Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

New Zealand 2025

Liz did an amazing job of planning our trip to New Zealand.

She worked through all our wants and budgets quickly and was patient with us regarding changes (including some at the very last moment).

Our trip included three cities: Auckland, Tutukaka, and Rotarua. We had drivers for a group of 10 as well. Everything went smoothly and at no time were we in the dark of what to expect or had to wait on anything.

The hotels we stayed in were perfectly suited for our needs and were within walking distance of sights, activities, and restaurants.

Kelly was our driver for our rainforest hike and for our trip to Hobbiton and Rotorua. He was an amazing source of information about the places we were going to and answered all our questions.

Our other driver (to and from Tutukaka) was just as amazing. He chatted and joked with us on the long drive and made it a pleasant experience by stopping for a few breaks Ave suggesting the best place to grab a few pies for a snack.

We went on a snorkel trip while in Tutukaka; the weather was too rough so it was moved to another day. Rescheduling was easy and the travel company reached out and took care of everything for us. The trip was awesome once we were able to go.

We also kayaked at night to see the glow worms. The guide, Sam, was fantastic. One of us had never kayaked before and he was super patient and helpful.

Our last activity was a hike on Mount Tarawera. This was much more than expected from a physical sense. The 3 mile hike took a few hours and had us up a d down and even into the crater. While we would all recommend this, it is not an easy climb. Children and those not used to physical activity should choose something else. Our guides were fantastic and helpful throughout the entire experience.

We also visited Hobbiton, a few beaches, the aquarium, and explored local places off the beaten path. Liz made sure to build in some downtime for us to relax and find our own adventures.

We will be using KimKim again to plan our next vacation!

Overall we had a good trip but a number of glitches from Kim Kim’s side made it more difficult. For instance, our rental car was in Auckland city center rather than the airport. When we called Monika to complain instead of owning it, she blamed others. We also worked hard to get SIM cards for our phones. Ultimately we were unable to get them. Not sure why. Also Monika seemed unsure of basic questions like are hiking poles available for rent at the Tongriro Crossing. In Monika’s defense she found the answer to those questions quickly and got back to us. Ultimately, we were expecting more.

Hotel Reviews

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

One room you could not fully open the bathroom door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Park Hotel Ruapehu

National Park Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Lunch was not ready when it should have been.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

Lovely, quaint good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tongariro Alpine Crossing - self guided - parking & shuttle to the start point

New Zealand

Challenging hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our shuttle driver was great.

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Rotorua

Guide was over the top. We paid for a pass for mud baths which we said we did not want.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nocturnal Adventure Glow-worm Tour

Rotorua

The guide was great and the home amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved NZ - we had three targets for our trip; scenery, Māori culture and wine. Liz did a wonderful job balancing a lot of different options for us. We started thinking of a long Aus-NZ trip and she worked with us to trim it to a realistic timeframe. We only had a couple of true guided tours - in Rotorua the Kahukiwi afternoon with Patrick was eye-opening about current Māori life, visiting his tribe’s marae and taking time to understand the great significance of the marae to the culture. And then Paul with Appellation Wine Tours gave a great tour of Central Otago wineries. Lastly, Liz suggested Doubtful Sound for our Fiordland tour, instead of the much more heavily touristed Milford Sound. We did the overnight tour with kayaking and swimming in the Sound. We also managed to see albatross and fur seals. So, overall, great time!

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Auckland Airport

Auckland

Convenient, clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Can I give this six stars? Location is just OK, needed shuttle or car to get to town, but the view over Lake Wakatipu was gorgeous. Restaurant is extremely small, breakfast was hit-and-miss to get a table. Staff were wonderful, room was incredibly comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

Great location on Lake Te Anau. Comfortable large room (we were in the villas), good amenities. Very close to the Main Street (restaurants and shopping), wonderful view out onto the lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Wellington

Wellington

Comfortable hotel. Was a bit swamped with tour groups. No on-site parking, valet only (@NZ$45/ night). Short walk to the waterfront and cable car.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Park Hotel Ruapehu

National Park Village

Not much choice for this location. Room was small, bathroom was smaller! Dinner was wonderful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Close to the lake (with the accompanying sulfur smell), a little bit of a long walk to town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M Social

Auckland

Very convenient, friendly staff, great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to ferries and CBD

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boutique Wine Tour - Half Day

Queenstown (NZ)

Good small group. Paul (guide) was a wealth of knowledge about the wine business in NZ. Good selection of wineries. Would have liked to see more of the wine making process.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigator Overnight Cruise Return ex Manapouri -2Day/1Night - Private Cabin

New Zealand

We were extremely lucky with the weather, calm waters even out into the Tasman Sea. Opportunity for kayaking and swimming. Managed to see the fur seals, wrong time of year for penguins, and no sign of dolphins.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau Glowworm Caves - ex Te Anau

New Zealand

Unique glow worm life

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introducing Te Papa Tour and Museum visit

Wellington

Good overview of the Museum, allowed for long follow-up once the tour was over.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Kahukiwi Experience

Rotorua

An in-depth look at current Māori life and culture. Patrick was our guide to his family/tribe, including a visit to his marae. Sometimes was a bit tough to hear about the darker side of Māori history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TE Puia: Te Ra Guided Experience 90 minutes) + Cultural Performance

New Zealand

Good mix of Māori culture and history.

Quality of Experience

This was a last minute trip during the end of the high season. Monika was great in collaborating on the type of trip we wanted, responsive to changes and available whenever we needed something. She made it happen despite the time crunch! The quality of the tours was excellent - smaller groups, professional and well informed. Great overall experience!

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Queenstown

Queenstown

It was fine a bit of a walk to town, not a lot of character, regular sized hotel room.

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

Nice but a little dated.

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka

Wanaka

Lake Tekapo Holiday Homes

Lake Tekapo

Great - a little far to walk to town.

Activity Reviews

Dart River Funyak Safari

New Zealand

I would have given this 5 stars, one of the best days of the trip, loved the scenery and the rafting. However while the guides were really good, the Jetboat operator was driving dangerously close to large objects (rock walls, bridge stantions, etc.) that if we had hit one people could have been badly hurt or killed. I have been operating power boats for a long time and was shocked that he was putting our lives in danger for a few "thrills." Not okay. He also got my daughter very wet on a very cold and windy day without warning. Not great. The picnic was A+.

Onsen Hot Pools

Queenstown (NZ)

Nice if you want to soak in a hottub outside of town, nice view, but not something I would do again.

Bike the wineries

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a lot of fun. Outfitter great. Recommend doing most of the biking first!

White Rafting Kawarau River

Queenstown (NZ)

Water was to low so this was cancelled.

Walk the famous Milford track and cruise on Milford Sound

New Zealand

Guide was great, it's a long day. Recommend if you can not driving a long way to your next destination. We booked this late so had to drive to Queenstown at the end of the day, due to no availability in town (Te Anau).

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Te Anau

Very interesting. There was a child crying which wasn't great, not sure why they allow young kids. Guide very knowledgable.

Mou Waho Island self guided

New Zealand

Very nice mini-trip and hike.

Mt Cook half day Heli Hike

New Zealand

Hike and tour itself and guide were great, however we waiting over 2 hours until our flight was ready, which we were not expecting.

The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo

Lake Tekapo

I'm a big supporter of dark sky initiatives, unfortunately due to the 1:30am booking we were booked on the previous (incorrect) night and had some issues rebooking it, although with Monika's help we ultimately did. Very late time, so not sure I would do it again unless an earlier time was available; made it harder to enjoy and tired the next day. Alternative is to find a dark sky in the area yourself.

We loved our vacation in New Zealand and hope we have the chance to come back for more adventures!

Some highlights:
-Afternoon Wilderness tour: great guides, good pace, informative
-Hobbiton: on time early morning pick up, tour was lovely - wish it could have been longer; lunch was very worthwhile. Hobbiton was a magical place to visit, truly special. The transfer to transport service was smooth (though our luggage sat in van trunks and got a bit warm, so good thing we carried around any heat-sensitive items)
-Te Ra Guided Experience at Te Puia Rotorua: we learned a lot on this tour despite the misty rain - the bubbling mud pools were neat to observe and so cool to see our first kiwi birds of the trip; very easy to get to via Uber from our hotel
-Zealandia: AMAZING! We probably heard bird song (and cicadas haha) more than we saw creatures, but we did see numerous Kakas, Tuataras, a North Island Robin, several Shags, and THREE Little Spotted Kiwis. Will and Judy, our guides, were lovely.
-Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: of course you have to use your imagination and visualize how the film crew turned locations into movie sets, but it was neat to see several of the sites. No pictures allowed on most of the tour, though it was neat to see various artists at work. And of course funny photos with Bilbo's trolls outside were fun. No 'Rivendell Ripple' at the end of the tour so that still remains a mystery...
-Gondola: really cool ride up the mountain; easy to find ticket pick up location; views were spectacular; we are glad we didn't book the buffet lunch at the restaurant at the top as we had a lovely lunch at Bespoke Kitchen at the base of the gondola
-Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion: really cute and fun tour; loved seeing all the farm animals and even though the interaction was brief, we enjoyed feeding and petting the sheep, cows and goats. High tea was delicious! We would revisit many places, but we would love to do the horseback riding tour and high tea at the farm.

Some things we wish we knew in advance:
- Early check-in at the QT Auckland hotel was $150 NDZ. We got an extra bonus hour in NZ as our flight landed over an hour early, so we're grateful for our airport pickup (Warren - he was very welcoming and knowledgeable!) monitored our flight and was able to pick us up and we were able to check into our hotel early, so it all worked out.
-The afternoon wilderness tour included a stop for lunch! We didn't know that in advance, so we spent time in the morning finding a place to pick up a sandwich and be at our pick up location on time. Had we known there was a lunch stop where we could purchase lunch, we would have spent time in the morning doing something else.
-On the way to Hobbiton from Auckland, the transport included a stop for breakfast about 1 hour into the journey. Had we known we could purchase breakfast along the way, we wouldn't have had to coordinate a to-go breakfast with the hotel and ask for our early departure to be accommodated (hotel breakfast started at 6:30am, but our pick up was scheduled 6:30-6:45am). The breakfast stop had two different cafe/restaurant options that had a lot to offer - breakfast sandwiches, pastries, coffee, tea, etc.
-New Zealand domestic flights have next to no security (especially in the tiny Rotorua airport)! HUGE difference from the US. We did get the last sandwich at the tiny Rotorua airport cafe, which was lucky... will be good once the full cafe is available there. At Wellington airport, we are glad we got a bite to eat before going to our gate because there is only one tiny cafe option once you go through security and there's a whole large food court and set of souvenir shops BEFORE security.

Some things we would change:
-The ferry to Waiheke Island was nice, but we would have skipped the hop on/hop off bus as they weren't really able to keep to the drop off/pick up schedule, making pickups unpredictable and long waits thus less time for exploring. We would have rathered figuring out the public bus that runs seemingly more smoothly and regularly. We also needed a map that showed restaurants & shops, not just vineyards - such a highlights map didn't seem to exist and google maps wasn't as helpful as it usually is in other locations.
-Outside of really anyone's control but hotel management's: the lighting in all the hotels were pretty poor, to varying degrees; plus the light switches were overly complicated (too many combinations and permutations to try to figure out how to turn a few on or the bathroom lights on and not the entire room! never have had such complicated lighting at a hotel. Other travelers on tours we were on mentioned the same thing at their hotels so the issue seems pretty common.).
-In Auckland, we should have not included breakfast at the hotel. It was OK but we would have enjoyed going to local cafes instead as the hotel breakfast menu and continental breakfast didn't offer much that we enjoyed.

Hotel Reviews

Crowne Plaza Queenstown

Queenstown

Nice, clean, quiet hotel. If you are on the top floor (7th) be prepared for stairs - the elevator only goes to the 6th floor - not an issue for us but for some guests it might be. Definitely in the top 2 for breakfasts of the 4 hotels we stayed at. The location was very convenient for all of the activities we did!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

Great location on Cuba St. Having front and back entrances led to some confusion for pick ups for drivers but in the end it worked out. Interesting interior design... some quite dizzying (especially elevator and carpeting). Decent breakfast offerings. Very nice morning staff. The lighting in the room wasn't very good, and too many on/off switches. The bathroom was squeezed into a very tiny room (shower, sink & toilet all in behind a door) and there was no shower curtain so water escaped easily and only one person at a time could access the bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pullman Rotorua

Rotorua

Lighting in room was OK in comparison to other hotels. Bathroom set up was one of the best. Clean and quiet hotel and our room view was decent too. Overall the breakfast offered had a good variety (very long line at the coffee machine though!).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Auckland

Auckland

Nice, clean, good location. Room lighting was horrible. We would have skipped the breakfast inclusion.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

This was more fun than we expected. It was amazing to see the views. It will be even better once they finish construction on the larger observation deck.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion

Queenstown (NZ)

We LOVED this! The tour was fun and the high tea was so good. We'd definitely consider coming back for the horseback riding or the eco tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Lord of The Rings Tour

Wellington

This was a fun tour. Neat to see where some of the movie scenes were shot. The tour of the Weta Cave was neat too though couldn't take pictures during most of it. Enjoyed learning about the artists and seeing their work in action.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zealandia Twilight Tour - Private tour

Wellington

One of the biggest highlights of our trip!! We saw a variety of species (and heard even more) and were very lucky that we got to see THREE kiwi just waking up and starting their night. Truly incredible conservation work being done at Zealandia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guides were fantastic. Thanks, Will and Judy!

Transport

We had a lovely conversation with our driver, Sarah, both ways. She was friendly and understanding that our tour went a bit over than planned. We appreciate her time and flexibility.

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

Great cultural experience. We happened to be there when there was a competition going on so the usual performers were away and the performers we saw were younger (late teenage years / early 20s). We wouldn't have known if the hostess hadn't revealed that info as they were phenomenal!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TE Puia: Te Ra (Day Pass) Guided tour (90 minutes)

Rotorua

This was a nice tour though it was raining the day we were there. I'm sure it would be incredible if we had better weather but nonetheless we made the best of it and really enjoyed learning from our guides. We saw the geyser on the livestream just before the tour started - it ended up too steamy to see anything once we were out there! It was very cool to see the bubbling mud as well as the kiwi birds at their kiwi conservation station.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch

Auckland

Just as magical as I imagined! We had beautiful weather to enjoy Hobbiton. The tour does start with a tour bus ride with a little bit of a cheesy video but it's such a small part of the tour. Amazing how they've set it all up again and are preserving the hobbit holes. Loved every minute and didn't want to leave! The lunch was very satisfying.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Wilderness Experience

Auckland

This was a great afternoon activity. Friendly, informative guides. At the end at the beach, the guides set up a table with some treats (cookies, juice, tea, manuka honey).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our car rental experience in Auckland was not memorable. The car reserved for us was a Subaru Outback, not an SUV, and it was not clear that the hotel parking charges were not included. The itinerary was long and winding, repetitive, and confusing. A simple daily summary with details about other attractions in the appendix would have served better. The font size was too small. Most accommodations were reasonable except Rotarua. Overall, it was a good trip.

Hotel Reviews

The Mayfair

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Dunedin Hotel

Dunedin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Kamana Lakehouse

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

front desk needs training in politeness

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Lake Tekapo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

small rooms. Parking is additional. Good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

avoid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Yellow-eyed penguins

Dunedin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Larnach Castle Tour - unguided

Dunedin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Flight - Mt Cook Franz and Fox Magic - by heli from Tekapo

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch Tramway Tour

Christchurch

advance tram map would have been helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had spent a few years researching New Zealand and had gathered a lot of information. Early last year I began gleaning through it all in an effort to create an itinerary that included hikes/fishing/golf, sites we'd enjoy, and cultural experiences that would fit into about 3 weeks. Suffice it to say I got over-whelmed and it all got into a log-jam. I'd gone to Kimkim for help with an Iceland and Faroe Islands trip, so I reached out to them again. This was exactly what I needed to fix the jam-up! Our primary rep was Paula. She reviewed all I'd come up with, and then worked along side me to pull together what worked best to accomplish our trip. When all was finalized, we were sent a complete trip folder, and were advised of our New Zealand in-country contact. Everything we needed was there - very reassuring. The trip went well, and when we had a specific question about one of the rental cars, our in-country person was very helpful. Very pleased with the service Kimkim provided, once again. Greatly appreciated Paula!

Activity Review

Half Day Kahukiwi Experience

Rotorua

Spent half a day with the son of one of the Maori tribes chief. He shared many aspects of his culture, including historical information as well as current information. This included taking us to one of his tribe's Wharenui and then teaching us what this for. We had many questions, and he took time to answer each. Near the end of our time together, he made a "tea time" for us at a small tea house he had built on his family's land - it was on top of a hill, and the view was beautiful. When I explained to Paula what type of cultural experience we wanted, she suggested this, and it was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fabulous 2 week trip to New Zealand! Monika was so easy to work with as we planned the perfect vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Castaway Resort Karioitahi Beach Auckland

Waiuku

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anchorage Resort

Taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art Deco Masonic Hotel

Napier

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Grange Boutique B & B and Motel

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Godley Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olivers Lodge

Clyde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

dont use

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bike the wineries

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika,

We cannot thank you enough for the attention to detail and expertise of your trip planning. It payed off and we were treated with the trip of a lifetime. I can't think of a single complaint.

NZ is a fabulous place! Your itinerary was well balanced with plenty of activity, but with plenty of time to catch our breath and take it all in.
The accommodations were OUT OF THIS WORLD! the QT hotel in Queenstown blew us away both in quality of the rooms/views, but most of all... it had the best breakfast buffet we have ever experienced. It was a buffet fit for royalty with a window looking out on a majestic vista. The RIMU lodge and the Maruia river retreat both offered some of the best hospitality we have ever experienced. The drive to the Korimako Purepod alone was an unforgettable experience, and the stay was the relaxing pause we needed. We got the authentic NZ experience of waiting for a flock of sheep to cross a dirt road.

the activities were also all A+
The jetboat trip up the Dart river was AWESOME, would highly recommend.
The water-taxi/hike was beautiful and swimming in Tasman Bay was stunning.
The weather canceled our plans to Milford Sound so we will just have to plan another trip with you!

We cant thank you enough
Best regards,
Tim & Kerstin

Wow! What an amazing time we had in New Zealand! It was even better than we expected. From the jaw dropping scenery on the south island to the cultural and exciting experiences in the North Island, we feel like we got to experience the best of what New Zealand had to offer thanks to Michelle!

She worked with us to plan a trip perfectly suited to our families interests and abilities and suggested a few things we would never have done on our own but we enjoyed so much like biking through the wineries in Queenstown. Stunning scenery and a great ride.

This review would be very long if I listed everything we loved because we honestly loved everything, but our top three not to miss would be: the overnight cruise in Fiordland, the Shotover Jetboats on the Shotover River and Waiheke Island in Auckland (make sure you stay overnight).

Hobbiton was super cool too even if you're not a big fan (1/2 of us were). Also zip lining, helicopter tours, lakeside retreats, a sky full of stars, lugeing in Queenstown, hiking, kayaking at night to the glowworm caves, we just had so much fun. I don't know where to stop. Even just the driving! Our jaws dropped around every corner we turned as we discovered a new incredible vista.

Michelle was also amazing at making changes for us or adding things in as we went along. Everything went seamlessly from flights to rental cars.

I can't recommend all our tour guides or Michelle highly enough! Book your NZ trip through her and you won't be disappointed. And I plan to use Kimkim for any other trips like this in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Hana Lodge

Rotorua

The two rooms that we had here were very beautiful. It's located in an older home so I'm assuming every room is a little bit different but each of ours were just really cool. The staff is super nice and really helpful as well. They went out of their way to help us with luggage and laundry and other things. The location is a little bit out of town but we liked that because it's on a really beautiful property and just a short drive to town. Rotorua was one of the places we definitely would love to have to spent more time!

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Cinema Suites

Te Anau

We loved this place! Super quirky location above a little cinema but no noise intruder and really just added to the charm. They have done just an awesome job with designing the layout of that place. Had two huge comfy couches and then another seating area plus the big king bed which you could separate off with some curtains plus a dining area and then there's a second room you can also book that's connected by a small kitchen. The bathrooms are lovely everything was very clean. I absolutely loved the style of the place. Would have loved to stay longer.

The Boatshed

Waiheke Island

Oh my goodness! I almost didn't want to review this place because it's so amazing and I want it to be available next time! The main lobby and lounge area of the boatshed we're so inviting and cozy and the views are absolutely incredible out over the bay. Jonathan and Mila we're such gracious hosts and so helpful with their luggage and other things. We stayed in the "owner's cottage" and I can't even describe how much we loved it. You have views from almost all the windows, a pool, and there's even a piano which I was so excited about. There's little cozy nooks around every corner to sit and read a book or enjoy the view. The host of thought of everything you could possibly need as well in the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. There are places to put and hang everything. We loved it so much we wanted to stay longer and hope to come back someday.

Authenticity & Character

Absolutely beautiful design

Location

Incredible views and Waiheke was great

Staff

So friendly and gracious

Cleanliness & Comfort

Evening you could possibly need, bed linens were so comfy

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

Lake Pukaki

Do not hesitate! Book one of the Lakeview villas and you will never want to leave. We felt so blessed to stay at this beautiful spot. Our villa was just amazing with incredible views of the lake and Mt Cook and a sky full of stars. The staff were amazing. All of them. They brought breakfast and dinner to our villa one day but they also serve it in the dining room to at the lodge which was also a lovely experience. It's your preference. The food was EXCELLENT. Everything fresh, local and made from scratch. It's located within a dark sky sanctuary and the southern sky was so beautiful. I'm not even going to mention the private swedish style hot tub, and separate little sauna, massage and exercise cabins/rooms. Trust me, just go!

Authenticity & Character

The home whole completely renovated kept much of it's original character with style and hardware etc.

Location

Lake view, Mt. Cook view, night sky observation

Staff

So friendly, accommodating, helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were awesome, villa was large and so many amenities.

Activity Review

Safari of the scenes Glenorchy (LOTR)

New Zealand

Our guide Jennifer was awesome! Loved her information and her love of her country. A great way to more of Queenstown and the surrounding area.

My wife was organizing a trip for my 17 year old and I (her husband). My wife reached out to Paula for help and she responded quickly. Paul provided great insight and enthusiasm to our request for a father son trip to New Zealand. When we asked for special consideration for our teenage son in terms of adventure, Paula delivered. Any changes or requests were acted on and the trip was developed with high co-operation and great care. When we asked for a change due to budget, this was thoughtfully undertaken with grace and positivity. There were also parts that we wanted to organize ourselves and those were integrated into the Kim Kim itinerary. Paula was just an amazing planner and we loved working with her to creates these travel memories.

Our amazing New ZEALAND adventure was 16 days of pure joy. Monika worked with us tirelessly in planning our vacation and customizing the itinerary to our specific preferences. She included everything to make our stay stress free, including transfers and pre-planned meals when available. Communication was wonderful, both before and during our stay. She was always there when we needed her including at the outset of our trip when our scheduled flight from Auckland to Christchurch was cancelled last minute due to an Air New Zealand issue. Transfers throughout our trip were seamless and accommodations were mostly excellent. Car rental was convenient and went smoothly. Highlights of the trip included a stay at the Kahiutara PurPod in Kaikōura, a fishing trip with Tomo, and a helicopter/glacier hike. The overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound is a delightful experience, and we highly recommend including it if you can. We could not have been happier with our KimKim experience. We would highly recommend their services, and will most certainly utilize them for future travel!

My trip to New Zealand was magical and everything I dreamed of! My local specialist Paula, and the others at Southern World, were helpful, professional, gave lots of attention to detail, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. I appreciated not only all the support, but the suggestions for itinerary and activities since it was my first time visiting New Zealand and I was traveling solo. Paula was also helpful in figuring out ways to stay within my budget. Overall a positive experience and I would definitely recommend Paula and/or Southern World to help with a trip to New Zealand or Australia.

Uma was fantastic and created an excellent itinerary for us. She had terrific suggestions about places to visit and activities. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend working with her to plan your trip to new Zealand.

My sister-in-law, Mindy, and I recently returned from an amazing trip to New Zealand. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, filled with adventures, new experiences, and unparalleled beauty. I believe it was all of that because Uma from KimKim helped us every step of the way, from ideas, to planning, to reservations, to support while we were there.

Mindy and I started talking about going to New Zealand about a year ago. We knew where it was, and had heard lots of rave reviews about how gorgeous it is, but not much else. When we got more serious about making it happen, we didn’t know where to start.

While searching online for some ideas, I came across the website for KimKim. I liked that the person who would be helping us actually lives in New Zealand. I decided to give them a try.

We communicated with Uma via messages on their site. She gathered lots of information from us via a detailed questionnaire – length of stay, whether or not we wanted to drive, how strenuous we wanted the activities to be, and our interest in many things, such as tours, hiking, biking, bungee jumping, city vs. nature, budget vs. average vs. luxury accommodations, and so much more.

With that information, Uma suggested that we would enjoy touring the beauty on the southern island. Two islands? Who knew?! She sent us a preliminary itinerary including lots of details and asked for feedback. Over the next couple of weeks, communicating back and forth, we had our plan in place. Uma set everything up for us – booked all the hotels, transfers, tours, and activities.

Uma stayed in touch with us as the date of our trip approached, making sure we had the correct documentation and travel visas in place, correct clothing for the weather and sun protection, travel vouchers, and anything else we needed.

Every day of the trip was filled with fun and adventurous activities. The most memorable was Mount Cook National Park. We spent an hour and a half hiking up Mount Cook on well-kept gravel paths and steps and across a long, moving (& scary for me) suspension bridge. The area was absolutely stunning! The bridge spanned over a small river of runoff from a glacier at the base of the mountain. Mindy and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be experiencing this!

Another favorite was taking a cruise from Queenstown across Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship. The scenery on the cruise was amazing! It took us to the gorgeous Walter Peak Farm, which is a real working farm. They served us a bountiful, delicious meal and then taught us about sheep shearing and sheepdogs. Afterward, we cruised back to Queenstown. A most enjoyable experience!

Another highlight was the drive from Queenstown to remote Milford Sound and the cruise around the sound. This was another amazing experience with sights so breathtaking, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. We decided to take a small plane back to Queenstown – another first for us, and it was worth the price being able to see the beauty from above.

We had many more memorable experiences on our trip to New Zealand. There were only a couple of “hiccups” in transfers, and Uma was just a text or phone call away to take care of it. I truly believe we couldn’t have fit in so much wonderfulness if we had planned it ourselves. We highly recommend visiting New Zealand and using KimKim to expertly craft the perfect itinerary for you.

Hotel Reviews

Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Franz Josef Westland

Loved the foresty setting and vibe. Upscale and beautiful, great restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were treated like royalty!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't have been better!

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Queenstown

Beautiful and upscale. Had everything we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Latimer Christchurch

Christchurch

Not fancy, but a nice hotel and very clean. Their restaurant, Bloody Mary's, has fabulous food and service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very conveniently located for our tour.

Staff

We were very well taken care of!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were pleased with the comfort and cleanliness.

Activity Reviews

Milford Sound Coach - Cruise from Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The Milford Sound tour was incredibly beautiful and impeccably organized. It was a smooth experience with no issues, and the stunning landscape was like something out of a dream.

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

Queenstown (NZ)

The TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak was remarkable! The cruise itself was excellent, and the visit to the farm was surprisingly wonderful. We had a delightful meal and really enjoyed the sheep farming demonstration. It was a unique and memorable experience.

Christchurch to Queenstown Via Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour (One Way)

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim and our agent, Paula, provided a truly exceptional 5-star experience planning our South Island New Zealand adventure. Our trip was on the short side, 7 days, and we didn't know how to get started or what was best to pack into our stay. From the initial inquiry, Paula's communication was prompt, friendly, and professional. She patiently listened to our vague ideas, given we knew nothing about New Zealand and expertly crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests and budget. Paula's knowledge of New Zealand was evident; she offered insightful recommendations for hidden gems and must-see attractions, enhancing our trip beyond the typical tourist experience. The entire planning process was seamless, with Paula handling all the details, from accommodations to activities and transportation, along with some last minute changes along the way. Her responsiveness throughout, even during our trip when we had a minor query, was remarkable. Thanks to Paula and KimKim, our New Zealand vacation was unforgettable.

Vicky’s support and assistance throughout our trip were truly appreciated. Initially, there was some miscommunication, but she quickly understood our requirements and booked the best trip ever. We particularly enjoyed how she presented us with new options to experience New Zealand more fully. The detailed updates and information she provided were invaluable in ensuring we had a wonderful time.

All the hotels booked were amazing, except for the QT in Auckland. Their service was lacking, and the room was hardly cleaned. Additionally, there was no buffet option for breakfast, which was disappointing. However, the tour groups and guides were exceptional, except for the last Wanaka tour group. We felt they could have included a visit to the lavender fields. Despite these minor issues, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip.

Furthermore, during one of our trips, it was canceled. However, Vicky was incredibly quick to arrange another tour group so that we wouldn’t miss out on the tour. We were truly grateful for this wonderful support. Thank you, Vicky!

We highly recommend Vicky and the Kim Kim team to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand. You are the best!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel St. Moritz

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s up hill and very difficult to walkin especially for aged ppl.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

We loved the thoughtful design of the room, especially the addition of a complete kitchen unit, which was perfect for travelers wanting to prepare their own meals. It truly added to the comfort of our stay. The staff, apart from the initial experience at check-in, were generally welcoming and helpful, which we really appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s quite far from downtown

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Auckland

Auckland

During our recent stay, we encountered a few disappointing experiences. Firstly, the front desk staff, particularly Alex, was quite unwelcoming and came across as dismissive. His tone and manner of assistance felt biased, which was uncomfortable. Additionally, our room was not cleaned even after multiple requests. It was dusty, and toiletries were provided only upon request—something unexpected at a 5-star hotel. We were also surprised that water was chargeable. While there are refill stations on each floor, it would have been more thoughtful to provide at least one filled water bottle in the room upon arrival. The breakfast experience was equally underwhelming, with only an à la carte option offering one item and one drink per person. More variety and flexibility would be appreciated. On a positive note, the location is convenient, being close to the CBD, and the room design is quite good. However, given the level of service, it’s difficult to recommend this property.

Authenticity & Character

Room service,breakfast options

Location

Walkable distance to queens st and viaduct

Staff

Could be more considerate and go extra mile with customers request

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms to be cleaned properly so that there is no dust.

Activity Reviews

Kaikoura Day Trip From Christchurch with Whale Watch (Small Group & Carbon Neutral)

Christchurch

Steffani our tour guide,driver was amazing she was very nice. The lunch spot was amazing the food was tasty. Liked leisure tour group as the lunch provided was included in the package. Also, she stopped at seal colony for us to see them which was something which is highly recommended

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch to Kaikoura Whale Watching Day Tour

Christchurch

Steffani our tour guide,driver was amazing she was very nice. The lunch spot was amazing the food was tasty. Liked leisure tour group as the lunch provided was included in the package. Also, she stopped at seal colony for us to see them which was something which is highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend Stefani she is awesome.

Transport

Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Tour from Auckland

Auckland

The trip was planned very well the only request is to provide more time for breakfast as 15 mins are not sufficient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grant was very good ,he did stop to meet his friend(ostrich’s )on the way😊😊

Transport

Cathedral Cove & Coromandel Small Group Day Tour from Auckland

Auckland

Dave was too good,very knowledgeable and entertaining. I like that cheeky kiwi provide with water bottle n snacks.It would have been great if they included the ice cream tasting from their end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika helped to curate this amazing trip to New Zealand. We had an amazing time and really saw much of the South Island. Every experience was unique and wonderful. Our guides were great especially the heli hike on Mt Cook with Charlie. The fly cruise fly is the way to go to see the fjords. The flight was breathtaking. The star gazing was incredible and the hot springs after was a plus. Our wine lunch in Otaga was incredible. I can’t say enough and loved the recommendations given on way from one place to next. Just amazing !!!

My son and I had an amazing trip to New Zealand in December 2024. I could not have pulled it all together without Michelle from Once upon a trip New Zealand. She was absolutely wonderful to work with. I gave her our wish list and she put together the ultimate itinerary to fit our interests. I would highly recommend Michelle!

Liz was easy to work with and helped me plan my first trip to NZ. She was professional and knowledgeable about the cities I wanted to visit and recommended a few options based on my preferences. The local partner was extremely helpful on the ground to support my tours throughout the 18-day period. They were responsive and provided quick coordination when change was needed. I would highly recommend Liz for New Zealand trips and would love to work with her and the kimkim team again for another trip in the future.