Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

Uma was fantastic and created an excellent itinerary for us. She had terrific suggestions about places to visit and activities. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend working with her to plan your trip to new Zealand.

My sister-in-law, Mindy, and I recently returned from an amazing trip to New Zealand. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, filled with adventures, new experiences, and unparalleled beauty. I believe it was all of that because Uma from KimKim helped us every step of the way, from ideas, to planning, to reservations, to support while we were there.

Mindy and I started talking about going to New Zealand about a year ago. We knew where it was, and had heard lots of rave reviews about how gorgeous it is, but not much else. When we got more serious about making it happen, we didn’t know where to start.

While searching online for some ideas, I came across the website for KimKim. I liked that the person who would be helping us actually lives in New Zealand. I decided to give them a try.

We communicated with Uma via messages on their site. She gathered lots of information from us via a detailed questionnaire – length of stay, whether or not we wanted to drive, how strenuous we wanted the activities to be, and our interest in many things, such as tours, hiking, biking, bungee jumping, city vs. nature, budget vs. average vs. luxury accommodations, and so much more.

With that information, Uma suggested that we would enjoy touring the beauty on the southern island. Two islands? Who knew?! She sent us a preliminary itinerary including lots of details and asked for feedback. Over the next couple of weeks, communicating back and forth, we had our plan in place. Uma set everything up for us – booked all the hotels, transfers, tours, and activities.

Uma stayed in touch with us as the date of our trip approached, making sure we had the correct documentation and travel visas in place, correct clothing for the weather and sun protection, travel vouchers, and anything else we needed.

Every day of the trip was filled with fun and adventurous activities. The most memorable was Mount Cook National Park. We spent an hour and a half hiking up Mount Cook on well-kept gravel paths and steps and across a long, moving (& scary for me) suspension bridge. The area was absolutely stunning! The bridge spanned over a small river of runoff from a glacier at the base of the mountain. Mindy and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be experiencing this!

Another favorite was taking a cruise from Queenstown across Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship. The scenery on the cruise was amazing! It took us to the gorgeous Walter Peak Farm, which is a real working farm. They served us a bountiful, delicious meal and then taught us about sheep shearing and sheepdogs. Afterward, we cruised back to Queenstown. A most enjoyable experience!

Another highlight was the drive from Queenstown to remote Milford Sound and the cruise around the sound. This was another amazing experience with sights so breathtaking, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. We decided to take a small plane back to Queenstown – another first for us, and it was worth the price being able to see the beauty from above.

We had many more memorable experiences on our trip to New Zealand. There were only a couple of “hiccups” in transfers, and Uma was just a text or phone call away to take care of it. I truly believe we couldn’t have fit in so much wonderfulness if we had planned it ourselves. We highly recommend visiting New Zealand and using KimKim to expertly craft the perfect itinerary for you.

Hotel Reviews

Rydges Latimer Christchurch

Christchurch

Not fancy, but a nice hotel and very clean. Their restaurant, Bloody Mary's, has fabulous food and service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very conveniently located for our tour.

Staff

We were very well taken care of!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were pleased with the comfort and cleanliness.

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Queenstown

Beautiful and upscale. Had everything we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Franz Josef Westland

Loved the foresty setting and vibe. Upscale and beautiful, great restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were treated like royalty!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't have been better!

Activity Review

Christchurch to Queenstown Via Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour (One Way)

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim and our agent, Paula, provided a truly exceptional 5-star experience planning our South Island New Zealand adventure. Our trip was on the short side, 7 days, and we didn't know how to get started or what was best to pack into our stay. From the initial inquiry, Paula's communication was prompt, friendly, and professional. She patiently listened to our vague ideas, given we knew nothing about New Zealand and expertly crafted a personalized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests and budget. Paula's knowledge of New Zealand was evident; she offered insightful recommendations for hidden gems and must-see attractions, enhancing our trip beyond the typical tourist experience. The entire planning process was seamless, with Paula handling all the details, from accommodations to activities and transportation, along with some last minute changes along the way. Her responsiveness throughout, even during our trip when we had a minor query, was remarkable. Thanks to Paula and KimKim, our New Zealand vacation was unforgettable.

Vicky’s support and assistance throughout our trip were truly appreciated. Initially, there was some miscommunication, but she quickly understood our requirements and booked the best trip ever. We particularly enjoyed how she presented us with new options to experience New Zealand more fully. The detailed updates and information she provided were invaluable in ensuring we had a wonderful time.

All the hotels booked were amazing, except for the QT in Auckland. Their service was lacking, and the room was hardly cleaned. Additionally, there was no buffet option for breakfast, which was disappointing. However, the tour groups and guides were exceptional, except for the last Wanaka tour group. We felt they could have included a visit to the lavender fields. Despite these minor issues, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip.

Furthermore, during one of our trips, it was canceled. However, Vicky was incredibly quick to arrange another tour group so that we wouldn’t miss out on the tour. We were truly grateful for this wonderful support. Thank you, Vicky!

We highly recommend Vicky and the Kim Kim team to anyone planning a trip to New Zealand. You are the best!

Hotel Reviews

QT Auckland

Auckland

During our recent stay, we encountered a few disappointing experiences. Firstly, the front desk staff, particularly Alex, was quite unwelcoming and came across as dismissive. His tone and manner of assistance felt biased, which was uncomfortable. Additionally, our room was not cleaned even after multiple requests. It was dusty, and toiletries were provided only upon request—something unexpected at a 5-star hotel. We were also surprised that water was chargeable. While there are refill stations on each floor, it would have been more thoughtful to provide at least one filled water bottle in the room upon arrival. The breakfast experience was equally underwhelming, with only an à la carte option offering one item and one drink per person. More variety and flexibility would be appreciated. On a positive note, the location is convenient, being close to the CBD, and the room design is quite good. However, given the level of service, it’s difficult to recommend this property.

Authenticity & Character

Room service,breakfast options

Location

Walkable distance to queens st and viaduct

Staff

Could be more considerate and go extra mile with customers request

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms to be cleaned properly so that there is no dust.

Sudima

Christchurch

We loved the thoughtful design of the room, especially the addition of a complete kitchen unit, which was perfect for travelers wanting to prepare their own meals. It truly added to the comfort of our stay. The staff, apart from the initial experience at check-in, were generally welcoming and helpful, which we really appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s quite far from downtown

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel St. Moritz

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s up hill and very difficult to walkin especially for aged ppl.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hobbiton & WAITOMO CAVES TOUR from Auckland

Auckland

The trip was planned very well the only request is to provide more time for breakfast as 15 mins are not sufficient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grant was very good ,he did stop to meet his friend(ostrich’s )on the way😊😊

Transport

Christchurch to Kaikoura Whale Watching Day Tour

Christchurch

Steffani our tour guide,driver was amazing she was very nice. The lunch spot was amazing the food was tasty. Liked leisure tour group as the lunch provided was included in the package. Also, she stopped at seal colony for us to see them which was something which is highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend Stefani she is awesome.

Transport

Kaikoura Day Trip From Christchurch with Whale Watch (Small Group & Carbon Neutral)

Christchurch

Steffani our tour guide,driver was amazing she was very nice. The lunch spot was amazing the food was tasty. Liked leisure tour group as the lunch provided was included in the package. Also, she stopped at seal colony for us to see them which was something which is highly recommended

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cathedral Cove & Coromandel Small Group Day Tour from Auckland

Auckland

Dave was too good,very knowledgeable and entertaining. I like that cheeky kiwi provide with water bottle n snacks.It would have been great if they included the ice cream tasting from their end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika helped to curate this amazing trip to New Zealand. We had an amazing time and really saw much of the South Island. Every experience was unique and wonderful. Our guides were great especially the heli hike on Mt Cook with Charlie. The fly cruise fly is the way to go to see the fjords. The flight was breathtaking. The star gazing was incredible and the hot springs after was a plus. Our wine lunch in Otaga was incredible. I can’t say enough and loved the recommendations given on way from one place to next. Just amazing !!!

My son and I had an amazing trip to New Zealand in December 2024. I could not have pulled it all together without Michelle from Once upon a trip New Zealand. She was absolutely wonderful to work with. I gave her our wish list and she put together the ultimate itinerary to fit our interests. I would highly recommend Michelle!

Liz was easy to work with and helped me plan my first trip to NZ. She was professional and knowledgeable about the cities I wanted to visit and recommended a few options based on my preferences. The local partner was extremely helpful on the ground to support my tours throughout the 18-day period. They were responsive and provided quick coordination when change was needed. I would highly recommend Liz for New Zealand trips and would love to work with her and the kimkim team again for another trip in the future.

Kimkim arrangements and itinerary for New Zealand was great. Thank you Paula for making the trip super memorable and organized.

We planned our New Zealand trip with Nats and had an amazing experience. Right from the start there was great communication and the trip was tailored to what we were interested in. We were able to make changes and additions to the draft itinerary and weren't made to feel like an inconvenience at all for doing so. Prior to the trip, there were regular check-ins and any pre-travel paperwork was provided to ensure our arrival was seamless. One of our interests for the trip was to see some of the Lord of the Rings filming locations. With Nats also being a LOTR fan, he was able to provide additional suggestions we had not even thought of! I thoroughly enjoyed the day-by-day schedule along with recommendations for stops/attractions in each destination. We were provided vouchers for each of the planned activities ahead of time so we could bring them with for easy check-ins as well. Nats went above and beyond by meeting up with us during our trip and treating us to the delicious cream horn dessert. This trip exceeded our expectations and Nats will be our go-to should we ever make it back.

Activity Reviews

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, with a Lunch at the Party Marquee

Matamata

For a LOTR fan this is a MUST. It was a magical experience to say the least.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Original Canopy Tour

Rotorua

We had never ziplined prior to this and it was AMAZING. The guides were very knowledgeable and provided a great tour. It was very interesting to hear about the conservation efforts this company puts forth to ensure their forest, the plants and birds are protected. Would highly recommend for anyone interested in supporting local conservation efforts and want to have fun while doing so!

Quality of Experience

Great guides and a fun group

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knowledgeable and friendly

Transport

Motuara Island Bird and Day in the Sounds

Picton

This was a long day, but completely worth it! The cruises to your destinations were so beautiful and we had a once in a lifetime encounter with a large pod of very playful dolphins along the way. The hike to the top of Motuara Bird Island was short and I would have liked more time to check additional birds off of the list, but saw new ones that would have been hard to find in other locations. The Queen Charlotte Track was just right for us - any longer and we would not have made it back to the ferry in time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glenorchy Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

The information provided during this tour was interesting, but if you do your research ahead of time for some of the LOTR filming locations - you could go by yourself without a guide. The 4WD vehicle did allow you to get to some of the harder to get to places - but the "filming locations" there were off in the distance (the guide pointing at a far off mountain peak and saying that was were X scene took place).

Quality of Experience

Although the weather was not ideal, we still had a good time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I worked with Monica to put together a self-driving itinerary for my two college-age children through the South and North Island. Monica was great to work with - very knowledgeable, extremely responsive, good at taking input and making thoughtful suggestions, and sensitive to budget. She put together a fantastic trip with a mix of different activities and highlights, many of which we would not have found on our own. While they were on the trip, she responded quickly to any needs they had and the trip went very smoothly and successfully. I would highly recommend Monica and the Kimkim experience. Many thanks Monica!

Activity Reviews

Jet Boat the Shotover River

Queenstown (NZ)

This was one of my kids’ favorite activities on the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise (Real NZ)

New Zealand

This was perhaps the biggest highlight of the trip! My kids loved it! And we would never have thought to do this without Monica’s encouragement.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Tasman Glacier Lake

New Zealand

My kids loved their kayaking guide and found him very entertaining. This experience was another highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

The kids said the guide for this evening was excellent. Very fun, knowledgeable and interesting. They also raved about the restaurants she took them to. They loved one so much that they went back the next night.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

This was my kids’ favorite part of their North Island experience. They said it was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip, expertly arranged by Kimkim. Michelle stayed in touch with us constantly to be sure everything was going smoothly. She quickly came up with a solution to a problem with our rental car so that it was no hassle at all for us. All of our accommodations were great. Our tours were perfect for us. I cannot recommend this company enough and would book through them again in a heartbeat.

Hotel Review

Church Hill Boutique Lodge

Stewart Island

Our room was lovely. The service as personal. The food was amazing. We loved this place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The big hill up was a bit challenging, but Chris will come down to pick you up. A lovely location.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kiwi Spotting Encounter

Stewart Island

Dan was a great, knowledgeable guide. We saw kiwi!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did see kiwi, because Chris really knew what he was doing.

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Te Anau

I cannot say enough about how amazing this was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liz Neal was absolutely amazing to work with. Her organization, expertise & detail created the opportunity for a trip of a lifetime!

Highlights included:
- Waiheke Island Hop on Hop Off Bus
- Rotorua Glow Work Kayak
- Mt Tarawera Crater Walk
- Maori Dining Experience
- Pohue Purepod
- Lake Tekapo
- Cass Valley 4WD Tour
- Mt Cook; Glacier Boat Trip & Helicopter
- Queenstown; Funyak River Safari
- Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Port Levy, Banks Peninsula (Pohue)

Pohue

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Suites

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, an IHG Hotel

Natadola, Fiji

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tu Te Ra - Maori Cultural Dining Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Boat Trip -

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt Cook & The Glaciers

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cass Valley 4WD Backcountry tour

Lake Tekapo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spend the night at your offgrid glass cabin

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak (From 5pm) 1 hour -

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigator Overnight Cruise Return ex Zqn - Private Cabin. Includes Dinner & Full Breakfast

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We absolutely loved our trip to New Zealand! Michelle was fantastic in helping us understanding some of the amazing places and activities available. We really we were able to do and see much more with her help in organizing and planning from biking, rafting, hiking, flying, fjord's, ballooning, glaciers, star gazing, jet boating and majestic scenery. We loved our visit impart because of Michelle's help and expertise.

Activity Reviews

Jet Boat the Shotover River

Queenstown (NZ)

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Mt Cook half day Heli Hike

New Zealand

wow

Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland

Eco Zip - Flying Fox ziplines & Native Walks Experience

New Zealand

Timber Trail day 2

Ongarue

Timber Trail Day 1

Ongarue

Rafting Kaituna River, grade 5

Rotorua

The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo

Lake Tekapo

amazing experience in seeing our universe.

We had a great time. The planning looked like it took a lot of work. The only activity that we did not do was the dinner at Ahi and we were not picked up at the airport. The accommodations were nice. The only issue was the Chalet Queenstown. It was a little loud, hot and the limited breakfast times did not fit our schedule either day that we were there. The pure pod was awesome. If possible we would definitely use this company again. Thank you for your help and hard work.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

This hotel was unique and we had a great stay. The staff was very nice and the breakfast was good. We got to walk to most of our activities from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

This hotel was unique. I loved it. There were so many thoughtful details. The location was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Nice hotel. The rooms were pretty basic but the views were outstanding. They provided the best breakfast during our trip. We were able to walk to our scheduled activity and to a few hikes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Rakiura Stewart Island (Hananui)

Christchurch

This was a very interesting experience. I loved it. It was a bit of a hike to get to but very much worth it. I would have liked to have had the electrical power to dry my hair but it worked out. I was sad to leave.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chalet Queenstown

Queenstown

This was a cute place. There were some issues. It was very hot and loud in our room so it was difficult to sleep. The breakfast was only from 8a to 9:30a. We had to be out before 8a both days that we were there. The hostess did make sure that we had some cereal and toast. My husband had to wake her up on the day we were leaving because she had us blocked it with her car. There were so many hotels in that city with views of the lake but our room had a view into the house next door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

It was a basic hotel. It did the job.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

We canceled our reservation because after looking at the menu, I was not confident there was going to be anything I would like.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

We loved this tour. It was one of the first things we did and it set the trip off well. The drive there was beautiful. The tour was great .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

It was nice that the company drove us to the location from a convenient location. It was interactive and interesting. The dinner was good. It rained on us a little bit but it was still good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour

Rotorua

This activity was a lot of fun. It was nice that they put so much about conservation into the tour. The staff was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

This was an amazing experience. Kayaking at night was very cool, the glow worms were beautiful, and the star gazing was amazing. It was a little cold and late but not much can be done about that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Tasman Glacier Lake

New Zealand

It was okay. There wasn't much to it even though it was 5 hours long. Most of the time was walking to the location and getting the boats set up. The guide was very intense. This is one that we probably wouldn't do again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Great experience. The flight was great. We had so many amazing views. The cruise was also great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari of the scenes Glenorchy (LOTR)

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a nice tout. The scenery was great and the guide was friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is our third global trip with KimKim and is was good service but not great. Our last two trips the specialists were so excited to get us to the perfect spots (hotel, winery, guide). This trip felt like it was a generic trip planes for anyone. We found most of the great spots ourselves with help from the locals.

I will definitely use KimKim again but hope to get the “exceptional service” is usually get.

I had the absolute best time on my New Zealand trip, all thanks to KimKim and their amazing local guide Michelle! From start to finish, everything was organized so seamlessly that all I had to do was show up and enjoy the adventure.

I kicked things off in Auckland, where I was greeted with a hotel room that had a window view so beautiful it felt like I was in a postcard. Day one started with a bang at the Weta Workshop, which is an absolute must for any movie buff. Michelle called me on day two to check in and casually save the day by reminding me that Ubers were a great way to get around. Later, I was whisked away to pick up my rental car, and drove to Hobbiton, which felt like stepping into a dream.

Michelle made sure I always had enough time to get from city to city without ever feeling rushed and the hotels were consistently stellar. She also hit it out of the park with her activity recommendations. The Maori Cultural Experience in Rotorua? Unforgettable. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, zip-lining and the Wai-O-Tapu hot springs? Pure magic!

Every single activity was thoughtfully chosen and perfectly tailored to my tastes. Even the little touches were perfect—like the recommended restaurants and lunch stops, which came in so handy. If you’re on the fence about booking with KimKim -- just do it! I trusted their judgment completely, and they delivered in every way.

Can’t wait to book my next trip with them!

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views were amazing, the staff was super friendly and don't get me started on their breakfast. One of the best I've ever had at any hotel so far.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

Authenticity & Character

Loved the creative, museum-like flair of the hotel.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

A once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Taupō Cruise to the Māori Rock Carvings

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

A dream come true for any movie buff!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Being at a loss on how to plan a trip to New Zealand, we came across this company through an internet search. Paula became our contact and adviser and she put together a well-tailored holiday for our needs. Everything went off smoothly from landing in Queenstown until handing in our hire car at Auckland airport. We really enjoyed our trip to Milford Sound and our guide Paulie, was brilliant. Another highlight was our Rob Roy Glacier tour at Wanaka. Our guide Thierry was fantastic and made the trip so enjoyable despite my throbbing feet. Sadly we couldn’t do our tours at Mount Cook due to poor weather but we made the most of the available walks and were taken aback when Aoraki finally made an appearance from behind the clouds on our last day.

It was then off to Rotorua where we watched our daughter compete at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. The Big Kanu glow worm tour was fascinating, as was the Hells Gate experience. We were a little disappointed with the Kahukiwi experience as it seemed a little disorganised and unstructured although the guide was friendly and extremely helpful.

In summary, a well organised and satisfying first trip to New Zealand. We would have no hesitation in recommending your company to others. Our thanks to Paula for putting all together and putting up with our endless messages.

Thanks!

Hotel Reviews

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Handy apartments for visiting Queenstown. Very comfortable with all the amenities. Only observation was to try to avoid getting a room too close to the road as happened to us. People walking by could look into our apartment and there was traffic noise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Edgewater Wanaka

Lake Wānaka

This was a beautiful hotel next to the lake in a tranquil setting. Like being in the centre of a golf course. Although the rooms were well equipped, our room seemed antiquated, with a tired bathroom. Maybe up for renovation soon?

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

The place to stay in this area with commanding views of Mount Cook when the clouds clear. Our room although well equipped was on the small side and felt a little cramped. Apart from driving and walking around the beautiful scenery, there isn’t much else to do here. Maybe other activities could be offered when the weather is bad and organised tours get cancelled. All we got was a refund which was fine but perhaps alternatives would be more enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chateau on the Park -

Christchurch

Our favourite hotel during our holiday. Comfortable rooms, great location and even played a game of outdoor chess. Only criticism: our check in was delayed by a couple of hours due to airline staff being given permission to check out late. Took a bit too long with only a drink voucher to make up for it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Airedale Boutique Suites

Auckland

Well situated hotel in the business district of Auckland. Handy valet parking took the stress out of finding a car park on our own. Modern comfortable rooms with all the amenities we required. Recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise from Queenstown (2 days, 1 night)

Queenstown (NZ)

An overnight tour here was the best thing to do to avoid most of the day cooped up in a coach or car. Milford Sound was a brooding and cascading experience that we would recommend. Hats off to Paulie our guide, who provided so much information about New Zealand and the trip whilst driving us effortlessly through the winding roads.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Paulie was excellent.

Transport

Full Day Gourmet Scenic Wine Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

Enjoyed our trip to the vineyards and we were lucky with the weather. Finally know a bit more about NZ wines. The meal was interesting and enjoyable. A good day out.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Rob Roy Glacier ex Wanaka

Wānaka

We were the only people doing this tour that day. Our guide Thierry was fantastic, from picking us up to guiding us along the walk, sharing his favourite tree with us and sorting us out with lunch. Highly recommended to anyone capable of walking over uneven ground for several hours. You won’t regret it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thierry was great!

Transport

Bumpy ride

Big Kanu Starlight Glow Worm Tour

Rotorua

Fascinating to see these glow worms in action when night starts creeping in. The guides were quite entertaining too. Recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Redwoods Treewalk day

Rotorua

A comfortable stroll through these amazing trees along walkways and platforms. Nothing. We enjoyed our visit.

Quality of Experience

The Hell's Gate Experience

Rotorua

Fascinating to see these geysers and hot pools bubbling away. Lethal if you fall in! The mud bath experience was also enjoyable. Recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Kahukiwi Experience

Rotorua

Our Māori guide was a lovely man but the tour lacked structure with just information being thrown at us in a haphazard manner. We did learn about some of the legends but this tour could have been a lot better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip and Paula did a great job pulling together such a fun trip given how logistically challenging it was with the IM 70.3 race being in Taupo. The hop on hop off ferry/bus ride to Waiheke Island was perfect for our first day, easy to access the ferry, take our time visiting little shops, do some archery and wine tasting. We loved the MSocial hotel in Auckland with super helpful staff, clean comfortable rooms, perfect views and great location. The rental truck worked perfect for all of our luggage and bike case. It would have been helpful to have more detailed instructions about how to navigate the rental return as there are two terminals at Auckland and two rental returns.
Raglan was my daughter's favorite place and we could not get enough of the bakeries and huge black sand beaches. The Coromandel area is absolutely beautiful. On our drive there we stopped at a Lavender Farm to pick blueberries and have some lavender/blueberry icecream. Although Whitianga is a lovely town, we would have preferred to stay in a town either on Hot Water Beach or closer to Cathedral Cove since that is where we spent most of our time and the driving is quite challenging on the very hilly curvy roads there. Also our stay at the Sovereign Pier was not as we hoped since it really was not a 4 star (more just a poorly supplied rental place) and was on a marina not near the beach at all so the description of this place was misleading.
Other than that we had an amazing trip and thankful for KimKim scheduling all our tours which were fantastic.
Thank you so much.

I started looking on places to go on my son’s winter break. Were from San Diego so finding a place with a better weather or more beautiful can be a task. I landed on going to New Zealand and was contacted by a few companies who help planing a trip. Monika contacted me and followed through everything she said. She called me and answer all my questions via phone call. She planned my itinerary and modified it according to my needs (I have 2 little ones). She made sure I’m comfortable and let me know she’s here for me for anything I need. I just got back from a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand and couldn’t be happier. I was relaxed and saw all I could in those 2 weeks. The team and especially Monika were easy to talk to and available for me during my stay with every bump that had happened.
Thank you so much Monika for an unforgettable experience!!!

Hotel Reviews

River Birches Lodge

Turangi

I posted a google review for this accommodation. Simply beautiful and so calm. Everything we wanted and more

Authenticity & Character

Beatiful hotel, very clean

Location

Very close to stores and hike

Staff

Jason was our host and he contacted us daily to make sure we have all we need. He also helped with reservations and suggested what should we do on the days we had no olans

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and comfortable

M Social

Auckland

Really nice hotel. Super central

Authenticity & Character

Very modern

Location

Amazing location. Walking distance to restaurants and ferry

Staff

Friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable and clean

Activity Reviews

Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

New Zealand

Amazing, beautiful. A must see

Quality of Experience

It’s was unique

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable guide

Gannet Safaris

New Zealand

Really nice experience if you love bords

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was funny and very knowledgeable

Hawke's Bay Half Day Wine Tour

Napier

By far our most successful activity. The kids loved it and we got to see areas you don’t get to see from the car

Quality of Experience

The view, the wine and the freedom

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was flexible and offered solutions to difficulty we had

Transport

Came on time

Our recent trip to New Zealand, planned by Michelle from KimKim, was an incredible journey filled with stunning landscapes, unique experiences, and some memorable accommodations. While most of the trip met and/or exceeded our expectations, there were a few areas for improvement. Here's a detailed review:

Christchurch – The Mayfair Hotel
The Mayfair Hotel was a perfect start to our adventure. The modern and stylish rooms were a delight, and the on-site restaurant stood out with its creative breakfast menu and delicious smoothies. Its central location made it easy to explore Christchurch, and we truly appreciated the thoughtfulness behind this choice of accommodation.

Matai Peak
Staying at Matai Peak was an absolute highlight. Perched on a remote summit, this quirky and rugged accommodation offered spectacular views of the mountains and the sea. The outdoor bathroom with its breathtaking views was unlike anything we’ve experienced before. Our host was wonderful, providing thoughtful provisions that made our stay comfortable and enjoyable. Matai Peak was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds were stunning, and hiking through the area was an adventure we’ll never forget. That said, the hike we undertook was much longer than we expected, and we felt rushed to reach the pickup point on time. We would have appreciated more detailed information about the hike’s length and difficulty. In hindsight, an overnight stay along the track would have allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of the Sounds and return to Picton more comfortably.

Wellington
We absolutely loved Wellington and wished we had spent more time there! The vibrant city offered a wonderful mix of culture, food, and scenic views. In retrospect, we would have preferred to allocate more time here, or enjoy an overnight on Lake Taupo instead of spending two nights in Rotorua, which, while interesting, didn’t leave as strong an impression on us.

Rotorua and Hobbiton
Rotorua was enjoyable, but the highlight in this region was undoubtedly Hobbiton. The tour through the movie set was magical and a must-visit for any fan of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit. It’s beautifully maintained, and the experience truly brought the fantasy world to life - and we had not even seen the movies (but will do so now).

Castaways Resort
Unfortunately, the last accommodation of our trip at Castaways Resort was disappointing. While the property was very clean and overlooked a beach and the ocean, neither was truly accessible. Additionally, there was little to do in the area, making it an underwhelming end to an otherwise spectacular trip. We wouldn’t recommend ending a trip here. Staying in downtown Auckland would have been a far better choice, offering more activities, dining, and a livelier atmosphere to wrap up the adventure on a high note.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this trip was an extraordinary experience, with many standout moments like Matai Peak, Marlborough Sounds, and Wellington. While there were some missteps in the itinerary, such as the super long drive from Wellington to Rotorua and the accommodation at Castaways Resort or the rushed hike in the Marlborough Sounds, the majority of the trip was well-planned and thoughtfully tailored to our preferences.