New Zealand Review: Luxury 20-Day Trip, Rotorua, Bronte, Nelson, Cape Reinga, Helicopter Tour, Food & Culture

Review by traveler

Richard R.

4.22.2019

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:

We had a fabulous bespoke trip to New Zealand organized by this travel team. Our travel planner and her group did a wonderful job arranging many exciting things for us to see and do as well as recommending many great restaurants and sites to visit. We always had contact with the agency and someone was always available if we needed to make inquiries or gather more information on places or situations. We had the opportunity to meet most of this travel team folks when we travelled through the Nelson area. It's always great to meet the talent behind wonderful experiences and we were very happy to meet them. There was a fair amount of "back and forth" with emails and a phone call prior to our leaving for the trip and this was most helpful. We always had a written explanation, with details to refer to, while planning and much valuable information about specifics long before we embarked on the journey. All of the drivers were first rate. No complaints. We always felt very well looked after. Not one representative was late at any point. All drivers, guides and hosts were punctual, pleasant and helpful.

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

We both agree that our helicopter jaunts were the most memorable. The amount of area we got to see and the mode of transport were fantastic. Our pilots and/or guides were top notch and a lot of fun to spend time with. Very professional and we would love to do more! The local tour agency who took us up and around the Cape Reinga area were wonderful. We went to our tour guide's home for a delicious gourmet lunch on her beautiful property. This was a memorable day to be sure, and our guide is not only a good cook and hostess but a lovely person. We wish them all the best!
Being in the great outdoors and being able to drink in the amazing New Zealand scenery and culture was just what we wanted.
We enjoyed fantastic food and wines all along the way. Most enjoyable. The Lodge in Bronte and our hosts will hold a special place in our hearts, minds and stomachs! We would love to be their friends and neighbors. They took us in as if we were family and fed us like royalty! We started missing them as soon as we left! Also the other guests that we met there were fun people to share drinks and meals with.

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

Eat less!!! But there were too many temptations and our weak wills succumbed to creative New Zealand cuisine. The only food we didn't care for were the boxed lunches provided for Abel Tasman Park and Milford Sound Day trip. That being said....we just felt that the quality of the sandwiches and other things provided could have been a lot more creative and enjoyable if someone didn't mass produce them. Any of the hotels could have done a better job. In fact, The Black Swan Hotel, near Rotorua did a fabulous picnic lunch for us the day we went out for the day from there. It can be done. The bus and ferry services just don't seem to do a very good job of it. Had we known beforehand, we might have tried to organize something better for ourselves on those two days. But this is a very minor criticism.

Photos

New Zealand Review: Luxury 20-Day Trip, Rotorua, Bronte, Nelson, Cape Reinga, Helicopter Tour, Food & Culture

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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