealand.

We ha an amazing trip to New Zealand, and Connie was wonderful in getting it organized. This was for our honeymoon, and she took care of finding us the best hotels and some excellent ground tours. There were even surprise cakes along the way which was a great touch. Plus the service and customization to exactly what we wanted was excellent. Would deflintely work with Connie again in the future. It was a great combination of being able to travel independently while not worrying so much about the planning, which can be so time consuming with all the options these days. Definitely A+++++!

Vickie was amazing! She was very helpful in planning a great honeymoon. She was able to provide us with advice on logistics of travelling in New Zealand along with great recommendations on activities. Our honeymoon went smoothly and had us arriving to New Zealand ready to just enjoy our trip knowing everything has been taken care of.

Loved most everything except the very long days of bus trips. It was a bit too much. The hotels were good and the tours were good. In retrospect I would have included some down time but we enjoyed seeing the country. Thanks Ruth for all the time you out into making our trip and adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Adina CityLife Wellington

Wellington

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT

Queenstown

Nice hotel but we had the back side view of a side of a mountain and a construction site. So ask for the view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Suites

Motel so get your bags to your room yourself. But very nice room. Probably the best in the town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

O

Location

Pullman Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Older hotel needs some updating but nice. There are better choices in the area. The german restaurant in the hotel however is terrible. They need to rethink that space. Both our dinners were disgusting but my husband ate his anyway.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boutique Wine Tour - Half Day

Queenstown (NZ)

Fun day drinking wine and talking to people from all around the world. Iy was a lovely day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable and super friendly

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Van/Cruise/ Van (Shared small group tour)

Queenstown (NZ)

The tour was great and our first for our trip. Our guide was amazing he knows so much about the area and vegetation. Very nice too. The bus ride however was too long. With the bus and the boat it was 12 hours. Long day!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Fun!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Crater Experience (Cowan's Observatory)

New Zealand

Amazing star gazing. Our guide was a super enthusiastic astronomer. We are not but it was interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grand Traverse Scenic Flight

New Zealand

I was scared my husband thought it was great. We had a very windy day and they needed to use a different plane for the flight. But at 3000 feet it was much better. Amazing views! I couldnt wait to be on the ground.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared Transfer Tekapo to Christchurch

Lake Tekapo

Innercity bus. Crowded and we were last on so we couldnt sit together. 4 hours of crowded uncomfortable bus. 2 thumbs down from us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Akaroa & Harbour Cruise

Christchurch

We loved this day. The ride wasnt terrible and the boat was nice. Our driver was great. The guy that owned and drove the boat was also the builder of thr boat which is amazing. We didnt see many Dolphins, we also saw tiny penguins and seals. Nice day. Great little town. Lunch was delicious too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coastal Pacific Train - Christchurch to Picton

Christchurch

Nice and comfy ride. Theres food on board. Great scenery including a huge pod of Dolphins feeding in the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interislander Ferry - Picton to Wellington

New Zealand

Nice ride. But be quick to get your spot. We bought an upgrade to an area and didnt end up sitting there because we thought we were in the right spot. It was fine we had nice seats in the front of the ship.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zealandia Twilight Tour - Private tour

Wellington

We are not usually bird watchers but this place is amazing. Theyre trying to restore this habitat back to pre settlers and succeeding. We saw 3 Kiwi which are extremely endangered and a bunch of other endangered birds and a few reptiles. Way better then expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Te Po Combo - 90 Minute Guided Tour & Evening Experience

Rotorua

Fun cultural event to learn about the people, have dinner and to see Geysers

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Left without us but they had another vehicle get us back to the hotel

Full Day Rotorua to Auckland Hobbiton and Waitomo Tour

Rotorua

Fun day at Hobbiton. Fan or not will enjoy the day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great! Very animated and fun.

Transport

Morning Eco Thermal Park Tour - Waiotapu & Waimangu

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Best of Both World: Bush and Beach - Full day

Auckland

The guides are great. The morning was a city tour and the afternoon volcanos, rain forest and the black sand beach (hot sand but beautiful). We've done a lot of this already so it was a repeat. But nice if your first time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

America's Cup Sailing Experience

Auckland

Super nice. Took the ride on a real Americas Cup Racing boat. Helped the crew raise and lower the sails. It was a great way to end our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a 2-week trip to New Zealand planned especially for us by kimkim. NZ is big and spread out- very overwhelming for first-timers to plan where, when and how. Kimkim knew all the best things to do based on our interests and we stayed in great hotels, saw amazing things and had fabulous adventures. We saw and did things we might have overlooked if we’d been on our own- and we loved it all! I never knew I’d get so excited gazing at a newly hatched kiwi chick- but it was thrilling to see a bird that is slowly being brought back from near extinction. Have you ever held a chunk of an iceberg? Taken a trip on a coal-fired tramp steamer? Gasped at the beauty of unspoiled mountains and mirror clear lakes? Swung on the world’s largest swing (70m drop, 300m swing)? Slathered yourself with silky smooth volcanic mud? We did all that and more.
Checklist for my next vacay:
Passport ✔️ Visa✔️ Contact kimkim✔️

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ibis Rotorua

Not my favorite, old & dated. There is a Novotel next door that looked much nicer. Great location though, 5 minute walk to bars & restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Historic hotel. My room had a breathtaking view of Mt. Cook. Staff is great- the chef was circulating the buffet & showed me how to eat a green-lipped mussel & explained the bigger mussels are female & sweeter, smaller ones are male & not as sweet (I couldn't tell a difference in taste).

The White Morph - Heritage Collection

Kaikoura

Darling beachy hotel.

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

One of, if not the, most fabulous hotels I've ever stayed in! Absolutely beautiful. The bath & body products in the room are soooo nice I bought some to take home. I took pix of the shower so I can remodel mine like theirs- I loved the rough hewn herringbone tile, the shelf instead of a niche, and the horizontal drain, just in case you're curious what I found so special in a hotel shower! I hated to leave. I'll def stay here the next time I'm in Auckland.

Activity Reviews

Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise

Auckland

It was by sailboat not motorboat, which was extra special. The commentary was really interesting- we sailed right by the entire New Zealand navy, 8 boats, one with a gun! The crew was great. Meal was a bit strange, served in bowls, but the guys were so enthusiastic it was a fun excursion.

Te Pō - Indigenous Evening Experience

Rotorua

The Māori are a proud people, eager to share their heritage with outsiders. I was afraid the show would be touristy and cheesy, but it definitely was not!

Hells Gate - Hell's Gate Experience (Geothermal Walk, Mud Bath, Sulphur Spas)

Rotorua

Don't miss a dip in the mud baths. The mud is luxuriously silky smooth. Listen to their instructions- they said don't wear jewelry for 48 hrs afterward, it will tarnish. I scoffed. I was wrong- see photo of the sterling silver earrings I put on that evening! They polished up nicely once I got home, however.

Swim with the Dolphins Tour

Kaikōura

Where else can you swim with hundreds of dolphins in the OPEN OCEAN??

Shotover River Canyon Jet Boat Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Don't miss this! It would NEVER be allowed in the USA. A very hairaising ride- at times I thought we'd for sure crash into the canyon walls or flip on rocks in the river but the boat driver was very good.

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Interesting coal-fired tramp steamer ride. Best buffet of the trip! Sheep shearing with Quinn and his dog Mist was fun.

Milford Sound Full-Day Adventure

Queenstown (NZ)

Unfortunately we had to drive back instead of fly back because of weather. Our flight was promptly refunded. I'm sure it's spectacular from the air...

National Kiwi Hatchery Tour

Rotorua

I'm not into birds at all but the hatchery was very interesting, it was thrilling to see newly hatched kiwi chicks and learn how this unique bird is being brought back from near extinction.

Redwoods - Nightlights

Rotorua

It was tons of fun walking across narrow suspension bridges high in the treetops in the dark by the glow of beautiful lanterns.

Visit the Te Papa Museum

Wellington

Fabulous museum! Don't miss the preserved giant squid. The Gallipoli exhibit (think of it as New Zealand's Dunkirk) is absolutely incredible.

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Pretty amazing! One of the few places in the world where a glacier feeds into a lake - and the lake is accessible!

AJ Hackett Nevis Swing

Queenstown (NZ)

Loved it! Not as scary as bungee jumping with a rope.

Kim Kim put a wonderful jam packed vacation together for us in New Zealand. We wanted to do so much in our 14 days time in the county we they were able to fit in all our requests and more. Questions and concerns were always handled quickly. With so much to do and see I would have never been able to put our itInerary together. Way to many logistics and moving parts. I love how the vacation was tailored to us. We had about 17 different activities in our 14 days and all of our reservation, transportation and accommodation went as planned. Only a few things canceled but that was due to weather and we got a full refund. Every guide we had was welcoming and professional. Big shout out to Shaun at Altitude for our trip to Milford Sound and Iveta with Cheeky Kiwi. What a wonder beautiful county New Zealand it. This was a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks to Sabin and Laurel.

First of all and most importantly, we had an amazing trip! Some highlights for us included: epics hikes in Tongariro, Mt Cook, Queenstown, and Wanaka; kayaking in the Milford Sound; ziplining in Rotorua; and wine tasting in the Gibbston Valley. The incredible scenery, unique flora and fauna, great accessibility to all the sights, and the friendly people combined to make New Zealand one of our favorite trips.

On the kimkim side for booking and planning the trip, we had a pretty easy, good experience overall, with just a couple points of feedback that we think could have made things better. One is that when we made changes to our itinerary and Uma sent us a new itinerary for review, it was not easily clear to us what all the differences were from the previous itinerary. Some activities had been removed, others added, and some changed from included to optional. Over a 19 day trip, this was difficult to keep track of, and we were surprised by a couple things after final approval that were actually different than we thought because we didn't realize they had changed from a previous itinerary. The second point is that it was not clear to us which activities cost money and how much they cost. We also had no idea how much accommodations cost. We weren't working with a strict budget, but there were certainly some things we would have not included or done differently if we had known more about the cost. We're aware that kimkim can't provide an itemized invoice, but we think something like a $-$$$$ ranking similar to Trip Advisor would be very helpful.

Our local specialist Uma was very responsive, helpful, and friendly throughout. I think we definitely had a positive experience there. There were a couple times that we weren't quite on the same page when forming the itinerary or adjusting an activity, and I think we were maybe expecting to discuss options or get her opinion on something before deciding how to proceed, while Uma took our question as more of a direct request and went ahead and made changes. But that didn't detract from our trip, and we really appreciated Uma's great responsiveness.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

The room was a bit old and let a lot of light in. The breakfast was only ok. The staff was a little bit difficult when we tried to verify the boxed breakfast that our travel agent had arranged for an early morning departure. We did enjoy the thermal baths on site.

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a feeling of character and old British charm.

Location

Just a couple blocks from the main street. It's a small town so everything is close.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and bed were a bit old and not the most comfortable. They were fine, though.

Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Christchurch

Great location, clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Just a generic large hotel

Location

In the center of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Auckland

Auckland

Clean and comfortable. Location is great. Staff was helpful - lending us an umbrella for the day when it was pouring rain. We didn't eat there, so can't comment on the restaurant/bar.

Authenticity & Character

It is kind of a generic big hotel, so nothing really stands out.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

The room had a great view, but was small. The buffet for dinner and breakfast was mediocre for the price. The staff were very helpful when we were trying to reschedule our start gazing tour. Overall, we would have preferred to stay in the motel for less money.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Best location for the Mt Cook area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Great view, good location, very comfortable. The breakfast is subpar, so we recommend just going to town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

A fairly generic hotel with a medium quality breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good enough for Te Anau

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oakridge Resort

Wanaka

Comfortable room, good amenities on site, though it's a bit out of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's a bit out of town, so you have to drive to go anywhere

Staff

Very helpful in arranging a boxed breakfast and helping with our laundry

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

Comfortable, good location. Pretty generic hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

It's not worth the cost and queueing. But once you do get up there the view is nice.

Quality of Experience

Queues are too long

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waiheke Island Vineyard Explorer

Auckland

It's a pretty good value and very easy logistically. One downside is that the bus can get full, in which case you have to wait for the next one, and the timing of the buses is pretty unpredictable. There was also a range of experiences at the wineries, from personable and attentive at Batch to corporate and efficient at Stonyridge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour Ultimate Experience

Rotorua

A great experience all around. The guides were super fun and engaging throughout. We really appreciated the conservation efforts that the tour was supporting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glow Worm Kayaking in Rotorua

Rotorua

The guides were very nice and paddling around at night into little caves with the glowworms was pretty cool. Ultimately, we were hoping for a bit more in terms of size of caves or length of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did have to drive ourselves due to a staff shortage, but that worked out fine.

Te Pō Indigenous Experience

Rotorua

The buffet dinner was great and overlooked the geyser, which put on an impressive display. The cultural show was a lot of fun as well. Ending up with hot chocolate and a close up view of the geyser was really nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Sky Stargazing

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Unfortunately the tour was cancelled both days we were at Mt Cook. They did offer a planetarium show instead, which was a nice consolation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Queenstown (NZ)

The steam ship was very cool. We couldn't believe it's been operating the same way since 1912! The buffet dinner was out of this world good, especially the meats and desserts. And the farm show was thoroughly entertains, especially the sheep dog.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy a Gondola Ride for Stunning Views of Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The luge track is really fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen Hot Pools - The Outdoor Onsen

Queenstown (NZ)

This was pure luxury for us. A private hot tub overlooking a beautiful river valley with drinks and snacks included - it's an ideal way to end a day. Of course it's not an actual onsen, but we knew that going in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kayaking in Franz Josef

Franz Josef Glacier

This was a lovely and pleasant kayak trip on a rainy morning. Luckily it rained much less on the lake than at Franz Josef. It was nice to hear a lot from our guide about the local wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spectacular Tranz Alpine Scenic Train Journey

New Zealand

It's a great way to get across the country while soaking in the views. The audio guide was a nice touch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cruising & Kayaking in Milford Sound

New Zealand

This was definitely one of our favorite activities. The scenery during the cruise was truly incredible. Then the underwater observatory was also really cool. We even got to see an octopus, which is pretty rare. Finally the kayaking was a perfect way to move around while spending more time in the Sound, paddling around surrounded by these massive cliffs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was fantastically planned by Connie. Connie was amazingly fast to respond and had answers to every little question that my wife and I had.

The events that had been planned were a blast and we got as much in as we could. The only thing I wish was that I had planned to be there for more time.

If you need help organizing a trip, Connie was absolutely amazing. I'm sure we'll be using Kimkim again and will reach out to Connie in the future!