Kimkim Trip Reviews for New Zealand

Kim Kim put a wonderful jam packed vacation together for us in New Zealand. We wanted to do so much in our 14 days time in the county we they were able to fit in all our requests and more. Questions and concerns were always handled quickly. With so much to do and see I would have never been able to put our itInerary together. Way to many logistics and moving parts. I love how the vacation was tailored to us. We had about 17 different activities in our 14 days and all of our reservation, transportation and accommodation went as planned. Only a few things canceled but that was due to weather and we got a full refund. Every guide we had was welcoming and professional. Big shout out to Shaun at Altitude for our trip to Milford Sound and Iveta with Cheeky Kiwi. What a wonder beautiful county New Zealand it. This was a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks to Sabin and Laurel.

First of all and most importantly, we had an amazing trip! Some highlights for us included: epics hikes in Tongariro, Mt Cook, Queenstown, and Wanaka; kayaking in the Milford Sound; ziplining in Rotorua; and wine tasting in the Gibbston Valley. The incredible scenery, unique flora and fauna, great accessibility to all the sights, and the friendly people combined to make New Zealand one of our favorite trips.

On the kimkim side for booking and planning the trip, we had a pretty easy, good experience overall, with just a couple points of feedback that we think could have made things better. One is that when we made changes to our itinerary and Uma sent us a new itinerary for review, it was not easily clear to us what all the differences were from the previous itinerary. Some activities had been removed, others added, and some changed from included to optional. Over a 19 day trip, this was difficult to keep track of, and we were surprised by a couple things after final approval that were actually different than we thought because we didn't realize they had changed from a previous itinerary. The second point is that it was not clear to us which activities cost money and how much they cost. We also had no idea how much accommodations cost. We weren't working with a strict budget, but there were certainly some things we would have not included or done differently if we had known more about the cost. We're aware that kimkim can't provide an itemized invoice, but we think something like a $-$$$$ ranking similar to Trip Advisor would be very helpful.

Our local specialist Uma was very responsive, helpful, and friendly throughout. I think we definitely had a positive experience there. There were a couple times that we weren't quite on the same page when forming the itinerary or adjusting an activity, and I think we were maybe expecting to discuss options or get her opinion on something before deciding how to proceed, while Uma took our question as more of a direct request and went ahead and made changes. But that didn't detract from our trip, and we really appreciated Uma's great responsiveness.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

The room was a bit old and let a lot of light in. The breakfast was only ok. The staff was a little bit difficult when we tried to verify the boxed breakfast that our travel agent had arranged for an early morning departure. We did enjoy the thermal baths on site.

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a feeling of character and old British charm.

Location

Just a couple blocks from the main street. It's a small town so everything is close.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and bed were a bit old and not the most comfortable. They were fine, though.

Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Christchurch

Great location, clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Just a generic large hotel

Location

In the center of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Auckland

Auckland

Clean and comfortable. Location is great. Staff was helpful - lending us an umbrella for the day when it was pouring rain. We didn't eat there, so can't comment on the restaurant/bar.

Authenticity & Character

It is kind of a generic big hotel, so nothing really stands out.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

The room had a great view, but was small. The buffet for dinner and breakfast was mediocre for the price. The staff were very helpful when we were trying to reschedule our start gazing tour. Overall, we would have preferred to stay in the motel for less money.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Best location for the Mt Cook area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Great view, good location, very comfortable. The breakfast is subpar, so we recommend just going to town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

A fairly generic hotel with a medium quality breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good enough for Te Anau

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oakridge Resort

Wanaka

Comfortable room, good amenities on site, though it's a bit out of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's a bit out of town, so you have to drive to go anywhere

Staff

Very helpful in arranging a boxed breakfast and helping with our laundry

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

Comfortable, good location. Pretty generic hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

It's not worth the cost and queueing. But once you do get up there the view is nice.

Quality of Experience

Queues are too long

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waiheke Island Vineyard Explorer

Auckland

It's a pretty good value and very easy logistically. One downside is that the bus can get full, in which case you have to wait for the next one, and the timing of the buses is pretty unpredictable. There was also a range of experiences at the wineries, from personable and attentive at Batch to corporate and efficient at Stonyridge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour Ultimate Experience

Rotorua

A great experience all around. The guides were super fun and engaging throughout. We really appreciated the conservation efforts that the tour was supporting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glow Worm Kayaking in Rotorua

Rotorua

The guides were very nice and paddling around at night into little caves with the glowworms was pretty cool. Ultimately, we were hoping for a bit more in terms of size of caves or length of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did have to drive ourselves due to a staff shortage, but that worked out fine.

Te Pō Indigenous Experience

Rotorua

The buffet dinner was great and overlooked the geyser, which put on an impressive display. The cultural show was a lot of fun as well. Ending up with hot chocolate and a close up view of the geyser was really nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Sky Stargazing

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Unfortunately the tour was cancelled both days we were at Mt Cook. They did offer a planetarium show instead, which was a nice consolation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Queenstown (NZ)

The steam ship was very cool. We couldn't believe it's been operating the same way since 1912! The buffet dinner was out of this world good, especially the meats and desserts. And the farm show was thoroughly entertains, especially the sheep dog.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy a Gondola Ride for Stunning Views of Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The luge track is really fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen Hot Pools - The Outdoor Onsen

Queenstown (NZ)

This was pure luxury for us. A private hot tub overlooking a beautiful river valley with drinks and snacks included - it's an ideal way to end a day. Of course it's not an actual onsen, but we knew that going in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kayaking in Franz Josef

Franz Josef Glacier

This was a lovely and pleasant kayak trip on a rainy morning. Luckily it rained much less on the lake than at Franz Josef. It was nice to hear a lot from our guide about the local wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spectacular Tranz Alpine Scenic Train Journey

New Zealand

It's a great way to get across the country while soaking in the views. The audio guide was a nice touch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cruising & Kayaking in Milford Sound

New Zealand

This was definitely one of our favorite activities. The scenery during the cruise was truly incredible. Then the underwater observatory was also really cool. We even got to see an octopus, which is pretty rare. Finally the kayaking was a perfect way to move around while spending more time in the Sound, paddling around surrounded by these massive cliffs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was fantastically planned by Connie. Connie was amazingly fast to respond and had answers to every little question that my wife and I had.

The events that had been planned were a blast and we got as much in as we could. The only thing I wish was that I had planned to be there for more time.

If you need help organizing a trip, Connie was absolutely amazing. I'm sure we'll be using Kimkim again and will reach out to Connie in the future!

Liz put together for us an amazing 18-day self-driving journey through both the North and South Island. She was very patient, flexible and able to accommodate our specific wants such as a focus on culture, nature, food and wine, but limited physical activities such long hikes. Also, our travel dates had been set before talking to Liz and she was able to fit it all nicely while still giving us plenty of "free" time, which we then filled with some of her suggestions and some self-Googled highlights. Because of our points and status with hotels, car rental companies and airlines, Liz gave us the flexibility to make our own reservation where we could benefit from the status or use point/earn. The hotels she selected were, with two exceptions, excellent. I could have better communicated the level of comfort and service we like. We will be more specific when booking our next trip with KimKim. Due to rain and wind our flight back from Milford Sound to Queenstown got cancelled and we returned by bus. The refund for the missed flight was received within a few days. Greatly appreciate the prompt and honest service. Overall a wonderful experience and thank you Liz for your time and dedication to make this New Zealand trip one of our best world exploration adventures.

We are a family of 5, kids aged (9,15,17) 15 days in New Zealand starting in Auckland, driving down to Rotoroa, flying down to Christchurch, traveling by train to Greysmouth, car to Frans Jofef and car to Queenstown. It was a busy trip, but we loved every minute. The Maori traditional hungi and cultural night was enjoyed by of us, the mud baths at Hellsgate in Rotoroa - don't expect to get your clothes back, just take ones you can ditch! but it is a lovely experience. The night time glowworm kayak on the lake also a great experience - so peaceful. Down to the south island, the Christchurch botanical gardens are well worth an afternoon exploring - beautiful. The train ride to Greysmouth is very scenic. When driving from Frans Josef to Queenstown, remember the sick bags if anyone has travel sickness, the windy roads are next level, but the views are stunning. Queenstown is a beautiful part of the world, the lake offers so many options for tourists. The Bungee at the bridge, is worth just visiting to witness other peoples bravery! So much we didn't see, so we will be back.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel St. Moritz

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Although it is on a really steep hill, that you need to walk up and down to get the town.

Staff

The breakfast barista made a beautiful coffee with a smile - thankyou

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nesuto Stadium Auckland

Auckland

We enjoyed our stay in these apartments. We just really need at least a fan in the bedrooms as it was too hot in January and the a/c was only in the living area. Great location and walking distance to the ferry and shops.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Great location, we had rooms next to each other as we have 3 kids. Walking distance to the town.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

Reception decor looks quite fancy, but the rooms don't match that, but we were comfortable and it was clean and tidy. You do have beautiful views of the snow topped mountains and the fog rolling in is quite surreal.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

TranzAlpine Train: Christchurch to Greymouth

Christchurch

Great experience, beautiful views, great time for reflection and relaxation. The scenic cart was an added bonus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

great family experience for all ages. we thoroughly enjoyed this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

It's a lovely experience, maybe not for kids that don't like the dark or the water. As its hard to come back if they don't like it. For couples its a lovely time together, its really peaceful on the lake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Franz Joseph 4 hour Kayak and Walk

Franz Josef Glacier

This is a lovely day on the lake, if you are lucky enoguh to get a still day, the reflections are just beautiful. The kayaks are very comfortable and easy to manouver, the walk up into the forrest is really peaceful and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

she was sounding a bit rusty, nearly didn't start.

Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari

Queenstown (NZ)

Due to bad weather we just did the jetboat part of this tour. Was a lot of fun, and the scenery was stunning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

staff were all fantastic.

Transport

Overall the trip was good. We had some issues with air travel within NZ and the respective taxi booking. What was given in the trip itinerary and the actual airline bookings were completely different. in one case we missed the flight because of this discrepancy and had to pay to for change and in another we had to arrange for our own taxi. We are expecting a refund on both. We had notified Olivia in NZ about the same and I believe the same communication has been shared with Liz in the US. I have not had anyone reach out to me about these issues. Look forward to hearing from you on the same

My trip with the help and direction of Franck was great. Unfortunately with the change in weather we were not able to do all the things that we paid for on the trip to the rain forest as some of the roads were flooded but a driver John did try his best to help out and took us as far as he was allowed. But all was great and we had a wonderful time.
Thanks again Franck and his team

Hotel Reviews

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ruapehu Country Lodge

Ruapehu

The people were great ,food was wonderful, the animals were cute especially the goats and Lama

Authenticity & Character

cute place felt like home

Location

A little out of the way from downtown but it is in the country area so still beautiful

Staff

the family was great

Cleanliness & Comfort

everything was clean and comfortable

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

The colours were wild, very modern, only problem they do not have enough parking for visitors that have a car. Other than that ok.

Authenticity & Character

The wild modern colours

Location

Location was great right in the middle of everything

Staff

They were helpful and considerate

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Wine Tastings & Vineyard Visits on Waiheke Island

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

Loved it very scary and exciting all at the same time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver and staff Jessie and Ahn made it more fun than expected

Transport

Bumpy ride but well worth it.

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

It was fun

Quality of Experience

It was with friends

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff very great and helpful

Transport

The driver was cute

Kayak Taupo - Maori Rock Carvings

New Zealand

The day was perfect no rain and very interesting information

Quality of Experience

Fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain of the ship was funny had jokes to tell along the way

Transport

Tongariro Alpine Crossing guided

Tongariro National Park

Did not get to finish the trip had a small accident on the way up but although we only got to do 12 k it was worth it.

Quality of Experience

Did it with friends

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver and staff was great waited for us to come down and helped us back

Transport

Great

Knowing what I know now, I will never use Kim Kim again. To be fair, it has a market. If you aren't willing to do any trip planning and want someone to do everything for you for a 50% mark up, then Kim Kim is the tool for you. My main complaint: if a company is unwilling to give you an itemized bill for what they are charging you, then it is at least in a grey zone in terms of scams.

I stumbled upon this service when trying to plan our honeymoon to New Zealand and Fiji. I was simply looking for things to do and before I knew it, I had a lovely Kiwi helping me plan a trip. The time zone challenge was not her fault and to be fair we were running up against the clock for a popular holiday time in New Zealand. This made communication difficult. I felt rushed and that all my feedback into proposed itineraries was not acknowledged. For example, I wanted to use Marriott points, but I'm sure they don't have a deal with that brand and couldn't make money off it so they kept pushing us elsewhere. I felt pressured to do things I had zero interest in doing. They weren't able to book a rental car so I had to do that myself anyways. I think my main frustration was being in the dark of what we were paying for. I asked for a itemized bill, but they would only give total cost. So when we would remove things from our itinerary and our price didn't go down correspondingly, a lot of red flags were going off in my head. My wife and I literally booked the final itinerary separately and saw just how much we were paying for the service. We ended up going along with it out of guilt for the time spent by our specialist than anything else.

The Good: accommodations were great, insight into what activities were available, and ideas.
The Bad: everything else

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

Super cool with a robot butler. Loved it

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongariro Suites

Horopito

Staff was the highlight. Loved everything about this place. Very homely

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

Botique but odd. Not my cup of tea, but memorable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Martinborough Hotel

Martinborough

Super cute

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waiheke Explorer Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

New Zealand

Must do in Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Star Safari Group Tour

New Zealand

Super cool just pray for no clouds

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I drove

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

Good but not great

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Franck and his team were excellent in their plan for our vacation in New Zealand...he listened to what we wanted and set up the perfect itinerary...rooms that overlooked lakes and vistas that were amazing...the planned outings were superb...I would recommend this company to anyone if you want to see the real NZ

We had a wonderful time. The trips were great. Everything worked well. We enjoyed all the hotels. thank you Franck for organizing.

I can't thank Chelsea enough for the trip that she had planned. When i first spoke to her, i basically gave her an outline of what i was interested in and the time frame i had and pretty much said... 'show me your best'

And she did...

The way the trip was planned, in terms of time in the different places was well thought out and the activities that she arranged were so diverse and varied that i can't begin to choose which one was my best. I feel that i have seen an array of New Zealand and experienced some of the top activities that it has to offer. I was able to see the vast landscape in all its beauty and also witness the natural wildlife in their own surroundings, which is something that will last with me for a lifetime.
Chelsea has been great from the start and her communication to me throughout the journey of planning (which started back in 2021) all the way through the trip and even after i have returned home is fantastic.
Would i come back ... yes of course i would. I would certainly repeat some of the places i have been to and the activities i have taken part in, but i also know a few more places that i would really like to see as well in this beautiful country that i would certainly look to add on to my itinreary.

Thank you once again, i am still in awe of this amazing experience and had such an amazing time.

Hotel Reviews

Nesuto Stadium Auckland

Auckland

The hotel was in a good location of the city with plenty of things available in walking distance. The breakfast selection was excellent. We did have a bit of trouble checking in when we arrived late at night - that was sorted by the morning. We were there for 3 nights (well technically 2 and a half) but did not have a turn down service at all whilst we were there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We didn't have a turn down service at any point when we were there

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Great location for access to the main area For the main activities (canopy tour & thermal wonderland) we still had to drive. but in general it is a great location for accessing the town itself. booking all good breakfast was absolutely fine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The White Morph - Heritage Collection

Kaikoura

great location for everything staff were lovely during check in we had a turn down service breakfast was disappointing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

only saw people on check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview

Queenstown

great location from the airport and also good location - just outside of the main centre but not too far to walk. room was fantastic, breakfast was good we had a turn down service each day we had an issue with breakfast nit being on our booking and had to remind them each day as they never made a note.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Highfield Mews Motel

Oamaru

great room, location a little off the main drag but for us a walkable distance appreciate it was a motel but breakfast was disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

only saw the 1 person during check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aoraki Court Motel

Aoraki/Mt Cook Village

fab location in the area - ease of access to a lot of things where we were room was fab breakfast was disaapointing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

only saw 1 person during check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fable Christchurch

Christchurch

good location, room was good breakfast was good - although there was an issue with it 'apparently' not being booked on their system

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

not really helpful during check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise

Auckland

the weather was a bit of a let down which meant most of the time was spent below deck. the boat wasn't what i expected and equally the way we were eating our food was not as expected after seeing other boats in the harbour that looked more suited. staff were helpful in providing water coats to help keep us dry.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland to Rotorua with Waitomo Caves

New Zealand

caves were absolutely amazing, the staff were great and their knowledge was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland

Rotorua

it was very warm. able to view everything at your own pace the scenery was great and the information on the boards provided for you to read was great there was an issue when we went to get our tickets as they had no knowledge of our booking on their list we still got in but we had to write down the information provided to us from you and i presume they made further checks

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rotorua Forest Canopy Tour

Rotorua

absolutely amazing experience the guides were fab and they made the whole experience even better along with the zip lines, we learnt a lot about the forest and also the wildlife and support systems in place which was an added bonus. in future - when booking for people, ask them which option they want as i would have loved to have done the 'ultimate' canopy tour but we were only booked on the original one

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

the whole experience was amazing the information and history provided by the bus driver both on the way there and back was extensive and really interesting. the experience and knowledge gained from the people in the village was great and it was such an amazing thing to watch when they were performing. really enjoyed getting involved in all of the activities the only let down was the food - whilst it was amazing and delicious, the quantity was limited and i expected more of a buffet style as there were only small portions available (1 each) because i only eat chicken, i ate very little that night

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Full-Day Adventure

Queenstown (NZ)

the driver was fab - very knowledgeable and good humour, keeping us entertained throughout the journey the weather was not on our side so we did not get the full effect of the size of the gorge. however, we saw some amazing waterfalls instead the boat trip was wet and windy but good fun and the lunch provided was suitable. the let down (because of the weather) was that we did not get to take our plane ride back to queenstown. we were going to try for the helicopter option instead - but that was also unavailable when we returned from the boat.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NZONE Skydive Queenstown 15000 ft jump

Queenstown (NZ)

absolutely amazing experience from start to finish the communication from the team in prep for waivers and also updates on weather was good safety briefings were very good and the quality of transport to the drop zone was decent the staff were very helpful and made sure that everything was ok. the tandem master was great fun and made you fee at ease throughout the whole experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

the whole experience was great the steamer was great fun and the information provided whilst on board was fab the farm was just out of this world. the best food we had all holiday - unbelievable. the fun parts after food with the farmer were an added bonus - sheep shearing and herding everything about this night was fab

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dart River Safaris - Wilderness Jet

Queenstown (NZ)

absolutely awesome easy to find - a nice drive out to Glenorchy the staff were great and spoke really well about the area and the adventure. made the experience so much fun, got involved with the guests in terms of conversing and provided opportunities for photos etc

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony Premium Evening Viewing

Oamaru

it was disappointing that no where in Oamaru was open prior to this activity. however, the experience was so much fun it was great to see these animals in their natural habitat. the staff were very knowledgeable and also answered any questions that you had. it was great to see some fur seals as well

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

made our own way there

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

magical to see something like that was just out of this world. as well as the main glacier there were some icebergs on the lake as well that we were able to get close to and touch. the staff were very good at making sure that both sides of the boat got the experience and they spoke very well about the history of the glacier as well as provided some great information about whats happening and what will continue to happen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Swim with the Dolphins Tour

Kaikoura

save the best til last this experience was amazing - i was not quite expecting what happened. i thought maybe 3 or 4 dolphins. but to enter the water and see that many - so close up to me... UNREAL to be able to swim with these amazing animals in their own habitat was just so precious and i am so glad that i did this. i wasn't that confident in snorkeling but the staff were supportive and gave some great guidance for both that and how to interact with the dolphins

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Return your car to the Airport

New Zealand

suzuki swift - north island took a long time to get the car but all was fine with it once we had it. GPS system worked fine and the car did what we needed it to do south island we were supposed to get a mitsibushi but ended up with another suzuki (similar size as planned) car drove fine and got us where we needed the GPS / sound system was an issue throughout our time and we were fortunate that Matt's was able to use his mobile phone. the system kept on disconnecting and restarting which meant that the GPS system was not working for most of the time we needed it. we informed the depot when we returned the keys and they will check it out

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

south island car - GPS kept going off and restarting or losing signal

Transport

Monika did a great job thinking through the pacing of our trip. This was a last minute decision to go to New Zealand, we only had a week, and we were pretty tired so not up for a lot of driving.

Because it was high season Monika told us from the start that she couldn't book a South Island trip for us since their service providers were already booked up. While we had to limit ourselves to the North Island, we wish she had suggested some off the beaten path options such as going North from Auckland for a day or two. The advantage of booking with an agent is that you are all set and don't need to think about it when you travel - the disadvantage is that you are all set, and it's hard to adjust when you learn about things that you might rather like to do. That said, Monika was mostly available throughout the trip and made some effort to try to accommodate us.

There were some snafus with the trip:

1. The instructions that Monika provided to us once we booked the trip were difficult to decipher. There were two PDFs: One had the vouchers with the times and the location for pick up and the second was the "Travel Book" with day to day activities and descriptions, but no times or pick up locations. In order to figure out what we were doing, we had to toggle back and forth. Also neither PDF gave us an indication of how far the activity is from our hotel, leaving us to figure out on our own how much time to leave. With the extra surcharge that KimKim charges, I had expected better.

2. Because of the difficulty in making sense of the logistics of the itinerary, we didn't realize until the last minute that Kim Kim had failed to provide transport to our evening kayak trip in Rotoura which was 35 minutes from our hotel. I had to figure it all out on Google maps and when I did I called an Uber. Only when we were in the Uber did Monika get in touch to say that there was a mistake and that she would reimburse me for the Uber. But that again made for unnecessary stress.

3. We loved the evening kayak trip and our guide, but the description had some errors. Besides not arranging for the service provider to pick us up, the Travel Book (or Voucher) told us to arrive at the launch spot 20 minutes early. When we got there 20 mins early we didn't see anyone - they arrived at the start time instead and told us they never stipulate arriving 20 mins early. Finally, the even is billed as providing a "gourmet BBQ with special Kiwi dessert." It was a basic BBQ with no dessert.

4. Monika didn't ask me during the planning whether we are into adventure sports. The Mt. Tawarera crater walk near Rotoura is very cool, but as soon as we got the launching spot and I saw what it was, I decided not to do the walk. I am afraid of heights and not at all interested in walking on the ledge of steep crater in the wind and rain. My daughter went ahead but was only able to get through it by holding on to the back of the only guide. So a little more communication from Monika around our adventure tolerance level and what is involved in each activity would have been better - this turned out to be a wasted day and a wasted expense.

5. For the final day Monika had not planned anything and provided no options even though we had all morning until about 2 pm to do something. When we saw the problem we let her know and she created an option, but told us that it would be an extra expense. We learned, unsurprisingly, that the amount she would charge is 50% more than had we booked it on our own. That's a steep price for this kind of service!

6. Also on the final day, Monika had the car come about an hour early to pick us up which made us have to wait nearly 3.5 hours at the airport for our flight.

All in all, while we were relieved not to have to do all the research on our own and are mostly pleased with the activities Monika set up for us, we are not sure we'd book with Kim Kim again.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

We liked it a lot - good location and nice atmosphere. Our room was small though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Most of the people were great, except for one woman who's name we don't know.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour - Glowworm Caves

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

It was okay - Kim Kim billed it as a gourmet BBQ dinner. We were expecting more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jamie, our guide, was fantastic.

Transport

Kim Kim forgot to set up travel from our hotel

Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

This is a great experience if you are not afraid of heights and like adventure. Tour agents should be clear with clients about what this is before booking it.

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

The food is overrated. Two of the dishes were bad, a few were okay - only one was actually very good. It's located at the end of a cheap food court in a mall, which is odd.

Quality of Experience

Food

Fantastic trip to NZ! Highlights were Hobbiton, Milford Sound, the trans alpine train. Fantastic experience booking with KimKim.

When we booked our flights to New Zealand, we had no idea where to start with planning the itinerary. After filling out the form on Kimkim, I received an itinerary suggestion in a very short time. We wanted to make some changes with the initial suggestion. Here Paula gave us a very good guidance and service. She was quick on her responses, very friendly and very helpful. We had a small hiccup during our journey (one tour was not available - but this can happen anywhere) , but except that everything went smoothly. The transportations were punctual, the tours were amazing, the guides were very friendly and helpful. We had a memorable journey around New Zealand which was organized perfectly in a short time thanks to Kimkim. I strongly suggest using Kimkim especially if you have a trip planned with several different destinations, tours and transfers. Already thinking about our next trip :)

Hotel Reviews

Scenic Hotel Cotswold

Christchurch

This is a beautiful hotel with English architecture. The room was very comfortable and clean, the bed was ver comfortable. Only issue was that it has a very small pool and it was not functional when we were there. But as an alternative they allowed us to use the pool from a neighboring hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

I think it does not have a particular character, it was like a regular hotel.

Location

Because it is very close to the Rotorua Lake, the sulphur smell coming from the lake is very prominent.

Staff

The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room window could not be closed fully and we also could not turn the AC off.

Activity Reviews

Milford Sound Fly/Nature Cruise/Fly (Shared Activity)

Queenstown (NZ)

This trip was amazing. So beautiful landscape!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Reserve Entry & Guided Kiwi Tour

Christchurch

Full Day Arthurs Pass with Train

Christchurch

This tour was amazing with great landscape. Our tour guide was very nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves ( Rotorua)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TE Puia: Te Ra (Day Pass) Guided tour (90 minutes)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver did not explain the pick up time and procedure for the return so it was a bit confusing.

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire trip was fantastic. Liz our specialist was always on top of things and organized everything to our liking. All of the tours and planned activities were top notch. We made some adjustments as required. The emergency support staff was very responsive but were not able to make any changes as everything was non-refundable. A lesson learned for me. I would highly recommend using KimKim. The hotel locations were great. But below is some feedback on the hotels.

Shangri-La in Sydney has become a bit dated and the new W would be a good replacement. The showers were the worst water pressure that I have ever experienced.
The Regent of Rotorua was a old motel converted to a modern boutique hotel. Was very pleasant but the Pullman would have been a better option.
The Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park, Auckland was great but more of an Apartment. The check-in was at the Bakery counter and they had no staff, no room service and had to request cleaning service each day. Not a 5 star place but the apartment itself was fantastic!

We planned out own Helmut tour in Cairns which was out of this world. A must add in the future for KimKim.

I think it would have been nice to have some self planned activities with rental car options as we replaced a few by ourselves after the fact.

Some of the small group activities were not as high end as we would have expected and each of the buses were jam packed to the max. Again maybe some options here would have been good. But you don't really know until you experience it. We saw other families with more private transportation options.

The guides in all of our excursions were super knowledgeable and friendly.

In Queenstown the Funyak Safari Trip with Jetboat was fantastic.

Connie arranged an amazing trip covering both the North and South Islands of NZ for me and my family. We decided to use kimkim because of our very busy schedules to do any of the planning ourselves. Connie had to make do with very little guidance from us but still managed to make it an enjoyable trip with just the right pace. The overnight stay on the boat in Fiordland was very special, as were the cute boutique hotels we stayed at most nights of the trip. I look forward to working with kimkim on future vacations given how positive my first experience has been. Thank you, Connie and kimkim!

Franck planned a three week trip for us in New Zealand, and we left feeling like we did it all. The planning process was easy and done through the messaging platform. We felt confident showing up that all the details were taken care of from airport pick-ups to daily activities. While traveling we ran into a couple of issues like a cancelled flight, and Franck was quick to help us course correct. I would book again using Franck and Kimkim!

Louise commitment to have a memorable trip in this amazing country was excellent. She done a great job booking all transportation which was my main concern. Very prompt in answering all my questions and requests. Well-deserved five stars!
Few feedback and recommendations:
- I had doubts about motels accommodations but seams that the motel 59 on Cron street at Franz Joseph was much better than Heartland hotel in Queenstown regarding facilities.
- At Franz Joseph, due to weather conditions, my heli trip was cancelled but I manage to find a driver to take me to Okarito. Was a great trip, see the beach and do the Trig walk, great views. I recommend having this option for the case another tourist facing same situation.
- The tour with Gray Line from Franz Joseph to Queenstown was split between two drivers. That was fine as was no need to transfer baggage, but the second driver was driving very fast and unsafe, even I mentioned to him that is driving very fast for a big bus he continues to do so. I was very uncomfortable and thinking even to make an official complain.
- At Milford Sound, thanks to the guide from RealNZ - Alisja, I could have a flight back to Queenstown. My wish was to have a helicopter tour on this trip, but the flight with the small plane and great pilot going around on top of the mountains can't describe how wonderful have been. :) RealNZ is a top class Tours Company! Five stars from me :)
- The tours with Cheeky Kiwi and Cheeky Kea were great, good drivers, funny and share information about areas we were passing.
- As a conclusion, the tours companies should give drivers enough time for the trips, their clients are tourists and want to stop more often in places of interest to make photos and enjoy the views.

My top two experiences are flying over the mountains and Mitai Maori cultural history experience.

As an overview I can say I had an amazing time. I'll share my experience with family and friends and hopefully I can come again.

Thank you Louise and thank you Kim Kim!

Adina Tutu.

Hotel Reviews

Bella Vista Christchurch

Christchurch

58 On Cron

Great hotel, big room, very clean, kitchen with all you need.

Location

Only 5 minutes walk from center but quite and great view of the mountains.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nesuto Stadium Auckland

Auckland

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Coach/Cruise/Coach inc lunch ex ZQN

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Real Rotorua - Thermal Path Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Rotorua to Auckland, Hobbiton

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart New Zealand

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Transport

Glacier Valley Shuttle

Franz Josef Glacier

Quality of Experience

Mitai Maori Village

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Queenstown on Your Own

Queenstown (NZ)

I am saddened to say that while the planning experience was good, the support during our trip was lacking and we will not be using kimkim's services going forward. We were booked an a FlexiToursNZ trip from Rotoura to Auckland on Dec 28th. Not only were we not notified in advance about having to change vehicles twice, but when we brought this us to Jon he was not helpful in helping us understand why this happened (I'm actually still waiting on his feedback from his contact at the tour company). After a long day (made even longer by the issues experienced from Rotoura to Auckland) we arrived at a hotel that was old, moldy, and far below expectations. Again in mentioned this to Jon, his answer was that he will take it up with the product team. Needless to say, we did not spend the night there and transferred to another hotel. I am not looking for a refund, but I would like answers as to what happend on our tour and how the product team could send a family (with small children) to hotel with moldy ceilings and peeling paint that is down the block from two strip clubs!

Fantastic trip. Thanks to Franc and Once Upon a Trip, everything was taken care of— all we had to do was enjoy the trip. All the accommodations were wonderful, activity operators safe and professional, and we had everything we needed in advance of the trip.