Sabina Din

We had an amazing trip for our family with teenage kids and my parents. For the Womens World Cup. We started in Sydney, then to Brisbane and Melbourne. We ended in New Zealand in Wellington and Auckland. All of the hotels were very nice. We had many great tours/activities. One of the best excursions was The America’s Cup in Auckland. Sabina was very helpful.

We had an amazing time visiting Australia. Sabina was awesome to work with. She planned out an excellent itinerary and maximized our excursions to allow us to see as much of Australia in our limited time to visit. We were able to visit all the highlights - Sydney, Ayers Rock, and Cairns (Great Barrier Reef). Sabina made the travel within country and all our accommodations, transportation, and flights arrangements, and everything went perfect. When there was a change from JetStar to the flight times prior to our trip, she quickly reorganized the excursions to ensure we were still able to do everything we wanted to see. I highly recommend working with KimKim and if you are visiting Australia definitely ask for Sabina to help you set up your itinerary.

All of the drivers who picked us up were amazing and friendly. Ken, the coromandel boating captain was a pleasure and was definitely one of the best highlights of the trip. Eric from the Dunedin wildlife tours was also excellent, knowledgeable and friendly.

The NZ fine touring team were also fantastic. We had a few quirks pop up and I found the team to be very responsive and helpful. The itinerary was great.

This was my second experience booking through Kimkim and I definitely look forward to the third time!

Activity Reviews

Cathedral Cove Classic Sea Kayak Tour

New Zealand

Ken is a treat! He proved to be knowledgeable, friendly and personable. I appreciated his jokes and insights of the area. I hope to go back one day and I hope I can catch another cruise with him.

Quality of Experience

We got very lucky with the weather and took full advantage of it. Saw a fur seal, lots of fish, a jelly fish and had crystal clear waters.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ken is the best. He called to warn us about potentially poor weather but we got lucky. He was a lot of fun and while we certainly enjoyed the views, he made the trip a highlight for sure.

Transport

The boat was great and the wharf location made it easy to find and get to.

Visit the Te Papa Museum

Wellington

This was a must do and worth the hour and change to do it. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history and the items in the museum. It’s worth spending a whole day there but you will certainly get the highlights with additional insights.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was on time and answered a lot of questions. She provided a lot of context and history which made us appreciate the displays all the more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Monarch Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tour & Penguin Place

Dunedin

Eric was great! He knew a lot about the wildlife and history of the area. He also has great driving skills and was more than capable at pointing out hard to spot wildlife as we went along.

Quality of Experience

We saw lots of birds and a sea lion! Getting to see the albatross and penguins on the separate stops was well worth it. The boat tour was fun despite intermittent rain and the occasional choppy sea.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable! I really enjoyed the whole day.

Transport

All Blacks Rugby Experience

Auckland

It you’re a rugby fan it’s fantastic. If you’re not a rugby fan, it’s worth doing to get an understanding of how important the game is to New Zealanders. The history and cultural context outlined in the tour was very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great 2 weeks in New Zealand. Went with my wife and youngest son (he’s 21). As an American - New Zealand is a long way away! We wanted an adventure to South Island…. And Sabina asked our goals…. And then fit in activities to meet those goals. Highlights were a helicopter ride onto a glacier at Mt Cook where we then put on crampons and hiked around the glacier. Our guide found an ice cave and we were able to go into it. Amazing experience as we were 20-ish feet beneath surface in bluest of blue ice…. Knowing the cave will be gone in a year…and a new one will form. Another highlight was a kayaking tour in Milford Sound…. Scenery was utterly amazing, we got to see lots of wildlife (including sea lions), and learned a ton. Best part about trip was each morning was a pre-planned adventure and everything was organized. I had a few questions during trip…. Pinged the app…. And the KimKim folks responded very quickly and sorted our issue.
Now that I’m back, I am organizing a trip for my two sons to visit Australia in November. And again utilizing the skills of Sabina.

Activity Review

Tasman Glacier Helihike with The Helicopter Line

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Highlight of our 2 weeks in South Island.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Felt very safe on the helicopter….

My now-wife and I gave Sabina a very short lead time of less than a month to plan a 2-week honeymoon in New Zealand in April 2023. Sabina exceeded our expectations, putting together a fantastic trip and working with us to make sure that we didn't go over our budget. She was very responsive to our communications both in the planning stage and also when we were on the trip. For example, when one of our domestic flights from the North Island to the South Island was slightly delayed, Sabina called us immediately and made sure that we had the updated reservation information. She also entertained numerous annoying queries from us like, "What is tipping culture like here?", "What is this marmite stuff and why does it taste so awful?", "Where can we find spicy food?" and similar questions that arose for us while we were on the trip. We enjoyed all of the activities that Sabina planned and recommended. We highly recommend Sabina to anyone traveling to New Zealand.

Kimkim (Sabina) did an excellent job in planning my 24-day self-driving tour of the South Island of New Zealand. Other than a few days of rain and wind, that resulted in me missing the Whale Watching cruise in Kaikoura and the glacier cruise at Mt. Cook, everything went as planned and exceeded my expectations!

The car was perfect for me, all of the driving instructions and maps were very valuable, and all of the booked motels were very nice and were expecting me :-)

I hiked most of the recommended tracks and loved them all, finding over 250 species of birds, flowers, mammals, ferns, trees, etc. that were new to me :-). I also did a bungee jump off the Kawarau Bridge and a Luge run while in Queenstown :-). The 3 guided hikes on the Routeburn, Kepler, and Milford tracks in Te Anau were fun with excellent guides, especially Geoff Barnes !

I also took two recommended detours to Blue Pools and Arrowtown, which I would recommend too :-)

The trans-alpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch was a very pleasant break from driving and I was very happy to find Steve Wilson, no relation, waiting for me in Christchurch, to shuttle me to my motel.

I have already recommended using Kimkim to others and will continue to do so. Kimkim also arranged a fabulous custom trip for me to Colombia before the pandemic :-)

Hotel Reviews

Bella Vista Christchurch

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Nice restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Blenheim

Blenheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista

Kaikoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

For

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Queenstown

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

CTR

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Te Anau

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka

Wanaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punga Grove Motels & Suites

Franz Josef / Waiau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punakaiki Beachfront Motels

Punakaiki

Great food at motel restaurant :-)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nelson Lakes National Park

New Zealand

I visited Nelson Lakes National Park, where I went on a beautiful hike and encountered some unique wildlife, like flightless birds and stunning purple mushrooms. The park's scenery was breathtaking, and I really enjoyed my time there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-drove this trip and Sabina provided an awesome scenic route for the whole trip!

Nelson/ Abel Tasman free day

New Zealand

I did a nice out-and-back trail and found some more amazing birds, plants, and mushrooms.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura

Kaikoura

About a two-hour drive to Kaikoura, the rental car company provided a GPS unit but the car had CarPlay so I just used Google Maps from my phone and you are able to get directions. I had coverage for the whole trip. Kaikoura was an interesting town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tracks in and around Kaikoura

Kaikoura

I hiked various walking tracks in and around Kaikoura, taking in the stunning landscapes and coastal views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour

New Zealand

I was supposed to go on a Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour with a small group, but due to rough seas, it was canceled. Instead, I went on a different tour and saw hundreds of dolphins, even capturing some amazing photos and videos of them flipping and playing in the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch free day

Christchurch

I took a break during my drive to Christchurch and did a 4-5 mile hike at a nature preserve along a river. I discovered and reported about 170 new species of plants, animals, and fungi. In Christchurch, I went for runs along the Avon River and visited the Arboretum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

I went to Mount Cook but never got to see it due to rainy weather. However, I completed all six trail recommended by Sabina. I enjoyed the trails and the local restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown Adventure & Wine

Queenstown (NZ)

I did a bungee jump at the bridge for my adventure day, I recommend paying for the photos and videos as they came out really well. I also took a gondola ride and participated in a fun activity similar to bobsledding. Although I didn't try the vertical wind tunnel skydiving simulation, I had an overall positive experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau and Manapouri

New Zealand

I arrived at Te Anau and hiked a part of the Kepler Track on my own, discovering many fly agaric mushrooms and beautiful forests carpeted in thick green moss. I also crossed several swinging bridges during the hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kepler Track Guided Heli-Hike with Trips and Tramps

Te Anau

For this hike, they take you above the alpine in a small helicopter and drop you off at a hut where you hike to the top of the mountain. At the end of the hike, you get lunch and hike down to the treeline and got to see more plants and moss. Made some permanent friends on this part of the trip, and loved being a part of the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk and Scenic Cruise with Trips and Tramps

New Zealand

I joined a group and hiked the Milford Track. We also took a two-hour boat trip from the fjord to the Tasman Sea, enjoying the green scenery and waterfalls along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Routeburn Track Guided Day Walk

Te Anau

I did 3 different hikes here, beautiful forest with thick moss. It was an incredible place for photos. There were many swinging bridges that were amazing. Very safe, and cool to see. Great trails for running too! The guide was very nice and we kept the same pace which was nice. We finished the hike quickly and then went to the bird sanctuary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Wanaka

Wānaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in Wanaka

Wānaka

This day I explored Wanaka and hiked several trails, including Roy's Peak track, Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain, Mount Iron track, and the Outlet track. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk

Wānaka

I went on a Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk, where I saw the rare Buff Weka, a flightless bird found only on one island in New Zealand. I also enjoyed hiking in Wanaka, where I encountered several other interesting birds and took in the stunning landscapes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

I visited Franz Josef Glacier, but unfortunately, it was foggy and I couldn't see the glacier clearly. However, I hiked several trails in the area, such as the Douglass Walk, Franz Josef Glacier Walk, Link One Backtrack, and more.

Quality of Experience

Paparoa National Park

Punakaiki

I explored Paparoa National Park and its famous Pancake Rocks. Although the ocean surges were not as impressive as I had hoped, I still enjoyed observing the unique rock formations and taking in the beautiful coastal scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

CHCH Touring - Private Transfer Train Station to Accommodation

Christchurch

The guide Steve Wilson, was there right on the time holding a sign with my name to take me to the airport very nice guy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My Trip Was Amazing.
Sabina understood my requirements and tailor made an itinerary. My Itinerary had some tourist stuff, some road trip, some urban hikes and all.
Overall it was a great adventure and can't wait to come back to New Zeland Again.

If I plan it again, I would consult Sabina for a tailor Made itinerary.

Regards
Venkat Abhishek Davuluri

What separates the excellent from the merely very good is how they deal with problems. Sabina came through in spades.
Cyclone Gabrielle arrived the week before our arrival and disrupted our itinerary.
She worked overtime to ensure our trip was still wonderful.
While others were struggling with reservations and ferry crossings, everything went smoothly for us.
In addition, the hotels Sabina booked were great. As we had asked, she booked at various price points from moderate to luxury.
Each was unique and lovely. In no way were they cookie cutter rooms.
Finally, Sabina worked hard to include all the activities we wanted.
In conclusion we recommend Kim-Kim and Sabina very highly.

Activity Review

Hukafalls Jet

New Zealand

An adrenaline rush.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I was initially set up with a specialist who wasn't listening to my preferences and became increasingly more difficult to communicate with. Once I voiced my concerns though, I was matched with Sabina who was such a pleasure to work with! She was always quick to respond, worked with me on a good balance between budget and activities, and made my trip such an incredible experience. I'd love to work with her in the future when I go back to visit New Zealand and Australia!