Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

We were so happy to have connected with Liz! She took the time to get to know us, what we were hoping to do and see in New Zealand and what types of things weren't a priority for us. I love that her expertise of the area gave us the opportunity to experience some really special things that we may not have otherwise known about. The schedule was a perfect balance of booked activities and free time for our own adventures. She worked within our timeline and budget and was super responsive and always helpful!

Liz did and amazing job providing us some amazing and memorable experiences! The heli cruise heli trip to Milford Sound was incredible, as was the PurePod stay, the Akarao nature cruise (where we saw both the world's smallest penguin and the world's smallest dolpin), and the glacier boat experience at Mount Cook! read more

Liz did and amazing job providing us some amazing and memorable experiences! The heli cruise heli trip to Milford Sound was incredible, as was the PurePod stay, the Akarao nature cruise (where we saw both the world's smallest penguin and the world's smallest dolpin), and the glacier boat experience at Mount Cook!

Hotel Reviews

Pohue Pure Pod

Extraordinary experience with amazing views and excellent food! Must be in good shape for the uphill hike to the accomodation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very secluded hilltop near Banks Peninsula with amazing views!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments

Queenstown

Our fave hotel of our 14 day trip. Beautiful hotel, unbeatable views and excellent, friendly, helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Whirinaki Forest Walk with Lunch

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Ra Guided Experience (90 minutes)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Arthurs Pass with Train

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Two Hour Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise

Akaroa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Glacier Boat Trip - 2.5 Hours

Mount Cook Village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt Cook & The Glaciers

New Zealand

wow, just wow! Flying over the snow capped mountain was unbelievably beautiful! Ben was a great heli pilot. Very calming for our first ever heli trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Heli Cruise Heli

Queenstown (NZ)

One of the best experiences of our lives. The heli views were incredible and the boat ride through Milford Sound was beautiful with lots of waterfalls and amazing views. Ben was an incredible heli pilot for first time heli passengers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen Hot Pools - 1 hour Indoor Soak.

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half-Day Macetown 4WD Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Funyak Safari Trip with Jetboat & Lunch (Shared Tour)

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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.

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.

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

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

Activity Reviews

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!

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.

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.

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! ;)

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

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.

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.

Explore 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

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.

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

Transport

Our rental car was clean and easy to operate. We appreciated that the Rotorua Airport parking lot gave us room to try a few laps on the left side of the road to get accustomed to the car before heading out on the main road. Our agent at Europcar was very friendly and helpful in relieving our anxiety about driving on the opposite side of the car/road. And we were glad to have the GPS for the car at least for the first day since we didn't get our SIM cards at the airport, but rather at the mall in Rotorua.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

The Waters Bed & Breakfast

Tasman

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Peppertree

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Dunedin Hotel

Dunedin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Te Anau Lodge

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Beaches, Bays and Seals Guided Sea Kayaking Trip Including Picnic Lunch

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wilsons - Abel Tasman National Park Cruise and Walk

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Marlborough and Sounds

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula

Dunedin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Castle to Cruise Tour & Penguin Place

Dunedin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Te Anau

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau and Manapouri

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Pure Wilderness Jet Boat with Fiordland Jet

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tracks in and around Te Anau

Te Anau

Quality of Experience

Doubtful Sound Overnight ex Te Anau with Fiordland Cruises

New Zealand

A must do experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

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

I hiked most of the... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Bella Vista Christchurch

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Nice restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Blenheim

Blenheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista

Kaikoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

For

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Queenstown

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

CTR

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Te Anau

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka

Wanaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punga Grove Motels & Suites

Franz Josef / Waiau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punakaiki Beachfront Motels

Punakaiki

Great food at motel restaurant :-)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nelson Lakes National Park

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Nelson/ Abel Tasman free day

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura

Kaikoura

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tracks in and around Kaikoura

Kaikoura

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch free day

Christchurch

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Mount Cook Village

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown Adventure & Wine

Queenstown (NZ)

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau and Manapouri

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kepler Track Guided Heli-Hike with Trips and Tramps

Te Anau

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk and Scenic Cruise with Trips and Tramps

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Routeburn Track Guided Day Walk

Te Anau

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Wanaka

Wānaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in Wanaka

Wānaka

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk

Wānaka

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paparoa National Park

Punakaiki

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

CHCH Touring - Private Transfer Train Station to Accommodation

Christchurch

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everyone at all the places we stayed were professional and courteous, very enjoyable stays.
We do not remember all our tour guides names (many were wine tasting tours!) but all were friendly and knowledgeable.
Restaurants, while all were good, had some types of food that were not to our liking. That is a matter of taste though.
Air New Zealand is now our favorite airline. We can not say enough about how well we were treated, both at the airports and on the flights.
Overall all we loved... read more

Everyone at all the places we stayed were professional and courteous, very enjoyable stays.
We do not remember all our tour guides names (many were wine tasting tours!) but all were friendly and knowledgeable.
Restaurants, while all were good, had some types of food that were not to our liking. That is a matter of taste though.
Air New Zealand is now our favorite airline. We can not say enough about how well we were treated, both at the airports and on the flights.
Overall all we loved New Zealand. Wonderful people living in a clean and fascinating country. We will be returning for another visit.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Napier

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

While the hotel, staff, location, restaurant, valet parking were all excellent the overall atmosphere was a little to trendy/cutting edge for this retired couple. Personal taste.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marlborough Bed & Breakfast

Tuamarina

Steve and Natalie (spelling?) with their lovely dog Paddy were the best. We loved the whole time we were there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland

The island itself was nice with great food and wine. We found a local cab driver who helped us around. The ferry ride there was bad. Overcrowded with no seats and people taking extra seats with their backpacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Best of Both World: Bush and Beach - Full day

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Private Sculpture & Fine Wine

Auckland

Jackie was filling in at the last moment and was a joy to be around.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Wine, Beer and Cider Tour

Napier

We drink too much, can not remember our guides name but he was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gannet Safaris

Napier

Guide/driver was very knowledgeable and a good driver. Some of those road were a little narrow and windy but the guide/driver was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Napier To Wellington Self Drive

Napier

The trip was fine. The driver (me) did not take enough breaks and enjoy the drive like he should have!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Capital Tastes Walking tour

Wellington

Louie (who works for Jackie) was great. Had a wonderful time learning about Wellington.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wear really good walking shoes.

Half Day Sip Wine Tour

Blenheim

Again drank too much. This is why we have guided tours! The three other people on the tour were great company.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Marlborough Icons Tour

Blenheim

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chelsea and I started planning our family trip last July and it was a total success. My young grandson would say everyday that this is the best excursion in NZ and I would remind him he said that the day before. The trip entertained the 4 adults and the 2 kids. From Hanmer Springs to the whale watching to Huka Falls jet ride to Hobbiton to the glow worm caves it was all entertaining.
What Chelsea did best was the timing- we would get up in the am drive to our excursion view it and get to our... read more

Chelsea and I started planning our family trip last July and it was a total success. My young grandson would say everyday that this is the best excursion in NZ and I would remind him he said that the day before. The trip entertained the 4 adults and the 2 kids. From Hanmer Springs to the whale watching to Huka Falls jet ride to Hobbiton to the glow worm caves it was all entertaining.
What Chelsea did best was the timing- we would get up in the am drive to our excursion view it and get to our next hotel just at check in time. We never waited for a room.
Overall I would give the trip 5 stars.

Hotel Reviews

Quest Cathedral Junction

Christchurch

We had a great stay at Quest Cathedral Junction, with its convenient location allowing us to easily walk to various attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The White Morph - Heritage Collection

Kaikoura

Our stay at The WhiteMorph was comfortable and enjoyable. The hotel's location was also convenient for exploring the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CityLife Wellington

Wellington

We had a pleasant one-night stay at CityLife Wellington, enjoying the hotel's amenities and location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beechtree Motel

Taupo

Our stay at Beechtree Motel was comfortable, providing us with a good night's rest after a day of activities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quest Rotorua Central

Rotorua

We spent two nights at Quest Rotorua Central and appreciated its central location, making it easy to explore the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge

Waitomo

Although the room was a bit tight, with a queen, a twin, and a couch bed in one room, the hotel staff was very friendly, and the included breakfast was a great bonus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nesuto Stadium Auckland

Auckland

We enjoyed our two-night stay at Nesuto Stadium Auckland, finding the accommodations comfortable and convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour

New Zealand

We were fortunate enough to see a whale because the day before and the morning trip were not so lucky.

Hukafalls Jet

New Zealand

The ride was educational and fun with all the 360 turns. Forgot to bring raincoats so we did get a bit wet.

Quality of Experience

Staff very friendly

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitai Hula & Haka Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Very educational and just down the street from our hotel.

Redwoods - Nightlights

Rotorua

Unfortunately we were there on the first day of fall break so the crowds were big. Our wait was 2 hours. We left and returned in the am.

Skyline Gondola Rotorua and 4 Luge Rides

Rotorua

Everyone loved the luge ride but it was tiring so some of us only did 4 rides instead of 5.

I recently returned from a trip to New Zealand that was, overall, a great experience. However, there were a couple of unexpected factors that left us feeling slightly disappointed.
One of the biggest challenges we faced was the unpredictable weather. We had planned to do several excursions, such as a zodiac trip at Mt Cook a helicopter ride to the Franz Joseph glacier, and a couple of others but unfortunately, the weather didn't always cooperate. We had to cancel some of our planned... read more

I recently returned from a trip to New Zealand that was, overall, a great experience. However, there were a couple of unexpected factors that left us feeling slightly disappointed.
One of the biggest challenges we faced was the unpredictable weather. We had planned to do several excursions, such as a zodiac trip at Mt Cook a helicopter ride to the Franz Joseph glacier, and a couple of others but unfortunately, the weather didn't always cooperate. We had to cancel some of our planned activities due to rain or wind, which was disappointing.
Another challenge we faced was with some of the locations where our trip planner had booked us. In a couple of cases, we found ourselves in small towns or rural areas where there was little to do and we didn't have our own transportation to get anywhere to do anything, including getting something to eat. This made it difficult to fill our time and left us feeling a bit bored and frustrated.
Despite these challenges, we still managed to have a great time in New Zealand. The natural beauty of the country is truly breathtaking, and we were able to enjoy many stunning vistas and landscapes during our trip. We also met some incredibly friendly and welcoming people and learned a lot about the history and culture of the country.
Overall, I would recommend a trip to New Zealand but would advise travelers to be prepared for unpredictable weather and to carefully consider their itinerary to avoid any areas with limited activities or transportation options. With a bit of flexibility and planning, however, I'm sure anyone can have a memorable and enjoyable trip to this beautiful country.

Hotel Reviews

Merivale Manor

Christchurch

This is a bit misleading unless you actually stay at the manor as billed. We stayed in what was basically some motor lodge-type rooms right on the main road. Room was okay the proprietors were nice enough, but I wouldn't call it a three-star location. Perhaps the actual Manor house is nicer

Authenticity & Character

Kind of cheap motor-lodge rooms

Location

Not really close to a whole lot if you don't have a car

Staff

Owners were nice

Marlborough Bed & Breakfast

Tuamarina

Unless you have a car do not stay here. It is not near anything, not that there is a ton in Blenheim anyway. We were stranded here for two days. Our included breakfast consisted of some fruit, yogurt, and 4 eggs that we had to make, ourselves and clean up all the dishes and that was it for two days. This place is nice, but in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. Every day we would hear what sounded like a huge gun or cannon going off every few minutes starting in the early morning. Turns out it was grape harvesting time and the local growers literally had a gas cannon that they shot off to keep the birds away. This went on all day long at random intervals many times an hour. The proprietor was confused as to why we were even staying there considering we didn't have a car. We thought about trying to do some laundry as that was supposedly one of the perks only to find out that there was a washer but no dryer. We had to take taxis back and forth to town to eat which was costly and a pain because we were way in the back and could not tell when they were in the main driveway. Our pick up for transport to the train was not until late afternoon but the owner insisted that we check out by 10:30. With some back and forth with our travel people we got an early pickup but then had to sit around with our bags all day in town waiting for the train.

Authenticity & Character

The place was nice enough

Location

Far from town if you don't have a car. No good access to food, for the cost of the place the "included" breakfast was a joke

Staff

We felt like they just wanted to get us in and out of there. Really not an enjoyable experience

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Rotorua

Staff was very professional and courteous, breakfast was very nice

Location

Easy walking distance to things

Staff

Top notch

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very good

Fiordland Navigator, Doubtful Sound

Manapouri

Location

Beautiful fjord!

Staff

great people good experience

Activity Reviews

Polynesian Spa Lake View Private Pool

Rotorua

Waste of time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twin Glacier 30-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

New Zealand

Never got to go

Stargazing from Mount Cook

Mount Cook Village

Never got to go due to weather

Sounds Connection Half Day Wine Tour

New Zealand

This stop in Blenheim was a waste of two days

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour

New Zealand

This was a lovely stop, loved the island and wineries. Everyone was wonderful including the driver who was nice enough to take us to one of the stops we missed because of the Ferry. The lunch at Three Seven Two was excellent one of the best meals on our trip

Quality of Experience

Lovely place, with nice people, good wine, and food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver and wine tour people were wonderful

Transport

Need to let people know to get to the Ferry early

Auckland to Rotorua, Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves

New Zealand

I enjoyed this more than I might of expected. The glow worms were quite interesting as was Hobbiton. Our driver was quite a character and kept us entertained on the long drive

Quality of Experience

Interesting and liked Hobbiton more that I though I would

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was quite entertaining and made the trip fun

Transport

The driver

Eco Thermal Park - Eco Thermal Full Day Tour

Rotorua

This was an interesting excursion, but our guide was very rude to my wife at one point seemingly because he was trying to rush everyone through so he could get a sub-set of the group back by a particular time. Which made the experience less enjoyable for us as we had to dash from stop to stop. And as I said the treatment of my wife for trying to get a cup of coffee not knowing we had to leave right away because he was in a hurry, which was not communicated to us at all. Just set a very negative tone for the day for us

Quality of Experience

The guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was rude and rushed us the whole time

Transport

Ride was fine

All the hotels, transportation , tour activities and car rental were as described by Nichole. Overall I was very pleased by the whole experience.

Our first trip abroad was nothing short of amazing thanks to the excellent planning of our local specialist, Vickie. She called us ahead of our trip to ask questions and help us through some details as this was our first time traveling abroad. Once we arrived in Auckland and throughout our visit everything went smoothly. Our accommodations were perfect. When we arrived at 6:30 AM our first day, we were given complimentary early check-in at the reception. Throughout our 12 day stay we truly... read more

Our first trip abroad was nothing short of amazing thanks to the excellent planning of our local specialist, Vickie. She called us ahead of our trip to ask questions and help us through some details as this was our first time traveling abroad. Once we arrived in Auckland and throughout our visit everything went smoothly. Our accommodations were perfect. When we arrived at 6:30 AM our first day, we were given complimentary early check-in at the reception. Throughout our 12 day stay we truly got to experience a wide variety of places and activities on both the North and South islands. Vickie wove together an itinerary that flowed well and allowed us to do something special and uniquely New Zealand every day. The only thing I would change if we have the opportunity to visit again is to stay longer! There still is so much more to see and do! We felt we easily could have stayed 2-3 days more in the cities we visited.

Hotel Reviews

M Social Auckland

Auckland

M Social was our first accommodation when we arrived to New Zealand at 6:30 in the morning. When our driver dropped us off at the hotel they had a room available for us and we were given complimentary early check-in. That was such a welcomed delight after 20 hours of travel! Everything was clean and the breakfast buffet had a wide variety of tasty offerings. The staff was pleasant and welcoming. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Everything was modern and the room had encouraging sayings on the walls. The sliding bathroom wall was unique.

Location

It was located downtown and right on the harbor.

Staff

Everyone was kind and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Cotswold

Christchurch

We stayed here for a total of three nights on our visit to the South Island. One night before we departed to tour the island and then for two before we caught our flight home. Our accommodation was roomy for 3 traveling adults. We loved having separate bedrooms with the living area to share. The heated bathroom floor was an added bonus! What ended up being the best we’re the e-bikes they have available for rental. We used them on our free day to explore Christchurch. Hagley park is located close by and has lots of trails to enjoy. Plus the botanical gardens is just over a mile walking distance away. All of the people working reception were kind, courteous, and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

The place has the look and character of a little village.

Location

Close to amazing restaurants, Hagley Park and botanical garden.

Staff

Everyone is very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was very clean and looks as though it was recently remodeled. Their weight and exercise room and bathroom is hopefully their next place to update.

Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Being able to look out our window to see Mt. Cook was nothing short of amazing. The sky windows are awesome for experiencing sleeping under the breath taking night sky. We stayed in the motel that had a full kitchen for making your own meals. However we did not do that for our single night stay. We had breakfast and dinner up at the lodge. The timing was such that we had the buffet meals. The food was delicious with a wide variety of choices. The wait staff was outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

Modern comfort in the middle of natural beauty!

Location

Being right in Mt Cook National Park is spectacular. We could fit in a hike before dark.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our lodging had heated towel racks. Everything was spotless and welcoming.

Clearbrook Motels Wanaka

Wanaka

This place is truly a home away from home. Everything was clean and welcoming. Having a washer and drier was perfect as we were midway through our trip.

Authenticity & Character

It was a very relaxing place and we loved the loft and high windows.

Location

Located walking distance to the city center and around the corner from the food trucks.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rainforest Retreat

Franz Josef Glacier

A very unique place to stay. It truly is in the rainforest. They had a kitchenette in the room with Keurig coffee maker, hot water heater, electric frother and toaster available.

Authenticity & Character

It has a feel of being in the forest but still having our comforts and conveniences.

Location

It is walking distance to everything in Fraz Josef.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was welcoming upon arrival.

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront

Queenstown

A nice place to stay. Accommodation is average.

Authenticity & Character

It has a lovely open reception area.

Location

Close to downtown and a park walking/running trail.

Staff

They responded kindly and curiously.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Our lodging was spacious and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

It is a normal hotel environment.

Location

Located right near the geothermal lake and also walking distance to anything downtown. Once we had our car parked and were checked in we were able to do everything there by foot.

Staff

Everyone was friendly, kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Okarito Lagoon Guided Kayak Trip

Franz Josef Glacier

We were blessed to have a clear beautiful calm day! The whole experience was relaxing and magical. Our guide, native of Ohio, did a wonderful job sharing the history of the area and educating us about the environment and wildlife of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed our guide. He was personable and very energetic. He seems to enjoy what he is doing.

Transport

It was a very short ride from town to the lake.

Wanaka Bike Tours - Hawea to Wanaka

Wānaka

This bike ride was one of the highlights of our visit. The trail was beautiful as it followed the path of the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver dropped us off after giving us a brief rundown of the trail. He gave us his phone number and was available for questions if we needed anything.

Transport

Milford Sound Coach/Nature Cruise ex ZQN + Lunch

Queenstown (NZ)

This day trip is nothing short of amazing! It is a must see for everyone visiting New Zealand South Island! Having a bus ride in allows for everyone to enjoy the view of the twisty turny drive to Milford Sound.

Quality of Experience

We were very fortunate to have some rain the day we visited. It made for spectacular waterfalls!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Brian, our driver was extremely knowledgeable about everything on this tour. He shared a wealth of information in a very interesting and entertaining way. Plus he definitely is an expert driver handling all the difficult motorways there!

Transport

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

The entire evening is a delightful experience. The event is designed to make friends with the Māori village and fellow travelers. We learned much about the history and culture of the Māori people and enjoyed taking part in activities, listening to their music and enjoying superior hospitality for dinner. This is a must for a North Island visit to New Zealand. Added plus, they pick you up from your accommodation to take you to the village.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our hostess in the drive to and from did an awesome job making everyone feel welcome and did an excellent job explaining things. Plus she has a beautiful singing voice!

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a wonderful farm to table experience. The sheep shearing and sheep herding demonstration is amazing for those of us unfamiliar with this environment.

Quality of Experience

Food

I highly recommend the sticky date pudding! It’s like a bit of heaven!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of the staff were top notch. Positive atmosphere and all were friendly.

Transport

The boat ride makes the experience special. However I can’t give it a 5 star because the sound system on the boat needs an upgrade or update. We couldn’t understand what was being said as it was all muffled.

Hobbiton Tour

New Zealand

This is a must for LOTR and Hobbit fans! And even if you aren’t this setting is like stepping into a magical fairytale land! It is something everyone who visits New Zealand should take in! Ending the tour having a drink at the Green Dragon is an opportunity to meet and talk with other travelers from all over the world if you so choose.

Quality of Experience

It was fun! Our guide was enthusiastic and this made the tour extra fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus ride was comfortable going out and the video does a nice job setting the tone for the experience.

Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari

Auckland

This was a great experience to get out on the waters near Auckland. However on our tour we did not see any whales or dolphins. But we did get a lifetime voucher to come back anytime to try again.

Quality of Experience

It was great to experience the water, but would be better if we saw whales or dolphins. However this is something you have to realize when you take these tours. The wildlife doesn’t show up on command or our schedule.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They stayed positive and were very kind and tuned into the needs of the passengers.

Transport

We felt safe and comfortable under their expert handling of the cruise ship.

Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

New Zealand

Kayaking in the moonlight makes this adventurous! We were able to experience seeing the glow worms in a few different caves. Another highlight was the beauty of the night sky! Our guides did a great job leading us in the darkness. This is a unique New Zealand experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim did an excellent job planning our 1-month NZ trip. Lydia organized our days with a variety of activities, such as biking, hiking and tours. When we had questions or concerns about our agenda Lydia was very prompt with responses and resolutions. The trip was well planned and we won’t hesitate to use KimKim in the future. We LOVED our trip, thank you! read more

KimKim did an excellent job planning our 1-month NZ trip. Lydia organized our days with a variety of activities, such as biking, hiking and tours. When we had questions or concerns about our agenda Lydia was very prompt with responses and resolutions. The trip was well planned and we won’t hesitate to use KimKim in the future. We LOVED our trip, thank you!

We had a wonderful and fun New Zealand Holiday. Tried to see and experience as much as we could in 12 days. Our guides for cruising Aukland Harbor, visiting Hobbiton, ziplining Rotorua , kayaking Franz Josef , biking Lake Wanaka, bus touring Milford Sound were all competent helpful and friendly. The Māori culture and the Queenstown cruise / dinner events were excellent . Thank you to KimKim everything went smoothly. read more

We had a wonderful and fun New Zealand Holiday. Tried to see and experience as much as we could in 12 days. Our guides for cruising Aukland Harbor, visiting Hobbiton, ziplining Rotorua , kayaking Franz Josef , biking Lake Wanaka, bus touring Milford Sound were all competent helpful and friendly. The Māori culture and the Queenstown cruise / dinner events were excellent . Thank you to KimKim everything went smoothly.

My mom and I wanted to take a trip to New Zealand but we were really overwhelmed with where to start and how to plan to see as much as we could in a 10 day period.

Kimkim was a really cool website that was visually appealing and helped us easily select options of preferences from what kind of stay to activities and things to see. It gives a “like to do” and “must do” option so your specialist can get a really good idea of how to plan the perfect trip.

After Liz reviewed our... read more

My mom and I wanted to take a trip to New Zealand but we were really overwhelmed with where to start and how to plan to see as much as we could in a 10 day period.

Kimkim was a really cool website that was visually appealing and helped us easily select options of preferences from what kind of stay to activities and things to see. It gives a “like to do” and “must do” option so your specialist can get a really good idea of how to plan the perfect trip.

After Liz reviewed our preferences she came back with an awesome proposal! It had beautiful hotels and so many really cool activities. We had a couple suggestions on taking some out and adding in others and Liz was so quick to respond and accommodating everything perfectly.

Our trip was really SOOO amazing and unforgettable! Having everything planned out made the whole trip flow so smoothly and I have to say it was SO nice having transportation pick up to and from the airports. Transportation was always so friendly and on time :). We did have one activity that cancelled unfortunately due to weather concerns. When I called the local office for customer service they got back to me within 30 minutes and had another activity moved and substituted which worked out so well!

We loved our specialist Liz! The printed itinerary booklet was beautiful and such a good memory keepsake and we appreciate all the help and follow up before during and after the trip. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Kimkim and our specialist liz to anyone planning a memorable vacation :)

We had an amazing two week, 10 person, guided van tour of New Zealand! Our driver and tour guide, Robert Miernik , was excellent! He was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and kind, with a great sense of humor. Robert also anticipated our needs and had great ideas for sightseeing and dinners. Franck helped finalize our tour, which had been delayed three years due to COVID. Our tour included both north and south islands, from Auckland to Christchurch. We saw green, rolling... read more

We had an amazing two week, 10 person, guided van tour of New Zealand! Our driver and tour guide, Robert Miernik , was excellent! He was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and kind, with a great sense of humor. Robert also anticipated our needs and had great ideas for sightseeing and dinners. Franck helped finalize our tour, which had been delayed three years due to COVID. Our tour included both north and south islands, from Auckland to Christchurch. We saw green, rolling countryside with grazing sheep, geysers, beautiful fjords and lakes, glaciers in Mt Cook National Park in the NZ Alps.
Highlights from our group: Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, Rotorua with the incredible geysers, Maori Cultural Experience, Tongariro National Park, a helicopter ride to, and stepping out on, the Tasman Glacier, bike tour through beautiful wine country, bungee jumping, tram dinner in Christchurch.
It was a unforgettable trip!

Chelsea called me before the trip and tailored it to capture exactly what I wanted! She was very knowledgeable about how long to stay at certain places and limited long driving days (mostly less than 4 hours)!
Our favorite spot on the itinerary was the Wilderness Lodge—getting time to hang with the NZ local owners Jerry & Anne was so special. read more

Chelsea called me before the trip and tailored it to capture exactly what I wanted! She was very knowledgeable about how long to stay at certain places and limited long driving days (mostly less than 4 hours)!
Our favorite spot on the itinerary was the Wilderness Lodge—getting time to hang with the NZ local owners Jerry & Anne was so special.

Working with kimkim was absolutely fantastic. The trip was exactly what we were hoping for in terms of activities...we took our 17 yr old and his friend. There was a good balance between things they loved (ziplining, hiking, jet boating, and things we wanted to do (museums, cultural experiences) and we got a decent amount of downtime, given what we were trying to cram in two weeks! Ruth was awesome and took care of everything. When we ran into a ferry delay, our local contact was able to... read more

Working with kimkim was absolutely fantastic. The trip was exactly what we were hoping for in terms of activities...we took our 17 yr old and his friend. There was a good balance between things they loved (ziplining, hiking, jet boating, and things we wanted to do (museums, cultural experiences) and we got a decent amount of downtime, given what we were trying to cram in two weeks! Ruth was awesome and took care of everything. When we ran into a ferry delay, our local contact was able to help us right away even thought it was early in the morning. I would highly recommend especially if you're traveling somewhere you're unfamiliar with.

We really enjoyed our 17-day trip to New Zealand. If we have one regret it is that we packed our itinerary so full that we rarely got time to relax and just enjoy being there. While we were there (I'm told it's typical of the late summer period) there were road works on almost every route we travelled, so published driving times were always optimistic, which added to the pressure. Though we enjoyed many wonderful experiences, it would be hard to beat the cruise on Medford Sound. We almost... read more

We really enjoyed our 17-day trip to New Zealand. If we have one regret it is that we packed our itinerary so full that we rarely got time to relax and just enjoy being there. While we were there (I'm told it's typical of the late summer period) there were road works on almost every route we travelled, so published driving times were always optimistic, which added to the pressure. Though we enjoyed many wonderful experiences, it would be hard to beat the cruise on Medford Sound. We almost missed this altogether, as our itinerary included flights to and from there from Queenstown which we cancelled at the last minute due to weather conditions. Our wonderful travel specialist, Lydia, managed to reschedule the itinerary for that day and the next so that we could drive there to enjoy the cruise the following day. The heavy rain that prevented our flights turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it resulted in the walls of Medford Sound being covered in waterfalls during our visit which made for a special day. Our favorite meal, was a lunchtime barbeque at the Walter Peak Farm accessed by a steamship cruise on Lake Wakatipu. Our favorite hotel room, the Te Waonui Forest Retreat in Franz Josef. All our guides were friendly and knowledgable, and all the arrangments went without a hitch. Now we're back home, we just need to take a break to breathe...

Our trip to New Zealand was an amazing experience… the Country is so beautiful, from North to South. The people are warm and welcoming; it was was so interesting to learn about and see firsthand the cultural pride. The excursions, zip lines, etc. were so much fun, but even driving to these locations was one of my favorite experiences because we got to see the country. Liz was so great to work with… took care of our every need and was incredibly responsive. While in NZ, any unexpected... read more

Our trip to New Zealand was an amazing experience… the Country is so beautiful, from North to South. The people are warm and welcoming; it was was so interesting to learn about and see firsthand the cultural pride. The excursions, zip lines, etc. were so much fun, but even driving to these locations was one of my favorite experiences because we got to see the country. Liz was so great to work with… took care of our every need and was incredibly responsive. While in NZ, any unexpected changes to our itinerary (such as weather) was handled very timely by the Kimkim team. I can’t thank them enough for the attention to detail and handling all our needs and wishes. I highly recommend them and would absolutely use Kimkim in the future. Thank you, Liz, for helping us have an experience of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pullman Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novotel Queenstown Lakeside

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton

Auckland

I have never seen anywhere so beautiful…. fun to learn about the movies…

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

I really enjoyed learning the culture and the food was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Ra Guided Experience (90 minutes)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

SO much fun and beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an amazing time. Our tour guide Robert was amazing. He kept us busy every day and when we had down time he assisted us in making other arrangements. The accomodations were excelent, the van was perfect. I don't know who Eloise is but Franck did a great job.