Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

Monika,

We cannot thank you enough for the attention to detail and expertise of your trip planning. It payed off and we were treated with the trip of a lifetime. I can't think of a single complaint.

NZ is a fabulous place! Your itinerary was well balanced with plenty of activity, but with plenty of time to catch our breath and take it all in.
The accommodations were OUT OF THIS WORLD! the QT hotel in Queenstown blew us away both in quality of the rooms/views, but most of all... it had the best breakfast buffet we have ever experienced. It was a buffet fit for royalty with a window looking out on a majestic vista. The RIMU lodge and the Maruia river retreat both offered some of the best hospitality we have ever experienced. The drive to the Korimako Purepod alone was an unforgettable experience, and the stay was the relaxing pause we needed. We got the authentic NZ experience of waiting for a flock of sheep to cross a dirt road.

the activities were also all A+
The jetboat trip up the Dart river was AWESOME, would highly recommend.
The water-taxi/hike was beautiful and swimming in Tasman Bay was stunning.
The weather canceled our plans to Milford Sound so we will just have to plan another trip with you!

We cant thank you enough
Best regards,
Tim & Kerstin

Wow! What an amazing time we had in New Zealand! It was even better than we expected. From the jaw dropping scenery on the south island to the cultural and exciting experiences in the North Island, we feel like we got to experience the best of what New Zealand had to offer thanks to Michelle!

She worked with us to plan a trip perfectly suited to our families interests and abilities and suggested a few things we would never have done on our own but we enjoyed so much like biking through the wineries in Queenstown. Stunning scenery and a great ride.

This review would be very long if I listed everything we loved because we honestly loved everything, but our top three not to miss would be: the overnight cruise in Fiordland, the Shotover Jetboats on the Shotover River and Waiheke Island in Auckland (make sure you stay overnight).

Hobbiton was super cool too even if you're not a big fan (1/2 of us were). Also zip lining, helicopter tours, lakeside retreats, a sky full of stars, lugeing in Queenstown, hiking, kayaking at night to the glowworm caves, we just had so much fun. I don't know where to stop. Even just the driving! Our jaws dropped around every corner we turned as we discovered a new incredible vista.

Michelle was also amazing at making changes for us or adding things in as we went along. Everything went seamlessly from flights to rental cars.

I can't recommend all our tour guides or Michelle highly enough! Book your NZ trip through her and you won't be disappointed. And I plan to use Kimkim for any other trips like this in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat

Lake Pukaki

Do not hesitate! Book one of the Lakeview villas and you will never want to leave. We felt so blessed to stay at this beautiful spot. Our villa was just amazing with incredible views of the lake and Mt Cook and a sky full of stars. The staff were amazing. All of them. They brought breakfast and dinner to our villa one day but they also serve it in the dining room to at the lodge which was also a lovely experience. It's your preference. The food was EXCELLENT. Everything fresh, local and made from scratch. It's located within a dark sky sanctuary and the southern sky was so beautiful. I'm not even going to mention the private swedish style hot tub, and separate little sauna, massage and exercise cabins/rooms. Trust me, just go!

Authenticity & Character

The home whole completely renovated kept much of it's original character with style and hardware etc.

Location

Lake view, Mt. Cook view, night sky observation

Staff

So friendly, accommodating, helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were awesome, villa was large and so many amenities.

The Cinema Suites

Te Anau

We loved this place! Super quirky location above a little cinema but no noise intruder and really just added to the charm. They have done just an awesome job with designing the layout of that place. Had two huge comfy couches and then another seating area plus the big king bed which you could separate off with some curtains plus a dining area and then there's a second room you can also book that's connected by a small kitchen. The bathrooms are lovely everything was very clean. I absolutely loved the style of the place. Would have loved to stay longer.

The Boatshed

Waiheke Island

Oh my goodness! I almost didn't want to review this place because it's so amazing and I want it to be available next time! The main lobby and lounge area of the boatshed we're so inviting and cozy and the views are absolutely incredible out over the bay. Jonathan and Mila we're such gracious hosts and so helpful with their luggage and other things. We stayed in the "owner's cottage" and I can't even describe how much we loved it. You have views from almost all the windows, a pool, and there's even a piano which I was so excited about. There's little cozy nooks around every corner to sit and read a book or enjoy the view. The host of thought of everything you could possibly need as well in the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. There are places to put and hang everything. We loved it so much we wanted to stay longer and hope to come back someday.

Authenticity & Character

Absolutely beautiful design

Location

Incredible views and Waiheke was great

Staff

So friendly and gracious

Cleanliness & Comfort

Evening you could possibly need, bed linens were so comfy

Hana Lodge

Rotorua

The two rooms that we had here were very beautiful. It's located in an older home so I'm assuming every room is a little bit different but each of ours were just really cool. The staff is super nice and really helpful as well. They went out of their way to help us with luggage and laundry and other things. The location is a little bit out of town but we liked that because it's on a really beautiful property and just a short drive to town. Rotorua was one of the places we definitely would love to have to spent more time!

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Safari of the scenes Glenorchy (LOTR)

Queenstown (NZ)

Our guide Jennifer was awesome! Loved her information and her love of her country. A great way to more of Queenstown and the surrounding area.

My wife was organizing a trip for my 17 year old and I (her husband). My wife reached out to Paula for help and she responded quickly. Paul provided great insight and enthusiasm to our request for a father son trip to New Zealand. When we asked for special consideration for our teenage son in terms of adventure, Paula delivered. Any changes or requests were acted on and the trip was developed with high co-operation and great care. When we asked for a change due to budget, this was thoughtfully undertaken with grace and positivity. There were also parts that we wanted to organize ourselves and those were integrated into the Kim Kim itinerary. Paula was just an amazing planner and we loved working with her to creates these travel memories.

Our amazing New ZEALAND adventure was 16 days of pure joy. Monika worked with us tirelessly in planning our vacation and customizing the itinerary to our specific preferences. She included everything to make our stay stress free, including transfers and pre-planned meals when available. Communication was wonderful, both before and during our stay. She was always there when we needed her including at the outset of our trip when our scheduled flight from Auckland to Christchurch was cancelled last minute due to an Air New Zealand issue. Transfers throughout our trip were seamless and accommodations were mostly excellent. Car rental was convenient and went smoothly. Highlights of the trip included a stay at the Kahiutara PurPod in Kaikōura, a fishing trip with Tomo, and a helicopter/glacier hike. The overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound is a delightful experience, and we highly recommend including it if you can. We could not have been happier with our KimKim experience. We would highly recommend their services, and will most certainly utilize them for future travel!

My trip to New Zealand was magical and everything I dreamed of! My local specialist Paula, and the others at Southern World, were helpful, professional, gave lots of attention to detail, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. I appreciated not only all the support, but the suggestions for itinerary and activities since it was my first time visiting New Zealand and I was traveling solo. Paula was also helpful in figuring out ways to stay within my budget. Overall a positive experience and I would definitely recommend Paula and/or Southern World to help with a trip to New Zealand or Australia.

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 Reviews

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

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak, BBQ Dinner, Farm Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

The TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak was remarkable! The cruise itself was excellent, and the visit to the farm was surprisingly wonderful. We had a delightful meal and really enjoyed the sheep farming demonstration. It was a unique and memorable experience.

Milford Sound Coach - Cruise from Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The Milford Sound tour was incredibly beautiful and impeccably organized. It was a smooth experience with no issues, and the stunning landscape was like something out of a dream.

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.