Reviews of Luxury Lodges of New Zealand

First Light Travel, and in particular Amelia helped us book a fantastic vacation to celebrate my 60th birthday. We traveled across the North and South Islands, during our trip we enjoyed all the different types of lodging included in our itinerary, the guided tours with small groups and the transportation arrangements provided for each stage of the journey (car, boat, train, helicopter, plane).
Amelia was helpful and worked with us through the booking process as we modified and finalized our plans. She also kept us apprised of any changes once we were in NZ - we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to NZ and hope to visit again and see the places we missed.

Stefanie and David Epler - USA

Hi Melissa

We are home now and want you to know we had a fantastic time in New Zealand. Such a beautiful country, people were so friendly and the scenery spectacular. We want to thank you as well for planning such a great trip. Your attention to detail and quick responses whenever we emailed were very much appreciated. We would highly recommend you.

Thanks again Melissa!! You made our vacation very special

Kim and Jeff McCord - Vancover Canada

Booking with First Light Travel was a great experience from the beginning to the end, from the first proposal with specific highlights over the optimization and fine-tuning to the support during travel and gave us great advice and selected amazing places.

The flight and stay in Great Barrier Island was wonderfully at the end of the world. Abel Tasman discovery and the surroundings of Nelson were wonderful, between wine and nature. The combination of boat travel, visit of sheep farm and bike ride in Queenstown was an absolute highlight.

The lodge experiences with in-house food were fantastic, total top of the list of course HUKA Lodge and the Te Koi at Bronte, very different places but both fantastic. The Earthsong lodge is amazing for location and food and warmness of the hosts.

Reinardus Van Duijnhoven & Katharina Hoehne - Germany

First Light Travel and particularly Michelle put together a really terrific vacation for us. Overnight stops of more than one day allowed for exploration and also afforded the ability to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

We would highly recommend that anyone with only a 2 week holiday limit and a healthy travel budget use First Light Travel to create an itinerary. Great scenery, people, food and experiences.

Howard and Constance Simmons – Philadelphia USA

We are so overjoyed that the stars aligned and that Amelia was on holiday in the Bay of Coves, a place I was calling long distance just because I fell in love with the pictures while reading about it. So I called and spoke with Grahame who runs the Bay of Many Coves with his wife Kim and daughter Maddie. Grahame put Amelia in touch with me and that was it. Amelia chatted with me about the things we wanted to do on the14 nights we had set aside. She met and exceeded each expectation. Each place we stayed from The Light House Lodge in Tutukaka - still one of my top 5 favourite places so far!! The owners make you feel at home with a overly warm pool and the best breakfast ever!! We love this special place... We snorkelled at poor Knights Island with an amazing GROUP OF STAFF. The captain took the sailboat into a cave a giant one and stopped the boat. he took out a wooden flute type of thing and began to play. I cried it was so beautiful. The trip was amazing we snorkelled two spots sand saw loads of creatures we do no see in Hawaii it was magical. then on to the Duke of Marlborough in Russell a short ferry ride so charming. Rich with history and old but refurbished rooms that kept the old charm on the waterfront. Wonderful restaurant for breakfast lunch or dinner. Then the next day on to the Bay of Islands on a 42 fool Yacht Vigilannt The beautiful sailboat was just amazing. There were only 10 guests on the boat and it was just amazing. From here were drove to Auckland and took a flight to Wellington for one night and I must say Wellington is an amazing city! The next morning we caught a Ferry To Picton in the South island where we were met by a small water taxi to my 2 of my favourite 5 spots... these are not in order of favourite its too hard to choose as they all so unique and have their own charm. But the Bay of Cove is well there are not words. It private peaceful and GOD is good to have saved this special place in the world. The Restaurant and staff are amazing!!!!!! We kayaked and saw so may birds fish and a playful seal. We love The inn Keepers and well be back!! Next stop back to the ferry for our rental car for the Journey we are so glad that we took in the end.. Kaikoura! There was a devastating earthquake the year before so the rod was closed. Amelia warned me the road it closed what is typically a 2 hour drive will be much longer.. It was all said and done about 8 but work every turn and bump.... When we got the the Tree Houses in Kaikoura I cried. It was beyond words. There was the best dinner writing for us but the room was so amazing there was a small wood burring stove and Christmas music playing it was our 25th Wedding anniversary and it was pouring rain the next day so we stayed in bed and enjoyed the farm of animals on the property from Sheep to Deer to Chicken and Pigs and Rabbits. The next day we drove to the city Kaikora that had the devastating earthquake last year the seabed rose 8 feet. They were happy and grateful for the tourism. The got us next to two spam whale on Whale Watch Kaikoura what beautiful boats and seeing those whale so close another cry.... THE Staff and food at THIS RESORT IS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAING!! We all be back. Next stop Christchurch to the most amazing first-class hotel The Geroge... They knew we missed out animals and they left me a stuffed bear named George. The room was just beautiful overlooking the park and the weeping willows and river another of my five favourites.. From here we hopped on the Tranz Apine Train ride for a 4.5 hour amazing adventure through Arthurs pass, rivers waterfalls animals snow capped mountains and so much more. The train was so clean and smooth and the scenery was beyond belief. This is a must do!. Our next stop WAS Greysmouth for a rental car to drive to Franz Josef Glacier! The Te wane Forest retreat. I had said I would never go on a helicopter but once there we decided to take a helicopter to the glacier and they let you get out and take pics. It was amazing.. Our last drive was to Queenstown. It felt like Switzerland meets the sea. We stayed the St Moritz another one my favourites. We were supposed to go to Milford Sound but the trip was cancelled so we spent the day in the magically city. They had music in the park and loads of cool booths. It was stunning. we had a long lunch on the bay and just enjoyed the beauty of all that we had seen. Two weeks is not long enough I am not sure there is never enough time to really see this amazing country filled with warm happy people, one more beautiful sight then thee next. We laughed so hard each time we heard round about coming and finally figured out the secrets. Driving on the left side of the road is scary and fun. We will miss New Zealand and can't wait for the next trip. I would use Amelia with First light Travel without a doubt. Amelia you are great at what you do you made our 25th Anniversary the best and more then we ever dreamed of...

Love Jamie and Eileen Falahee – Hawaii

Hi Shelley, 

Now we are home. Long journey to be remembered! Once again, BIG THANK YOU! We filled out the survey form and will definitely recommend First Light to anyone willing to go to NZ. We were lucky with the weather except for one day when we had to cancel the horse rides. Great that all the other activities took place. Specially the helicopter flight and picnic at the peak! Fantastic!!! 

All the best,

Nikolay and Raisa Roslyakov