Reviews of Classic New Zealand Driving Tour

28 Days in New Zealand – the trip of a lifetime, thanks to First Light Travel

We just returned from 28 unforgettable days in New Zealand, organized by Gina O’Neill at First Light Travel.  FIVE STARS!  We could not recommend Gina and First Light Travel more highly.

Gina organized a top to bottom adventure- and activity- packed trip which met our budget, responded to our desires (and “non-desires”), and exceeded our expectations, including both North and South Islands.  Every day we did something “cool” – there were no wasted travel days or waiting-around days – Gina organized the logistics so that we never had to drive more than 3 hours in a day and could always do something fun every day.  Reservations worked flawlessly – every hotel and every activity had our reservation handy, and off we went. 

I would also say, without looking an itemized budget for every hotel and activity, that we felt we got very fair value for our money.  In many instances, we stayed in hotels we would have been too cheap to book ourselves (!), so we were frequently surprised by the quality and comfort of our accommodations.  In addition, all of the “activity providers” (be they rafting, boating, kayaking, hiking, ballooning, etc.) were excellent: professional, super friendly, safe, funny, engaging, simply first rate.  We never could have found these folks by ourselves, nor felt secure in advance that we had found the right people even if we had.  In short, Gina made great recommendations and choices for us.

Finally, this is the first time we have ever worked with a travel agent.  I am typically skeptical and usually arrange all our own hotels, cars, activities, etc.  But I can say that we are unequivocally HAPPY that we engaged Gina at First Light Travel to do this work on our behalf, so that our only responsibilities were to have a BLAST in New Zealand.  Thank you.  
Sam and Linda.
 

Thanks for all your help planning our fabulous trip.  We love your country and appreciate your planning a trip for us that both allowed us to see so much, without feeling frantic.  We would not have dropped anyplace, and most places we would gladly have stayed even longer.  No hotels were bad, all -- as we requested -- avoided boring international style (except the first and nights in Auckland and the hotel the last night in Christchurch by airport but that was unavoidable) and even the very smallest studio room, the studio at Kaikura, had a plus as they lent us bicycles for free and have cycletracks right there. I am so impressed by NZ's conservation efforts and appreciation of Maori language and culture, as well as 100% friendly spirit and the feeling of safety and public order.

Hi Christine,

We’re at the airport at CHC. We’ve had such a spectacular time. Know that we spent most of the trip smiling and many of those were attributable to you and how you worked with me.

I can’t thank you enough.

Sandy  and Joe - Canada

Dear Sofie,

As a seventy year old couple we had always planned our own trips. Our experience with you at First Flight Travel was exceptional. We could not have images a better adventure, experience which were “up close and personal” with the people, the culture and magnificent land of New Zealand!

As our first experience working with someone, you were always patient, knowledgeable and accomplish the results excessing our expectations! You identified unique experiences such as the Tram Restaurant in Christchurch and the PurePod, all glass cabin, in the mid of nothing but incredible landscape! These experiences coupled with the Paragliding at over 4,000 feet are memories we will never forget.

As a traveler we usually have some idea of what we want to see when we explore a new country but your attention to detail, your ability to understand what we needed and wanted was exceptional, thank you Sofie!

Throughout the trip if needed, you were always there. I would encourage anyone to work with an agent within the country they are visiting because the details are truly reflective by your knowledge, insights and extraordinary skills which can only come from living in a country.

I will email a few of my favorite pictures but if you see any particular ones you would like from Facebook, please let me know. I wish I had a picture of us at the PurePod together but I only have some silly ones of Bob being overjoyed!

I look forward to working with First Light Travel again when we visit Australia!

My very best,

Robert & Susan Mills -  USA

I cannot tell you how overly pleased we were with First Light Travel! Simply exceptional, and I would most strongly recommend FLT for any trip to New Zealand and Australia. We would approach a tour or a hotel or an activity, produce the voucher FLT had prepared for us and others around us would ask “Where did you get those vouchers?” We would respond, “First Light Travel” People would look at us with envy with the ease of our registration at the various hotels and entrance to the attractions. I wish I had had several business cards to hand out.

Rodney & Judy and Tyler & Kayla - USA

Thank you First Light! We have just returned from an amazing 27-day vacation in New Zealand and with Dawn’s help, it was a fantastic, once in a lifetime experience. Dawn worked closely with us, setting up our self-driving tour including our suggestions and offering many great ones of her own. The end result was the perfect itineray in which there were no issues whatsoever. Kudos to Dawn at First Light for the great job she did in creating our perfect holiday!

Debbie Thompson & Ron Forrester - Canada

Dear Shelly

We are still jetlagged and drag ourselves to work each day…? It is hard to get motivated. But we have to. The trip was very good. We are happy with your communication and organization of the trip. We think this was a great way of doing it and all was clearly detailed in the travel arrangements. I would do this way again as it was very well mapped out.

We had a great journey. We will come back to you soon .

Kind regards, Sabine

Eric Van Rhienen and Sabine De Prest – Belgium

Truly, our travel agent Chrissy was able to know exactly what kind of adventure we wanted and crafted the perfect itinerary for us. The process was fairly straightforward for booking and the instructions we were given were flawless and simple. We could not have chosen anyone better to help arrange our trip.

Fred & Zipora, Keren, Gilad Fefer (USA)