Monika Vinsova

Monika at Kim Kim did a wonderful job putting together a vacation with the places and experiences we had prioritized. She was available when we had questions. She also placed us in great hotels. The cities we went to included Queenstown, Wanaka, Auckland, Christchurch, and we spent time hiking and boating at the Franz Josef Glacier and hiking in Arthur's Pass. Milford Sound is a must see and flying over it is spectacular. I would recommend time in all of these places. We were only in Auckland 1 day b/c our plane landed there. The countryside in New Zealand is diverse and beautiful. Our outfitters and guides were universally excellent. We also visited the glow worm caves which is a unique and wonderful experience. You need to be able to kayak to do this. Wanaka winery tours gave us a wine tasting experience we will never forget. I would also recommend the Trans Pine train ride across country. Be aware if you want to hike Arthur's Pass the trailheads are between 10-12 kilometers away. We ended up hitching to get there and back. Our visit was 2 weeks and we spent time on both North and South Islands which I would recommend with their unique aspects.

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Fyffe Country Lodge

Kaikoura

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

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PurePod Greta Valley (Korimako)

Canterbury

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

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Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel

Queenstown

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

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The Headwaters Eco Lodge - Glenorchy

Glenorchy

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

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Galaxy Boutique Hotel Tekapo

Lake Tekapo

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

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Activity Reviews

Routeburn Guided Walk Full Day

New Zealand

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

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Progressive Māori Dinner Tour (kai safari)

Christchurch

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Auckland City Hotel

Auckland

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

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Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

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

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The half shower kept spilling water in the entire bathroom

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Napier

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

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Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

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

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Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

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

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Activity Reviews

Nocturnal Adventure Glow-worm Tour

Rotorua

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

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Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

The Dairy Private Hotel by Naumi Hotels

Queenstown

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Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

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Valley Views Glamping

Kurow

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Tongariro Suites

Horopito

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Raglan Sunset Motel

Raglan

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The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

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Activity Reviews

Onsen Hot Pools

Queenstown (NZ)

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Dart River Funyak Safari

New Zealand

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Big Sky Stargazing -outdoor stargazing tour

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

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

Christchurch

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Waitomo Glowworm Caves + Ruakuri cave combo

New Zealand

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

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Weta Workshop Wellington

Wellington

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

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

Activity Reviews

Progressive Māori Dinner Tour (kai safari)

Christchurch

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

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Milford Sound - Coach, Cruise and FLY

New Zealand

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

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Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

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

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

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

A great big city hotel with good amenities

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QT Wellington

Wellington

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

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Tongariro Lodge

Turangi

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

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The fireplaces and decor made for a lovely homey feel

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Hana Lodge

Rotorua

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

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Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

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

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Our waiter was amazing

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

Wellington

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

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Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

What an amazing was to authentically learn about Māori culture.

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Super knowledgeable and friendly

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Wai Ariki Spa "Chiefly Waters" restorative experience

New Zealand

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

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

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

Activity Reviews

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

Rotorua

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Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

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Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

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

New Zealand

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