Travelers Stephen, Janis, Nancy and Arch explored the mountains and waterways of New Zealand.

When my wife Janis, friends Arch and Nancy and I first met Jean-Michel and his team in connection with our proposed three-week tour of both islands of New Zealand, J-M claimed many personal relationships that would lead to unique experiences throughout our tour. He spoke the truth. By the time our adventure ended we had met sheep station (ranch) owners, winemakers (not tour guides), intimate lodge innkeepers, white water rafting guides, helicopter operators, jet boat company owners, and indigenous Māori elders. All of them had the utmost respect for J-M and his company, and several of them revealed that they only accept reservations from his clients.

But the company is more than J-M and his relationships. He has assembled an outstanding group of planners who were very skilled at designing a bespoke itinerary that matched our significant requirements. J-M’s daughter, Catharina, was our planner, and not only did she create a fabulous itinerary but she monitored our progress through the trip, often chirping in on our regular WhatsApp conversations with the itinerary delivery team. The IDT was always available monitoring weather conditions and being responsive to any changes we required.

Perhaps our most unique experience was being picked up by our helicopter pilot on the front lawn of our Bunker House accommodation and, after circling several Southern Alps glaciers and mountain peaks, landing at the top of a peak with a red hut secured by cables. This structure was the infamous Whisky Hut also known as “A Bad Decision.” Alongside the hut, a golf tee had been set up. After sampling a few drams, the pilot (who did not imbibe) produced several golf clubs from the heli side pod. My golfer-friend, Arch, teed up a few biodegradable golf balls and let them fly, a perfect celebration for his birthday. We then left the Whisky Hut descending 1,800 feet to another hut where the pilot served us a fine lunch of sushi, charcuterie and Veuve Clicquot before continuing our glacier tour and returning to the Bunker House.

In summary, we had other highly-regarded travel planners at our disposal. But all four of us feel honored to have been guided by Jean-Michel and his stellar team.

Travelers Patrice and Peter holding the sacred greenstone used in the morning ceremony and blessing in Auckland.

Jean-Michel’s colleague Gillian was very easy to work with and very efficient. We went back and forth over a couple of days and the whole trip was planned! We had a nice taste of the North Island, South Island, wine, and penguins. Her tours used were professional and personable. We did blue penguins and Moeraki boulders, OPERA penguin and wildlife, Abel Tasman park hike and wine tasting, bike and beer self-guided tour, Waiheke Island wine tasting, Kaikoura kayaking, and others.

Overall, Gillian did a great job understanding what we were looking for and gave us a good experience with a variety of places and activities. We didn’t know enough about what to see and do in New Zealand before planning, and relied on Gillian’s expertise. Our special blessing and sunrise meeting with Māori descendant Dane was a spiritual moment and we believe kept us safe throughout the trip. She also encouraged some self-driving, which turned out to be fun and not so scary. The combination of intra-country flights and driving allowed us to get around efficiently, and the hotels chosen were small boutique hotels that were nice surprises. Good work! We loved it!

We recently returned from an amazing family trip to New Zealand that Gillian helped us organize. We have been to New Zealand a couple of times already, so we had some specific things that we knew we wanted to see—specifically the Southern Alps, Mt. Cook, Milford Sound and the Rotorua area. Gillian was awesome—we loved working with her and I would say that she and her team are among the best travel professionals I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Her responsiveness was off the charts—she was on top of all the planning logistics, down to the very detail.

When we were on the South Island we had some challenges with the weather, so there was a lot of scheduling and rescheduling some helicopter and plane flights, and Gillian and Josephine (the in-country contact) worked tirelessly to find a solution that would be fun and interesting. We had such a great time and the beauty in that area is awe-inspiring! We are grateful to their team for being so dedicated—it was very obvious that they really cared about our family and were truly vested in making sure we had the best time ever.

I would recommend Gillian and team to anyone considering travel to New Zealand. We can’t wait to go back again and work with her on another amazing itinerary!

Travelers Karen Lindfors and Patrick Moore with a Maori master carver and the hand-carved mask he gave them.

New Zealand November 15- December 2, 2025
New Zealand was lush, gorgeous and unique, but, even better were the hospitable and friendly Kiwis who made us feel so welcome in their country. We started planning our November, 2025 trip almost a year in advance. Our team listened carefully to our wants and desires and delivered a superb itinerary.

We began our journey on the North Island, arriving in Auckland, but immediately taking the ferry to Waiheke Island for rest, relaxation and an introduction to the flora and fauna of the area. We wanted to experience Maori culture and learn more about their beliefs and traditions, so our planners arranged for us to spend an afternoon with a renowned Maori carver who introduced us to his artistry as well as the Maori beliefs and spirituality. He even gave my husband a carving lesson. We had our WOW Moment in front of his stunning Pou when he presented us with our very own hand carved mask. It is something we will treasure.

We were also treated to a Maori Hangi, or traditional cookout, with a day at a remote cabin in the countryside. We had asked our planners to arrange several hiking days for us, and we walked segments of nearly all the Great Walks of New Zealand. There were several cancellations of planned activities due to rain, but Hari and Lynn were closely monitoring our journey and were able to arrange excellent alternative activities for us on those days. That is one of the beauties of having a trip arranged by a superb local company.

We stayed at wonderful small inns, from and a bed and breakfast where we felt like family to fabulous small inns like Te Koi and Cabot Lodge, where helicopters landed on the lawns to pick us up or drop us off for the day’s activities. We elected not to drive ourselves which, although limiting our flexibility somewhat, proved to be a good choice, not only eliminating the stress of right side driving, but also giving us the opportunity to meet and chat with so many interesting locals. It would be impossible to pick a favorite day or activity. We did everything from helihiking to wine tasting to paddling a waka to visiting a sheep farm and so many other things. It was a fabulous vacation.

Traveler Wendy Tucker received powhiri—a Maori welcome—in the forest of Taupo.

We just returned from a two-week trip to New Zealand expertly planned by Jean-Michel’s team. This was our first trip to New Zealand and we look forward to returning soon. It felt like every day contained a WOW experience! The travel planners have cultivated very special relationships with unique guides and experiences throughout New Zealand, and we felt truly lucky to be privy to these people and experiences.

Cara from the planning team truly heard how we enjoy traveling and what we look for in a trip. We prefer small boutique lodges, wonderful fresh less formal dining, expert guides that take us off the beaten path, more time in small towns than a big city, and truly feeling like we understand how people live day to day in a country. Cara delivered on all with a bang.

We loved the accommodations she chose. Each provided beautiful views, a peaceful atmosphere, great food and kind hosts passionate about their locale. A favorite was Cabot Lodge in Fiordland which is on a 2000-acre working family farm. The combination of Breidi and Brad (the owners/hosts), the amazing location (close to Doubtful and Milford Sounds) and views, the fantastic food and first-class facilities make this a very special place. We were there for 4 nights and happily could have been there longer. A highlight was a rainy day that we spent touring the farm with Breidi’s dad and then later watching a sheep dog trial. Honestly everywhere Cara chose for us to stay was a 5 star experience, but this one was a 7.

We had so many phenomenal once-in-a-lifetime experiences on this trip. More than one guide told us that they only work with this trip-planning company. Some favorites were our days learning about Maori culture with Delani, a master carver as our host for a traditional powhiri (Maori welcome), and with Tom and Elizabeth at their home on a remote farm to make a Maori hangi meal together. We loved our stellar guides Bard and Beau who with patience, kindness and vast knowledge of the culture, history and natural surroundings took us on drives in remote areas and beautiful walks.

And we keep talking about our helicopter ride out of Milford Sound! It was spectacular and such a special way to see the area we had previously experienced by foot, car and boat! We cannot thank Jean-Michel and Cara and the on the ground team (Hari, Lynn and JoJo) who were so quick to respond and were so helpful.

My mom and I just returned from a dream trip to New Zealand. We’re so grateful for the amazing planning done by our team. Jean-Michel and Felicity took such care to understand our travel preferences and passions prior to booking, and created an incredible itinerary that checked all the boxes. Their amazing team (Lynn, Hari, Josephine) stayed in touch via a WhatsApp chat and were so communicative and supportive throughout, and super responsive with pivots due to weather and other updates we wanted to make. We also had an issue with the car rental and they jumped right on it to help us resolve the mistake made by the rental company.

The highlights were a day with Delani Brown (master wood carver), the walks/hikes between Wanaka and Franz Josef, the Wilderness Nature walk/cruise in Franz Josef, the full moon hot pool experience in Christchurch, and Hokitika Gorge. We spent the majority of the time in the South Island, and are so glad as we loved the variety of terrains and being in the rainforest. And going during the spring (aka rainy season) was actually quite enjoyable as it allowed for the best waterfalls, yet we also had many sunny days as well.

Since it wasn’t high season it was not crowded and easy to get in everywhere and find parking. We’re also glad we just planned for a few hours in Auckland (just the day we were flying back to LA), and not more than that, as we didn’t find it to be nearly as special as every other place we visited. We packed so much into 13 days and wish we had longer, but will absolutely be back! Thank you so very much to the team for taking the best care of us while we visited this stunning country.

Had an opportunity to escape to New Zealand most of March 2025 with Wendy’s advisor, Jean-Michel. Three weeks was recommended and an ideal amount to explore both islands at a comfortable pace. Their suggestions were spot on and they knew the best and exclusive places to visit and stay without feeling herded. The locals were impressed with our itinerary. There is so much to take in—don’t try to rush a visit.

Milford Sound lies deep within Fiordland National Park. Photo: Traveler Sarah Chen

Wow New Zealand! A bucket list trip and a 30th Wedding Anniversary celebration trip, it did not disappoint. We travelled March 15-30th, technically shoulder season, which helped keep expenses intact and summer visitors at a minimum. To start off we give credit to Gillian and her “play by play” team Catherina and Ellen. We couldn’t have asked for better people—Gillian listened carefully to what we wanted, and together a great trip was executed. With only 2 weeks to travel, we were able to explore both the North and South Island. Checking out the caves with blue glow worms, and Auckland on the North Island, ocean and river kayaking on the South Island in addition to hiking and exploring Milford Sound via helicopter—our adventures were fun.

The lodging was top notch and hosts were very personable (not to mention the fabulous food they prepared). Perhaps that was the best part—every person we met took an interest in us and shared their stories as though we had known each other already. While my husband and I are seasoned world travels, we chose to use Wendy Perrin and her team to support our high expectations for our dream vacation. It was fantastic and we are already planning another trip! Thanks for a memorable experience.

Traveler Karen Siegel and her partner on the deck as the morning sun hits the peaks above Doubtful Sound.

Just got back from 24 days in New Zealand. Jean-Michel and Felicity planned a fantastic trip, with Ellen and Catharina supporting us through WhatsApp while there. I can’t say enough about their superb itinerary, unique hotels and excellent experiences!

We started in Waiheke to acclimate, but enjoyed hiking, winery tours and a day sail around the islands nearby. We had a private tour of a bird/reptile sanctuary and stayed in a unique “glamping” tent if you can call it that, it was a gorgeous 4-bedroom home sitting on top of a hilltop. We had a whole day with a Maori carver who exquisitely introduced us to his heritage. While with him he handed us a beautifully carved “club” and said it was a gift from Jean-Michel and Wendy Perrin. Now I really understand what a WOW Moment is, we were wowed! We had private helicopter rides over Doubtful and Dusky Sounds, an overnight on Doubtful Sound, Jet Boat and Scenic Seaplane excursions, and stayed in the most beautiful locations and hotels in the Fiordland National Park and Glenorchy areas. What an incredible country and trip!

Brent and Kathy Larsen hold an heirloom Māori pounamu, made from a type of jade.

Okay, here it is—a straight and true impression of our trip to New Zealand (Aotearoa), using Felicity as our planner through Wendy Perrin: It was simply great. Felicity and her team were awesome. Felicity worked tirelessly with me in designing the perfect trip to share New Zealand with my wife. I had served as missionary for my church as young man 1971-73. I fell in love with the people of New Zealand; the Māori and Polynesians are a fabulous people to work and live with. I wanted my wife to experience that same feeling I have carried in my heart for 52 years.

It was a great honor to be part of the traditional welcoming ceremony inviting us into the tribe and the Māori community, and to hold the pounamu. Dane Tumahai told us that the pounamu club was his great, great grandfather’s, I believe, and has been passed down to the sons for generations. He also stated that his father was a chief within the tribe and had used it in welcoming ceremonies and other ceremonies all of his life. Having lived among the peoples of Aotearoa for 2 years only intensified the feelings of the moment for me personally and for my wife. It was a beautiful and heartwarming experience I will never forget.

Felicity just knocked it out of the ball park. From every detail, from the pre-arrival planning and suggestions to sending a program to review the driving laws of New Zealand, to the last night in Auckland. The hotels, B&Bs, the individual tours, and dinner suggestions were all top class, without breaking the bank. I gave Felicity my budget and what she did with that budget was amazing.

I could not have believed all this was possible! What a WOW trip at every turn. You will not regret it.

Felicity and Ellen did a great job choosing age-appropriate family activities (I have twin 4-year-old boys), recommending excellent restaurants, making on-the-ground and on-the-fly recommendations, and assisting with alternate plans when the weather did not cooperate (which is unfortunately a frequent occurrence in the beautiful South Island). Our time spent at Tamau Pa with Tom Loughlin, as well as in the Marlborough Sounds on the Tutanekai, a private hundred-year-old boat, were especially memorable.

My boys thought seeing the South Island railway bridge collapse (we actually witnessed it) was pretty exciting, as was their mom calling “111.” Our “virtual observatory” at the Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat in Lake Pukakaki was spellbinding. The Mt Cook glacier? Meh. Alaska’s were a lot more impressive.

Sandra McLaughlin on the Hokitika Gorge suspension bridge. Photo: Brendan McLaughlin

Wendy Perrin’s recommended experts curated a magical two-week trip through New Zealand for my wife and I. As first-time visitors, we trusted the experts to combine “must-see” attractions with more unique, off-the beaten path (they say “track”) experiences. Jean-Michel’s office didn’t disappoint.

Felicity Watson and Lynn Paterson checked in with us daily to make sure we were making all our connections and enjoying the accommodations and tours. One memorable morning included a helicopter glacier tour out of Queenstown. When we landed back at the small airport jittery with excitement at what we had seen, our wine tour guide (the amazing Beau Rapley) was waiting to whisk us to the wine country to calm our nerves!

We highly recommend Wendy Perrin’s travel services and plan to use them again soon!

Felicity planned a perfect trip for us. It was our first time in New Zealand and we had no idea how to navigate it all. She planned every single thing and we just had to show up. It was a great mix of free time and activities. We had boat trips that were amazing, our lodges and hotels were incredible and all our tour guides were so knowledgeable. We would not have been able to do near as much or see as much if Felicity had not planned it. Ellen was our point of contact once we arrived and both she and Felicity kept us updated on flights, helicopters and drivers so we always knew where to be. We loved New Zealand and are so grateful to Felicity and Ellen.

Joe Tobin and Mary Lou Voytko perch on the edge of a glacier in Whitcombe Valley.

We just completed an absolutely fabulous month-long trip to New Zealand that was designed with Jean-Michel Jefferson and arranged by his teammates Lucy and Ellen. Jean-Michel took to heart our interests of where we wanted to visit and the various things we wanted to see and do on our trip. With his extensive relationships, especially with the Maori, Jean-Michel crafted a truly unique trip that we would never have been able to create on our own. We traveled throughout all of New Zealand, with the most time spent in the South Island. We felt that a month was perfect in seeing as much as we could without rushing. We were equally glad that we started in Auckland and traveled our way down to Manapouri/Te Anua in Fiordland. Many travelers that we met along the way, who were traveling in the opposite direction, told us that they wished that they had saved the South Island until last because of the indescribable beauty of the mountains, glaciers and fiords. Both islands however have their share of wondrous things to see, do and experience that we loved. Along the way, we stayed at exceptional hotels in the cities and beautiful intimate lodges, with our final five days at the extraordinary Cabot Lodge with unobstructed views of Fiordland National Park and Lake Manapouri.

Besides cruising Milford Sound, we had three major interests for our trip: interacting with Maori to learn about their culture, going to the MacKenzie-designated Dark Sky region to stargaze, and being on a glacier. Jean-Michel came through in spades for us on all counts. Instead of going to touristy places to see the Maori, Jean-Michel set us up with several unbelievable one-on-one days with individual Maori, including Tom Loughlin, who cooked us a fabulous traditional Hangi meal in the ground at his 5,000-acre wilderness cabin; Delani Brown, a famous master carver who creates enormous masterpieces of complexly intricate carved wood scenes of Maori culture; and Bevin Climo, a master pounamu (New Zealand greenstone or jade) carver, who took us to his tribe’s portion of the Arahura River where I found a lovely piece of greenstone! For our dark sky experience, Jean-Michel arranged for a privately guided astral viewing at the Matuka Lodge in Twizel where we were staying. The stargazing was fabulous and to not to have to do the 3-hour round trip to the St. John’s Observatory was priceless. As for the glacier experience, Jean-Michel again came up with an amazing intimate experience in the Whitcombe Valley, instead of the over-touristy Franz Josef glacier. Matt, our helicopter pilot, came with over 30 years of flying experience and was even the pilot for Tom Cruise when he was filming in the region! Matt created a once-in-a-lifetime experience with views of numerous glaciers and glacier lakes, highlighted by a landing at a glacier that we walked up to and sat on! Talk about being at the top of the world and having your dream come true!

Excellent 13-nite trip to New Zealand. Dealt with Fab to plan everything and she was patient, knowledgeable, and prompt. She asked enough questions to make sure our needs were met. Jet-boating, helicopter rides with Marc and the hiking were standouts. Lynn watched over us while we were in country.

We can’t thank Jean-Michel’s team enough for curating and organizing an amazing vacation to their beautiful country, New Zealand. From the planning through the flawless execution, attention to detail and real-time communication—they are without peer.

Jean-Michel’s office more than hit the mark with their selection of accommodation, activities, guides and dining. We loved every minute of this epic vacation and plan on coming back and working with them again to plan another Aotearoa trip.

This is my 5th trip to NZ and first with Jean-Michel’s team as our trip planners. It was superb. The jet boat experience in Fiordland was one of my most favorite days ever in NZ.

Geoff met us at the Fiordland Lodge in Te Anua for our 90-minute drive to Lake Hauroko. Geoff is a chill Kiwi and former guide on the Milford Track. He plans to do a night trail run on the next cloudless full moon on the Kepler Track. In Fiordland, the mutable weather means rain every 2 days on average. We had a perfect day for our jet boat: grey clouds, warm air, and still waters.

Kevin met us at Lake Hauroko and took my wife and daughters, along with Geoff and me, across the lake and down the rapids of the Wairaurahiri River to the bottom of the South Island. The vastness of Fiordland National Park hit me more here than in busier areas that more tourists frequent. Kevin began to hike and camp along the coast alone with a buddy when he was only 13. Twenty years later now and here he hunts and goes out fishing for blue fin tuna. While we gazed out to Stewart Island, he noted that the South Pacific was as calm as he had ever seen it and that 5-meter great whites lurked below.

Lunch was at the Wairaurahiri Lodge a few hundred meters from the ocean. While Kevin and his stepfather prepared a great lunch of fresh venison and vegan dishes, Alan told us about the lodge on the 5,000 acres owned by a Māori tribe in Trust. He lives alone on the isolated lodge surrounded by a magnificent podocarp virgin forest. After a short hike past Rimu and Rata trees, we walked across the river on a new swinging bridge designed with a door to keep possums and stoats off. Kevin’s mom monitors 300 traps in the region, all baited with peanut butter. It’s working, as we saw many ducks, pigeons, and a pair of Kea parrots flying over the river.

From the bridge, Kevin picked us up and revved the engines for the ride back up the Class 2 rapids. On the eerily calm lake, we dallied at Teal Beach to skip rocks. We stopped on a creek to peer at eels and brown trout. We did donuts just below a waterfall. Before departing Lake Hauroko, we quietly passed Mary Island, where the remains of the Māori princess from 1640 lie in repose in a cave.

Geoff drove us back to Te Anua and I enjoyed the thousands of white sheep along the beautiful drive back. It was a stellar day in Fiordland.

Ellen and Gillian did a fantastic job booking our trip. We contacted them in late August for a trip over the Christmas Holiday and they set our expectations regarding how late we were to the game but also launched into planning and looking for great accommodations and an itinerary that would suit us. They came back very quickly and had most of the boxes checked on the first try. We made some minor modifications which they accommodated so quickly and professionally. The trip itself was amazing and all of their choices were thoughtful and all of the accommodations were very nice. We also felt like, given the limited time we had, we did get to see most of New Zealand yet we didn’t feel like we were constantly on the go. We had plenty of down time baked into the plan. For our time period it was pretty much perfect!

Jean-Michel’s office definitely added value by grabbing us great accommodations quickly right at the start of our planning process. We didn’t have time to wait and they worked that angle very hard in the beginning. They also booked dinners for us each night and provided some guidance on where to eat. This made things so much less stressful for us and gave us an anchor each day that we could rely on. Finally, they were incredibly responsive throughout our trip. We really didn’t have any problems but they were available to assist with anything that came up and did so with a cheerful attitude. We did have some re-bookings due to weather and they handled all of that with very little input from us. That allowed us to focus on our trip and not worry about logistics! Finally, they connected us with an amazing guide in Queenstown and spending the day with him was most definitely a highlight of our trip! Overall we would enthusiastically recommend Jean-Michel’s team to plan a trip to NZ. Thank you!

The Hancock family explored New Zealand’s South Island by helicopter, flying past waterfalls, high alpine lakes, river valleys, and sharp mountain peaks before landing on a glacier.

We are the Hancock Family (Mom/Dad, children 23, 21, 18) who traveled to New Zealand 11/26-12/3. We used Jean-Michel’s office. Trip was outstanding. Could not have been more pleased from start to finish. Our 21-year-old son was studying in Australia. He was going to wrap up his trip in New Zealand. The idea came to us to make it a family holiday and meet him over there. The stars aligned and all schedules allowed it to happen. We reached out to Jean-Michel knowing we had limited time in NZ and a short lead time to make the trip happen. First off, Jean-Michel responded to our email inquiry immediately and we were chatting with him 10 minutes later. We tossed ideas around and he assured us we could cover a lot of ground in the 8 days we had. Gillian then reached out to us with options for an initial itinerary. She was great to work with. We were able to openly discuss the details regarding the accommodations and trip activities and what made sense. We tweaked the itinerary accordingly. Communication was always outstanding. Once trip time came we were in contact with Lynn, who was our day-to-day contact while on the ground. The whole team in Jean-Michel’s office, and everyone else including hotel staff, pilots, guides and drivers, executed everything flawlessly. We saw a lot of the South Island by helicopter, we hiked, we kayaked, went to a mountaintop whisky bar and hot tub, went off-roading, drank lots of wonderful NZ wine and cheese. Our accommodations were fantastic. We have traveled the world and Jean-Michel’s team are probably the best trip planners we have used to date. Would definitely recommend them and would use them again for sure.

Our recent trip to New Zealand was outstanding. We loved the country, the people and the activities put together by our travel consultant Clare. We covered a lot of ground (about 1,500 km) during our 2 weeks in country.

The hotels selected (The Dairy, Lakestone Lodge, The Mayfair, The Factory, Adrift, Belle Vue & The Hotel Britmont) all work very well. Great locations, friendly & accommodating staff, good food & very nice rooms.

We also enjoyed the activities:
* Routeburn Hike (a bit hillier than we expected but a good 3-hour workout with beautiful views).
* Sightseeing with Beau Rapley was a fun & interesting day. We didn’t do any bungee jumping but did do the wine tasting.
* While we missed the Night Sky Experience at the Lakestone Lodge du