03/06/2024
It’s quite amazing the cool stuff that we as a team get up to
Phil recently looked after four American tourists who wanted to see everything New Zealand had to offer. They had three weeks to spare, so he made the most of it.
Phil started in Auckland, where he met his guests at the airport and took them to their hotel. That day they went on a tour around the bays and visited many lookout points. They also saw the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Domain Wintergardens, and the Auckland Art Gallery, before having dinner at the top of the Sky Tower.
Next, a ride over the Waitemata Harbour to Waiheke Island, the island of wine. They indulged in a half-day winery tour and even experienced the Farmers' Market at Matakana while strolling through Sculptureum.
Then continued north to explore Northland. A wander around the Whangarei Town Basin Marina, visited the Kiwi North Museum, Kiwi House & Heritage Park, and stopped at the nearly 200-year-old Stone Store in Kerikeri. They also admired and explored the golden beaches of the Far North, along with the giant Kauris of the Waipoua Forest.
Afterwards, the team headed to Waikato & Bay of Plenty, where they admired the Hamilton Gardens, explored the Waitomo Caves, and took a visit to the famous movie set Hobbiton. They also attended a traditional Maori hangi and concert evening, and learned about the local cultural history. Then off to explore one of the many geothermal wonderlands of the Rotorua district.
Next, off to Hawkes Bay & Manawatu, where they took in the Air Deco architecture of the post-earthquake 1930s rebuild in Napier and enjoyed the local wineries of the region. A stop in at Norsewood, NZ's Norwegian Tourist village, home of NZ Natural Clothing.
Next was Wellington & Wairarapa and an explore of another popular wine region around the Martinborough area, including a wine-tasting tour. A drive around the bays to the NZ film industry capital, Miramar, and a visit at Weta Workshop, home of the Lord of the Rings & Hobbit special effects. They climbed the hill to Kelburn in the funicular Cable Car, and strolled back to the city through the Botanical Gardens. They also visited nature and bird reserves Zealandia & Otari Wilton Bush and even visited National Museum Te Papa, NZ's Parliament buildings, and the 1860s Old St. Paul's Cathedral.
Afterwards, the team took the Interislander Ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island. They enjoyed more wineries in the Marlborough Wine District, explored and walked the picturesque Abel Tasman National Park, and stopped to admire hundreds of seals along the rugged Kaikoura coastline.
Then travelling to Canterbury & Mt. Cook, where they walked along the Avon river in Christchurch and reflected at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. Enjoying a drink at one of the many local bars and even had dinner while circling the city on the tram. They then traveled past Lake Pukaki on the way to NZ's highest peak, Mt. Cook, and took one of the many walks through Mt. Cook National Park.
Finally, arriving in Otago, where they traveled over the Lindis Pass to Cromwell & Wanaka. Visiting the small towns of Alexandra & Clyde, including the Clyde Dam, driving through the Kawarau Gorge and Gibbston Valley wine district, and stopped at Arrowtown before traveling on to NZ's Adventure Capital, Queenstown. Next more wineries in the popular NZ Otago Wine district, took a cruise on the 1912 steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu, and visited Walter Peak working sheep station for a bbq lunch. Then a ride up 1500ft. on the Skyline Gondola overlooking Queenstown before finally being transferred to the airport for their final departure.
Overall, it was an amazing tour with one driver from airport pickup to airport drop-off, and everything in between. All accommodation and activities booked by us based on our guests preferred choices, including accommodation type and standard.
We do anything from little or big adventures !!