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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.