Once Upon a Trip

Overall, we had a great experience with the outings planned by our kimkim travel agent, Michelle. She gave some good insights that we would not have known about (like a marathon in Queenstown the original date we wanted to go). The accommodations were nice in Auckland and in Queenstown the views were amazing. We appreciate the help with planning out our trip.

Our trip to New Zealand was a great success and this is the most important, far more than some difficulties during preparation phase.

Good things first:
- Complete timing was good; we followed the schedule, attended all planned activities and we even added some additional ones.
- Hotels were all appropriate, the Lake Ohau Lodge was very different and somehow unique with their group dinner, but we enjoyed this one also
- All organized transportations were correct and timely
- Both rentacars were good and spacious; the roads on both islands are good without too much traffic, so I did not have problems driving on the left side
- Both organized walking tours were good, guides very professional and knowledgeable
- I like to specially mention Wine tour in Wellington, which was exceptional. We had great fun and we learned much more then just pure facts about wine and the region
- All included activities were good; our highlight activities were Tasman glacier cruise and Te Puia geysers in Rotorua.

In preparation phase we had to invest much more of our time as in any other of our previous Kimkim trips. Kathrin was always eager to help, but there were various reasons we had more problems than usual
- At very beginning we proposed to base our trip on one already prepared trip published on Kimkim but we ended up with fairly different final plan.
- This caused a lot of communication and modifications, and 12 hours’ time difference was the main reason that preparation took much longer than expected
- Some unfortunate mistakes happened during the preparation phase too, but as I said previously the important point is that we had very nice trip to New Zealand.

Best regards

Zvonko

Michelle, taking a break at the Westwood lodge after the Heli Hike today and thought we should give you some feedback so far. In a word, AWESOME!
We enjoyed Christchurch on our own, walking 10 miles both days we were there. The Earthquake Museum is worth it and the Tram hop on hop off also a good idea especially for those who don't want to walk 10 miles a day. We had a tremendous meal at 27 steps in CC. Also, the roses in the Botanical gardens were spectacular.
The train ride to Greymouth was terrific too. We wound up with three breakfasts basically and barely recovered before they fed us lunch. The scenery was awe inspiring and the audio tour pretty good if a bit long near the end. Rental Car is pretty cool.
Probably the best part of the trip so far has been Selwyn and Elizabeth at the Awatuna Lodge. We ate dinner there the first night and it was so good we did again the second. I doubt you'll find a better restaurant meal anywhere. They sat with us both nights for Cocktail hour and have super interesting pasts. The view from their place is beautiful overlooking a wild beach.
The bike ride was pretty spectacular, especially going through the rain forest. It was a bit more challenging than expected. The distance is deceiving. The elevation changes are pretty big so we had to walk the bikes some and go really slow on the steeper downhills. Also, a bit rougher. Great experience, but at the upper bound of our abilities. "easy" apparently has different definition in NZ!
Drive to Franz Joseph was a bit of an adventure because we left some stuff in a closet at Awatuna and had to double back. No worries. Made our Kayak trip and enjoyed the guides and the lake.
Westwood Lodge is good, but nothing really can compare to Elizabeth and Selwyn.
We have gotten super lucky on the weather everywhere. Had a bit of rain to start our bike ride but that stopped after 2 hours and were fine. Yesterday it rained all day when we were driving but stopped as soon as we got to the Kayak site. We had one of the best days anyone could remember today for our Glacier hike. Heli Hike was a hit too. Everyone was great and hike itself just the right amount of challenge and time. It's just a unique experience.
Last, we have really enjoyed the people everywhere. NZ is a beautiful place filled with genuinely nice people. We've met more great people from the AU, Britian, and for some reason, tons of Dutch!
We'll check in later as we head into our next adventures.
Kevin and Marge
Michelle, just wanted to let you know the rest of the trip has gone smashingly well. Wanaka was so interesting, and you were right about the 4-wheel drive adventure. We had 5+ hours with a native Kiwi and learned everything about your country. The Alpine Resort Wanaka accommodations were our least favorite of the 4. Not a good walk to town and we had a couple of minor issues with the unit we had. It is a great place for folks who have kids though. For us the more intimate setting of a B&B is best. Which brings us to our second favorite stop the Monte Cristo. What a treat. The staff was fantastic, the wine tasting really fun and the location is beautiful. The two bike rides out of Clyde were fun but pretty challenging. Especially the one around the lake. E bikes were a must. We would never have made it pedaling. The track is pretty challenging, and we got to experience lovely 75KMH NZ winds. We were fine if not a bit tired. The second day ride was the opposite. Flat to downhill the whole way with a huge tail wind. Very different landscape. I would recommend both trips just let folks know it will be challenging.
The fly-cruise-fly was also another unbelievable experience. We got lucky that they had a lot of rain before we came so the waterfalls were spectacular. The flights were a lot of fun too especially with Ben our pilot looking like our son in law.
We're in Queeenstown now staying at spectacular place, the Queenstown Park Boutique. People are just as nice as all the other places and it's a great location.
Thank you again for an outstanding trip. We love your country and your people.
Cheers
Kevin and Marge

Hotel Reviews

Awatuna Homestead

Hokitika

Awatuna Homestead, which you referred to as the Sunset Lodge, was absolutely spectacular. The location is breathtaking, right on the beach, and the accommodations are very intimate with just four rooms. The hosts were delightful and provided outstanding meals; we even chose to dine with them twice, which was unplanned. Their cocktail hour for guests was a wonderful way to meet new people and add to the experience. I would highly recommend this place.

Alpine Resort Wanaka

Wanaka

Our stay in Wanaka at Alpine Resort Wanaka was probably our least favorite. The condo had several minor issues, and apparently they were under new management, which may have caused some of the hiccups we experienced. While it might be a good fit for families due to amenities like the pool, the location was not ideal for us. Walking into town was not convenient, making us feel it lacked the personal touch we received elsewhere.

Westwood Lodge

Franz Josef Glacier

Westwood Lodge in Franz Josef Glacier was good. It's more of a ski lodge type setting, which gives it a less personal feel compared to smaller lodgings but it's still very good. We had a satisfactory experience there with no major concerns. It fits well with the vibe of the area and offers a comfortable stay.

Monte Christo Winery

Clyde

Accommodations are 5 star, the staff were spectacular and the view even better it that is possible. Location was perfect for our access to our bike rides. We would highly recommend Monte Christo to anyone staying in the region.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail (from Clyde)

New Zealand

The Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail from Clyde was quite challenging, although we were given ebikes to help. The scenery was beautiful, with some high winds on our ride making it even more of a challenge. It's definitely not the casual ride we expected and should be noted for its difficulty, maybe even compared to the Midwest landscapes. We witnessed an accident which highlighted the need for caution.

Wild Hills 4WD Safari tour

New Zealand

Michelle recommended the Wild Hills 4WD Safari tour, and I was so glad I took her advice. It turned out to be a personal tour with a lifelong New Zealander who shared an incredible wealth of knowledge about the area. The scenery was stunning, and the personal nature of the tour made it a standout experience. Driving around a sheep and cattle farm while learning about the local geography and history was unforgettable.

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Fly Cruise Fly’s scenic flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound was truly spectacular. We were fortunate with the timing, arriving after rains that made the waterfalls along the sound particularly beautiful. The whole experience was breathtaking and one that I would enthusiastically recommend to anyone visiting New Zealand.

Otago Cycling Trail from Clyde

Clyde

The Otago Cycling Trail from Clyde was a really enjoyable ride, mostly downhill and along old railroad tracks, making it the easiest bike trip out of the ones we did. I'd recommend it especially with an ebike for ease, though it's manageable without one. The scenery is stunning and provides a relaxed ride through beautiful landscapes.

I broke my foot the second day of our trip. Monika was able to get me an appointment in less than an hour at a location within a couple of blocks of where we were and make last minute adjustments to our itinerary for accessibility and one cancellation with an alternative option. We still had an amazing trip. We are already discussing another to catch what we missed! She was always friendly, available, personable, and full of good tips and advice on making the most of our time while not over doing it.

Hotel Reviews

Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very centrally located.

Staff

Front desk staff was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

The restaurant menu seemed a bit overpriced. The portion sizes were small, somewhat bland, and not very filling. The restaurant experience was a bit awkward due to staff behavior. Housekeeping staff was very pleasant and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff and housekeeping were wonderful. We felt as if we had committed a social or cultural faux pa when dining in the restaurant, though we were unsure of what we may have done.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

The decor was very odd and not to our taste. We were provided an accessible room, but had to move a heavy couch to make a viable pathway to the bathroom for me on my crutches. The hotel restaurant menu was very limited and not to our palette preferences.

Authenticity & Character

Lots of character- but not our vibe. Some of the color and pattern choices in the lobby, hallways, elevator, and our room were disorienting and frankly painful to the eyes.

Location

The parking garage was too small for their clientele- there were not enough spaces to accommodate us the first night.

Staff

Depending on who was working the counter, sometimes they were helpful and other times seemed bothered by being asked questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongariro Suites

Horopito

The hosts were very attentive and friendly. The food was fantastic and the opportunity to mingle with other guests was lovely. The view was spectacular!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little out of the way, but worth it.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Walton

Richmond Downs

Sue was amazing and coincidentally the other couple who was staying there at the same time also went to Hobbiton and we had wonderful conversation at a fantastic breakfast with fruits from Sue’s orchard. Picturesque grounds and comfortable accommodations. Also, Ted was a highlight. Would be happy to return.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds - beautiful landscaping and fragrant wisteria at the front door.

Location

Proximity to Hobbiton and local cuisine.

Staff

Sue (and her dog Ted)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wellington - Full day Lord of the Rings location tour

Wellington

We were pleasantly surprised to find out this was a private tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dean was absolutely amazing. He was friendly, personable and was completely dedicated to making sure we experienced what we came for. He had the ability to guide the tour while also letting us weigh in on what was important to us to see.

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

As near an experience of full cultural immersion as can be accomplished by a tourist.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it! The singing at the end was a phenomenal moment of connection for all.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jason was an awesome guide! He was passionate about every part of the tour and was very accepting of those who may be less accustomed to being on the water or in caves at night, as well as those needing additional accommodation for physical limitations.

Transport

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

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All Blacks Experience

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff