This was a last minute trip during the end of...
New Zealand | Feb 21 - Mar 2, 2025

S
scott t.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025

This was a last minute trip during the end of the high season. Monika was great in collaborating on the type of trip we wanted, responsive to changes and available whenever we needed something. She made it happen despite the time crunch! The quality of the tours was excellent - smaller groups, professional and well informed. Great overall experience!

Hotel Reviews
Lake Tekapo Holiday Homes
Lake Tekapo

Great - a little far to walk to town.

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka
Wanaka
Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas
Te Anau

Nice but a little dated.

Heritage Queenstown
Queenstown

It was fine a bit of a walk to town, not a lot of character, regular sized hotel room.

Activity Reviews
The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo
The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo
Lake Tekapo

I'm a big supporter of dark sky initiatives, unfortunately due to the 1:30am booking we were booked on the previous (incorrect) night and had some issues rebooking it, although with Monika's help we ultimately did. Very late time, so not sure I would do it again unless an earlier time was available; made it harder to enjoy and tired the next day. Alternative is to find a dark sky in the area yourself.

Mou Waho Island self guided
Mou Waho Island self guided
New Zealand

Very nice mini-trip and hike.

Mt Cook half day Heli Hike
Mt Cook half day Heli Hike
New Zealand

Hike and tour itself and guide were great, however we waiting over 2 hours until our flight was ready, which we were not expecting.

Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau

Very interesting. There was a child crying which wasn't great, not sure why they allow young kids. Guide very knowledgable.

Walk the famous Milford track and cruise on Milford Sound
Walk the famous Milford track and cruise on Milford Sound
New Zealand

Guide was great, it's a long day. Recommend if you can not driving a long way to your next destination. We booked this late so had to drive to Queenstown at the end of the day, due to no availability in town (Te Anau).

White Rafting Kawarau River
White Rafting Kawarau River
Queenstown (NZ)

Water was to low so this was cancelled.

 Bike the wineries
Bike the wineries
Queenstown (NZ)

This was a lot of fun. Outfitter great. Recommend doing most of the biking first!

Onsen Hot Pools
Onsen Hot Pools
Queenstown (NZ)

Nice if you want to soak in a hottub outside of town, nice view, but not something I would do again.

Funyak Safari
Funyak Safari
Queenstown (NZ)

I would have given this 5 stars, one of the best days of the trip, loved the scenery and the rafting. However while the guides were really good, the Jetboat operator was driving dangerously close to large objects (rock walls, bridge stantions, etc.) that if we had hit one people could have been badly hurt or killed. I have been operating power boats for a long time and was shocked that he was putting our lives in danger for a few "thrills." Not okay. He also got my daughter very wet on a very cold and windy day without warning. Not great. The picnic was A+.

Local specialist: Monika Vinsova
Monika
Monika Vinsova
Local specialist in Queenstown, New Zealand | Replied on Mar 17, 2025

Thank you so much for the kind words, Scott! I'm so glad I could help make your last-minute trip a success, and it’s wonderful to hear that you had a great experience. I really appreciate your flexibility and it was a pleasure working with you to create the perfect trip. If you ever need assistance again in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Best regards,
Monika