Contrasts Of New Zealand

I had a wonderful and absolutely incredible experience on this tour! First, I have to mention our tour guide, Isobel, who was knowledgeable, caring of her “flock”, hands-on in every respect, down-to-earth, and so humorous! She made every day truly fun, and our group learned so much from her. I’ve been on six tours with Trafalgar and have had excellent tour directors for each, but Isobel topped them all! Her lighthearted nature was a joy, and I loved her personal stories, as well as the history she relayed, and tidbits on everything New Zealand. I came away truly enamored with New Zealand, its people, and culture. As a seasoned traveler in various parts of the world, I don’t think I’ve ever met kinder, more helpful people than New Zealanders. They just seem happy with life and that happiness spills over into all their interactions. The itinerary was well-planned and thoughtful throughout, with many included activities and experiences. From Auckland in the North Island, which included a trip to Hobbiton (charming and magical!), to Rotorua with a Māori cultural performance, dinner, and steaming geysers, then an educational and informative trip to a National Kiwi Hatchery, the activities were varied, interesting and unique. This continued on the South Island, where we took in the breathtaking scenery of Queenstown, the Southern Alps, and Milford Sound. A stargazing night in the Dark Sky Reserve of Tekapo allowed the opportunity to see the Southern Cross for the first time! I learned that the Southern Hemisphere sky doesn’t have the North Star or Big Dipper, since they are too far north! Who knew?! Not me until that night! Christchurch was probably my favorite city with its recent earthquake in 2011 that has impacted the city’s center’s architecture, and created such a resilient spirit and sense of community among residents who have endured so much in the past 15 years. This was so beautiful to see that in them, though the pain was often just below the surface such that many residents have never been to the Quake City Musem, which tells the story. It’s a pedestrian-friendly, walkable city with botanic gardens, a lively, old-fashioned tram that runs through the city, as well as a riverside walking path with historical markers throughout. The nearby sheep farm experience was also enjoyable, especially since sheep outnumber New Zealanders 4.5 to one! I also want to comment on the hotels, which were of excellent quality in the main cities, with helpful and welcoming staff. I also appreciated that this itinerary included staying in 3 of the hotels for at least 2-3 nights each, which made the trip more enjoyable with less packing up. Yet, we still saw and did so much. There was also some free time built in to do things such as a gondola ride/view in Queenstown, as well as the Kiwi Park, and even an optional Lord of the Rings tour - activities that my mother and I did in our free time there. I’ll also mention that the included flight from the North to South Island was organized, smooth, and without a hitch, despite a short weather delay. Our amazing tour guide, Isobel, had it all worked out! Overall, we had a truly memorable, amazing trip in all respects. I even think that New Zealand may be my new favorite country. Bravo to Trafalgar and their NZ partner company AAT Kings for putting together such a great trip and hiring the awesome Isobel to guide us! I couldn’t have asked for a better, more fulfilling trip to New Zealand. As the icing on the cake, and in a crazy and surreal tourist moment, I even encountered, met, and chatted with the Prime Minister in our hotel elevator in Christchurch! He was in town to speak at the National ANZAC day (April 25th) dawn memorial ceremony, which many of our group attended, since it took place in Cathedral Square outside our hotel. I just happened to be on the elevator at the right time when his group got on (he was carrying his own luggage!). It was an amazing honor and a travel memory that I’ll never forget.

Spectacular!!! Seasoned traveler here and our group expects top grade hotels, good food and an itinerary that showcases the best the country has to offer. This itinerary exceeded our expectations. The scenery, the history and the cultural experiences were so wonderful. Having a passionate attentive tour guide is a plus. This tour checks all the boxes. Highly recommended💕