Michelle Deserves at least 6 Stars Trip
New Zealand
|
Nov 18 - Nov 30, 2025
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Activity Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks so much for taking the time to provide such a detailed review of your time in New Zealand and I am thrilled to hear you had such an outstanding trip. It also warms my heart to hear that you love our country and people, we do have some of the friendliest people in the world and we really enjoy when visitors notice and appreciate this. Happy future travels!