Reviews of 14 Day Classic New Zealand Vacation Package

I chose FirstLight Travel after they were recommended multiple times in a NZ travel Facebook group I joined. From my very first conversation with Bernadette (who has since moved on from her position), I knew I had made the right choice. Katarina, who took over for Bernadette, only confirmed it. The whole impetus for the trip was to visit Hobbiton for my birthday, everything else would be a bonus. And what incredible bonuses they were! From a bird sanctuary island to kayaking in glow worm caves to amazing cultural performances - we never lacked for new things to discover. My cousin and I loved every new place we got to explore and every new adventure we got to experience. We definitely left a little bit of our hearts in New Zealand by the end of our two weeks and we cannot wait to go back for round two!

Working with First Light was effortless and excellent. They clearly know what they are doing and how best to tailor a trip to their clients. We had friends in Auckland we wanted to visit, and our agent Gina did a great job integrating their visit into our itinerary. Gina also really talked to, listened to, and planned with us what kinds of activities were important and desirable. It was our 30th wedding anniversary trip, and Gina helped make it one of the best trips we have ever taken!

Feb 3, 2025 - Thank you Anna for orchestrating an incredible vacation to New Zealand. On a scale of 1 to 10 you are a 12.
Your attention to detail and professionalism led to a flawless and most enjoyable trip. Every stop we made, the hotel, rental car agency or sightseeing vendor was aware of our booking, and this made the trip seamless. What a wonderful way of traveling. There was not one issue or uncomfortable situation.

The self-guided trip allowed us to be ourselves and travel at the pace we wanted. We got the opportunity to see what both the North and South Islands have to offer. On the North Island in Auckland the All-Blacks Experience gave us our first glimpse into the Maori culture; the haka for both the men's and women's teams were definitely a highlight. Thank you to Flynn for navigating us through this. Hobbiton was next. A magical stop that brought us to another place and time - middle earth. Ellie made our tour memorable. She is a delight. She provided us with many details regarding the filming and the numerous homes of the Shire including the construction of Bag End. Being able to walk into the many rooms of Samwise Gamgees house was very special. The detail of the construction and furniture makes this a must see. In Rotorua the walk amongst the redwoods was very special for us. The hanging walkways was amazing. A beautiful way to experience them. A big thank you to Marcelo for his leading us through the mountain biking tour in the Whakarewarewa Forest and Jacob for his patience and guidance in leading us onto one of the Rotorua Lakes at dusk to view the glow worms in the nearby caves. A truly unforgettable experience. With no light pollution the glow worms in the caves were like looking into the night sky and seeing hundreds of stars. Truly magical.

On the South Island our adventures continued in Christchurch punting down the Avon. Our guide was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of pertinent information. Queenstown is an outdoors persons paradise. Whitewater rafting with Mark on the Shotover River was unbelievable - in a good way. The ride to the launch point on Skipper's Canyon Road was half the adventure. Glad I didn't have to go back on that old dirt road again. The Oxenbridge Tunnel was a rush. Milford Sound was the highlight of the trip for me. Kia Ora. Seeing this natural wonder of the world was awe inspiring. We were glad to be on Makayla's maiden trip to the Sound from Queenstown. A stop for a hand pie at Miles Better Pies is a must. The Eco Adventure to Lake Wanaka and Mou Waho island holds a special place in our hearts. Our guides led a hike to the top of the lookout on Mou Waho where there was a pond/pool. One of the guides had a sapling and led our group of a dozen or so to an area to plant it. I helped plant the tree. It felt like giving back in some small way...a forever connection to New Zealand. A big thank you to Rosie for leading us on a hike near Lake Mapourika. The last of our adventures on the South Island was the scenic train from Greymouth back to Christchurch and the end of our trip.

Thank you, Anna, for everything you did for us. I am convinced our trip would not have gone as smoothly or as pleasurably as it did, if it were not for your assistance and attention to detail. Kia Ora.

P.S. We will be in touch again. I will need to check on the progress of the sapling on Mou Waho Island.

Loved it all but sea kayaking and swimming with dolphins were our absolute favourites Kirsty did a brilliant job of listening to our wish list and packing in our requests without making us feel rushed. We even managed to add a few extras along the way!

First Light Travel provided an exceptional travel experience! Gina was fantastic at tailoring our trip to match our needs and interests, ensuring everything went smoothly. The booking process was easy, the itinerary was well-planned, and the provided information was accurate and helpful. Highlights included Milford Sound, Queenstown’s skylift, and even the BBQ, which exceeded expectations. Our accommodations, especially in Auckland, were stunning, and transport drivers were friendly and incredibly helpful. Exceptional service and value—we’d highly recommend First Light Travel!

Excellent service and guidance from First Light Travel advisor Anna Caudle! We communicated over email and phone for the planning and the resulting self-driving tour itinerary was excellent and perfect for 15 day visit. We requested some golf be included and Anna set us up at 4 beautiful courses with morning tee-times. The hotels she booked for us were consistently great and the activities were fantastic, especially booking us on Air Milford to fly to Milford Sound! Flight was the highlight. Everything was perfect. Can’t recommend their service enough. Top rate!!

We booked a two week trip using First Light Travel with Michelle as our travel specialist. The experience exceeded our expectations.
The hotels and activities she booked for us were just perfect. We did a self drive from Queenstown to Marahau with a weekend on Waiheke Island. The sites were breathtaking and the excursions Michelle planned were just what we were looking for.

Michelle listened to what we wanted and planned an itinerary to a T. This was the second time we had First Light plan out travel and we will definitely have them book all our trips to New Zealand. Thanks so much Michelle for being so responsive to our questions and to your great suggestions.

Barbara & Tim O'Rourke, USA

Awesome country. All terrains in one country. You name it and find it here. Sand dunes for sand surfing, Multihued mountains, colorful rivers, spectacular greeneries, unimaginable beaches, thermal geyser, volcanic soil and stones from clayey ashes to emerald, churning caves, deep down valleys, terrifying forests, lavish lawns, silvery glaciers, all season climate in a day, high scope for ventures, researchers, nature lovers, place for eternity, enduring culture, rich heritage in preserving nature as if born today....Hats off newzeas. Thanks to First light travels for the excellent itinerary and ultimate travel experience.

Shanmugam Natarajan, Malaysia

After 3 years of 'pandemic hibernation,' my family of 5 urbanites wanted a self-drive holiday in NZ that must carry a few "not's" - not hectic, not too many places to 'tick,' not too long a drive in any one leg (as my energy levels are not that great these days), not too much of the commercial concrete jungle, ... We broadcast our needs to a few travel planners and they came back with proposals of a lower cost. BUT First Light also responded quickly and addressed our needs most desirably. We find that First Light profiled us most accurately and is worth a go.

Yes, First Light stood out amongst equals. Ms Hunapo Marcella was wonderful, empathetic, assuring and is very patient with us though we made multiple adjustments to the itinerary prior to the trip. Even during the trip, she remained responsive and addressed all our needs! The selection of activities she offered us fits our desires snugly - hot air balloon, Hobbiton, geyser, transalpine train ride, whale watching, 1.1km zipline, and a remarkable "retreat" to celebrate Christmas at Mt Cook! Indeed, First Light is a top grade travel planner and is well worth the money spent!!

Weng Ho & family, Singapore