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New Zealand Self Drive Tours

Since 2004 we have used our experience and knowledge of New Zealand to design and create a truly memorable New Zealand Self Drive tours.

With New Zealand Self Drive Tours we don’t simply resell you other companies itineraries and tours relabeled as our own. While we do indeed have the largest choice of tour routes and accommodation/car/activity combinations we spend all of our time customising itineraries to suit our customers needs perfectly. In over 15 years and across more than 100,000 happy customers we haven’t sold exactly the same itinerary twice.

Right from your first contact with us the same New Zealand tour expert will handle your enquiry, planning process, reservation and documentation to ensure consistent quality. We have built our reputation on honest, accurate, relevant advice combined with an absolute no compromise approach to providing you with the best possible service.
Our dedicated team based amongst the lakes and mountains of Wanaka are all New Zealand enthusiasts and have visited or experienced virtually every property, activity and location we offer you.

We believe passionately that we live in, love and sell the most extraordinary country in the world. We are often reminded of how truly lucky we are to live here and that continues to motivate us to see that as much of the world as possible experiences the beauty of New Zealand for themselves.

New Zealand Self Drive Tours is part of the following groups: Australia Travel Agents, New Zealand Travel Agents

Featured trips & expertise

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for New Zealand Self Drive Tours

Trip of a lifetime!
New Zealand | Nov 5 - Nov 13, 2023

Rik
Rik R.
Petaluma, CA | Reviewed on Nov 24, 2023
Lydia was an extraordinary help in planning and implementing my trip every step of the way! I highly recommend her, New Zealand Fine Tours, and kimkim! It was a trip I wanted to do my whole life and didn't get around to it now. Every part of the tour was gorgeous, beginning with the journey into Hobbiton and the LOR sets were incredible. The Maori tours and shows were incredible. Mt Cook was especially beautiful, transcendent in a word. Took my breath away. Then on to Queenstown for stunning... Read more

Lydia was an extraordinary help in planning and implementing my trip every step of the way! I highly recommend her, New Zealand Fine Tours, and kimkim! It was a trip I wanted to do my whole life and didn't get around to it now. Every part of the tour was gorgeous, beginning with the journey into Hobbiton and the LOR sets were incredible. The Maori tours and shows were incredible. Mt Cook was especially beautiful, transcendent in a word. Took my breath away. Then on to Queenstown for stunning boat rides on the Lake and a dinner across the lake on one of the nights. Finally, the trip out to the West Coast of the South Island was yet another gem. All along the way my trip was planned step by step, the transportation was prompt with enjoyable and well informed tour guides, and the accommodations were clean and comfortable. The trip included some meals which were very good and memorable. Thank you Lydia and all the folks at NZFTs and kimkim.

Local specialist: Lydia Ford

Women’s World Cup Aussie/New Zealand Adventure
Australia | Jul 17 - Aug 2, 2023

T
Tiffany N.
Phoenix, AZ | Reviewed on Nov 20, 2023

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.

Local specialist: Sabina Din
Sabina
Sabina Din
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Nov 20, 2023

Thank you Tiffany, I'm glad you had such a great trip!
Sabina

Wow - what a perfect vacation experience!
Australia | Oct 21 - Nov 6, 2023

Pauline
Pauline B.
Pleasanton, CA | Reviewed on Nov 18, 2023
Wow - what a perfect vacation experience! Vickie listened carefully to my desires for types of excursions and activities, and then made recommendations on other things that I definitely liked. It was important to me to be very active on this trip. So we went hiking, biking, wine tasting, white water rafting, kangaroo petting, food touring, snorkeling, ziplining, jet boat riding and more. Plus we climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge AND went Bungee Jumping. Wow! With so many activities, it... Read more

Wow - what a perfect vacation experience! Vickie listened carefully to my desires for types of excursions and activities, and then made recommendations on other things that I definitely liked. It was important to me to be very active on this trip. So we went hiking, biking, wine tasting, white water rafting, kangaroo petting, food touring, snorkeling, ziplining, jet boat riding and more. Plus we climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge AND went Bungee Jumping. Wow!

With so many activities, it was important to understand where we had to be and when to meet up with our tours. The app was so helpful in this regard.

Thank you Kim-Kim and thank you Vickie!

Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Dec 07, 2023

Thank you Pauline for letting me build me dream tour. I cant believe how many fun activities we fit into your tour. I am sure you have the most amazing memories :)!

I hope you visit again.

Vickie

A dream down under
Australia | Nov 8 - Nov 16, 2023

Brittany
Brittany T.
College Station, TX | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2023
We loved every part of our trip to Sydney and Cairns! It was a breeze traveling around Australia with the private transfers and accommodations set up. We visited the Great Barrier Reef, the rainforest, the opera house, multiple beaches, museums, shopped, ate and drank our way down under on our free days. We never had to take an Uber or order a taxi as everything was within walking distance, our excursions picked us up directly or we had a private car to and from airports. The app Jon had has... Read more

We loved every part of our trip to Sydney and Cairns! It was a breeze traveling around Australia with the private transfers and accommodations set up. We visited the Great Barrier Reef, the rainforest, the opera house, multiple beaches, museums, shopped, ate and drank our way down under on our free days. We never had to take an Uber or order a taxi as everything was within walking distance, our excursions picked us up directly or we had a private car to and from airports. The app Jon had has download after booking was amazing. Every trip was laid out with contact information and booking details. Recommendations for everything and assistance ready if needed. Jon was easy to reach and even called personally twice to confirm our wishes. 10/10 will work with KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews
Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks
The Rocks

Hotel staff up front was wonderful- answered all our questions and gave us suggestions. Housekeeping was less than stellar- sheets/ towels were clean. Floor not so much, lots of fuzz and white hair (we do not have that hair color) on the floor- despite being reached out to vacuum on a survey after check in. Was not vacuumed when cleaning was requested via door handle flyer. Lobby has been updated and is great- rooms and pool really need it next. Great view of harbor when cruise ships don’t block the opera house.

Authenticity & Character
Updated all rooms.
Location
Walking distances to most things.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mold in the bathrooms, broken bathroom vent with tape on it, hair on the carpet in rooms. Overall updated- I’ve read in the reviews it’s in the plans- but I don’t see any updates happening as of this week.
Ramada by Wyndham Cairns City Centre
Cairns

Easy location, walking distance to almost everything. Felt safe, housekeeping was great. Easy to get in and out, clean rooms and clean pool. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
Updated rooms
Location
Walking distance to shops and food. Boardwalk
Staff
Kind and attentive
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bathrooms and bedding very clean.
Local specialist: Jon Andrews

Louise was great to work with in planning my ...
New Zealand | Nov 8 - Nov 13, 2023

jeff
jeff w.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Nov 14, 2023
Louise was great to work with in planning my trip. With the exception of one lodging place, I give KimKim an A for the overall trip.
I visited so many incredible places- Glow Worm Cave, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Otega Regional Wine Tour, Hiking Trails, Wharf in Queenstown!!
This was my second trip to NZ and it was worth seeing again. The citizens of NZ are the friendliest and sweetest people I’ve ever met in all my travels. The country is one postcard after another - even the...
Read more

Louise was great to work with in planning my trip. With the exception of one lodging place, I give KimKim an A for the overall trip.
I visited so many incredible places- Glow Worm Cave, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, Otega Regional Wine Tour, Hiking Trails, Wharf in Queenstown!!
This was my second trip to NZ and it was worth seeing again. The citizens of NZ are the friendliest and sweetest people I’ve ever met in all my travels. The country is one postcard after another - even the retail areas are nice. Public bathrooms are cleaner than most peoples homes!!! You can just tell these people love the tourism as it provides the majority of their lifestyle. All other countries with this much tourism should use NZ as a model.
People in the states - stop going on the same ole vacation year after year - go to NZ. It’s a lifetime vacation and one that you will remember forever.

Hotel Reviews
Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas
Te Anau

Great location.

Authenticity & Character
Typical NZ hotel.
Location
Heart of city center.
Staff
Very accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Could use new mattresses.
Blue Peaks Lodge
Queenstown

Old, tired and very dated. No amenities whatsoever. It was clean and is very convenient. The staff was super sweet and friendly. But I would not stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Everything. Cleaner parking lot, updated rooms, add a lounge, add a courtyard, don’t put trash bins in the front door.
Location
Staff
Both of the young ladies were great.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and simple. Lots of people like this. I just thought I was in low income housing.
Activity Reviews
Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Queenstown (NZ)

Loved the first and last stop. Beautiful wineries.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Worst driver ever. Rude. Non stop talking. Drove extremely too fast. Just a lousy driver.
Transport
Not luxury at all. It’s van. Nothing luxurious about it.
Te Anau to Milford Sound, Milford Cruise with Picnic Lunch
Te Anau to Milford Sound, Milford Cruise with Picnic Lunch
Te Anau

Never seen anything so beautiful.

Quality of Experience
I’m
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Better riding bus is needed. Just so much bouncing and roughness. It’s very car sick.
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau

The rarity of seeing such a beautiful cave.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Buses are just too rough riding. The bouncing makes you car sick.
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown
Queenstown (NZ)

Loved everything this sound offered. Spectacular in every way.

Quality of Experience
The incredible views.
Transport
Better shock absorbers for a smoother ride. More knee room in between seats. Window shades to block sunlight when necessary.
Local specialist: Louise Hodge

Awesome vacation Down Under.
Australia | Oct 27 - Nov 4, 2023

Kathy
Kathy S.
Keller, TX | Reviewed on Nov 11, 2023
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Sabina Din
Sabina
Sabina Din
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Nov 12, 2023

Such a lovely review! Thank you Kathy, it has been a delight to work with you and I'm so glad the trip was so great for you all!
Sabina

Trip planning was handled 10/10. Laurel was p...
New Zealand | Sep 23 - Oct 8, 2023

P
Paul R.
Live Oak, CA | Reviewed on Oct 19, 2023
Trip planning was handled 10/10. Laurel was pleasant and easy to work with. She got what we wanted and was able to push back on one or two things that we were not sure about and ended up loving. During the first 3 days of the tour, 4 things went wrong- no communication on cancellation of whale watch, they didn’t have our reservation for the tower in Auckland, rental car was not scheduled properly, and we missed our tram dinner due to a scheduling mistake. We still loved nearly every second... Read more

Trip planning was handled 10/10. Laurel was pleasant and easy to work with. She got what we wanted and was able to push back on one or two things that we were not sure about and ended up loving.

During the first 3 days of the tour, 4 things went wrong- no communication on cancellation of whale watch, they didn’t have our reservation for the tower in Auckland, rental car was not scheduled properly, and we missed our tram dinner due to a scheduling mistake. We still loved nearly every second of NZ. And the next 12 days were basically perfect. But KimKim should evaluate why the planning and communication wasn’t better early on the trip.

Local specialist: Laurel Thachuk
Laurel
Laurel Thachuk
Local specialist in Wanaka, New Zealand | Replied on Oct 20, 2023

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your feedback, it is very valuable to us. We were equally disappointed with the issues from suppliers during your trip. We have since followed up and they offer their apologies for any inconveniences caused. A refund has been applied to your account accordingly

I hope you enjoyed your time in New Zealand and will be back to visit again one day!

Vickie was wonderful in her suggestions for o...
New Zealand | Aug 27 - Sep 5, 2023

Joelle
Joelle T.
Arcadia, CA | Reviewed on Sep 07, 2023
Vickie was wonderful in her suggestions for our NZ South Island tour. Our itinerary was very organized in an app format and the recommended excursions were unique to NZ. We loved all our new memories we created and would highly recommend both Kimkim and Vickie. Read more

Vickie was wonderful in her suggestions for our NZ South Island tour. Our itinerary was very organized in an app format and the recommended excursions were unique to NZ. We loved all our new memories we created and would highly recommend both Kimkim and Vickie.

Hotel Reviews
Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront
Queenstown

This place was just ok. The breakfast was mediocre and the place was old and rundown. Had beautiful lake views & was close to town, but I would not stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Novotel Auckland Airport
Auckland

Perfect stay for airport convenience. Would highly recommend this place and would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rainforest Retreat
Franz Josef Glacier

Very cute and unique place. Located near town and restaurants. Would highly recommend this place & will stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Tree house rooms are very unique. Excellent experience
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hermitage Hotel
Mount Cook Village

Fantastic views and location. Close to trails and the dinner and breakfast buffets are wonderful. Would definitely recommend this place and will stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The George
Christchurch

Excellent service and comfortable rooms. Excellent location with delicious food for both dinner and breakfast. Would definitely stay here again and would highly recommend this place to friends.

Authenticity & Character
Very clean and comfortable
Location
In front of a park & the George has bikes for hire to explains the town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore Wanaka
Explore Wanaka
Wānaka

Quick stop in town. Not much time spent. Cute little town. Self exploration of Wanaka

Quality of Experience
CHCH Touring - Private Transfer Train Station to Accommodation
Christchurch

Nice views. Great commentary. Fun train ride

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Franz Josef Glacier Heli-hike
Franz Josef Glacier Heli-hike
Franz Josef Glacier

Fantastic experience. Highlight of the South Island. Must do and see

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Kylan was fantastic
Transport
TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner
TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner
Queenstown (NZ)

This was mostly a dinner and buffet tour. The farm portion was short and rushed. Minimal animal interactions. I would not recommend this tour if you’re looking for some animal farm experience

Quality of Experience
Food was wonderful
Food
Excellent buffet
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great staff
Transport
Unique ferry ride
Milford Sound Coach/Cruise/Coach inc lunch ex ZQN
Milford Sound Coach/Cruise/Coach inc lunch ex ZQN
Queenstown (NZ)

Excellent tour. Our driver Paulie was FANTASTIC. He was very knowledgeable and informative about the area. We felt safe in the bus and he was a cautious driver.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Queenstown (NZ)

This tour was Nothing Special. Coming from California and enjoying great wine tours there and have experienced wine tours in Italy- this was just ok. The wines were ok, and the wineries were nothing special- the lunch was simple. I would not do this tour again.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I felt the driver was driving too fast. Felt uncomfortable at times.
Transport
Historic Tram Dinner
Historic Tram Dinner
Christchurch

Fun experience. Great way to see the town. Food was delicious and great quality. Wish it had commentary about the city history during the tram tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Sep 19, 2023

Wow Joelle what a review!! Thank you so much for being so kind, I had a blast working with you and that was so sweet of you to recommend me to a friend.

Take care

Vickie xx

Good value - personal service!
New Zealand | Aug 22 - Aug 27, 2023

T
Tamara C.
San Luis Obispo, CA | Reviewed on Sep 03, 2023
I was a solo traveler and wanted adventure, nature and ease of travel. Carly listened to my goals and created a tailored trip. She suggested ideas and we had a collaborative schedule honed by many mails and calls. It was a fantastic trip. I would recommend this service and Carly’s expertise. Read more

I was a solo traveler and wanted adventure, nature and ease of travel. Carly listened to my goals and created a tailored trip. She suggested ideas and we had a collaborative schedule honed by many mails and calls. It was a fantastic trip. I would recommend this service and Carly’s expertise.

Activity Review
Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Movie Set
Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Movie Set
New Zealand

Wasn’t expecting to love this but it was a treat! Guides were so enthusiastic and scenery truly stunning.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guides excelled at hospitality.
Transport
Our driver shared his favorite spots and generously let us pepper him with questions that he answered kindly and diplomatically 🙂
Local specialist: Carly Baker
Carly
Carly Baker
Local specialist in Wanaka, New Zealand | Replied on Sep 15, 2023

Hi Tamara, Thanks so much for your lovely review and so glad you had a great time with your time in New Zealand and hope that continued into your time in Australia. Thanks for all the photos, some great ones in there! It was great to work with you, thanks again Tamara!

Quick trip to Cairns and Brisbane
Australia | Aug 16 - Aug 22, 2023

M
Monica M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Aug 29, 2023
Vickie was incredibly responsive and planned our short trip in record time. She was patient with me as it took me time to review and consider and then commit to the trip. I loved the tours she set up for us in Cairns and Birsbane; they were remarkable! It would have been helpful to know what we needed to bring on the tours, such as a towel for the Great Barrier Reef, and it would have been good to know that some activities/opportunities sell out in advance, such as photos of us holding a... Read more

Vickie was incredibly responsive and planned our short trip in record time. She was patient with me as it took me time to review and consider and then commit to the trip. I loved the tours she set up for us in Cairns and Birsbane; they were remarkable! It would have been helpful to know what we needed to bring on the tours, such as a towel for the Great Barrier Reef, and it would have been good to know that some activities/opportunities sell out in advance, such as photos of us holding a koala.

The drivers who picked us up were prompt, kind and excellent drivers.

I wasn't thrilled with one of the hotel selections, but a family with young kids would have loved it more than me and a teenager who were there just to sleep.

The travel service, specifically Louise, was wonderful when we had to make last minute changes to our itinerary. She was terrific and efficient!

I would use Vickie, Louise and Kimkim again!

Hotel Reviews
Park Regis North Quay
Brisbane

Convenient location for us to go to Suncorp stadium. Not too far a walk from South Bank, which had more restaurants and one of our tours (to Lone Pine Sanctuary). Wonderful to have a kitchenette! Lots of light and great views from our room. Reception staff were very nice. A knowledgeable concierge would have been very helpful.

Cairns Colonial Club Resort
Cairns

Very nice staff and lovely pools. Great for families with young children. Room was a bit dated and the Wifi was so bad that we couldn't watch tv. The safe was locked when we arrived and the remote to work the air conditioning was missing, but staff came very quickly to help us. We only ate breakfast at the hotel, but the food was good. The resort is a bit farther from the Cairns hub than I would have liked; we had to taxi or Uber to dinner and to the tours. Overall, a good place to stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Closer to Cairns "downtown"
Staff
Helpful, patient and kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Aug 30, 2023

Hey Monica,

That is wonderful feedback. Thank you for choosing to book your tour with me.
I hope you both enjoyed the football and the amazing scenery.

Take care

Off the beaten path NZ tour
New Zealand | Jul 31 - Aug 11, 2023

B
Brette H.
Radnor, PA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2023
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... Read more

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
All Blacks Rugby Experience
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
Monarch Otago Peninsula Wildlife Tour & Penguin Place
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
Visit the Te Papa Museum
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
Cathedral Cove Classic Sea Kayak Tour
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.
Local specialist: Sabina Din
Sabina
Sabina Din
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Aug 19, 2023

Hi Brette,

Thank you so much for this lovely review. It has been a pleasure helping you with your trip! I'm sure it would have been fantastic to see a live World Cup game too! Lets see if the Lionesses can take the win!

Thanks again,

Sabina

Vickie, was just great! She listening to our ...
New Zealand | Jun 23 - Jul 15, 2023

J
Jamie H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 07, 2023

Vickie, was just great! She listening to our requirements and suggested activities that best suited each traveler. We had an amazing time and special thanks goes to Vickie for booking us in to our activities at just the right times so we kept missing the rush of people, which was a big concern for my family trip. Thanks so much!

Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Aug 30, 2023

Thank you so much for choosing me to help with your holiday Jamie. I hope your family adored New Zealand as much as you did. I am so happy you had fun.

Take care :)

Amazing.
New Zealand | Jun 23 - Jul 15, 2023

J
Jody H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jul 22, 2023

Amazing trip, everything ran smoothly and made easy. Our travel agent Vickie did a fantastic job at providing us with an excellent experience of New Zealand making it personal and memorable. Thank you Vickie.

Local specialist: Vickie Parrack

Wow!!
Australia | Jun 21 - Jul 12, 2023

Carl
Carl V.
Middletown, DE | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2023
We really enjoyed our trip to Australia. I can not imagine the visit without the help of KimKim. First and foremost arranging drivers to meet at airports (we are Americans and really didn’t feel comfortable driving on the left). Organizing our itinerary so that we we had time to do an appropriate amount of exploring at each of our stops. Linking us up with appropriate guided tours and activities that picked us up right at our hotel or a short walk away. Inevitably, when someone... Read more

We really enjoyed our trip to Australia. I can not imagine the visit without the help of KimKim. First and foremost arranging drivers to meet at airports (we are Americans and really didn’t feel comfortable driving on the left).

Organizing our itinerary so that we we had time to do an appropriate amount of exploring at each of our stops.

Linking us up with appropriate guided tours and activities that picked us up right at our hotel or a short walk away.

Inevitably, when someone we met at a stop told us we MUST do X or see Y, it was something we had done the day before or were scheduled to do the next.

Definitely many of these activities were NOT something that would have occurred to us on our own.

Well Done, KimKim!!

Hotel Reviews
Sails In The Desert
Yulara

Three different restaurants in the hotel to choose from. Great Breakfast buffet!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort
Cairns

FANTASTIC breakfast buffet. Reasonably priced dinners. HUGE pool. Didn’t go in myself, but loved to see the families enjoying it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mantra Crown Towers Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise

In room laundry and kitchen. Close to ocean. Amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mantra 2 Bond Street
Sydney

We loved staying at this hotel. 1. Perfect location near transportation, grocery, bottle shop. 2. Ability to fix our own meals. 3. Essential; washer and dryer in room. 4. Courteous knowledgeable staff that really worked hard to help.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Woolworth’s right across the (closed to traffic) street.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Uluru Camel Tours - Sunset Camel Experience
Uluru Camel Tours - Sunset Camel Experience
Uluru

The camel ride was a unique and enjoyable experience. We rode atop the camel for an hour, with frequent pauses. The ride included some food and drinks, which was nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Daintree, Cape Trib & Bloomfield Day Tour
Daintree, Cape Trib & Bloomfield Day Tour
Cairns

The Daintree day tour was fascinating. We got to see crocodiles during a pontoon boat ride on the Daintree River. The tour was way more extensive than just the boat ride.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Down Under Cruise with Gold Class Lounge
Down Under Cruise with Gold Class Lounge
Cairns

The Down Under Cruise was a good experience. My wife enjoyed snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, but I got seasick. However, I still got to see the reef, which was cool!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunset Dinner Cruise
Sunset Dinner Cruise
Sydney

The dinner cruise was ok. The view from inside was not particularly good and most of the staff seemed disinterested. However, the food was good.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hunter Valley Food and Wine Lovers Tour
Hunter Valley Food and Wine Lovers Tour
Sydney

The food and wine tour was pleasant. It was mostly about wine tasting, with some food involved. I enjoyed this tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrive Sydney
Arrive Sydney
Sydney
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Captain Cook Cruises - Hop On Hop Off Harbour Explorer 2-Day Pass
Captain Cook Cruises - Hop On Hop Off Harbour Explorer 2-Day Pass
Sydney

A nice introduction to Sydney Harbor. Shark Island was on the list of stops , but the ship never stopped there. The ferry service would have suited us equally, as it turned out

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Jul 21, 2023

Thank you so much Carl,

What a pleasure it was to be part of your Aussie adventure.

Vickie

Trip of a lifetime
Australia | Jun 21 - Jul 12, 2023

Jane
Jane V.
Middletown, DE | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2023
This was our first trip to Australia. Normally, we plan our own trips, but the distance was so great (from the US) and the country so large, that we were overwhelmed. We wanted more independence than a tour would offer, however. Kimkim was the perfect solution!
After asking what categories of things we wanted to explore, and how long our trip would be, Vickie began making suggestions of itineraries and activities. We considered those, made some changes, reconsidered, for several months....
Read more

This was our first trip to Australia. Normally, we plan our own trips, but the distance was so great (from the US) and the country so large, that we were overwhelmed. We wanted more independence than a tour would offer, however. Kimkim was the perfect solution!
After asking what categories of things we wanted to explore, and how long our trip would be, Vickie began making suggestions of itineraries and activities. We considered those, made some changes, reconsidered, for several months. Vickie made more suggestions, adjusted things, etc., until we had a plan. And it was an excellent plan.
We loved all the time we had to explore Sydney, and were happy with our combination of planned excursions and free time. The driver/guides for all of our excursions were very knowledgeable and friendly. They not only gave us lots of information about the areas we visited, but had stories about the areas we drove past. That was true of excursions from Sydney, in Gold Coast, in Cairns and at Uluru. Clearly, Kimkim made arrangements with reputable companies.
We did not want to drive in Australia, since we're not used to driving on the left, so we really appreciated the drivers that picked us up at airports and hotels.
We were really happy with our accommodations. Amazing breakfasts were included, and the hotels in Sydney and Gold Coast had laundry facilities in the room, which was so handy.
We downloaded the kimkim app so we could access details of each step of our trip. I did have some questions about excursions along the way, so it was handy to have phone numbers for the tour operators. I had no trouble finding answers. The kimkim team was also available through a chat feature on the app, and that came in handy.
We're not sure where we'll go next, but we're sure we'll ask Kimkim to help us plan the trip.

Hotel Review
Mantra 2 Bond Street
Sydney

Great location for exploring Sydney. Helpful staff. Comfy, spacious suites and amazing breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walkable to places of interest AND close to light rail and trains.
Staff
Very accomodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sounds of Silence Dinner
Sounds of Silence Dinner
Uluru

We actually did the Wintjiri Wiru gourmet dinner and light show instead of this. Vickie found out about this experience kind of late in our planning, and suggested that we substitute it for the Sounds of Silence - and it was PHENOMENAL!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kings Canyon & Outback Panoramas
Kings Canyon & Outback Panoramas
Uluru

This is a LONG day, but interesting to see a bit more of the Outback. We took a helicopter tour over the canyon, which was really good.

Free Day in Sydney
Free Day in Sydney
Sydney

We toured the Opera House - definitely worth doing. We did the Hop On-Hop Off Big Bus tour, which is informative and interesting - more so than the Hop On Hop Off Ferry. There's narration with the bus - not so for the ferry. And ferry rides are cheap and available individually.

Uluru Camel Tours - Sunset Camel Experience
Uluru Camel Tours - Sunset Camel Experience
Uluru

This was so much fun - definitely a highlight of our trip! The staff is so helpful and they make the ride so enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway + Kuranda Scenic Railway
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway + Kuranda Scenic Railway
Cairns

The vintage train ride is amazing. The train itself is fun and the scenery is spectacular.

Quality of Experience
Transport
Down Under Cruise with Gold Class Lounge
Down Under Cruise with Gold Class Lounge
Cairns

Unfortunately, my husband got seasick, but I had a great time and am proud to say I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Southern Cross Tours - Natural Bridge & Springbrook Waterfalls Tour
Australia

Our guide actually lives in the area that we toured, so she had lots of inside information and good stories.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Unchartered Blue Mountains Tour
Unchartered Blue Mountains Tour
Sydney

Beautiful scenery and good information about the First Nations people.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rocks Walking Tour
Rocks Walking Tour
Sydney

Very interesting historical area of Sydney. Lots of good stories.

Quality of Experience
Hunter Valley Food and Wine Lovers Tour
Hunter Valley Food and Wine Lovers Tour
Sydney

Enjoyed not only the wines, but the countryside as we travelled to the wineries. Driver/Guide provided lots of information about the area.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Jul 21, 2023

Hi Jane,

Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. I cant tell you how happy I am that you had such an amazing experience.

Sounds like the hotels were a great fit and you enjoyed so many bucket list activities. Riding camels in Uluru!!! How incredible.

And you loved Wintiji Wiru, I am so happy I upgraded you last minute. I will be sure to use this in future itineraries.

I cant thank you enough for letting me a part of this experience. If you ever come to New Zealand let me know :).

Take care

Vickie

We had a great 2 weeks in South Island, NZ
New Zealand | Jun 22 - Jul 3, 2023

Jack
Jack M.
Plano, TX | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2023
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... Read more

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
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….
Local specialist: Sabina Din
Sabina
Sabina Din
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Aug 03, 2023

Hi Jack,

Thank you so much for your feedback. I am so glad you and your family were able to do everything you wanted and it was a lovely trip for you all! The Glaciers and Milford are 2 of my favorite parts of the south island. It is great you had the chance to see how majestic and beautiful the country is. Good luck to Will in his time studying in New Zealand following your trip!

Sabina

Incredible South Island birthday trip — would totally book with them again!
New Zealand | May 12 - May 22, 2023

S
Samantha L.
Chatham, NY | Reviewed on Jun 16, 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
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 and friendly 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
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
Local specialist: Liz Wilson
Liz
Liz Wilson
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Jun 19, 2023

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!

We can't wait to go back to New Zealand!!
New Zealand | Apr 1 - Apr 17, 2023

Katharine
Katharine V.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
Vickie did a great job of helping us the few times things didn't go according to plan, which was very reassuring. When we got Covid at the end of the trip, her colleague helped us figure out a change of plans to allow us time to recuperate before getting on a plane. The hotels that we needed to work from had excellent wifi quality and breakfasts with good varieties of food. We especially liked Rydges in Queenstown for its beautiful view. We loved our canyoning trip in Queenstown and our... Read more

Vickie did a great job of helping us the few times things didn't go according to plan, which was very reassuring. When we got Covid at the end of the trip, her colleague helped us figure out a change of plans to allow us time to recuperate before getting on a plane.

The hotels that we needed to work from had excellent wifi quality and breakfasts with good varieties of food. We especially liked Rydges in Queenstown for its beautiful view.

We loved our canyoning trip in Queenstown and our helicopter ride over Milford Sound. Our driver on the way home from the airport after the ride went above and beyond when I realized I'd left my bum bag at the airport only when we got back to the hotel, and he offered to drive us all the way back to the airport to allow us to fetch it that afternoon. I do wish we'd known that the helicopter ride was going to land on a beach with sand flies, as I would've applied bug spray ahead of time if I'd known.

Having a private tour of Te Papa just for the two of us on my birthday was quite a treat! In retrospect, though, I think we should have switched the order of the days around Easter since Te Papa was open on Easter but few wineries were. It made for a challenging day of wine tasting on Easter with so few available options and everyone wanting to get into Poppies - our lunch time reservation ended up being at 2pm, and there were limited other options for tasting before then because some places wouldn't let you taste without also requiring that you eat a cheese plate as well. We appreciated the efforts that our driver made to make the day special for us nonetheless, and it was an unexpected treat to have a private wine tour that day. Thank you for the birthday champagne!

As it turned out, admission to the Carter Observatory/Space Place in Wellington wasn't free. There was some confusion over our reservation there, as the staff wasn't familiar with reservation numbers in the format we gave them. We called your office to try to troubleshoot this on the day of, and were told that the museum entrance was free, we would just need to pay for any additional activities we wanted to do while there. We appreciated the prompt service we received, especially given that it was Good Friday. As it turned out, we had to pay to access the exhibits, as well as to attend the planetarium show.

We really enjoyed our hangi dinner, which was delicious, and found the experience much more authentic than, say, the Hawaiian luaus we've attended before. We also really enjoyed exploring Te Puia, including seeing the artists at work and seeing the kiwi enclosure. We were annoyed by our fellow guests at Zealandia who couldn't figure out how to turn off their cameras for the night tour. Given that photos probably wouldn't have turned out well at night without flash anyway, I wish that Zealandia would just have a no cameras policy and leave it at that instead of having to constantly stop and correct people for incorrectly using their cameras for making too much light/noise.

We loved the Waitomo glow worm caves and appreciated their no-photos rule. It was incredible to be in such a sacred, special space. Agrodome was a ton of fun! We enjoyed feeding the animals and learning all about the different breeds of sheep.

Hotel Reviews
Sudima Christchurch Airport

We had only planned to stay here one night before our flight, and it would've been perfect for that. As it turned out, we ended up spending six nights here as we recovered from COVID, and while it wasn't glamorous, it worked pretty well for that too. Having separate beds worked well while we tried (in vain) not to get each other sick. We appreciated having the courtyard view outside our room, and were grateful that despite the proximity to the airport there was no noise of planes flying overhead. We partook of the included breakfast on our first morning only, and appreciated that they let me bring a full plate back to my sick husband in the room. I also made use of the guest coin-op laundry facilities (soap was free, they made change for us at the front desk.) There was a screen tracking all of the departures so you knew if your flight was delayed/cancelled. A shuttle bus was available to drive you to the airport, but it was only a 10-20 minute walk across the street. In addition to breakfast service there was also a restaurant on-site and room service available, but they seemed pricey for what they offered. On one of our work days I had to work from the lounge while my husband worked from the room. With headphones I was able to block out most of the ambient noise and lounge music, but it wasn't an ideal place to work. I didn't investigate whether there were outlets to plug in at in the outdoor courtyard spaces.

Location
As an airport hotel, you can't ask for a better location. Walking distance to the airport, without any air traffic noise. As a COVID recovery facility, it also had its perks. It is near a shopping center with several fast casual restaurants, so we got takeout from a different restaurant each night for the week. There's also a coffee shop where we got breakfast, a grocery store where we got some snacks, and a pharmacy where we got cough medicines and COVID tests. And when we were better, on the morning before our flight, we went to the next door Antarctica Center to visit the penguins and husky dogs and see the 4D movie experience of touring Antarctica - highly recommend!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hermitage Hotel
Mount Cook Village

I wish we'd had more time here to properly enjoy this gorgeous room and space! We had a lounge area that faced the window with a fabulous view of Mt. Cook. We had the room at the end of the hallway, so we also had a view across to the mountains on the other side of the room through some smaller windows as well. The room was well thought out with a padded bench seat immediately inside the door for putting on/taking off shoes so that you could keep your room clean. The included buffet dinner had plenty of delicious choices. Unfortunately, we got an early start before breakfast the following morning so we didn't get to sample the breakfast buffet as well. We will be back on our next trip to try to stargaze without clouds again!

Location
The view out of our room was absolutely stunning!
Staff
When our stargazing tour was cancelled I truly got the sense that the guide was as genuinely disappointed as we were, and appreciated that they were trying to do everything they could to make it right for us.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bolton Hotel Wellington
Wellington

Our stay at the Bolton was very comfortable! The bed was cozy and there was plenty of room to spread out and for both of us to work from the room. We appreciated that on our work day we could each separately reach the bathroom without interrupting the other's work. We found it a bit odd that there were no drawers to unpack in, nor a room safe, but there was a spacious closet with a small set of shelves. Breakfast offered more variety, with eggs cooked to order and fresh fruit. By this point in the trip I had realized that New Zealand milk wasn't sitting well with me, and I was able to request soy milk as an alternative from the staff each morning.

Location
It was convenient that the walk from the top of the botanic gardens ended up easily coming back to the hotel. If we'd had business at parliament, this location would've been perfect. It was less convenient to Te Papa/Cuba St sights.
Staff
Chatty, well humored, accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The spacious bathroom had a separate shower and very deep soaking tub. The separate living area was a comfortable place to work. Having in-unit laundry was very handy - it was great that soap was provided for the machine and that we could ask for more as needed. We weren't used to a single machine that did both wash and dry, so we appreciated that they also provided a spacious drying rack for the things we wanted to avoid machine drying by hand washing.
Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Rotorua

Everyone at this hotel was very friendly and accommodating. The bed was very comfortable, the room was spacious with a desk, drawers to unpack in, a closet with room safe, and a shower/tub combo. The air conditioner kept the room itself fresh, even though the Rotorua sulfur smell did pervade the hotel. Breakfast lacked variety for a long stay (I got the impression people were surprised that we were staying for five nights) and the dinner we had at the hotel restaurant was disappointing quality for the price.

Location
Our room had a distant view of the lake and was an easy walk into town to get our SIM card, get dinners, etc. Would've been easy to go to Polynesian Spa if we'd chosen to do so, was a quick walk to the lake, and to the public park.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was exceedingly comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Skyline Queenstown - Gondola and Buffet Dinner
Skyline Queenstown - Gondola and Buffet Dinner
Queenstown (NZ)

The gondola ride obviously provided a beautiful view, and the view from the restaurant was equally spectacular. The food was pretty good (not great), and there was certainly plenty of it with plenty of choices. You won't leave hungry. Overall, though, it's hard to do food on a buffet of a quality that justifies the price they charged. Overall we felt that we were paying for the view rather than the meal.

Quality of Experience
Better quality food to justify the price, though that's very tough on a buffet and serving that many people.
Food
I would have preferred fewer dishes with more attention paid to each one. I also would have liked a greater variety of fresh vegetables -- most of the dishes on offer felt quite heavy.
Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Appellation Boutique Wine Tour
Queenstown (NZ)

It felt a bit more scripted and didn't feel quite as special as our first wine tour, but that's also the difference between being on a private tour and a group tour. The wineries we visited were all quite nice. Lunch and some of the tasting/buying experiences felt a bit rushed, and even in that context we got back later than expected. The quality of lunch was good and we particularly appreciated the restaurant's flexibility re: accommodating the request for a dairy-free meal on the fly. The guides were both friendly and did their best to give points of interest to keep us entertained, but it's tough to find things that are interesting and/or novel to an entire group.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Martinborough Wine Tour
Martinborough Wine Tour
Wellington

This was a lovely day -- being on a private tour allowed our guide to tailor the day to what we expressed interest in, which he did very well. He was friendly and accommodating, making us glad to spend time with him. The one difficulty was the tour was booked on Easter, which meant that some wineries weren't open and some weren't serving wine unless you also ordered a meal. This meant that those that were open (particularly the location where we ate lunch) were more crowded than usual, since the demand for wine tasting didn't exactly go down just because it was a holiday. This would have been helpful to know when planning out our overall itinerary -- we could have easily done this a different day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and helpful, he really made an effort (within the constraints of what was available on Easter) to give us experiences in which we expressed interest.
Transport
Nothing particularly fancy, but clean and comfortable. No complaints.
Depart New Zealand
Depart New Zealand
New Zealand

Air New Zealand was a fantastic airline to fly with. On every flight they gave us hard candies at the end of the flight to help relieve the pressure on our ears. On our international flights we were well fed (they even poured NZ wine for free at dinner!) and reasonably comfortable, even in economy. The flight attendants were much friendlier than their US counterparts: when there wasn't overhead space above our bulkhead seats, at first we put our bags up a few rows behind us. As we neared landing, we worried about the delay this would cause, so we asked a flight attendant if there was any room in the overheads in front of us. Not only did they find room, but they took our bags from us and put them up, and then brought them back to us upon landing! Even the difference in baggage handling was striking - in NZ our bag was carefully machine loaded onto the ramp. Once we landed in LAX and had to recheck our bag for our final domestic flight it was unceremoniously tossed upside down onto the belt, making us worry whether our bottles of NZ wine and duty free Aussie rum were going to survive the final leg - fortunately they did! The only problem with departing with New Zealand is that we never wanted to leave and can't wait to return!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit the Te Papa Museum
Visit the Te Papa Museum
Wellington

What a treat to have a private tour just for the two of us! We weren't expecting that, but it made our experience at this incredible museum extra special. I appreciated that our guide asked what aspects of the museum we were most interested in seeing, and then she personalized the tour accordingly. You could easily spend all day and then some exploring everything in this collection! I most enjoyed the natural sciences section as well as the unique, large fiber arts installations made from everyday materials like tarps, road signs, ropes, and truck tie-down lashings. I also enjoyed learning about the beautiful modern carved marae and that the Maori concept of genealogy includes the type of work you do. The carved figures that attempt to represent us all through all the various sorts of work portrayed were very interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-Guided Exploration of Rotorua
Self-Guided Exploration of Rotorua
Rotorua

We enjoyed wandering around Kirau Park and the free thermal features there. The big geyser at Te Puia was certainly more impressive, but if you're on a budget, you can definitely get a sense for the steaming waters and bubbling mud for free at Kirau - and you can soak your feet in the hot water if you are so inclined. Te Puia was special because of the artisans at work who were happy to talk to you about their studies, and because of the kiwi bird enclosure on the property. I'm glad we did both! We went for a hike along the Okere Falls Track, driving to the Okere Falls Scenic Reserve Parking lot and following the Kaituna River upstream to the Tutea and Trout Pool Falls. We patiently waited for a rafting trip to come down Tutea falls, and while we weren't able to see a raft we did see several kayaks take the intense plunge down the falls. For the walk back, we took the ridge trail which had beautiful scenic views at the top, but was more exposed to the sun than the river trail we'd started on. Recommend sunscreen and bug spray if you also decide to take both trails.

Quality of Experience
Explore Queenstown on Your Own
Explore Queenstown on Your Own
Queenstown (NZ)

We explored the botanical gardens and walked around Lake Wakatipu a bit, enjoying the beautiful scenery. We enjoyed a soak at the Onsen hot tub spa at night, which was a lovely, relaxing treat. They had a nice selection of tasty bites and drinks that were included with our tub time. We had very yummy burgers at Miss Lucy's at the top of the Jucy Snooze hostel. We had very overrated, disappointing burgers at Fergburger. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait in too long a line for them because we waited until 9pm instead of going when the crowds stretch halfway down the block.

Own Arrangements exploring Wellington
Own Arrangements exploring Wellington
Wellington

We explored the botanical gardens, which were a beautiful downhill walk from the top of the cable car all the way back to the Bolton Hotel. We also were chocolatiers for the day at the Wellington Chocolate Factory on Eva Street, where we got to make three of our own custom chocolate bars and enjoy a cup of their hot chocolate. I appreciated that they were thoughtful in accommodating non-dairy guests with oat milk hot chocolate. It was fun learning all about the chocolate making process from bean all the way to wrapping in fancy painted papers.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Queenstown Adventurer Canyon Tour
Queenstown Adventurer Canyon Tour
Queenstown (NZ)

I loved every bit of this incredible experience! It was so much fun, and the guides took such good care of us. I'll need to do some wet suit yoga to prepare myself for my next canyoning outing, as the flexibility required for climbing in the wet suit was the most challenging part. My only suggestion is that, while it was a nice touch to give us a warm beverage at the end of the trip, they should've provided lids for the cups before we got in the van for the ride back!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff worked heard to learn our names within the 4-hour outing, and were keeping a close eye on our safety and physical limitations at all times. Plus, they looked like they were genuinely having a ton of fun at their job.
Transport
I appreciated the steps they took to keep the van clean and dry: they had us rinse our feet in a bucket before we got back in the van, and we sat on chair covers to keep the seats dry.
Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance
Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance
Rotorua

I particularly enjoyed the stations that we visited at the beginning of the evening, learning about different aspects of Maori culture. Though I am terrible at throwing poi, it was fun to learn. I appreciate how immersive the experience was, as this helped us truly feel like family by the end of the night. I also enjoyed learning about the games that children play, and watching the men learn the haka. The performance was beautiful - everyone was so talented! Dinner was delicious! It was interesting learning where all of the various tourists were from. My aunt mentioned that when she'd visited NZ in the past she'd attended a dinner like this and they'd had everyone sing their national anthems. I much preferred the version done at our dinner, where the hosts sang a song by a famous artist from each country. It made it easier for everyone to join in the fun.

Quality of Experience
It felt very authentic, much more so than any commercialized luau I've ever been to.
Food
I was nervous that I wasn't going to like the food, because I worried that it would taste strange if it was cooked in the sulfuric steam that pervades the area. I was pleasantly surprised that all of the food, especially the pavlova for dessert, was absolutely delicious! And there was a ton of food, so if you didn't care for one course you would still be very well fed.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I liked how friendly everyone was, how they came around at dinner to ask if we had any questions. It was lovely to feel so warmly welcomed and part of the family for the evening.
Transport
The bus that picked us up from the hotel was very comfortable.
Agrodome Farm Show and Farm Tour Combo
Agrodome Farm Show and Farm Tour Combo
Rotorua

So much fun! We enjoyed the sheep show, the farm tour, and the gift shop. The sheep dog trial was a bit brief.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
New Zealand

We loved that no photos were allowed so that we had to just be in the moment and enjoy this special place. Even though the recent rains/floods raised the water levels in the cave and cut back on the number of visible glow worms, we still found the experience of floating under their starry sky absolutely magical. We also enjoyed exploring the cave before we got to the worm section, including learning how the early explorers had ventured into the cave with ropes before the stairs were carved out.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dave did a great job driving! ;)
Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary Night Tour
Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary Night Tour
Wellington
Quality of Experience
Zealandia is a really special place, and seeing it at night allowed us to see critters that might've hid from us during the day. Our guides were incredibly informative and passionate about the species that are being restored. It was unfortunate that others in our group didn't follow the directions about noise/light so we weren't able to fully enjoy the experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide and her spotter did an excellent job of pointing out as many special critters as they could. When we weren't able to spot a kiwi in the wild, they treated us to an opportunity to pet kiwi feathers after the fact, and we got to warm up with a cup of tea brewed with the leaves of a plant we'd learned about on the tour when we returned to our home base. I thought these were both very nice touches at the end of the evening.
Wellington Cable Car & Carter Observatory
Wellington Cable Car & Carter Observatory
Wellington

Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate, so we weren't able to take advantage of the telescope at the observatory. We did enjoy learning how to navigate with the Southern Cross, which we saw several times throughout our trip. One thing you should know is that the observatory was not free admission. To gain entry to the exhibits was one price, and then the planetarium shows were a bit extra. Unfortunately, the cable car didn't run very late on Good Friday, so we weren't able to use it to get back up the hill for our evening at the observatory. We did use it earlier in the day to explore the botanical gardens though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
There was a bit of a mix-up with our confirmation number at the Cable Car, but the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful in getting it resolved.
Milford Sound 90min Scenic Flight w/2x Landing
Milford Sound 90min Scenic Flight w/2x Landing
Queenstown (NZ)

This was the highlight of the trip! I'm so glad that the weather worked out and allowed for our trip to fly. I'm glad we had the afternoon free to allow for the flexibility to go later in the day when our morning flight time didn't quite have the weather clearance yet. Flying in a helicopter provided such a close-up view of the incredible scenery, I'm definitely going to consider adding helicopter flights to future trip itineraries :)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The return driver went above and beyond, driving us back to the airport after I realized I left my bum bag behind when we got back to the hotel. It was also fun to hear his suggestions for where we should plan to ride helicopters on our next vacations!
Local specialist: Vickie Parrack
Vickie
Vickie Parrack
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on May 29, 2023

Hi both,

What a lovely review. I am so pleased you had such a wonderful trip and a great birthday. I hope the surprise champagne went down well!

I had so much fun working with you and if you ever are over this side of the world in the future please let me know.

Take care

Vickie

New Zealand honeymoon - April 2023
New Zealand | Apr 6 - Apr 19, 2023

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Eric F.
New Orleans, LA | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Sabina Din
Sabina
Sabina Din
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on Aug 03, 2023

Hi Eric!

Thank you for this lovely review. I feel privileged to have been able to help you build your dream Honeymoon vacation. The marmite question made me laugh! I love being able to give my advice and tips to make sure your trip is the best it can be. Congratulations to you and Alexa on your marriage!

Accommodations: 1) April 5-8: Pros: The Wat...
New Zealand | Apr 5 - Apr 19, 2023

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Gary B.
Lakewood, CO | Reviewed on May 03, 2023
Accommodations:
1) April 5-8: Pros: The Waters B & B: Excellent; private, comfortable, fantastic views, well appointed, romantic, amazing in unit breakfast, quiet. Cons: Had to drive to restaurants but small price to pay for this very special B&B. Would highly recommend.
2) April 8-10: Pros: The Peppertree B&B: Quaint, beautiful grounds, quiet, amazing communal breakfast. We had fun conversations, Heidi, the owner was terrific and helpful. Cons: Had to drive into town for any...
Read more

Accommodations:
1) April 5-8: Pros: The Waters B & B: Excellent; private, comfortable, fantastic views, well appointed, romantic, amazing in unit breakfast, quiet. Cons: Had to drive to restaurants but small price to pay for this very special B&B. Would highly recommend.
2) April 8-10: Pros: The Peppertree B&B: Quaint, beautiful grounds, quiet, amazing communal breakfast. We had fun conversations, Heidi, the owner was terrific and helpful. Cons: Had to drive into town for any restaurants, etc.; clean but older room furnishings, needed portable heaters which worked fine, pool is not operational, exercise room is in a shed that is open to the elements.
3) April 10-12: Furneaux Lodge: Pros: Fantastic grounds, terrific one story end unit with great views and privacy, well appointed, clean, great and helpful staff, good restaurant on site with reasonable prices considering everything must be boated in, easy access to hikes. Would highly recommend.
4) April 12-14: Distinction Hotel: Pros: Excellent full service hotel, great location, on-site parking, well appointed rooms, easy access to many restaurants, bars and other services/shopping.
Cons: No exercise facility. They now use a gym a block away. Would highly recommend.
5) April 14-17: Te Anau Lodge: Pros: Excellent staff, helpful and friendly, average B&B breakfast definitely inferior to The Waters and Peppertree, beautiful grounds.
Cons: Very small room and tiny bath (3'6"' x 8'+/-) The room backed up to the kitchen with the staff staring to make breakfast at 5:30 AM...we could hear them. Needed a car to get into town. No amenities. Much better accommodations in town with walking distance to restaurants and shops. I would NOT recommend.
6) April 17-18: Doubtful Sound/Southern Secret overnight boat: Pros: An absolutely fantastic experience. Adequate accommodations but that is not why you go on this excursion. Unbelievable views, terrific crew, met wonderful guests.
This is a must do.
7) April 18-19: Te Anu Lodge: We arrived back in Te Anau around 12: 30 PM. We did not stay at the booked Te Anau Lodge there as it made absolutely no sense to be there and then drive 2+ hours to Queenstown in the morning to catch a flight to Auckland and then back to LA and then to Denver. In our opinion, this was a gross error on Chelsea's part. We subsequently drove to Queenstown after we arrived in Te Anau and booked lodging (double expense since Te Anau Lodge was already paid for).
Activities:
April 5-8: Abel Tasman Natl Park: Wilson's Touring company: Kayaking one day and boat tour which dropped us off for a hike back to Apple Tree Bay. Very well organized company. Well trained staff and the kayak adventure and hike were very fun. Would recommend
April 8-10: Wine tour: We asked Chelsea to book us a private wine tour, after literally weeks we never heard back from her and kept inquiring in which she said she had not heard back from the tour company. Disappointing. I booked a wine tour on line with no problem. The wine tour was excellent.
April 10-12: Furneaux Lodge: Took a 12 KM hike from Punga Lodge back to Furneaux. Would recommend
April 12-14: Dunedin: Private tour of Larnach Castle and communal boat tour to view Albatross then an on land tour of the penguins. Very fun and well organized. Our tour guide, John was friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend.
April 14-17: Te Anau: Glow Worm tour and next day Jet boat tour: Both were fun, interesting and we would highly recommend both activities. 2 hour hike on the Kepler track after the Jet boat tour.
April 17-18: Doubtful Sound/Southern Secret overnight boat excursion: A must do.
Transportation:
All forms of transportation and transfers were well arranged and had our reservations. However, the plane from Blenheim to Dunedin was originally to depart at 1:30 PM and we got notification that it would depart at 4:15 PM. We contacted Chelsea and she confirmed the plane would depart at 1:30 PM. Since we had conflicting information we called Air New Zealand (no easy feat getting through to them) and it was confirmed to be at 4:15 PM.
Also, Chelsea said we were to meet our Doubtful Sound van at the Te Anau Holiday Park but also stated in the app that we were to be picked up. We called and tour company and confirmed we were to be picked up at our lodging.
Overall, Chelsea did a good job but it should be know that we gave her the itinerary we wanted which was from another travel agent we had booked the tour with in 2020 but were unable to go due to Covid.

Hotel Reviews
Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Te Anau Lodge
Te Anau
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Distinction Dunedin Hotel
Dunedin
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Peppertree
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Waters Bed & Breakfast
Tasman
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Depart New Zealand
Depart New Zealand
New Zealand

After the Doubtful Sound excersion we were booked to stay again in the Te Anau Lodge. The next day we would have to drive 2+ hours to Queenstown to begin our journey home. We realized this made no sense. So after we were dropped off after the cruise we drove straight to Queenstown and booked a hotel in Queenstown. We had to pay for double bookings. This should have been planned by Chelsea.

Quality of Experience
Doubtful Sound Overnight ex Te Anau with Fiordland Cruises
Doubtful Sound Overnight ex Te Anau with Fiordland Cruises
New Zealand

A must do experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking tracks in and around Te Anau
Walking tracks in and around Te Anau
Te Anau
Quality of Experience
Pure Wilderness Jet Boat with Fiordland Jet
Pure Wilderness Jet Boat with Fiordland Jet
New Zealand
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Te Anau and Manapouri
Te Anau and Manapouri
New Zealand
Quality of Experience
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Castle to Cruise Tour & Penguin Place
Castle to Cruise Tour & Penguin Place
Dunedin
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula
Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula
Dunedin
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Marlborough and Sounds
Marlborough and Sounds
New Zealand
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Blenheim
Explore Blenheim
Blenheim

Chelsea was supposed to book a private tour but said the tour company never got back to her. We booked a tour on line in about a 1/2 hour of research.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wilsons - Abel Tasman National Park Cruise and Walk
Wilsons - Abel Tasman National Park Cruise and Walk
New Zealand
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Beaches, Bays and Seals Guided Sea Kayaking Trip Including Picnic Lunch
Beaches, Bays and Seals Guided Sea Kayaking Trip Including Picnic Lunch
New Zealand
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Chelsea Lodge
Chelsea
Chelsea Lodge
Local specialist in Wanaka | Replied on May 15, 2023
Hi Gary and Mary,
Thank you so much for your very thorough feedback on all the accommodation and on elements of your New Zealand Holiday.
I am sorry there was confusion around the Air New Zealand flight, I was just going with what Air New Zealand had informed me but obviously there was some misinformation sent in their emails so I am pleased you were able to get this sorted as the original flight times fitted in much better with the itinerary. I was never informed that you had chosen to... Read more

Hi Gary and Mary,
Thank you so much for your very thorough feedback on all the accommodation and on elements of your New Zealand Holiday.

I am sorry there was confusion around the Air New Zealand flight, I was just going with what Air New Zealand had informed me but obviously there was some misinformation sent in their emails so I am pleased you were able to get this sorted as the original flight times fitted in much better with the itinerary.

I was never informed that you had chosen to make the change to your Te Anau final night and this was just going off your previous itinerary but I am pleased this worked well for you. Sometimes it is nice to come off the overnight and have a relaxing evening as we do find that the overnight boat can be quite exhausting.

I hope you had a wonderful time in New Zealand and perhaps can come back in the future to visit the locations you were unable to see this time.

Regards,
Chelsea