Our tour of New Zealand went beyond expectati...
New Zealand
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Aug 24 - Sep 12, 2024
Our tour of New Zealand went beyond expectations. Because we had activities and accommodations booked by the kimkim team, we were able to enjoy each day worry-free. When we weren't able to partake in something due to inclement weather, Michelle either found an alternative or organized a refund promptly. It was wonderful to know she and the team were there for backup if we ran into any issues.
Stand out experiences, in no particular order:
- tour of Mesopotamia Station with our guide Wayne -- so much beautiful landscape to take in, and so much interesting history, made even better by running into Malcolm, the present head of the Station
- art deco tour of Napier with lovely, informative Kaye
- 1/2 day wine tour led by the wonderful Jill -- so interesting and fun
- Te Pa Tu - Maori Cultural Experience -- incredible knowledge, passion, and skill demonstrated by the family members; the 15 year old young man's singing was exceptional
- Zealandia Night Tour in Wellington -- magical
- Milford Sound boat cruise -- just beautiful
- jetboat tour in Fiordland -- great fun, even in the rain
- Hobbiton -- the lushness, the details! So fun
- luge rides in Queenstown
Stand out accommodations:
- Hotel Britomart in Auckland -- very fine, exceptional attention to detail
- The Vicarage in Geraldine -- as above
- Azur Luxury Lodge in Queenstown -- incredible views and service
Hotels to consider removing from your roster:
- Museum Apartment Hotel in Wellington -- a bit gross, a bit disorganized in the lobby
- Peppers Bluewater Resort in Lake Tekapo -- down on its heel
- Limetree Lodge -- wifi didn't work, weird feeling there
Hotel Review
Fantastic location. Top notch customer service. Beautiful space. Attention to detail. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.
Activity Reviews
The singing, the hakas, the fellowship, the history were all very moving.
Jill was our guide, and what a lovely person she is. We had laughs and learned a lot about New Zealand's fantastic wine offerings. The half day was plenty -- we had just the right amount of sampling. Favourite part: the sheep grazing in a vineyard.
Walking in the quiet darkness with our red lights was such a feast for the senses. I loved the evening birdsong and glow worms.
This was one of those experiences that surpassed expectations. It was a full day, but I could have kept going. We learned about a whole other kind of life in New Zealand, the incredibly hard work running a sheep station. Mesopotamia has such unique historical significance. Our guide Wayne even had a book about it, which he kindly let us borrow for a night. What an incredible landscape, too.
Thank you so much Nancy your feedback, it is much appreciated. Michelle