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Liz Wilson

The most important thing to take away from any travel experience is learning something new about a different country, culture, or history. I love to find out my clients' interests and finding a way to incorporate new experiences that will resonate with them in their itineraries.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"The length and breadth of New Zealand. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"After living, working, volunteering, and traveling abroad for a number of years across 5 different continents, moving into a career in travel was a natural progression. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"When I first moved to Moscow, I arrived at the airport to find out that my employer had mixed up the airport I was flying into, resulting in me needing to find my own way to my accommodations for the night. It was 9:30 PM in the middle of winter with a storm blowing fiercely. After realising that the metro was shutting soon, I asked a taxi driver in Russian if he spoke English. When we agreed on a fare, I followed him outside, got in the 1973 Lada, and for a moment, questioned my decision when we were driving at warp speed down the major highway with snow strewn across the road. "

Liz is part of the following groups: New Zealand Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Liz

Incredible South Island birthday trip
New Zealand | May 12 - May 22, 2023

S
Samantha L.
Chatham, NY | Reviewed on Jun 15, 2023
Liz and the New Zealand Self Drive team were so easy to work with—Liz was really communicative and went above and beyond to take care of every detail of my last minute trip in the South Island! I usually love planning my own travel but this experience showed me how much local knowledge I've been missing out on. I loved the suggestions for my time in Queenstown (especially the lake cruise and farm dinner/show) and the detailed driving directions to Milford Sound the next day were really... Read more

Liz and the New Zealand Self Drive team were so easy to work with—Liz was really communicative and went above and beyond to take care of every detail of my last minute trip in the South Island! I usually love planning my own travel but this experience showed me how much local knowledge I've been missing out on. I loved the suggestions for my time in Queenstown (especially the lake cruise and farm dinner/show) and the detailed driving directions to Milford Sound the next day were really reassuring since I was traveling alone and didn't always have cell service. Loved the suggestions on where to stop for lunch or a great view too! They also found me a last-minute spot on an overnight cruise in Milford Sound for my 30th birthday and I can't imagine a better way to celebrate. Thank you to Liz and the NZ Self Drive team for going above and beyond! I'm so grateful for the experiences you created for me and would absolutely recommend your agency.

Activity Reviews
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau

I've been wanting to see the glowworms for years, and this tour did not disappoint (especially because Australia and New Zealand are the only places you can see these!) — after we took a comfortable ferry across the lake, we arrived on the island and split into smaller groups. My group was first to go inside the caves, which are lit up for the first section so you can see how they were formed by the water that's still rushing through. Walking on the metal gangplanks over the water and through the different pockets of the cave and the waterfalls (one coming straight down through a hole in the "ceiling" was incredibly cool and unique. At the top, our guide helped us into the little boat and then turned off all the lights so our eyes could adjust, and pulled the boat along a rope through the cave silently so we could take in the glowworms in the pitch black, floating on the water. She did a great job turning the boat around at different points so everyone could get directly underneath them for a better look. Be aware the they're not as bright in person as they are in the photos but that didn't make me marvel at it any less — such a cool phenomenon to witness. After, we walked on a nature path back to the welcome center for a drink and a presentation, and then took a look around the exhibits to learn more about the glowworms and the natural landscape on the island. After that, we headed back on the boat across the lake to Te Anau.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner
TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner
Queenstown (NZ)

It was so cool to see the inner workings of the steam ship before going out to the deck to enjoy the view and a glass of wine. The food at dinner was incredible too! Really enjoyed the farm show exhibition with the sheep and the herding dog—very cleverly done.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise ex Milford
Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise ex Milford
Milford Sound

This was a bucket list experience that will be so special to me forever. The staff on board the boat were so great, friendly and knowledgeable and made the schedule and options really easy to understand. Heading out in the boats the first night from the cove where we docked, and seeing a pod of bottlenose dolphins swim right under our kayaks was something I'll never forget (they let us stay out a bit longer to enjoy that rare experience)! The food was also really good and I enjoyed the insightful commentary on the wildlife and the terrain of the Sound. 10/10 would recommend to anyone!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Liz Wilson
Liz
Liz Wilson
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Jan 25, 2024

Thanks so much Samantha for your wonderful feedback! We truly appreciate the time you took to review the different aspects of your itinerary and upload your photos. It was such a pleasure helping you with this trip and I hope it was a very memorable 30th birthday! If you ever want to visit our part of the world again, or Australia, please don't hesitate to reach out again!