Profile photo for Michelle Srzich
3347 messages
active 4 hours ago

Michelle Srzich

Let me guide you with my local knowledge of how to make the most of your time in New Zealand. I am a local 'Kiwi' born here so Aotearoa New Zealand holds a special place in my heart and I am excited to share this beautiful country with you.
I like to get to know you, the traveler, and design an itinerary that incorporates your own interests and captures the essence of the New Zealand experience while adding my own unique suggestions that I know you will love. I am also here in the country when you are traveling to help out with some local travel tips.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in bespoke tailor-made self-drive tours and privately guided itineraries. I am a big supporter of sustainable travel and prefer to recommend and support smaller locally-owned suppliers of accommodation and day tours so that people visiting New Zealand can discover the uniqueness of our country and the warmth and friendliness of our Kiwi hospitality. My tours are built from experience and are respectful of the communities you are visiting.
For activities, I like to incorporate many different ones including hiking and cycling (with the option of e-bikes), food and wine, and wildlife activities, such as kiwi and native penguin spotting in their natural environment. I also like to offer scenic flights and cruises to give the traveler even more options to view our stunning natural scenery. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"A year as a Rotary Exchange Student in Illinois as a teenager first opened my eyes to the world of travel and after some more overseas travel after university, it was a natural progression to choose Tourism as a career.
I have extensive experience in outbound leisure travel and corporate travel and now I love working in Inbound New Zealand and South Pacific travel. I have traveled New Zealand and the world on working holidays as a backpacker, later with my own three children, and these days with the children grown up I prefer to travel with a little more luxury!
"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"A helicopter ride to the Luxmore Hut on Fiordland's Kepler track followed by a hike with a local guide through the alpine landscape is one of New Zealand's best one day experiences. Even better if you can follow it up with an overnight cruise of Doubtful Sound - waking up in this pristine natural landscape is really magical. "

Michelle is part of the following groups: Fiji Travel Agents, New Zealand Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries
Honeymoon itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Michelle

I worked with Michele to plan our trip to New...
New Zealand | Mar 31 - Apr 7, 2025

Joan
Joan B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2025
I worked with Michele to plan our trip to New Zealand. She did a great job including all the things we enjoyed. We love the outdoors and she set up some beautiful hiking and a fantastic day biking through the wineries. I would definitely use Kim Kim travels again to plan any future trips Read more

I worked with Michele to plan our trip to New Zealand. She did a great job including all the things we enjoyed. We love the outdoors and she set up some beautiful hiking and a fantastic day biking through the wineries. I would definitely use Kim Kim travels again to plan any future trips

Hotel Reviews
Acacia Cliffs Lodge
taupo

Acacia lodge was fantastic. It only had 6 rooms and we enjoyed our private deck with great view of Lake Taupo. The cooked breakfast and nightly appetizers were a nice bonus. Our room and the entire lodge was comfortable and beautiful. Loved the host. They gave us everything we needed but they also respected our privacy

Authenticity & Character
Very unique. Beautifully remodeled with awesome grounds
Location
Away from all the crowds but a very short drive to everything
Staff
Host were very friendly. Helpful with suggestions for activities and restaurants. Cooked a great breakfast!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was spotless and extremely comfortable
Novotel Auckland Airport
Auckland

We could literally walk to the airport. It was steps away. So convenient

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Gannet Safaris
Gannet Safaris
New Zealand

This was an unexpected surprise. The scenery was stunning. Only way to see this area is on a tour.

Quality of Experience
O
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Picked us up at our hotel. Very convenient
Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Apr 14, 2025

Thanks so much for your review and feedback Joan and I really enjoyed seeing your photos too.
It was a pleasure working with you to put this trip together and I am so glad everything worked out for you and the weather was pleasant in April, our early Autumn season which i think is a great time to visit New Zealand.
Happy future travels with Kimkim!

Michelle planned a great trip
New Zealand | Feb 18 - Mar 1, 2025

Janis
Janis S.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Apr 08, 2025
Michelle created an excellent itinerary for our 12 days in New Zealand. With just a few questions during our initial phone conversation, she was able to determine our preferences about hotel types and locations to visit. She selected very nice hotels with most walking distance to main part of town. Tours selected were small group which made the experience very enjoyable. We are very grateful that she suggested a self drive tour because we were able to explore more than if we were on a guided... Read more

Michelle created an excellent itinerary for our 12 days in New Zealand. With just a few questions during our initial phone conversation, she was able to determine our preferences about hotel types and locations to visit. She selected very nice hotels with most walking distance to main part of town. Tours selected were small group which made the experience very enjoyable. We are very grateful that she suggested a self drive tour because we were able to explore more than if we were on a guided tour. Thanks Michelle for creating a great vacation for us!

Hotel Reviews
The George
Christchurch

Comfortable and walking distance to botanical gardens

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very friendly and helpful with suggestions on what to visit with just a short time available
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ramada Suites Queenstown
Queenstown

Comfortable and walking distance to main part of town

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas
Te Anau

Great suite with wonderful view

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel St Clair
Dunedin

Wonderful. View of ocean and walking distance to restaurants

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kelly Rd
Cambridge
Authenticity & Character
Location
Not much around but good mid-point to next location with laundry facilities on site
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hana Lodge
Rotorua

Wonderful!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
M Social
Auckland

Close to our cruise departure

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner
Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner
Queenstown (NZ)

Fun experience. Great food. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau

Seeing glowworms was fun but we especially enjoyed the underground scenery and waterfalls.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Premium Cruise in the Milford Sound
Premium Cruise in the Milford Sound
New Zealand

Very happy with this small group cruise. Milford Sound is amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Small group made travel to sound very enjoyable
Te  Pā Tū  - Maori Cultural Experience
Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience
Rotorua

Fun experience

Quality of Experience
Food
Introducing us to native food choices was an interesting experience. We tasted the food served but didn’t eat much. Would have been more enjoyable if other foods were served along with the cultural choices.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was very entertaining
Transport
Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula
Explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula
Dunedin

Beautiful area

Larnach Castle Tour - unguided
Larnach Castle Tour - unguided
Dunedin

Beautiful scenery

Yellow-eyed penguins
Yellow-eyed penguins
Dunedin

Fun experience

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
New Zealand

Good management of large groups of people touring this site. Smaller groups led around with assigned times

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Apr 08, 2025

Hi Janis
My pleasure! Thanks for your review , I am thrilled to hear the self-drive trip worked out so well for you and Keith.
Happy future travels with Kimkim!

Just returned home from two very exciting and...
New Zealand | Mar 15 - Mar 28, 2025

Linda
Linda F.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 04, 2025
Just returned home from two very exciting and truly intoxicating weeks in New Zealand. The utter perfection of my itinerary, planned by my local specialist Michelle from Once Upon a Trip, allowed me to relax and flow from one amazing experience to the next.
Michelle devised an itinerary based on my desire to see as much natural beauty as possible and managed to stay within a reasonable budget. She created a two week schedule that did not overwhelm and facilitated my ability to travel solo...
Read more

Just returned home from two very exciting and truly intoxicating weeks in New Zealand. The utter perfection of my itinerary, planned by my local specialist Michelle from Once Upon a Trip, allowed me to relax and flow from one amazing experience to the next.
Michelle devised an itinerary based on my desire to see as much natural beauty as possible and managed to stay within a reasonable budget. She created a two week schedule that did not overwhelm and facilitated my ability to travel solo from the southern city of Queensland on the South Island to the northern city of Auckland on the North Island. I flew over glaciers to magnificent fjords, took boat trips on fabulous lakes, cycled through spectacular rainforests, visited botanical gardens, museums and cultural performances.
Every activity she chose for me was top notch, every accommodation fit my needs, driving directions, check-in information, timing, and general recommendations were perfect and completely reliable. I could not have asked for a more incredible trip. Thank you Michelle, Monika and KimKim!

Hotel Review
Criffel Peak View B&B and Apartment
Wanaka

The simplest of all my accommodations and yet so rich in warmth and friendliness. My B & B hosts took an active interest in my itinerary, offered suggestions and significant improvements and provided a delicious made to order breakfast every morning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to town. Walking distance to restaurants and town.
Staff
Warm and welcoming hosts
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean
Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Apr 06, 2025

Hi Linda
Thank you so much for this review and for sharing your incredible photos of your time here. We did manage to fit in lots of highlights and I am thrilled to see it all worked out so well . We do try really hard to make sure the plans all coordinate together perfectly so hopefully people see the value in using a local agent for this. It was fun working with you to put the trip together and I wish you happy future travels with Kimkim!

When we decided to travel to the South Island...
New Zealand | Feb 16 - Mar 14, 2025

Michael
Michael P.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2025
When we decided to travel to the South Island of New Zealand, we began by asking friends who'd been and by exploring the Internet: so many suggestions to sort through. Then we found Michelle on the KimKim team in New Zealand. She asked us for our preferences and some guidelines. Very quickly she sent us a planned trip. It looked so good, we added another week to make it a full month. Out of curiosity, we also asked Perplexity AI for an itinerary. The AI returned an itinerary close to what... Read more

When we decided to travel to the South Island of New Zealand, we began by asking friends who'd been and by exploring the Internet: so many suggestions to sort through. Then we found Michelle on the KimKim team in New Zealand. She asked us for our preferences and some guidelines. Very quickly she sent us a planned trip. It looked so good, we added another week to make it a full month. Out of curiosity, we also asked Perplexity AI for an itinerary. The AI returned an itinerary close to what Michelle suggested which reinforced her good judgement in our minds. Of course an itinerary is only a starting place for planning a trip; there is so much more to arrange. We gave her the go-ahead to set everything up. And so she did. An amazing number of details she figured out, the arrangements she made -- everything culminated in a complete travel plan all ready to go well ahead of departure time. Almost everything worked exactly as she planned to our great delight. It was so comforting to know that Michelle, a locally-based travel advisor, was there for us every step of the way for our trip. We contacted her a couple of times with changes and she was very helpful. She was wonderful!

Hotel Reviews
Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses
Kaikoura

This truly is an amazing place. We were surprised by the spaciousnesss and luxury of our suite -- and we didn't reserve a tree house. First class service in all areas. We had several meals there (it is some distance to drive otherwise) and the food was very good, although the menu was limited (which made sense for them). We used this place as our base for going to Kaikoura, so we din't take advantage of all the amenities offered. We would have liked a longer stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Excellent to be in the countryside, but roughly 15 km from town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Marlborough Boutique Hotel and Vineyard
Marlborough

First class in all respects. We especially appreciated the courteous service by every member of staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pihopa Retreat
Nelson

This was indeed a "retreat". Its location is in Nelson, but one would think it was in the countryside once arrived. Lovely spacious suite with all the amenities. We appreciated the graciousness of our host and the special kindness she showed one evening when I was too exhausted from a hike to go out for dinner. She brought to our room a very generously-sized cold plate for dinner. We wish we'd had even more nights there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Camp Estate at Larnach Castle
Dunedin

This was a unique experience. To be clear, it is down the road from the Larnach Castle and that's a good thing -- much quieter and more upscale. In a word, this place is elegant. Lots of stone floors, wide staircase to the second floor suites, big drawing room, etc. Very comfortable room with all the amenities. We had the special dinner at the castle one night and were disappointed. It was expensive and the experience dragged on for 4 hours. The next night we cancelled a repeat dinner. Staff at the Estate responded by serving us a special cold plate, heaped with more cheese, cold meats, bread, etc. than we could eat. And a staff member had to drive to the castle kitchen to get it for us. That's the kind of place this Estate is. Very impressed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Waiorau Homestead
Wanaka

This was not up to the 5-star experience we had enjoyed previously on our trip, so it suffered by comparison. It was certainly OK. This is a small homestead to be sure: up to 6 guests at a time. It was clean and our hosts were gracious. The bedroom was small and limited in amenities. The facilities like pool and hot tub very dated. The on-site dinner very tasty, but expensive. We did enjoy an intimate conversation at dinner with the other guests. A good place to go to "get away in the countryside".

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Fitzroy
Auckland

We were put here by our travel agent who believed we'd enjoy being in this neighbourhood of Auckland. Turned out we were in the wrong location. The hotel itself is unusual: an older building converted to several small suites. We had been in a huge suite in an upscale lodge the nights before, so we were under-whelmed when we arrived here. We went out to at dinnertime to explore the neighbourhood on foot and found we didn't resonate with the younger, funkier crowd. We really wanted to be in the harbour area, so we asked to cancel our second night. Our host was most gracious, allowing us to move without penalty. And, we left behind an item in the room. Our host contacted us in the new hotel and drove the time to us. That generous act greatly impressed us. We conclude we'd have been fine there except for the location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
PurePod Rakiura Stewart Island (Hananui)
Christchurch

We had high expectations for this unusual place. It was challenging to get there -- both driving and hiking -- and it was tucked high on a hillside. Not a good idea if you are unable to walk up hills. The all-around glass building is quite something to experience day and night (we had one clear night for star-gazing). The place was clearly upscale in all respects. Very comfortable. The food provided was fantastic. We felt remote but still safe -- that was the idea and they delivered.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The particular unit we rented was above a town and thus not as remote and quiet as we'd hoped. We highly recommend the PurePod experience but not this particular unit.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Accommodation arranged as part of your Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise - Southern Secret

This was an overnight on a boat, part of a two day adventure on Doubtful Sound. The boat accommodated 12 guests plus two crew members. Our cabins were small, but quite adequate for an overnight. The crew made the trip especially memorable with their friendliness and knowledge. The food was fantastic, including lobster and fish that our fellow passengers caught during the day. This trip was a highlight of our month's adventure.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fiordland Lodge
Te Anau

We really liked this first-class place. From the moment we drove to the door to when we left, we were treated with great respect and courtesy. As an example, this was the only place on our month long journey where they parked our car for us! Big place with everything one might want in a lodge. Our room had all the amenities we wanted. We used this as a base for a trip to Milford Sound, so we din't get to take advantage of all the services and features. Food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tussock Hill Vineyard Retreats
Christchurch

We booked one of the two rooms there. It was modern, clean, well-appointed and looked out on a vineyard, overlooking Christchurch itself. It would be a great location for those who intended to hike the steep trails (which we didn't). The room was near the dining room which served until 5 PM. In other words, this is a lunch spot. Dinner items can be had, but that means an early dinner. We did so one night, and the food was excellent. It took about 20 minutes to get into the heart of Christchurch, but the traffic wasn't bad. Breakfast was brought to our room, but one of our days, the kitchen was closed that morning, which was disappointing. A highlight was the twin hot tubs on our very private deck -- very relaxing!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Vicarage Geraldine
Geraldine

The Vicarage is, as expected, an older property that has been restored. Located in the heart of Geraldine, it was well-suited for us because we wanted to walk to our meals as this was a one-night stop for us. We walked to the local restaurant/pub and enjoyed being with the local folks at a sheep shearing contest outside. The room was small compared to the other hotels we stayed at on this trip. The bed was comfortable and the room clean. We never saw any staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Birds Ferry Lodge
Westport

For a small B&B, it was fine. Dinner was especially delicious and we enjoyed our conversations with our hosts. Lots of local knowledge. The room was dated but adequate.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rimu Lodge
Ruatapu

Very pleasant staff. Very comfortable room (there were only 4). Beautiful view and a lovely deck where we had dinner one night. Close to Hokitika and the Gorge, but a car is essential. The breakfast was excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Lake Moeraki

While a little dated, this is a big property with lots of guests (some of whom, a tour group, were a little rowdy). The staff were gracious and knowledgeable. The glow worms walk and the eels walk were especially memorable. The food was satisfactory, but we had the sense they were cooking too many plates at the same time -- just didn't feel like an upscale restaurant. It rained all day one of our days, so we did not get to use their kayaks and go on their special guided tours.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Aqua Taxi - Slice of Paradise (boat + optional walks) - full day
Aqua Taxi - Slice of Paradise (boat + optional walks) - full day
New Zealand

We had difficulty finding the starting place for this trip. The boat was late. The sea was rough and our particular hike plan was aborted. We dropped off a t a beach and were told to do another hike to reach our boat pickup place. We had no signal on our cell phones. The 6 km trail was steep in places, narrow and with very limited places to rest. To our knowledge there was no one monitoring the trail and we saw very few hikers on the trail. Part way, I (78 years old) got into trouble walking and fell 3 times. There was no option but to carry on. It took us 4 hours and we got to the beach just in time to catch the boat. This was one of the most traumatic experiences I've had for a long time. It could have been much worse if I hadn't struggled on.

Quality of Experience
Transport
Small boat, rough waters = difficult ride
Scenic Flight Twin Glaciers in a Helicopter
Scenic Flight Twin Glaciers in a Helicopter
New Zealand

Well done! We enjoyed the ride, even though it was quite brief. Landing on the glacier made it special. The fog rolle din minutes after we landed -- we were lucky to have our flight.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Apr 02, 2025
Thanks so much for your feedback Michael and I am thrilled you had such a great time in New Zealand and enjoyed such a variety of accommodation from the very unique Purepod , Doubtful Sound overnight cruise through to the luxury Hapuku Lodge.
While it is normal we receive far better feedback on the more expensive and upscale accommodations, naturally some like Waiorau Homestead at a much lower price point may not live up to the same standards as you so rightly acknowledge. We love to hear...
Read more

Thanks so much for your feedback Michael and I am thrilled you had such a great time in New Zealand and enjoyed such a variety of accommodation from the very unique Purepod , Doubtful Sound overnight cruise through to the luxury Hapuku Lodge.
While it is normal we receive far better feedback on the more expensive and upscale accommodations, naturally some like Waiorau Homestead at a much lower price point may not live up to the same standards as you so rightly acknowledge. We love to hear about the special touches provided by your hosts such as at Pihopa Retreat and Hotel Fitzroy.
It sounds like you had some great dining experiences as well which is so good to hear - what fun to eat the lobster and fresh fish caught by your fellow sailors!
Happy future travels with Kimkim.

Ne more clear on was currency is being used.
New Zealand | Mar 10 - Mar 19, 2025

Joanne
Joanne S.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 25, 2025

The only complaint is we thought we were being quoted in NZ$. We are Canadian. When we paid it was the first time we saw it was USA$. we booked late so had tompay all up front. We were shocked that is was American$ which is about 40% more.

Michelle was great and quick to answer any of our questions.

Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Mar 26, 2025

Hi Joanne
Thanks for sharing your feedback and great to hear you loved the Milford fly cruise fly day, the whale watching in Kaikoura and the Abel Tasman sailing. Sorry to hear you were not sure of the currency you were being quoted as there was no mention of using New Zealand dollars in pricing and I expected it would be clear when you receive the trip price as from my end is clearly showing the amount per person in USD. I will be sure to mention the issue you noted to Kimkim support.
All the best,
Michelle

Our car rental experience in Auckland was not...
New Zealand | Feb 21 - Mar 4, 2025

V
vijay s.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 12, 2025
Our car rental experience in Auckland was not memorable. The car reserved for us was a Subaru Outback, not an SUV, and it was not clear that the hotel parking charges were not included. The itinerary was long and winding, repetitive, and confusing. A simple daily summary with details about other attractions in the appendix would have served better. The font size was too small. Most accommodations were reasonable except Rotarua. Overall, it was a good trip. Read more

Our car rental experience in Auckland was not memorable. The car reserved for us was a Subaru Outback, not an SUV, and it was not clear that the hotel parking charges were not included. The itinerary was long and winding, repetitive, and confusing. A simple daily summary with details about other attractions in the appendix would have served better. The font size was too small. Most accommodations were reasonable except Rotarua. Overall, it was a good trip.

Hotel Reviews
Sudima Lake Rotorua
Rotorua

avoid

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sudima
Christchurch

small rooms. Parking is additional. Good breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Peppers Bluewater Resort
Lake Tekapo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kamana Lakehouse
Queenstown
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
front desk needs training in politeness
Cleanliness & Comfort
Distinction Dunedin Hotel
Dunedin
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The Mayfair
Christchurch
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Christchurch Tramway Tour
Christchurch Tramway Tour
Christchurch

advance tram map would have been helpful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Larnach Castle Tour - unguided
Larnach Castle Tour - unguided
Dunedin
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Te  Pā Tū  - Maori Cultural Experience
Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience
Rotorua
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Scenic Flight - Mt Cook Franz and Fox Magic - by heli from Tekapo
Scenic Flight - Mt Cook Franz and Fox Magic - by heli from Tekapo
New Zealand
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight
Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight
Queenstown (NZ)
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner
Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner
Queenstown (NZ)
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Yellow-eyed penguins
Yellow-eyed penguins
Dunedin
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Mar 24, 2025

Thanks for taking the time to post a review Vijay, I do appreciate the feedback.

Wow! What an amazing time we had in New Zeala...
New Zealand | Feb 10 - Feb 26, 2025

Shelly
Shelly N.
Italy | Reviewed on Mar 05, 2025
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... Read more

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)
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.

Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Mar 05, 2025

Hi Shelly and thanks so much for the great review. It was a pleasure to help you plan this trip with your family and I am so thrilled to hear that you loved the accommodation and activities that I suggested.
By the sounds of it we will be seeing you back again some day!
Michelle

Amazing New Zealand!
New Zealand | Dec 10 - Dec 26, 2024

K
Kim W.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Feb 07, 2025

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!

Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Feb 09, 2025

Hi Kim and thanks so much for your review. I am glad you and your son were able to have such a memorable trip together.
Happy future travels with Kimkim!

Perfect in every way.
New Zealand | Jan 16 - Jan 21, 2025

M
Maxine K.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 23, 2025
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. Read more

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
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 Glowworm Caves
Te Anau

I cannot say enough about how amazing this was.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Jan 23, 2025

Hi Maxine and thanks so much for your review. I am so glad you got to experience Rakiura (Stewart Island) which is such a magical place. In your short trip following the cruise you managed to fit in some really great experiences and a real immersion into Kiwi culture (both the people and the birds!)
I hope you are able to return again some day to see more of the country.

We absolutely loved our trip to New Zealand! ...
New Zealand | Dec 30 - Jan 11, 2025

Paul
Paul D.
Livonia, MI | Reviewed on Jan 14, 2025
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. Read more

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
Jet Boat the Shotover River
Queenstown (NZ)
Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight
Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight
Queenstown (NZ)
Te  Pā Tū  - Maori Cultural Experience
Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience
Rotorua
Mt Cook half day Heli Hike
Mt Cook half day Heli Hike
New Zealand

wow

Ferry to Waiheke Island
Ferry to Waiheke Island
Auckland
Eco Zip - Flying Fox ziplines & Native Walks Experience
Eco Zip - Flying Fox ziplines & Native Walks Experience
New Zealand
Timber Trail day 2
Timber Trail day 2
Ongarue
Timber Trail Day 1
Timber Trail Day 1
Ongarue
 Rafting Kaituna River, grade 5
Rafting Kaituna River, grade 5
Rotorua
The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo
The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo
Lake Tekapo

amazing experience in seeing our universe.

Local specialist: Michelle Srzich
Michelle
Michelle Srzich
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Jan 15, 2025

Thanks for your feedback and I am so thrilled to hear you had such a great time in New Zealand and appreciated my expertise in the planning. We put together your trip without too much notice ( I think within a month of your making an enquiry you were travelling) so I was happy to be able to find and put together all of those active experiences you were looking for.
I thought you would enjoy the Timber Trail especially so am really glad we were able to fit that epic 2 day cycle trip within your itinerary along with all the stunning scenery you experienced.
Happy future travels!