New Zealand Tour Review: Hiking, Scenery, Cruising, Glacier, 10-Day Trip

On the North Island, we loved the Auckland Sky Tower, with great views of the city. The next day, the ferry to Tiritiri Island was wonderful, providing us with an easygoing hike in a natural and protected environment. The volcanic valley walk and boat cruise combo were extraordinary and a premier highlight of the North Island. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park was pure eye candy, with its spectacular setting. Queenstown was fun and included a wonderful cruise on Lake Wakatipu to a working farm. We loved stopping and discovering small towns and interesting highway points of interest during our drive. The trip to Franz Josef Glacier provided similar engaging spots and we enjoyed the TranzAlpine train ride.

The hotels arranged for our overnights were first-class without exception. We appreciated each balcony view, especially seeing Mount Cook. It was jaw-dropping. Unsurpassed excellence was also found at the hotel in Christchurch. It was also in a spectacular location.

The app was especially helpful in listing dates, sites, and event descriptions. It contained all of the required documents and links, reference identification numbers, and vehicle and flight information — a perfect traveling companion.