We spent two weeks travelling around New Zealand, visiting both the North and South Islands, and had an amazing time. There was so much to see and do, from learning about the local culture to enjoying the scenery and trying new activities.
We started on the North Island, visiting Rotorua, where we experienced the geothermal activity, including bubbling mud pools and geysers. We also enjoyed a traditional Māori Hāngī feast and cultural performance, which was a great opportunity to learn more about Māori traditions. Another highlight was visiting Hobbiton in Matamata, which is well worth a visit, even if you’re not a huge Lord of the Rings fan.
We then travelled to the South Island and stayed in Queenstown, one of our favourite places on the trip. There was plenty to do, from jet boating on the Shotover River to taking the gondola and enjoying the views. Queenstown also has a great choice of restaurants, shops and activities.
One of the highlights of the whole holiday was our day trip to Milford Sound. The drive was long, but the scenery along the way made it worthwhile. We took a boat cruise through the fjord, where we saw waterfalls, mountains and seals. It was a fantastic experience and definitely one of the places we’d recommend visiting.
A special mention must go to our tour guide, Sel, who really helped make the trip so enjoyable. Sel was friendly, knowledgeable and always happy to help, sharing interesting information along the way and making sure everyone felt comfortable. Having such a great guide made travelling around the country even more enjoyable and added so much to the overall experience.
The locals were also incredibly friendly and welcoming, and we appreciated the importance placed on protecting New Zealand’s beautiful environment.
Overall, New Zealand is a fantastic destination with a great mix of culture, adventure and scenery. I thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would happily return to explore more. I’d definitely recommend visiting New Zealand, and having a guide like Sel makes the experience even better!
What other participants should know
- Pack layers it can get cold
Response from Intro Travel
Hey Jessica! Two INTRO tours down, we love to see it! Sel sounds like she kept the good times rolling, even on quieter nights, and made those scary bridges a little less daunting. We’ll be sure to pass on your lovely feedback to her!
Kind Regards,
The INTRO Travel Team