Client Comments
The New Zealand trip was fabulous, with stunning scenery, great kayaking, delightful dolphin swimming and hikes, and our guide, Chris, was knowledgeable and very entertaining. The trip was everything I imagined and hoped it would be!
— Mary Ellen M., Nanuet, NY
The itinerary, guides, and lodging were top notch. The pacing was great and accommodated a range of activity levels and interests. We would absolutely recommend Wilderness Travel to our adventure seeking friends.
— Peg A., Kewadin, MI
We chose this trip because it covered such a large swath of the South Island of New Zealand...and that it was hiking focused, with other amazing opportunities (swimming with the dolphins—INCREDIBLE!).
— Debra M., Los Gatos, CA
What an amazing adventure! Once again, Wilderness Travel does not disappoint. We went to the most beautiful places, had wonderful hikes, stayed in wonderful accommodations, ate great food, traveled very comfortably. I really can't say enough about how great this trip was in every way.
— Susan B., Arlington, VA
This was my favorite Wilderness Travel trip, and possibly the best trip I have ever been on. And my favorite day of the trip was the Rob Roy Glacier hike! Another highlight was swimming with dolphins at Kaikura. And the final night on the boat in Milford Sound was amazing—what a special way to end the trip. The guides were superb—can't say enough wonderful things about them. The trip was beautifully designed to cover a lot of geographic distance and still provide hikes and stops along the way.
— Sara W., Longmont, CO
The design of this itinerary is WONDERFUL—better than excellent. It was a terrific sampler of all the South Island has to offer, starting with the phenomenal experience of swimming with the dolphins! I spent a fair amount of time looking at various New Zealand tours before selecting this one—it was clearly the best choice. It had it all, great itinerary, reasonable cost, and a good blend of comfort and exposure to the ‘real’ New Zealand. Having completed the trip, I can now add, GREAT Trip Leaders and a well designed travel van. I found, somewhat to my surprise, that it was terrific to have trip leaders for our hikes—it actually made it easier and stress free to take relatively demanding hikes.
— Nancy B., El Granada, CA
The itinerary design was excellent— a good balance of hiking with other activities including sea kayaking and wine tasting. The Milford Sound cruise on the Fiordland Jewel was awesome, and the sea kayaking in Abel Tasman was very well run.
— Lois P., Piedmont, CA
I was equally impressed with both our leaders. They made the trip fun and we all had many laughs. They provided us with not only natural history information, but with personal stories and anecdotes about their lives in New Zealand.
— Eric K., Seattle, WA
A fabulous trip. The design was exceptional and its execution was flawless. New Zealand is awesome, our guides were fantastic, accommodations and meals were exceptional. I cannot wait to go back.
— Steve O., Cedar Rapids, IA
New Zealand is great, the scenery and hikes were special, and the guides were the best we have ever had on any trip anywhere.
— Dick S., Pound Ridge, NY
A fabulous trip in every way!
— Deborah H., Dunwoody, GA
We had a fabulous time, the accommodations were lovely, our guides were so wonderful, the hikes were great!!
— Tom L., Palos Verdes Estates, CA
The country is beautiful and we were able to see so many wonderful places while we were there. I ran out of adjectives to put in my journal to describe all the beautiful things we got to see.
— Jayne A., Corvallis, OR
So glad we took this trip. We loved it all. Thanks so much for the experience! We are ready to travel again!
— Nona P., Peoria, AZ
It was a superb trip, and the country's beauty was highlighted every day. It was very evident that the trip guides are intensely proud of their country, and we had lots of discussion around the economy and political situation and the future.
— Kathy M., Des Moines, IA
Loved every minute of the trip. Trip leader, food, lodging, destinations were all outstanding. Best tour I've ever been on.
— Jim M., Spring, TX
The range of activities we did and geographies we saw was truly amazing.
— Anne H., Washington, DC
I learned so much about New Zealand that it made me want to come home and see my own country with new eyes.
— Kelly D., San Antonio, TX
New Zealand is a beautiful country full of surprises. I would go back in a heartbeat.
— KT W., San Antonio, TX
There were several days that really knocked our socks off: swimming with the dusky dolphins (there were hundreds of them around our boat); Abel Tasman NP (hiking, kayaking, swimming, and the great food!); Paparoa NP hike and visit to Pancake Rocks; Fox Glacier hike; the iconic Rob Roy hike; and magnificent Milford Sound (that boat trip was awesome!). We loved all the hiking! Accommodations and meals were excellent! I think we saw the best things on the South Island, and at a good pace, and with minimal effort on our part. Thank you for planning such a great trip!
— Sandra P., Seattle, WA
As this was my first trip with Wilderness Travel I must say the overall experience was a positive one. The South Island as a destination is also hard to top!
— David B., Houston, TX
Great itinerary! We were able to see many of the highlights of the South Island during the 2 weeks of the trip. Well done!
— Sylvia B., Canterbury, NH
Every aspect of this trip was perfect! I suspect it is hard to have anything but a positive experience in a country as beautiful as New Zealand, but your attention to every detail ensured that ours was the very best. Thank you!
— Ellen M., Evanston, IL
Outstanding trip, great design, food was great everywhere we went.
— Dee S., Okauchee, WI
A wonderful trip with diverse activities. Will definitely travel with you in the future!
— Hisa Y., Duluth, GA
The trip far exceeded my expectations. I especially enjoyed the wonderful variety of activities on both land and water. Best of all was our terrific guide, Tony McCutcheon, who went above and beyond to make it an enjoyable experience for all. Wilderness Travel comes through again!
— Wally I., Honolulu, HI
New Zealand: South Island Adventure
New Zealand: South Island Adventure
This trip is an outstanding view of South Island's most exciting and beautiful places. The journey—activities, places we explored and visited, especially hiking, were perfect.
— Pam K., West Dennis, MA
What makes this trip unique is that Wilderness Travel takes you from hiking on a glacier to visiting beautiful coastal beaches—all within a day's time. New Zealand's South Island is packed with a variety of landscapes, terrain, and activity, and WT provides the maximum experience.
— Ally F., San Diego, CA
This trip should be on everyone's bucket list of 5 trips most wanted. Do not die before you have gone to New Zealand!
— Phil F., Naples, FL
This was an outstanding tour, with interesting and fascinating experiences every day. The trip is very well organized and prepared. I loved it!
— Angela D., Fairfield, CT
One of my best ever trips, mostly due to the beauty and variety of the country. (All WT trips are great.)
— Susan S., Chicago, IL
Fantastic trip! Excellent variety and good overview of the South Island.
— Deborah T., Napa, CA
New Zealand is a spectacular country and we were given a wonderful variety of activities. My group of traveling companions was the best ever, which made the trip memorable!
— Stinceon D., Greenwich, CT
The pace of the trip, the scenic hikes, the lunch picnics, dinner barbecues, cafes, hotels were all so well planned and the food all along the way was over the top delicious. I did not want our trip to end!
— Marlene S., Washington, DC
Terrific experience! More than met our expectations. Must be on everyone's 'bucket list.'
— Tom L., Bellevue, WA
The itinerary, from dolphins to Milford Sound, was truly exceptional. The variety of experiences and consistency of hiking opportunities made this one of our favorites out of many successful Wilderness Travel adventures.
— Bonnie B., Bakersfield, CA
Loved this trip...New Zealand is so beautiful!
— Marsha H., Lafayette, CA
This was just about the most perfectly planned, executed, and delivered tour I have ever been on. The pace, scenic hikes, lunch picnics, dinner barbecues, cafes, and hotels were all so well planned and the food all along the way was over the top delicious. It was just awesome!
— Marlene S., Washington, DC
One of the best trips of a lifetime!
— Donald H., Farmington, CT
I felt that I was able to see all the highlights of the South Island on this one trip!
— Darrell B., Menlo Park, CA
One of the best trips of all time.
— Ken P., Santa Barbara, CA
I may repeat this trip in the future. I bet I will be telling my children and grandchildren about this trip.
— Matt P., Cape May, NJ
Good trip design combined with the island’s natural beauty made this one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken.
— Josephus N., Seattle, WA
We’ve traveled a lot and this was one of the very best trips ever!
— Howard G., Bethesda, MD
The variety of hikes, scenery, and activities together with a great Trip Leader made this a fabulous trip.
— Heidi A., APO, AE
I think this trip allowed me to see places and have experiences that I would not have seen or done on a do-it-yourself trip. This was a wonderful trip with a great group of people.
— Linda S., Benicia, CA
The trip was spectacular. Like other WT trips, the itinerary started out amazing and seemed to get more spectacular every day. I would encourage anyone to go on this trip!
— Candace S., Palo Alto, CA
New Zealand is incredibly welcoming—great food, good fun, and a world of waterfalls.
— Lynne G., New York, NY
