Luxury New Zealand Trip Review: Kaikora, Napier Culture Experience, Queenstown, Marlborough Sound, Museums, Hiking

Review by traveler

amy p.

5.1.2019

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

New Zealand

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

Working with this tour company was as good as could be. In the planning stage, our trip planner spent as much time as we needed to assist in developing our itinerary. She is delightful, fun, flexible and extremely knowledgeable about all things New Zealand. Nothing was too much trouble to adjust or change as our preferences became clearer. Her entire team, whom we were lucky to meet while in Nelson, couldn't have been nicer nor more accommodating. They were helpful on the ground as needed and always had a good suggestion. We would choose to work with this tour company again and again and would definitely recommend them to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand.

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

A highlight of our trip was a private tour with a Maori elder and his family in Napier, a connection which seemed unique to this tour company. Much to our surprise, as we are not Lord of the Ring fans, the special effects tour in Wellington was quite fun and interesting. It made the visit to Te Papa Museum and the Galipoli exhibit more interesting as we were aware of Weta's considerable participation in the installation of the exhibit.
The South Island was particularly beautiful and despite our initial fear of driving, the drives were stunning. Loved the Trans Alpine train ride; the many hikes (especially the Hooker Valley Trail) and boat trips and met wonderful people throughout our travels in various lodgings and excursions. Another special time was an overnight in Doubtful Sound.
Several places we stayed were terrific---The Lodge in Queenstown; Bed & Breakfast in Nelson; Lodge in Kaikora and Bed & Breakfast in Miramar (Wellington).

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

We would spend less time in a few places and more in others. For example, we spent 3 nights in the Marlborough Sounds---with terrible weather---and felt stranded there. Even if the weather had been great, it was a bit too long. We felt we had an extra day in Wellington as well as Napier and would have liked more time in Kaikora.
We also would stay in more boutique bed and breakfasts and less hotels.

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Luxury New Zealand Trip Review: Kaikora, Napier Culture Experience, Queenstown, Marlborough Sound, Museums, Hiking

General Info

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

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