Seamless Travel Experience!
New Zealand | Jun 2 - Jun 16, 2024

Laura
Laura T.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2024

Excellent vacation for the family. Connie made sure we had an action packed vacation while still being able to delve into the beauty of Australia and New Zealand. Our teenage kids were ready for some high level and daring escapades and Connie DELIVERED. Our son was able to be SCUBA certified at Bondi beach (which is a lot rougher than it sounds). We thoroughly enjoyed our experience climbing the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. River Rafting up in Fort Douglas was fantastic along with the nature hike - very informative. And of course the Great Barrier Reef - a world of it's own. That was a highlight! The crocodile farm, we had no idea what to expect, it completely delivered. Who in there right mind plays food games with crocodiles? Loved it! And The Reef House, SUPERB. We can't say enough about that place, service, ambience, everything was excellent. And then off to South Island New Zealand where Bungee Jumping at AJ Hackett's Nevis took place and took our breaths away. OMG! Then zip-lining at crazy heights with crazy drops, so fun. Then up to Auckland for skydiving, we just insisted on hurling our bodies through the air. We figured our kids must be trying to kill us, but we survived and able to enjoy Aukland and the Tasman Sea. We ended with a relaxing 2 days in Fiji where Connie organized a renewal of our vows for our 20th wedding anniversary. It was beautiful! Our kids were so happy to be apart of it. The resort, Intercontinental is perfection. Everything there was truly great. Connie planned everything perfectly. She knew the areas so well. She made all of our accommodations which were perfectly located and all very nice, we loved every place we stayed. The best was having a couple of places to do laundry, it was unexpected and made for a great surprise and so easy to do. All our transfers to and from the airports were easy. This was the first vacation that we truly just had to show up and enjoy. She thought of everything!! All the tours we did were great, they all had little surprises for us; whether it was sparkling wine at the vista point in the Blue Mountains, or Tea and cookies after a hike through the rainforest, all had something memorable and a little extra time to talk with the tour leaders. All of them were fantastic. Our Zipline leaders were hysterically funny. Our Skydiving partners were fantastic, all so kind and thoughtful. The team on the boat for the barrier reef were so nice and helpful. They really made us get all we could out of the time we had out there. We can't thank Connie enough. Our vacation was a trip of a lifetime and our 20th anniversary will definitely be one to remember!

Hotel Reviews
Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney MGallery
The Rocks, Sydney NSW

Excellent location; fantastic breakfast, great service!!!

Authenticity & Character
As soon as you walk in it was this warm feeling with a library in front, it's a modern feel but you immediately feel more than happy to sit down and chill.
Location
Close to everything. You can walk to Harbour Bridge, Waterfront and Opera House etc. It's perfectly located!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Super clean and comfortable.
The Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa
Palm Cove

I wrote a longer review earlier - this place is amazing. I will travel here again, from the US at some point. It is worth it!

Authenticity & Character
It's unique and you definitely can unwind here and want to. You feel like you are at your favorite Aunt's house who just so happens to have a wine sommelier and 2 pools and master chef - ha!
Location
Staff
THEY ARE AMAZING - you will be spoiled.
Cleanliness & Comfort
So comfortable, the whole place is accessible and you want to enjoy all the niches.
QT
Queenstown

So chic! great views!!! You can't beat it.

Authenticity & Character
the vibe is very cool, it's apres skiing meets LA Diva.. odd, but totally works
Location
A few blocks from the hub of the city, but completely walkable and a beautiful walk by the lake it is.
Staff
Everyone was very efficient and nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean - very very clean. loved it!
Nesuto Stadium Auckland
Auckland

Perfect for a family on vacation - has laundry in the room. fantastic!!

Location
Location is a few blocks from the "center" everything is walkable.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was clean, had all things you needed to wash a load of laundry (so I didn't have to run out and search for detergent). This place came at the perfect time.
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, an IHG Hotel
Natadola, Fiji

Gorgeous resort, the beach is something else. The grounds are beautiful, staff are all so nice, the food is excellent. They know how to make sure you enjoy your time in their 'house'. Fantastic place. Had our 20th Anniversary and did vow renewal, they did a fantastic job, I was expecting something very simple, they had a ton of flowers and displays there and helpers etc. It was awesome! And all so so kind. Fijians are amazing people.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Ok, it's an hour from the airport. But the beach and beauty is worth it!!!!
Staff
Everyone, and I mean every single encounter was a fresh and genuine smile. They are so so nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Perfect!
Activity Reviews
Full Day Marine World Outer Great Barrier Reef  - to pontoon
Full Day Marine World Outer Great Barrier Reef - to pontoon
New Zealand

A world of it is own. Whether you snorkel or scuba dive it, you will find yourself mesmerized at all the wildlife in one coral of the vast reef. It's spectacular.

Quality of Experience
The fish, turtles etc. it's just so much to see. It's beautiful
Food
The chocolate muffins, those were so good!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They are all comedians! All have great personalities and want you to have a great time.
Transport
Comfortable and timely
Full Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day
Full Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day
New Zealand

Rafting along the gorge was so much fun. The tour guide was fantastic. Learned more about snakes, and now I'm a little scared of them ;) Place is really unique, the rainforest it really pretty and interesting how it all lives together. Enjoyed the hike and lunch was great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hartley's Crocodile Farm
Hartley's Crocodile Farm
New Zealand

Crazy Crocodile people - they play food games with crocodiles, this is nuts and they sign up for this job. Loved it! Got to see koalas, pet the, see wombats, cassowary, pet kangaroos and wallabies and even feed them. This was a very unexpected enjoyable tour. Breakfast was HUGE. Gift shop has some really unique things that are worth buying. Totally worth going!!

Quality of Experience
Crocodiles are scary! Kangaroos are soft and so cute
Guides, Drivers and Staff
comfortable and easy
Transport
Auckland Best of Both World:  Bush and Beach  - Full day
Auckland Best of Both World: Bush and Beach - Full day
Auckland

Great to learn about Auckland city in that a.m. and then able to have excellent meat pies for lunch before we headed out to the beach. Great city sites, vista points and orienting oneself in Auckland and learning a bit about Auckland. The beach was fantastic, so pretty with it's black beach. The hike through the forest was interesting to learn about the different flora that's both invasive and native to the area.

Quality of Experience
Yeah for the rain coats - no rain, but perfect for the wind!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were great, had so much information to share and able to convey their love of nature in a fun and interesting way.
Transport
comfortable!
Full Day Blue Mountains Hike the World Heritage
Full Day Blue Mountains Hike the World Heritage
Sydney

Beautiful Mountains and vistas. Nice little hike through the area and stop along the way. It was a little cooler than expected, but worth hiking through. You could see the damage of the fire from a few years prior, there was much growth so it all looked lush. The only thing that was weird or at least visibly odd, there's no wild life, none. You may see a bird or two on the edges, but that's it. Even the forest has grown back and looks "normal" the wildlife is nowhere to be found, it's an odd thing.

Quality of Experience
Food
We had the picnic sandwich - it was DELICIOUS!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He was fantastic!! Lots of information about the fire and how it impacted the area and Sydney over all.
Transport
Very comfortable
Local specialist: Connie Campos
Connie
Connie Campos
Local specialist in Washington and New Zealand | Replied on Jul 02, 2024
Dear Laura,
I am speechless. I am so happy that your vacation was perfect, and most of all, your renewal of vows was perfectly organized. I am very happy to hear that you had a fantastic time in the South Pacific.
Thank you for taking the time to write this incredible review.
We take special care to design our clients' trips. We aren't cookie-cutter; we want to ensure our clients are amazed by the experiences they will have. We hope to assist you with another fantastic vacation and thank... Read more

Dear Laura,
I am speechless. I am so happy that your vacation was perfect, and most of all, your renewal of vows was perfectly organized. I am very happy to hear that you had a fantastic time in the South Pacific.
Thank you for taking the time to write this incredible review.

We take special care to design our clients' trips. We aren't cookie-cutter; we want to ensure our clients are amazed by the experiences they will have.

We hope to assist you with another fantastic vacation and thank you once again for taking the time to write a wonderful review. I am in heaven! Thank you for all your kind words.

Thank you again

Connie