New Zealand Trails — Local services in South Island

New Zealand Trails

I have never complained about a tour and I know not everything always goes smoothly but I feel totally ripped off by this company. We signed up for the Kiwi Classic because we like active vacations. We thought it was quite expensive so we were expecting a high-quality vacation. I have been more active walking to my gate at the airport. Also the description of the tour never depicted any hikes might not be appropriate for people who do not like heights (sheer drop-offs of thousands of feet on both sides). I have climbed Kilimanjaro, Whitney (which was terrifying for me but I did it in 1 day), the Inca Trail, and the Tahoe Rim Trail all in the last year. I am in terrific physical condition and live at high altitude. I have always had positive guides who said they would get me through any situation. The guides on this trip however decided it would be better for me not to do the 3 day hike. They decided it would be better for us to stay in Nelson and hike there. There actually was no hiking in Nelson due to fire danger. There were 3 out of 6 in the group who ended up doing this. One of these had tried to to sign up for the other option of kayaking in Abel Tasman Park which was a 3 day option at quite an extra cost. She wasn’t able to do this since they needed a minimum of 4 people. Since our group was only 6 that was never going to happen. We ended up having to pay for 3 nights hotel ( 1/4 of our trip), all of our meals, a rental car since there was nothing to do in Nelson and drive to Abel Tasman every day. We also had to pay for bus fare to another town and wait 6 hours for the others to finish the hike ( they even stopped to have lunch even though they knew we were waiting in a small town with nothing to do but waste a whole day of our vacation). We did not get lunch unless we wanted to pay ourselves. The 3 hikers had two guides while the other 3 of us were on our own even though we all paid the same amount for the tour. We expressed our unhappiness and bitterness about this so you would think management or ownership would have stepped in to remedy the situation but we were told they might call us when we get home. (2 weeks after we got home I got a voicemail from an “unknown “ # but no remedy stated). In the future I will go with an international tour group such as G Adventures or VBT - a company who cares if you are happy so you will use them for future trips. Another thing to keep in mind is this trip gives you no time to yourselves so you are with the group 24/7, often in very isolated locations with not much to do except drink. So you had better really like everyone. We had a smoker in the group which is not really someone I would hope to spend 14 days with. I am an easy going person and get along with most people but I need some time away from the group. As I said I have never had a bad vacation until now but I feel bitter and humiliated. The positives were the night in Milford Sound and swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura. All in all, we paid a lot for this trip, were forced to cough up for 3 of the days in addition (about $1,000 extra) and had very little activity compared to other “active “ vacations I have taken with G Adventures (which we did on the north island and had a very positive...

We took NZT's Masterpiece tour in March 2018 and had a blast! Everything about the tour and the company is first rate. Pre-tour communication was excellent and their suggestions for gear, etc., were spot on. Guides Kyle and Shona were engaging, knowledgeable, and organized to the last detail. Hiking, kayaking, and swimming with wild dolphins can build quite an appetite and they made sure food was plentiful and delicious. The travel van was comfortable and well-stocked with goodies, and stops were thoughtfully planned for comfort and shopping opportunities. I think the value for the price was exceptional, and would not hesitate to travel with NZT again. In fact, this was our second tour with them. It won't be our last!

So, it wasn't our last. Just back from their World Heritage Walking tour in November '22, and it didn't disappoint. We were lucky to have super guide Shona again, and she handled the tour with consummate professionalism. Everything went well, and when thrown a curve ball (broken bus) she handled it with aplomb. We were cared for, entertained, and on a replacement bus in a matter of a few hours. How she managed that in the middle of Fiordland can only be described as magic! Food and accommodations were superb. If you get to heli-hike on the Tasman Gacier, DO IT!!! An adventure in itself. We're blessed to have found this company. They treat clients as friends, and we'll probably be there again in '24!

We were back in March of 2024 for the South Island Great Walk Adventure and it was a great time. Cass was an excellent guide who understood everyone's strengths, weaknesses, and patiently put up with all my blathering. Our weather was delightful, the walks epic, and Stewart Island was a place few New Zealanders get to. Go there, it's a short flight that's especially interesting if you get to sit next to the pilot. The little town is a throwback and fun to wander through. NZT obviously puts a lot of thought and planning into their tours and they listen to their guests....

After reviewing New Zealand Trails online presentation and the consistent five-star reviews received on multiple other review sites, we chose the two-week World Heritage Walking Tour. Our expectations were fully met (and then some.)

From the start, communication was excellent. Becky, Lydia and The Team provided very complete information on an ongoing basis, answering questions as they arose, giving us a good understanding about what two weeks hiking in the South Island would require.

The tour began in Christchurch where we met with our Guide, Georgia, and 12 other hikers. Our well-packed luggage was loaded and we drove the first of many miles to the west coast in a comfortable 16-passenger van. Our days were well planned with driving/hiking by day and dining and relaxing by eve.

The itinerary led us thru five National Parks, each beautiful, and awesome in its own distinctive way. The hikes were typically challenging, with 2-3 / 5 for most with a couple in the 3-4 / 5 range. The days at Doubtful Sound, Martin’s Bay/Hollyford Track and Aoraki/Mt.Cook were extraordinary!

Each days’ end would be dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant where the day’s action was remembered and the next day’s briefed.

Our Tour Guide, Georgia, was phenomenal! She was our “leader”, driving the van, making the daily transitions possible, preparing us for the days’ activities, and keeping us fully informed. Georgia excelled in all areas while giving us insights into NZ history, culture, music, etc.. I can’t imagine a better guide than Georgia on this very memorable...