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 due to full moon, we took advantage by getting massages instead.
* Coast up Close Charter was okay, but we would do something else next time. Maybe try E-biking.
* The Catch & Cook was one of the co-highlights. Had fun catching the fish and checking the crayfish pots for legal-size critters. The afternoon with Fiona & her assistant was great. We really enjoyed foraging around the gardens and then putting it all together. What a great meal—best of the trip.
* The day touring around the Takaka area was well worth it. Nice trails, great scenery, very nice lunch at a local pub and gin tasting to end the day.
* Kayaking with Taupo Kayaking Adventures was a very relaxing day. It was easy rowing in the double kayak going downstream. The Geothermal Park at Orakei Korako was pretty amazing and well worth the walking.
* The ‘Ko tahi Te ra’ day with Tom & Elizabeth was the other co-highlight. It was a bit of a drive getting out to the facility (2+ hours), but well worth it. We really enjoyed getting to know both Tom & Elizabeth and learning about the Maori culture and what the significance of the food preparation means to them. Awesome lamb & corned beef.
* We ended with a tour to see the glow worms with Russ at Footwhistle. Really glad with did this tour versus the larger one in town. We were able to get right up close to the worms and see how they live & feed. A great way to end the trip even though it is 115 steps to climb back up from the cave.

Picking up and dropping off the rental cars went very smoothly. No problems at all. Driving on the left side of the road really wasn’t bad.

Clare did an excellent job working with us to fine tune the itinerary so we got a really great flavor of the country while helping us stay within our budget parameters. Ellen & Fabienne also helped assist us while we were in country and communicated via WhatsApp. It was really nice to have that support.

A huge Thank You for making this trip a wonderful experience.

Barbara and Larry Schoenfeld birdwatching at the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari ecological park.

Jean-Michel’s colleague Clare organized five days of interesting, off-the-beaten-path experiences in New Zealand. Clare carved a reasonable itinerary out of such a potentially vast area. One of the highlights was a private guided tour of Maungatautari, a Sanctuary Mountain. It’s an incredible conservation area where they constructed one of the world’s largest pest-proof fences and succeeded in rejuvenating tree and bird species, especially New Zealand’s endangered kiwis. She also arranged for my husband and me to accompany a Maori leader on a spiritual ceremony greeting the dawn, followed by a visit and discussion about Orakei Marae, his tribal community in the hills near Auckland. The next day, we spent a fascinating few hours with Mamakan, a botanical artist who led us through her forest restoration project in Parau and then served us an elegant foraged lunch. A highlight of our trip was the Wendy WOW Moment, a studio visit with Delani Brown, a Maori/Irish wood artist in Taupo who produces giant columns and edifices for buildings and public spaces worldwide. Those experiences were so unusual and specialized that we wouldn’t have known to seek them, and I doubt we could have connected with them on our own.

Our honeymoon in New Zealand was amazing. We worked with Gillian, and she and her team put together a great itinerary full of unforgettable experiences on both the North and South Islands.

The most memorable place we stayed was Mahu Whenua, a large private conservation area with a small, exquisite, full-service lodge overlooking Lake Wanaka, just perfect for a honeymoon. We also went scuba diving with Dive Tutukaka where we saw beautiful sea life and unique formations, we packrafted on Rees River (hiking in with rafts in backpacks and then floating out), we got a private 4×4 tour of Skipper’s Canyon, and we rode a helicopter through the Southern Alps from Queenstown to Milford Sound.

Gillian also arranged dinner reservations in each area and provided recommendations for pack lunches, taking into account some challenging dietary restrictions. Our favorite meal might have been at Sage Restaurant at Paroa Bay Winery, looking out over the Bay of Islands. In Paihia we also quite liked Charlotte’s Kitchen, and Third Wheel Coffee Company was the perfect place to pick up tasty, fresh sandwiches and hearty salads before multiple days’ activities.

Gillian was very responsive both before and during the trip, including day-of confirmations about weather and activity availability. The weather in late March was generally good but there were a couple of rainy days which required shuffling plans. During some of our downtime we got to satisfy some of our curiosity: about New Zealand’s history at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and about kiwi birds and other local wildlife at Kiwi Park Queenstown.

In two short weeks there’s only so much of New Zealand we could really explore, but without a doubt we saw more and enjoyed it more thanks to Gillian and all her local knowledge and creativity. Thanks Gillian!

We just got back from the most incredible trip to New Zealand! Jean-Michel and his team helped us plan a trip for my father’s 80th birthday. We were traveling with 6 people from 13-80 years old & they did a great job finding activities that we would all love. We had only 9 days so we stayed on the west coast of the South Island, and there was plenty to explore. We started in Te Anu at the Fiordland Lodge and loved the beautiful lodge and surroundings. We hiked, went fishing, and explored Milford Sound by boat. The scenery was beyond breathtaking everywhere we went!

Our next stop was Queenstown and we stayed at the historic Eichardts Private Hotel. We had a lovely wine-tasting day in Central Otago with the best guide and driver (Beau Rapley) and our daughter even went bungee jumping from the Kawarau Bridge. She loved it!! The city of Queenstown & surroundings were great — plenty of walking trails, gardens, gorgeous lake and mountain views. Not to mention great food and wine!

The last place we visited was Wild Earth Lodge in Makarora. It was the most serene and beautiful little inn run from the home of Pete and Janine. They took great care of our whole family & cooked the most delicious meals! We spent our days there hiking to the Blue Pools and having some relaxing down time. We also had our most exciting day — a helicopter tour over Mt Aspiring National Park, a hike through Siberia Valley, and a thrilling jet boat ride back down the Wilkin River.

The whole trip was outstanding and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without Jean-Michel’s team. The organization and planning was top-notch! Ellen even helped us switch a couple days around when one of our kids woke up with a terrible migraine. We were able to switch activities to another day and get into our hotel early, where Pete had prepared a nice dark room. We are so thankful!

We just returned from 10 days in New Zealand at the end of January and Jean-Michel and his team planned an absolutely amazing trip for us. Jean-Michel quickly helped us hone in on a plan and some key properties, then Fabienne worked with us to get all of the details in place and arrange amazing activities. Both of them helped us secure some of the last rooms available at stunning intimate lodges, and put together helicopter adventures, wine tastings, and phenomenal local guides that really made the trip special for us. There’s no way we would have been able to find all of the locations and activities that Fabienne lined up for us, and we felt like we saw a lot more of the South Island than we would have on our own. We’re already plotting when we can return, and fully intend to let Jean-Michel and Fabienne help us again when we’re back in New Zealand.

We worked with Jean-Michel’s team to plan a belated honeymoon. This was our first time working with a travel specialist on any trip and we couldn’t have been more pleased. With only information about our top “priorities” and budget, Lizzy worked with us over the course of several months to craft the perfect itinerary. Once there, we were able to do everything we wanted to, while visiting multiple cities, all with seemingly no effort on our part. By staying at multiple locations, we were able to visit many regions and Lizzy and team arranged for easy transportation between all locations. Jean-Michel’s team had the connections, recommendations, and national network to help us craft the ideal 15 day itinerary. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a luxury trip, crafted to your preferences.

Our 2019 trip to New Zealand was postponed a full year after a family member accident 4 weeks before our planned departure. Kim on Jean-Michel’s team successfully secured re-bookings for 2020 without any cancellation fees – this was not easy and involved tireless effort on her part.

We couldn’t have been more pleased with our vacation, albeit one year later. It is not easy planning for New Zealand, as there are so many places to go and not nearly enough time. And, of course, it’s not easy to take a trip back due to the long distance involved.

Kim provided excellent guidance so that each stop and property were unique, with varying activities and vistas. Activities included a special hands-on day with a Maori native, a wonderful boat trip in Abel Tasman park, a fabulous ATV excursion to a sheep farm outside of Queenstown and a fishing excursion in Te Anau. When the weather didn’t go our way and our helicopter ride was cancelled (twice) Ahipara was totally connected.

During the planning process (extra long due to the re-scheduling) Kim left on a year-long maternity leave and Lizzy assumed responsibility for our itinerary. Like Kim, she was knowledgeable, responsive and a delight to work with.

Our trip was awesome. My kids (20, 21 and 23) thought it was the best trip ever. We had an action packed itinerary. Our activities and guides were top notch across the board. The Maori experience was unique and profound. It was an unexpected highlight for all of us. Jean-Michel’s colleague Gillian and her crew clearly know were to find the best providers and best experiences. They did a great job with logistics. Everything was smartly executed.

Gillian selected great accommodations so we were not all jammed together and also gave us excellent restaurant recommendations. They handled all reservations and did a good job coordinating the timing so we were not running from one place to the next. When we had a weather cancellation, they immediately provided alternative activities so we did not miss a beat.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Gillian. Your readers will be guaranteed a great trip!

Jean-Michel’s colleague Leigh Ann Muir arranged a terrific trip for us to New Zealand.

Many experiences, whether with the Maori in Taupo, or hikes to isolated spots in Fiordland, would not have been possible without her planning. We had a behind the scenes tour in Te Papa which was excellent.

I would recommend her for your trip arrangements.

We had a great experience with Lizzy. Lizzy helped plan a birthday trip for my husband to NZ. Her level of attention and detail during the planning phase was unmatched. She helped us sharpen our thinking on itinerary with great suggestions for a family with an 8 year old that wasn’t looking for a typical family vacation. Instead, we came up with a wonderfully diverse and interesting agenda that gave us a memorable taste of the beauty and activities NZ has to offer. She gave us just the right number of choices to consider for hotels and activities, and was always willing to go back to the drawing board when we had new ideas or changes. The trip turned out fantastic!

Lizzy was traveling during our trip but we were in great hands with her colleague, Leigh Ann, who helped us while we were on the ground. And, we actually had the chance, coincidentally, to meet Lizzy during out trip — what a delight! We did have a few things that had to change as we were traveling and Leigh Ann jumped right in to help us adjust on the fly. Super responsive, knowledgeable, and a true pleasure to work with.

Would highly recommend Lizzy and the team to anyone traveling to NZ!

I should say I didn’t actually have any contact with Jean Michel beyond the first phone call. But his team member Gillian Buckley did a great job planning our itinerary which resulted in an extremely memorable trip – New Zealand is an amazing country and our trip included highlights like a helicopter trip to a volcanic island and a private wildlife tour where we saw yellow eye penguins and tripped over sea lions. The hotels were all excellent yet I never had the feeling which I occasionally have had with other wow list agents that the itinerary was designed around luxury hotels rather than our interests. As always the more involved in planning you are and the more research you do on your own, the better the trip will be. A great and memorable family vacation.

My wife and I recently returned from 3 weeks in New Zealand on a trip planned by Jean-Michel, Wendy Perrin’s recommended agent based in New Zealand. We’ve traveled a dozen times with Wow List travel agents and Jean-Michel’s team was one of the BEST. After several telephone conversations, they understood exactly the kind of trip we were looking for and gave us everything we wanted and more. They planned a beautiful itinerary, selected amazing accommodations of the type we wanted (boutique hotels and estates not large chain hotels, all perfectly well located). Every detail was planned and executed to perfection. Out trip was a very “out-doorsy” hiking and touring trip in the vast countryside with 5 star quaint lodgings and small boutiques hotels and private homes everywhere. Without exception, they were all superb. All transfers, internal flights, car rentals, restaurant suggestions etc were perfect. When the weather didn’t cooperate and we had to modify our heli-hiking trips and treks, Jean-Michel’s team coordinated all the necessary changes “on the fly” and monitored the weather forcast and dealt with our guides seemlessly.

I could go on and on–I cannot give Jean-Michel, the owner of the company, and our personal agent Monique high enough recommendations.

One week after our our return home, our daughter and her husband were also in New Zealand on their honeymoon. There’s was a different caliber of trip which they had planned themselves. They got caught in record torrential showers for 2-3 days and were trapped in a small town with all bridges washed-out. Monique and Jean-Michel’s company volunteered to help them out if needed–“they were family”. Need I say more?

Thank-you to them and to Wendy Perrin for a gorgeous WOW Moment gift–we really appreciate it.

Jean-Michel’s team knew excellent local guides. The trip was crafted around our family’s unique desires.

My two-week family trip to New Zealand was excellent. Deirdre on Jean-Michel’s team planned a “best of” type itinerary since this was our first trip to NZ and we wanted to see as much as possible. But she also made sure to include unique cultural experiences that only Jean-Michel has access to like a day spent with Tom Laughlin, a Maori elder, on his tribal land where we prepared a “hangi,” the traditional Maori feast. She was also able to accommodate a last minute excursion to Milford Sound, which was one of the highlights of the trip. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish, there was not one single loose end — or if there was, I never saw it. And we had good communication via e-mail and phone as necessary throughout the trip. It was a very pleasant working experience that made for an unforgettable trip.

Our experience with Kim Driscoll on Jean-Michel’s team was excellent. Given the unusual amount of confusion and change involved in the months preceding our travel, Kim gets extra points for her patience.

As a side note, this was my 24th trip to New Zealand so our travel requests or ask was probably not the ordinary. Bottom line is that Kim and all of Jean-Michel’s team did an excellent job!

On top of every detail, very thorough up-front, and contacted us at the right pace. Customized things and stayed in our budget. Felt the suggestions and providers they used were top notch, along with the accommodations. He reached out just the right amount of times during the trip, which was nice.

This year we were at our busiest/tired-est, and our scope was a mere two-week period. We first contacted Jean-Michel through Wendy’s website on 12 October 2018, and my husband and I left Amsterdam for the South Island of New Zealand on 27 October.

Guided by Wendy’s sample-questions, we wrote a 3-page list of musts, wishes, and must-nots, based on which Jean-Michel’s colleague Marina almost immediately came back to us with a plan that, had we researched, would have been almost our ideal holiday. She knows the country, knows the people and knows, with just a few extra questions, to translate wishes into the perfect mix of activity and relax-time. Most importantly, she’s a lovely person to communicate with.

We had 12 nights to spend and wanted to stay at 2, max 3 locations. We stayed for 5 nights at Fiordland Lodge, 2 at Matakauri Lodge near Queenstown and 5 at the Split Apple Retreat.
Our main wishes were that we wanted to be immersed in nature, around as little people as possible and with as limited transfer time as the distances in New Zealand permit. This was translated, among other things, into day-trips by helicopter, hiking, biking, sailing, and fishing. We walked the remotest beaches, delivered groceries at a hermit and met with whitebaiters. We flew up to the most romantic mountain lake and one of the hikes started by being dropped at a clearing after which we walked for a day just following deer tracks. The people engaged by Marina were all masters of their profession and excellent company as well.

Our contact during the holiday was Leigh-Ann, who had a very fast response time when we wanted to change the schedule to make sure the weather would not be a problem.

Initially, we thought New Zealand was a one-time destination but we had such an incredible experience we would like to go again, and that time I would give Marina more time to plan.

My advice for anyone considering hiring Jean-Michel’s team? Be very specific about what’s a must and what’s a wish. You can trust them to translate your ideas into a good plan but do feel free to ask, they are very knowledgeable and are capable to fine tune to your specific needs! We did not have contact with Jean-Michel himself, but never felt that as a negative; his staff is excellent and we had a lovely vacation.

Kim Driscoll on Jean-Michel’s team was our travel specialist for a three week trip to New Zealand, South Island. She was exceptional. She quickly understood what we desired to get in our vacation in the beginnings of our communications. Proceeded to be attentive and prompt in planning out an itinerary that suited our desire to absorb ourselves into the beauty of the south island. Which included having personal guided day trips, as well as, also giving us the slower pace we requested for days to simply be and rejuvenate, in the simply stunning bed & breakfast venues she reserved for us. She communicated with each guide and host prior to our arrival or activity. We were always met on time and delighted with their knowledge and conversations. On our last night before heading home there was a huge rain and wind storm that caused potential changes for our morning departure. We were in a remote retreat in the upper west coast with plans to heli out the next morning to meet our connecting flight. Kim was on it, communicating with the pilots, us, and our retreat hosts, as to potential travel scenarios and timelines to be able to meet our connecting international flight home. What a huge relief to be in such capable and caring hands!

I could never have duplicated such amazing experiences without her help. And I know she picked out the very best guides on our excursions. It was the best trip ever to one of the most picturesque places we have ever visited.

Mid-October 2017- early-November 2017

Zuzana on Jean-Michel’s team was the best agent I have ever worked with. Her input on the front end was invaluable and critical to making our trip a success. She listened to us and our requests and then tailored our trip based on our input.

I really appreciated that she checked up on us during our time in New Zealand. On rain days she called early in the morning to give us options on what to do. It also helped that she had first-hand knowledge of the places she recommended we stay at.

New Zealand, November 2016

We cannot say enough how happy we were with Jean-Michel and his team and the excellent job they did in planning our recent trip to New Zealand. The attention to detail was superb and in the almost three weeks we were in the country there was never one “hiccup” or miscommunication with either us or their service providers.

We would highly recommend Jean-Michel and his team and will use them if we ever return to New Zealand! Thank you for a job well done.

We turned to Jean-Michel Jefferson to plan our February 2016 trip to New Zealand. We wanted to focus on scenery, nature, hiking, culture, and, of course, food and wine, and were guided by his recommendations on areas to visit, accommodations, activities and experiences. Jean-Michel’s knowledge of New Zealand really showed in every aspect of the trip, as the places we went each provided wonderful experiences tailored directly to our interests, as well as our fitness levels. (Since New Zealand is known for some very difficult terrain and extreme sports, making sure we could handle the treks was very important.) It was also clear that he had nurtured personal relationships with the owners of the lodges and the guides he hand-picked for us – all of whom shared their own experiences and thoughts about New Zealand and treated us so graciously. It was a fabulous trip.

Located near the bottom of the Southern hemisphere, with Australia as its nearest neighbor to the west and South America – over 7600 miles away – its closest to the east, New Zealand really feels a world away. Indeed, as compared to New York (where we live), everything seemed backwards or upside down: today is yesterday, morning is night, winter is summer, south means colder, the driver’s side is the passenger’s side, the North Star gives way to the Southern Cross and even the English spoken is sometimes unrecognizable. But most striking, New Zealand has managed to preserve a way of life that seems largely lost in the rest of the modern world. The pace of life is slower, population (outside of Auckland) is sparse (with sheep outnumbering people), the environment is keenly appreciated and preserved, water in the lakes and rivers is crystal clear and pure, food is locally grown, doors are left unlocked, crime is hardly a concern and the risk of terrorism is so low that you can actually board a plane without going through security. At times, particularly down in the South, you may have no choice but to disconnect and focus totally on the moment – as cell and internet connections may be spotty or non-existent. As I said, it is a very special place.

New Zealand is a spectacularly beautiful country. In the north, we drove for miles through rolling emerald green pastures, which then suddenly transformed into deep brown canyons carved by a gently flowing river meandering through its depths. Not too far away, the landscape morphed into a geothermal environment in which we walked through expanses of boiling springs, mud pots and orange silica plateaus, then witnessed steam flowing from the earth in massive enough quantities to power electricity. From our balcony, we watched as the sun glistened through a mist of low hanging clouds hovering just above beautiful Lake Taupo before it rose out to start the day. The South Island was even more breathtaking. Near Abel Tasman National Park, we cruised through the shimmering turquoise Tasman Sea, bordered by the deep green forests of the surrounding islands and coastline. We hiked up Mount Arthur, passing groves of trees that looked as if they were drawn by Dr. Seuss, to emerge up onto a ridge where we were treated to expansive views of all the neighboring peaks. An amazing place for our picnic lunch. As we traveled farther south, we stopped to take in the magnificent lakes which reflected vivid shades of blues, before arriving at the Southern Alps. There, we helicoptered through the peaks and glaciers, landed in an alpine valley and hiked through lush forest to find a beautiful vista and gently flowing river on the other side. In Otago, we drove through a river valley bounded by starkly beautiful brown hills, once loaded with gold, but now mostly uninhabited. Down toward Akaroa, the road wound around cliffs that dropped dramatically to our isolated coastal hideaway which was ringed by miles of rugged pastureland. And, finally, there was Fiordland, where it had been raining for days, resulting in the most stunning display of waterfalls from every crevice in and around Milford Sound. It is hard to say which was the most beautiful.

Every day was filled with a different experience: sightseeing, hiking, heli-touring, wine tasting, staying on a sheep ranch, and more. All were great, but one of the most fascinating was the day we spent with some very special members of the Maori tribe who introduced us to their culture. We drove out of Taupo to the Maori tribal lands, and as we reached the entrance, we were stopped by two warriors who vetted us in the same way Maoris assessed unknown visitors for centuries – a ceremony known as Powhiri. These warriors confronted my husband to determine whether his intentions were peaceful through a series of dances, chants and intimidating challenges (which thanks to the tutelage of our amazing guide, host and chef Tom Loughlin of Kai Waho) he was able to meet. As the beautiful singing of the Maori tribeswoman who witnessed the event signaled her decision that we could be trusted — a decision that can only be made by women — we were permitted to approach the homestead. The welcoming ceremony then continued as the warriors and my husband each identified themselves and their ancestors, told a story, sang a song and ended with the traditional Maori forehead to forehead and nose to nose greeting. For the next several hours, we ate a delicious “hangi” (a traditional Maori feast) for which the foods – which were similar to our traditional Thanksgiving foods– are cooked together in a large pot for hours underground. The meal took place outside on a veranda overlooking the magnificent wilderness vista, where we spoke with our Maori hosts for hours, learning about their traditions, customs, spirituality, and their roles and relationships with the non-Maori community. One of them, Delani Brown, was also a reknown master woodcarver, who explained the significance of wood carving to the Maori community. When the visited ended, the Maoris marked our departure with a beautiful serenade. An extraordinary day.

Another unique experience was the opportunity to get up close and personal with the lively dusky dolphins and fur seals that live in Kaikoura. It was amazing to watch hundreds of small dusky dolphins leaping and jumping as they raced through the sea. It was even more fun to jump in and join them in the water as they whisked all around me. The dolphins share their water with the fur seals, and they, too, welcomed me in for a swim. One came right up to me, stared straight into my eyes, held them there for a moment seemingly acknowledging a connection, and then swam away. And then there were the whales, who treated us to quite a show as they surfaced, then dove away with a wave of their majestic flukes. Dunedin, too, offered unique opportunities to observe rare wildlife: the mighty albatross that soar from the breeding colony there to circumvent the world, but then somehow manage to find their way back to nest; the blue penguins that sit sheltered in tiny hollows wthout moving for weeks as they shed their coats and when they are done return to their habitat which, when they are not in the water, they share with sheep; and the family of seals that lived and played right next to our lodge.
The lodges Jean-Michel recommended were a special experience all on their own. Most were small, generally having three to five rooms. All were in magnificent settings. The lodges, for the most part, were run by their owners who could not have been more welcoming and accommodating. And every one featured a fantastic chef (often one of the owners). Though all of the places we stayed were great, one, Split Apple Retreat, was in a class all its own. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Tasman Sea, this wellness retreat, built in a Japanese style to showcase a lifelong collection of East Asian art, was just exquisite. Remarkably, from the moment we entered, a sense of peace immediately enveloped us. The retreat is owned by Lee Nelson, a former American physician (and world class poker player), and his wife Pen, a fabulous Thai chef. Sitting out on the veranda, watching the sunset over the stunning view, enjoying wines selected by Lee paired with the imaginative, delicious – and healthy – dinners artistically presented by Pen, was truly a delight. I was ready to move-in.

So much of what we saw and did, and how seamlessly we were able to do it, was attributable to the experienced, knowledgeable and personable guides Jean-Michel arranged for us. Coming from different walks of life and various localities, each shared their own stories of life in New Zealand and their own connections to the places they showed us. Each also made sure that along the way we got to taste the New Zealand delicacies unique to the region. It was very hard to leave.

Jean-Michel and Monique at Ahipara did a fabulous job putting together our trip to New Zealand. It was our family’s first ever trip to the country and it was an amazing experience. They made choices for destinations, activities, and travel that fit extremely well with our personal preferences. If and when we go back we plan to give them a call.

We are fully back to reality and our daily lives, but our trip to New Zealand was truly an incredible and memorable experience. We couldn’t have asked for more… except another week or two or three!

I’m a big proponent of honest feedback in order to help improve businesses and services. It is rare that I don’t have something to provide in the way of constructive criticism. In this case, I honestly can’t think of anything that I could complain about or even suggest for improvement. All aspects of our experience with Ahipara were top-notch and all the providers of lodging, guides, and activities that Ahipara partners with were outstanding. I usually can point to pricing or cost as some sort of issue, but I truly felt all prices and costs were reasonable and now after our vacation I feel we truly got our money’s worth and more!

When we were first considering a vacation to New Zealand and being practically on the other side of the globe, I knew we’d need local help. However, we’ve never been the type of people that go with average and never go with generic or crowded “tourist” tours. Finding Ahipara was a stroke of luck and research and gut feeling.

The entire cycle of vacation and trip planning to execution and logistics to providing unique experiences with professional and personal touches was fantastic and high caliber.

I know Ahipara is a team effort and I want to thank Jean-Michel for the initial vacation ideas and overall owning and operating a great firm. Much more though I want to thank Zuzana for all her help and hand-holding, outstanding planning and service, and great personal touches, sense of humor, and attention to detail.

All the activities we jointly planned were awesome, and we loved (yes.. Loved!) The Dairy and Paul and Matt, and Silverpine (Mike and Sue were great, but Roy the dog stole the show!). We didn’t miss a beat in the planning of the trip and a close to last minute adjustments of the itinerary turned out even better than original plans (the Middle Earth helo-hike with Mark and Alpine helo was unbelievable!). Once we landed and began our vacation, it was really nice to be checked in on and when weather impacted you were well ahead of things and coordinated adjustments without missing a beat. Ahipara’s “partnership” and skills and welcoming personality really made our vacation unforgettable and the experiences and memories we now have are priceless.

We hope to someday return to New Zealand and hope to stay for a bit longer! I have no qualms in recommending Ahipara highly and enthusiastically.