Thank you, Kathrin! You made our New Zealand trip really special
New Zealand
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Nov 28 - Dec 8, 2025
What a great trip! All of the logistics were seamless and made our travel simpler. Kathrin is fantastic. We didn’t have to focus on the little details (like how will I get from the airport to the hotel or from the hotel to town), that was especially great in the moments when we were the most tired and disoriented. Poof! You’re settled in your hotel room and you have time to get your bearings, figure out what you’d like to see and do, maybe even take a moment to relax and enjoy the view. I’ve never had a vacation like that before. All of our activities were curated based on our interests, with tweaks in the planning phase to be sure we made the most of our time in this new place.
Things weren’t perfect, I don’t think that’s possible. Some locations or activities didn’t match our expectations and some events were cancelled due to weather. In retrospect, it’s easy to see where some details were lost in communication—on both ends—but this was a brand-new experience for everyone. We’ve never been to New Zealand and we’ve never travelled like this, meaning we’ve always managed all of our plans and arrangements. There’s a lot of information and preferences in my head that I didn’t think to communicate. And, even though you do this for a living, you’ve never done it for us before. You don’t know us or what we like, but you sure tried really hard to figure us out and accommodate our requests. We’re very grateful for that.
Even when things went wrong or were mildly disappointing, it was still an amazing adventure. How could it be otherwise? We were exploring a new place that is absolutely stunning and is home to really kind and friendly people. Rainy day? Cancelled hike? Time to go for a drive and enjoy the scenery, maybe get a cup of coffee and people watch.
We really appreciate everything you did for us. You were so thorough and thoughtful. Thank you!
Some highlights:
Doubtful Sound. The sound is gorgeous but we also enjoyed the bus ride there. There were so many rainbows!
TranzAlpine Train. Every bit of that day was outstanding. We were booked at the Scenic Plus fare which meant our own table with lots of delicious local food and drinks. The attendants were delightful. After a couple of hours of luxury travel we got off the train and hiked around Arthur’s Pass, then more food and drink on the ride back to Christchurch.
Waiheke Island. The hop-on/hop-off bus was good. We chose to go to a winery that was off the main route so we had to use a local bus and walk for a bit. It was totally worth it. We were the only people there. We sat on a deck with a beautiful view (including highland cows!) and enjoyed yummy wine and cheese.
Glowworm cave and kayak trip. Tom was our guide. He was really personable and patient, he had to deal with three inexperienced kayakers and it was pretty windy. He cooked for us, told us stories and kept the conversation going. We were treated to an enormous, orange moonrise. Spectacular! And the stars. Then we got to see the glowworms, so cool. We were soaked to the bone and really tired, but we loved it.
Lupines. They’re beautiful. It’s a shame they’re an introduced species.
Driving. There are views everywhere! It was nice taking it all in.
Hotel Reviews
Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are really helpful.
Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are really helpful.
Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean.
Decor and some of the amenities (no USB outlets) are dated, but everything is spotlessly clean and the staff are really helpful.
Super modern and clean. Very attentive staff. But everyone was very helpful.
Activity Reviews
Staff and guides were super communicative. We knew exactly what to expect and where to go and they provided a lot of information about NZ history and culture
Fun, but a little too long. The boats were fun and so was the rafting, but taking an extended lunch break wasn't necessary. Maybe it would have been more enjoyable if the weather was nicer, but it was raining and I think most people would have preferred to end the trip.
The mud baths were soothing
Hard to rate the experience because it was cloudy, which is obviously not their fault. They provided a VR experience instead of stargazing, it wasn't very interesting to me.
Great! Luxurious. Really lovely attendants and absolutely delicious food.
We had a nice time and we enjoyed learning about the Maori culture. The entire experience felt a little exploitative to us. We were glad to support the Maori.
Really beautiful nighttime adventure. The glowworms were cool, but just a small part of it.
Terrifying and fun all at once.
The ferry to Waiheke was relaxing with pretty views. The hop-on hop-off tour was cute and allowed many opportunities to explore the island.